Right-wing firebrand shakes up cosy Swiss politics
MAENNEDORF, Switzerland (Reuters) – As a child growing up near the Swiss border with Germany in the early 1940s, Christoph Blocher remembers soldiers camping out in his family’s garden, ready to defend the neutral nation against a surprise attack from …
A week in and Greece’s new leftist PM sticks to tough line, for now
ATHENS (Reuters) – Judging from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ first week in office, Greece’s new leftist government is determined to take the hard-line, anti-bailout stance that international investors and European leaders had feared.
At least 1,375 Iraqis killed in January, most of them civilians: U.N.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Fighting and other violence in Iraq killed at least 1,375 people including 790 civilians in January, the United Nations said on Sunday.
Greece shakes Europe’s political kaleidoscope: expect the unexpected
LONDON (Reuters) – By catapulting to power an improbable alliance of the hard left and nationalist far right, Greece has shaken up Europe’s political kaleidoscope and may have signalled the end of an era of centrist consensus.
North Korea says U.S. rejects invitation to Pyongyang
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea said on Sunday the United States had rejected an invitation to send one of its top diplomats to Pyongyang, accusing Washington of trying to shift the blame for the deadlock in denuclearisation talks on the North.
Crucial week for under-fire Australian PM after ‘catastrophic’ poll
PERTH, Australia (Reuters) – Australia’s conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott came under renewed leadership pressure on Sunday, a little over a year into office following a voter backlash in a state poll and a slump in his personal approval rating.
China’s Tibet to reward tips on ‘terror attacks’
BEIJING (Reuters) – Authorities in China’s Tibet will offer rewards up to 300,000 yuan ($48,000) for tips on “violent terror attacks”, state media reported, in an effort to “promote stability” in the region beset by ethnic tensions.
In red heartlands, Thai army keeps a lid on dissent
KHON KAEN, Thailand (Reuters) – In the northeastern Thai city of Khon Kaen, Pongpit Onlamai, a prominent anti-junta “red shirt” member, points to a man seated in the corner of the cafe fidgeting with his phone.
Islamic State says it has beheaded second Japanese hostage Goto
BEIRUT/TOKYO (Reuters) – Islamic State militants said on Saturday they had beheaded a second Japanese hostage, journalist Kenji Goto, after the failure of international efforts to secure his release through a prisoner swap.
Chad army says kills 120 Boko Haram militants in Cameroon
N’DJAMENA (Reuters) – Chadian forces have killed 120 militants from Boko Haram in a battle in the north of neighbouring Cameroon that began when the insurgents attacked its troops, the army said in a statement on Saturday, adding that three of its sold…
