New German govt struggles to win support
for defence, infrastructure plans
BERLIN, Mar 11 : Germany's Greens, whose support is needed for the prospective next government's plans to loosen debt rules for defense spending and draw up a huge infrastructure investment fund, said Monday that they won't support the package as things stand. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz, who won last month's German election, is trying to put together a coalition with outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democrats. Last week, the two sides said they would seek to exempt some defense spending from the nation's tight self-imposed rules on running up debt, an issue of growing urgency as doubts increase about the U.S. commitment to European allies. — AP
South Africa bus crash kills 12 persons
EKURHULENI, Mar 11: A bus overturned in an area of Johannesburg near South Africa's main airport early Tuesday, killing at least 12 people, city officials said, with dozens more injured. The bus was carrying more than 50 people to work when it crashed on a busy road near Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, officials said. Twelve people were killed and 45 others hurt, they said in a statement. "We are lost for words. This is a disaster," Ekurhuleni city transport official Andile Mngwevu said. — AFP
Iran's uranium stockpile: UNSC meet today
NEW YORK, Mar 11 : The United Nations Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Wednesday over Iran's expansion of its stock of uranium close to weapons grade, diplomats said on Monday. The meeting was requested by six of the council's 15 members - France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, Britain and the US. They also want the council to discuss Iran's obligation to provide the UN nuclear watchdog - the International Atomic Energy Agency - with "the information necessary to clarify outstanding issues related to undeclared nuclear material detected at multiple locations in Iran," diplomats said. — Reuters
Mexico bus crashes claim 32 lives
MEXICO CITY, Mar 11: At least 32 people were killed on Monday in two separate bus crashes in Mexico, authorities said. A bus turned over along a highway in southern Mexico's Oaxaca state, killing 18 people, the state government said in a statement. Twelve others remained in hospital. Authorities will launch an investigation into the cause of the accident, which happened near the community of Santo Domingo Narro, it added. — AFP
Portugal PM set to lose confidence vote
LISBON, Mar 11: Portugal's centre-right Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, embroiled in an alleged conflict-of-interest controversy, is expected to lose a vote of confidence on Tuesday that would bring down his minority government after barely a year in office. The parliamentary debate on the confidence vote is scheduled to begin at 1500 GMT. The main opposition Socialists have made clear they will vote against Montenegro, rejecting attempts to gain their support. On Monday, the Socialists went even further, announcing a formal request for a parliamentary commission of inquiry into Montenegro's possible conflict of interest. — AFP
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