COPENHAGEN: One of the three members of Denmark’s leftist coalition quit the government yesterday over the controversial sale of a stake in state-controlled energy group DONG to US investment bank Goldman Sachs.
The party is likely to continue to support Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s government in parliament, although it may have to seek support from the opposition on some issues.
At a press conference, Thorning-Schmidt said there was no need to call a new election and that her minority government would “shortly introduce a new cabinet”.
Nigerian senators defect
ABUJA: Eleven Nigerian senators have defected to the main opposition coalition, in a largely expected move but one which further weakens President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling party ahead of elections next year.
Last year, five powerful state governors and 37 members of the House of Representatives moved across to the All Progressive Congress, building the greatest threat to Jonathan’s People’s Democratic Party since it swept to power in 1999 at the end of military rule. But the power of incumbency is strong in Nigeria and Jonathan is still clear favourite to win, if he chooses to run.
Russia names suicide bombers
MOSCOW: Russian security services yesterday published the names of the alleged suicide bombers who carried out two deadly blasts last month and said they had also arrested two suspected organisers.
The National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC) released the names in a statement just a week before the Winter Olympic Games are set to open in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. It named the bombers who killed 34 people in the southern city of Volgograd in twin blasts on December 29 and 30 as Asker Samedov and Suleiman Magomedov. The statement also said that, “Brothers Magomednabi and Tagir Batirov, who were involved in transporting the suicide bombers to Volgograd, have been detained.”
Romania ex-minister sent to prison
BUCHAREST: Romania’s supreme court yesterday upheld a five-year jail sentence against former Transport Minister Relu Fenechiu, the third former minister to be sent to prison on corruption charges in less than a month. He was expected to begin his sentence within hours.
Fenechiu, 48, was found guilty of selling second-hand electrical equipment to a state company at the price of new equipment between 2002 and 2005. Prosecutors said the state lost €1.7m in the deal.
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