CHINA

Delegation from Japan's ruling parties to pay visit

Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, and Makoto Nishida, secretary-general of the Komeito Party, will lead a delegation of Japan's ruling parties to visit China from Jan 13 to 15, at the invitation of the Communist Party of China, Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson for the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, announced on Tuesday. Both sides will jointly hold the 9th meeting of the China-Japan ruling parties exchange mechanism, Hu said.

FRANCE

Co-founder of National Front Le Pen dies at 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, former leader of France's far right, died on Tuesday aged 96, his family told AFP. Le Pen, the co-founder of the National Front, sent shock waves through France in 2002 when he made it to the second round of the presidential election. His daughter Marine Le Pen took the party's leadership in 2011 and booted him out four years later. The party, renamed National Rally, has made significant inroads.

AUSTRIA

President tasks far right to form government

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday tasked far-right leader Herbert Kickl with trying to form a government, in a historic move after coalition talks that excluded the Freedom party, or FPOe, collapsed. While the party has been part of Austria's government several times, it is the first time that it will lead coalition talks. The FPOe topped the poll in September's national election for the first time, winning almost 29 percent of the vote but had been unable to find partners to govern.