Jerusalem - Outgoing premier Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said Israel would not give in to demands by the Palestinian Hamas movement in negotiations for a prisoner swap that would see the release of an Israeli soldier.
Addressing a press conference in Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel had made "generous and far-reaching" offers in return for the release of Gilad Shalit who was captured some three years ago.
Antananarivo - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana on Tuesday said handing over power after seven years as leader of the Indian Ocean island had been "very hard" to do as he entrusted a team of senior military officers with the running of the country.
Speaking on national TVM television, the 59-year-old leader, who looked tired after a protracted power struggle with the opposition, said the decision to give up power had been difficult because he was the "legal president."
Bern - Revised government figures for 2009 released Tuesday showed that Switzerland's economy would shrink by 2.2 per cent and the recession would be significantly worse than had been envisaged.
Previous statistics by the Swiss Economic Ministry had predicted a contraction of 0.8 per cent.
The latest forecast said that if there was an easing of the global financial crisis, Switzerland could see slightly positive growth of 0.1 per cent in 2010, even as the labour market would continue to deteriorate.
Athens - The Greek government is considering punishing demonstrators who wear hoods or masks as part of its effort to battle the ongoing wave of violence that has plagued the country since the police shooting of a teenager in December, officials said Tuesday.
"The Greek citizen does not hide and is not afraid of showing his face, especially when he is protesting," said Justice Minister Nikos Dendias.
Oslo - Threats to polar bear populations, mainly due to climate change, were the topic of a three-day meeting that opened Tuesday in the northern Norwegian city of Tromso.
"Climate change has superceded hunting as the main threat to polar bears. We have to act to protect the habitat of the polar bear," Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim said in his opening remarks.
"Global warming has to be stopped if we are to succeed," he added.
Johannesburg - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana announced Tuesday he was transferring his powers to a military directorate after coming under immense pressure to resign as leader of the impoverished Indian Ocean island.
His move, which observers say does not constitute a resignation, marks a new twist in his months-long standoff with opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.
Following is a timeline of key events in that power struggle:
Jerusalem - Outgoing premier Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said Israel would not give in to demands by the Palestinian Hamas movement in negotiations for a prisoner swap that would see the release of an Israeli soldier.
Antananarivo - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana on Tuesday said handing over power after seven years as leader of the Indian Ocean island had been "very hard" to do as he entrusted a team of senior military officers with the running of the country.
Bern - Revised government figures for 2009 released Tuesday showed that Switzerland's economy would shrink by 2.2 per cent and the recession would be significantly worse than had been envisaged.
Athens - The Greek government is considering punishing demonstrators who wear hoods or masks as part of its effort to battle the ongoing wave of violence that has plagued the country since the police shooting of a teenager in December, officials said Tuesday.
Oslo - Threats to polar bear populations, mainly due to climate change, were the topic of a three-day meeting that opened Tuesday in the northern Norwegian city of Tromso.
Johannesburg - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana announced Tuesday he was transferring his powers to a military directorate after coming under immense pressure to resign as leader of the impoverished Indian Ocean island.
