European Union governments are piecing together a possible rescue package for Greece as they demand it first intensifies efforts to slash the bloc’s biggest budget deficit.

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EU Demands Greece Act on Deficit as Bloc Crafts Aid Plan

Gordon Brown is on course to lead a minority U.K. administration after this year’s election, according to a survey giving the opposition Conservative Party its smallest lead over Labour in more than two years.

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Poll Says Brown On Course to Lead Minority Government (Update1)

LONDON (Reuters) – Michael Geoghegan, the chief executive of Europe’s biggest bank HSBC Holdings , is set to give his bonus to charity, newspapers have reported, following a high-profile row over the sums paid to bankers.

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HSBC CEO to give bonus to charity: reports

Dubai shares climbed to the highest level in almost a week as oil gained on prospects for increased fuel demand in the U.S. after the economy of the world’s biggest energy-consuming country grew the most in six years.

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Dubai Index Rises to Week-High as U.S. Growth Spurs Oil Gains

Voting was brisk Sunday in a parliamentary election that is expected to strengthen the president’s nearly two-decade grip on power in Tajikistan, an impoverished country on Afghanistan’s border. But the election also has the potential to increase the…

Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Asia – Central Asia – Government

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Voting is brisk as Tajikistan picks new parliament

Taiwan’s China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday by-election losses this weekend were a warning for his Nationalist party, while pro-government newspapers said it reflected public dissatisfaction with his leadership. On Saturday, the Nationalists,…

Ma Ying-jeou – Republic of China – Taiwan – Asia – President of the United States

Poll setback tests Taiwan’s China-friendly leader

Union and government officials in Germany say they have agreed on a new wage deal for some 2 million public employees. The two sides said Sunday that the agreement reached late Saturday includes a pay increase of 1.2 percent retroactive to January, to be…

Germany – Government – Union – United States – Greece

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Germany reaches wage deal with public employees

Japan evacuated about 640,000 households from coastal areas as tsunami striking the nation’s Pacific coast swelled in size following the 8.8- magnitude earthquake in Chile.

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Japan Evacuates 640,000 Households as Tsunami Strike (Update2)

David Cameron will tell his opposition U.K. Conservative Party it has a “patriotic duty to win” the coming general election, as he tries to reverse recent poll gains by Gordon Brown’s Labour government.

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Cameron Says Party Has ‘Patriotic Duty’ to Beat Brown (Update1)

TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp said its president would hold a news conference in Beijing on Monday as the automaker looks to limit the damage from a massive global recall on the fast-growing Chinese market.

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Toyota head to brief in China on quality issues

Canada tied a record for the most gold medals in a Winter Olympics and can set a new standard today by winning the men’s hockey championship to close out the Vancouver Games.

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Canada Ties Winter Games Gold Medal Record, Seeks Hockey Title

Japan braced for larger tsunami waves as the first ocean surges generated by an 8.8- magnitiude earthquake in Chile swept onto its Pacific shores.

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Japan Remains on Tsunami Alert as Surges Hit Coast (Update2)

China has issued an urgent order to local authorities to strengthen safety measures after an explosion triggered by Lunar New Year fireworks killed 21 people and injured 48 in a southern village. The State Council’s Work Safety Commission said in a notice…

China – Chinese New Year – Fireworks – Lunar New Year – New Year

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China urges checks after deadly fireworks blast

Thailand’s government asked the army to help maintain security in the capital following bomb attacks on Bangkok Bank Pcl a day after a court seized about $1.4 billion from the country’s former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra.

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Bombs Hit Bangkok Bank After Thai Court Seizes Thaksin Fortune

No significant damage was reported along Northern California’s coast after a tsunami advisory was in place for a good part of the day Saturday. Officials with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area closed a road near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge for…

Northern California – San Mateo – San Mateo California – California – Golden Gate National Recreation Area

No significant damage in NorCal during advisory