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Heading to G7, U.S. tells Japan to stick to currency rules

May 10, 2013 21:15
By David Milliken and Leika Kihara AYLESBURY, England (Reuters) - The United States told Japan on Friday to stick to the rules when it came to the value of its currency, setting the stage for a potentially frank meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers outside London. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Japan had "growth issues" that needed to be dealt with but that its attempts to stimulate its economy needed to stay within the bounds of international agreements to avoid competitive devaluations.

IMF says Serbia mission a "health check", not loan talks

May 10, 2013 20:49
By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund will not discuss a fresh loan deal on a mission to Serbia starting this week, it said on Tuesday, describing the visit as a "health check" of the Balkan country's economy. Serbia's government says it wants a precautionary loan deal with the Fund, to restore relations after the collapse of a previous 1 billion euro ($1.3 billion) arrangement last year and a row over the independence of the central bank.

Obama to visit Berlin June 18-19: Germany

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 18:45
US President Barack Obama will visit Berlin next month for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a German government spokesman said Friday. Deputy spokesman Georg Streiter told a regular news briefing that Obama would stop in Berlin June 18-19, after a G8 summit in Northern Ireland. "The US President Barack Obama will come to Berlin for an official visit on the invitation of the chancellor. Details on this working visit will be provided as soon as they are available," he said.

Obama to visit Berlin June 18-19: Germany

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 18:45
US President Barack Obama will visit Berlin next month for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a German government spokesman said Friday. Deputy spokesman Georg Streiter told a regular news briefing that Obama would be in Berlin June 18-19, after a G8 summit in Northern Ireland. dlc/kjm/lc

S. Korea leader offers peace steps on North

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 12:46
South Korea's president proposed small peace steps Wednesday with North Korea including a park on the tense border but said that the communist state had to give up its nuclear weapons. A day after an air-tight show of unity with US President Barack Obama, President Park Geun-Hye vowed in an address to the US Congress that any fresh "provocations" by North Korea would be "met decisively."

Philippine Navy denies Taiwan shooting

Agence France-PresseMay 10, 2013 12:29
The Philippine Navy on Friday denied allegations that its forces had shot dead a crewman of a Taiwan fishing vessel, saying none of its ships were in the area at the time of the apparent incident. "The Philippine Navy denies any involvement in... an incident where a Taiwanese fisherman was reportedly shot and the wound led to his death," the statement said. The naval commander in the area said his ships were in port or very close to the Philippine coast at the time, the statement added.

Abduction minister eyes Mongolia trip to discuss N. Korea issue

Kyodo News InternationalMay 10, 2013 11:15
State minister Keiji Furuya, who handles the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, is considering making arrangements to visit Mongolia to discuss the issue, a diplomatic source said Friday. Furuya's trip reflects the Japanese government's hope to utilize Mongolia's diplomatic ties with North Korea to move forward the long-stalled abduction issue, the source said, adding when the trip would take place is still being discussed.

Abe eager to accelerate territorial talks with Putin

Kyodo News InternationalMay 10, 2013 09:45
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed eagerness Friday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of international meetings this year to make progress on a long-standing territorial dispute. "If I have the time I would like to hold a summit and move forward" on the territorial issue, Abe said in a television program, adding that such opportunities may arise when the two leaders attend meetings of the Group of Eight in June, the Group of 20 in September and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in October.

Insight: Bangalore on Tagus? Portugal outsourcing gets reforms boost

May 9, 2013 20:15
By Andrei Khalip LISBON (Reuters) - When Nelson Craveiro lost his minimum wage job selling soft drinks last October due to Portugal's raging economic crisis, he dared not imagine that his fluent German would soon get him a better-paying job without the need to emigrate. He now works at a call center helping German clients deal with holiday bookings around the globe. He earns 700 euros ($920) a month, 200 euros more than previously, plus bonuses, and the company covers his rent - a rare perk in Portugal.

IMF says Egypt economy deteriorating, needs reform plan to move ahead with $4.8 billion loan

The Canadian PressMay 9, 2013 16:46
WASHINGTON - The IMF says Egypt's financial situation is deteriorating and the organization is awaiting updated economic information and reform plans from the government in Cairo before it can move ahead with a deal on a $4.8 billion loan. Egypt's negotiations with the IMF for the loan have dragged on for more than a year. The deal for the loan is expected to usher in widely unpopular austerity measures.
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