Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek collapsed Tuesday after it lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament midway through the country's presidency of the European Union.
The leftist opposition was helped by four lawmakers elected to Topolanek's ruling coalition in toppling the cabinet by the slimmest of majorities, 101 votes.
Topolanek collected 96 votes in the 200-seat lower house after failing to meet the renegades' demands in last-minute talks. Three lawmakers were absent from the vote.
New York - The United Nations said Tuesday that it has agreed with the Sudanese government to assess the humanitarian situation in Darfur and begin stop-gap relief programmes.
The new measures follow Sudan's expulsion of 13 international relief organizations as a knee-jerk reaction to the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur conflict by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC also issued a warrant to arrest al-Bashir.
Brussels - The European Commission said Tuesday it had "full trust" in the Czech Republic's ability to continue representing the European Union presidency, despite its government losing a confidence vote in parliament.
"The Commission has full trust that the national constitutional law allows for the Czech Republic to continue conducting the Council Presidency as effectively as it has done until now," officials in Brussels said in a statement.
Cairo - Sudan President Omar al-Bashir will visit Egypt on Wednesday despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), an Egyptian official said on Tuesday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told German Press Agency dpa that al-Bashir will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss developments after the ICC decision.
Wednesday's visit will be al-Bashir's second trip abroad since the arrest warrant was issued, after his brief visit to Eritrea on Monday.
Washington - US officials on Tuesday rejected calls from China and Russia for the international community to shift towards a global reserve currency that could replace the dollar.
At a congressional hearing in Washington, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said they opposed the idea that was floated by China's central bank head earlier Tuesday.
Dhaka - Bangladesh and India Tuesday renewed their inland water transit and trade protocol to increase river-bound commerce between the two South Asian neighbours, officials said.
Bangladesh Shipping Secretary Masud Elahi, and Indian Additional Secretary Vijay Chibber of the road, transport and highways ministry, signed the deal after two days of negotiations in Dhaka.
The renewal takes effect April 1, 2009 and will remain in force for two years.
Prague - The Czech government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek collapsed Tuesday after it lost a vote of no-confidence in parliament midway through the country's presidency of the European Union.
New York - The United Nations said Tuesday that it has agreed with the Sudanese government to assess the humanitarian situation in Darfur and begin stop-gap relief programmes.
Brussels - The European Commission said Tuesday it had "full trust" in the Czech Republic's ability to continue representing the European Union presidency, despite its government losing a confidence vote in parliament.
Cairo - Sudan President Omar al-Bashir will visit Egypt on Wednesday despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), an Egyptian official said on Tuesday.
Washington - US officials on Tuesday rejected calls from China and Russia for the international community to shift towards a global reserve currency that could replace the dollar.
Dhaka - Bangladesh and India Tuesday renewed their inland water transit and trade protocol to increase river-bound commerce between the two South Asian neighbours, officials said.
