Eurozone finance ministers were to confer by telephone on Saturday after 12 hours of talks in Athens failed to produce a breakthrough on a deal to bail out Greece, the Greek finance minister said. Evangelos Venizelos added that a planned meeting by eurozone ministers on Greece originally scheduled for Monday would now be held on Wednesday. "I will participate in a Eurogroup telephone conference at 1230 GMT" to discuss details of a rescue deal for Greece worth 130 billion euros ($171 billion) which officials have been trying to seal since October, the minister said in a statement. "Critical issues pertaining to the country's ...
Australia's flood crisis deepened Saturday as authorities braced for waters to peak in Queensland where one woman is missing after being swept away while elsewhere thousands remain stranded by the surge. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said eight military helicopters would help in search, evacuation and resupply missions in the eastern state, where days of heavy rainfall have prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of rescues. "The helicopters will be available to assist in rescue operations as required until the immediate crisis has passed," Gillard said in a statement. In the inland Queensland town of Charleville authorities are on alert amid fears a temporary ...
Tens of thousands people are braving the bitter cold at two major rallies in downtown Moscow on Saturday as a power play between champions of political liberalization and supporters of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin continues to unfold. The first demonstration demands fair elections at the March 4 presidential polls, at which Putin is expected to secure a third term in the Kremlin. It also calls on Russians “not to give a single vote” to Putin. The opposition rally is widely seen by analysts as a litmus test of protesters’ ability to maintain momentum after two earlier protests against alleged vote fraud in favor of ...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday wrapped up a visit to China where she tried to reassure her hosts on the strength of the euro and Europe's ability to overcome its debt crisis. During her three-day trip to the world's second largest economy, Merkel praised the advantages of the single currency and urged China to put pressure on Iran and to condemn Syria at the United Nations. Merkel, who was prevented from meeting journalists and a human rights lawyers, ended her official visit in the southern city of Guangzhou, Xinhua news agency reported. Merkel, who held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and President ...
Norway’s government has said it wants non-European immigrants to carry residency cards equipped with data chips bearing their fingerprints. In a proposal presented on Friday, the justice ministry said the new identity cards would help tackle illegal immigration. “The residency card system will increase security surrounding residency permit documentation, thereby contributing to the prevention of illegal immigration and illegal residency,” said Justice Minister Grete Faremo (Labour Party) in a statement. The move follows pressure from the European Union to ensure that immigrants from outside the European Economic Area, of which Norway is a member, are provided with residency cards that include fingerprint details. Faremo ...
Greece expects its 2011 budget deficit will be smaller than expected at between 9.1 and 9.4 percent of GDP, thanks to an emergency property tax, a finance ministry official said on Friday, a development that could help Athens in its bailout talks with the EU and IMF. Greece, which is racing to complete talks with the EU and the IMF on a second bailout worth 130 billion euros, had previously estimated that the deficit would be above 9.5 percent of GDP. "The numbers aren't final yet but we believe the deficit will come in at between 9.1 and 9.4 percent (of GDP)," ...
China has rejected Japanese protests over alleged improper exploration of gas deposits in the East China Sea. The Foreign Ministry said Friday the recent activity had taken place within Chinese-controlled waters and was completely normal. A ministry statement said China was strongly dissatisfied with recent comments from Japanese officials. Japan's chief Cabinet secretary on Wednesday said Japan protested to China after a flare was seen a day earlier at a Chinese structure at an undersea gas deposit. The deposit, known as Kashi in Japan and Tianwaitian in China, sits near a median line in the countries' overlapping exclusive economic zones. Japan and China agreed ...
The leader of Russia's Islamist rebels ordered a halt to attacks on civilians, saying mass opposition protests showed the public no longer supported Vladimir Putin, according to a video posted Friday. Doku Umarov, whose Caucasus Emirate group claimed atrocities including a deadly Moscow airport bombing in 2011 and a metro attack in 2010, said from now only security objects and officials would be targeted. "I order all special groups that are carrying out or plan to carry out special operations in Russia to put a halt to these operations that could hurt the peaceful population," Doku Umarov said in a video address ...
China's Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday the Asian giant had neither the ability nor the intention to "buy Europe", amid concerns over growing Chinese investment in debt-stricken eurozone economies. China is "willing to cooperate with Europe to fight the current crisis. Some people say this means China wants to buy Europe", Wen told a German-China business forum in the southern city of Guangzhou. "This a concern and doesn't fit reality. China doesn't have this intention and doesn't have this ability." German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in China for a three-day visit to boost her host's confidence in Europe, also attended the forum along with ...
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is to resign from the Government after it emerged he is to face prosecution over allegations that he asked his ex-wife to take a speeding penalty for him. The Liberal Democrat MP has been charged with perverting the course of justice after an investigation into the 2003 incident by Essex Police. His former wife, the economist Vicky Pryce is also facing charges of perverting the course of justice. They are due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 16. The maximum sentence for perverting the course of justice is life in prison, the CPS and the Sentencing ...
The decision to close parts of Dutch airspace for eight hours on Monday was ‘wrong’ and an ‘over reaction,’ says KLM CEO Peter Hartman. Speaking at celebrations to mark 10 years of the Dutch Aviation Group, Hartman said airlines themselves should be allowed to take the decision whether or not to fly. ‘Officially it is airlines which decide when and where they will fly on the basis of information from the government... [more]
The volcanic ash cloud from Iceland that is once again crippling air traffic across Europe will likely spare German airports for the immediate future, the German Weather Service (DWD) reported on Monday. According to the service’s latest data, there is “no danger for German airports until the coming night at midnight,” spokesperson for the DWD air traffic centre Sabine Bork told news agency DPA. At that point the problem will likely... [more]
Flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport have been cancelled at least until 14:00 Dutch time due to high concentrations of volcanic ash from the Icelandic Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The flight ban began at 6:00 this morning. Schiphol Airport expects around 500 flights to be cancelled. Around 60,000 passengers will be affected, including passengers on transfer flights. No planes will depart from Groningen Airport Eelde in the north... [more]
Air traffic authority Nats said both Heathrow and Gatwick would be clear of the no-fly zone from 7am after being shut for most of the night. However, flights at both airports will still be subject to restrictions, particularly Gatwick where arrivals will be limited until at least 1pm. Forecasters are expecting a change in the north westerly wind direction over the coming days, which is expected to blow the “high density” cloud... [more]
The forecast position of the volcanic ash cloud at 1200 GMT each day for the next five days for the altitudes indicated. It must be stressed that the five day are based on observed volcanic activity at the time of issue and should be regarded as indicative only. The airline is facing strike action from Tuesday, which is likely to add to any travel problems, despite hopes last-ditch talks could avert the walkout. Conciliation service... [more]
In the county of Finnmark, floodwaters swept away several cars and destroyed several smaller bridges just north of the town of Alta in the early hours of Sunday morning. No one was injured. In Nordland county a total of 21 persons were evacuated, after a large rock and ice slide had swept away a 100 m section of the main road at Beisfjord. There is fear that more slides will be released by the heavy rains and melting snow, caused by quickly... [more]
A “rapidly encroaching” volcanic ash cloud has forced part of Britain’s skies to close again, beginning another dreaded round of flight disruptions. A no-fly zone has been imposed above parts of Northern Ireland since Saturday night after the “high density” cloud approached the province from the North West. The restrictions apply to Belfast International, Belfast Harbour & Ronalsdway (Isle of Man) airports... [more]
David Cameron has held a meeting with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, his first with a foreign leader since becoming UK prime minister. Both leaders agreed they wanted to “further strengthen” relations between their countries. The talks were held at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence. President Karzai stopped over in the UK on his way back from Washington, where he discussed issues with US President Barack... [more]
There is a risk of UK airspace closures from Sunday because of continuing volcanic activity in Iceland, the Department for Transport said. Disruption could last until Tuesday and could affect some of Britain’s busiest airports in the South East, the Government warned. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said passenger safety is the Government’s top priority. Ministers agreed that, from today, five-day ash prediction charts should... [more]
A foreign journalist has been shot during protests between troops and anti-government protesters in Thailand. The condition of the journalist is not known. It follows increased violence in Bangkok after Red Shirts set fire to a bus in a new burst of violence. In a night of trouble troops fired tear gas as they advanced on dozens of Red Shirts who had set up a checkpoint outside a market in the capital. The protesters had gathered outside... [more]
