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 ...
Italian prosecutors were set to request that Premier Silvio Berlusconi stand trial over accusations he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and then used his influence to try to cover it up. The prosecutors will file their request in Milan on Wednesday. A judge must then decide whether to accept the prosecutors’ request and indict the 74-year-old leader or dismiss it. The prosecutors might request a single trial on both accusations... [more]
Murder victim Meredith Kercher’s mother has described a new television film on the woman convicted of killing her daughter as “shocking” Arline Kercher spoke out as a trailer and graphic stills were released by the makers of controversial American film, Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy. The film sees Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere play American exchange student Amanda Knox, who was convicted of Meredith’s murder... [more]
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday won some brief respite from raging sex scandals when parliament rejected a request from prosecutors to search his accountant’s offices. The vote was carried by 315 votes in favour to 298 against — a far higher majority than the beleaguered Berlusconi has enjoyed recently, after scraping through a no-confidence vote in parliament in December last year. The victory is a largely... [more]
An Italian parliamentary committee dealt a blow to embattled Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday by blocking a tax measure his Northern League allies have laid down as a condition for staying in government. The 30-member panel, which had to rule on measures to give more tax and spending powers to local governments, was split evenly, creating a stalemate with the potential to break the centre-right coalition and open the way to early... [more]
Ruby “the heart stealer,” the young Moroccan who sparked an investigation into Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for allegedly paying for sex with a minor, announced Wednesday she is about to get married. Eighteen-year old Ruby, real name Karima El Mahroug, told a local edition of the Repubblica daily that she is set to get hitched to fiance Luca Rizzo, a 41-year old manager of a disco, in a town hall wedding in three weeks time. Once... [more]
A second under-age girl attended parties thrown by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, according to prosecutors who say they have proof he paid for sex, ANSA news agency said Thursday. The new allegations were contained in documents submitted to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday by prosecutors investigating allegations that the prime minister hand-picked prostitutes for wild parties. Iris Berardi, described by prosecutors as a... [more]
The European Financial Stability Facility staged Tuesday a landmark five-year bond auction worth five billion euros ($6.8 billion) to raise funds for Ireland and help calm financial markets. Asian bidders snapped up more than one third of the total in what EFSF head Klaus Regling said demonstrated market confidence in the 17-nation eurozone, after the turmoil of massive bailouts for Greece and Ireland last year. “This must be seen... [more]
Italy’s Catholic Church jumped into the fray surrounding Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s sex scandals on Monday, warning him that politicians who behave immorally hurt the country’s image and pollute its future. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco said the political quagmire was sowing the seeds of an “anthropological disaster” where the young see easy money, moral compromise and selling oneself as the road to success... [more]
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has refused to appear in court to answer questions about alleged sexual misconduct. Mr Berlusconi and three associates are being investigated by prosecutors over claims he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and several prostitutes during parties at his Milan home. The girl, nicknamed Ruby – who is now 18 – has denied the claims and said they were nothing more than friends. Wiretapped... [more]
Amanda Knox was back before an Italian court Saturday in her bid to overturn a conviction for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher with new experts reviewing key forensic evidence. Lawyers for the 23-year-old American have described the appeal as a “key moment” in the case, saying it provides the first opportunity for independent experts to review the evidence which convicted her. Knox came into court with her head... [more]
