Consultations for a new Greek coalition government are expected to begin later today, following an agreement reached by Prime Minister George Papandreou and main opposition leader Antonis Samaras.

Under the deal, Papandreou will resign and a new premier will be chosen to lead the coalition.

The announcement follows a week of political turmoil over Greece's debt crisis. 

Papandreou has been trying to build a national unity government. However, the opposition has refused to get behind the idea until Papandreou resigns.

A bailout deal agreed to by Eurozone leaders last month has to be ratified by Greece before more funds will be released to save the country from going bankrupt.

 

 

Chinese President to attend APEC summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao will travel to Hawaii on Thursday to attend the leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the president is invited by his US counterpart Barack Obama.

The APEC summit will be the 19th of its kind.

 

 

SCO meeting to discuss closer economic ties

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has been meeting his counterparts from fellow member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to discuss greater economic integration to jointly resist the global financial crisis.

They are gathering in Russia's St. Petersburg for the 10th meeting of prime ministers of the SCO member states.

The SCO groups China, Russia and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It was formed in 2001 and has grown into a regional bloc aimed at promoting cooperation in various fields.

 

 

Japan detains China boat captain

Japan's coast guard has arrested the captain of a Chinese fishing boat near the southwestern Goto Islands.

The captain, 47-year-old Zhang Tianxiong, was detained along with 10 crew members. Japan's coast guard says their ship strayed into Japanese waters and the captain refused to stop for an inspection.

The Chinese consulate general in Nagasaki has confirmed the arrest and says they're taking the matter with the Japanese side while launching further investigations.

 

 

Bodies of 11 slain Chinese sailors cremated in north Thailand

The bodies of 11 Chinese sailors who were among those killed on the Mekong River last month have been cremated in northern Thailand.

Relatives of the victims, Chinese officials and officials from the Thai police and local government attended farewell ceremonies before the cremation.

Two Chinese cargo ships were attacked early October on a section of Mekong River near the Golden Triangle area and 13 Chinese sailors aboard were killed. Thai police have pressed charges against a group of Thai army men in connection with the incident.

 

 

Partial results show Ortega leading in Nicaraguan presidential election

Partial results of Nicaragua's presidential election show that incumbent President Daniel Ortega enjoys a clear lead over his rivals.

With about 7 percent of the votes counted, Ortega had almost 64 percent, compared to 29 percent for his closest challenger, Fabio Gadea.

Under the country's electoral law, in order to claim victory in the first round, a candidate must either win at least 40 percent of valid votes, or win at least 35 percent and have an advantage of 5 percent or more over the closest runner-up.

 

 

Mudslide kills 24 in Colombia

At least 24 people have died as landslides washed away houses in a western Colombian city.

Rescuers have been searching for dozens of people feared buried under mud and rubble in the city of Manizales, the country's coffee-growing region.

Colombia is experiencing one of the worst rainy seasons in memory, forcing the evacuation of some 250,000 people.

 

 

Italy issues fresh flood warnings

The Italian authorities have issued fresh warnings as storms and torrential rain continue to cause havoc across the country.

Italy's longest river, Po. has risen 4 meters in the city of Turin, as thousands were told to evacuate.

One person has died in the province of Naples, bringing this week's nationwide death toll to at least seven.

Heavy rains have hit the country over the past two weeks, especially in the north-west.

 

 

Venezuelan girl crowned Miss World 2011

A human resources graduate from Venezuela, whose ambition is to work with children, has been crowned Miss World 2011 at a glittering beauty pageant in London.

21-year-old Ivian Sarcos took the ultimate beauty accolade at Earls Court in London, the city where the first Miss World was staged in 1951.

"I am very happy. I have no words to describe how happy I feel. I am very, very thankful. This shows that things can be achieved."

Sarcos beat representatives from the Philippines and Puerto Rico in second and third place.

Of the 122 contestants whom Sarcos beat, a quarter are graduates and more than half speak three or more languages.