disputes cloud German coalition talks
Reuters, Berlin
Disputes about climate and immigration policy dominated German media ahead of resumed talks among Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmental Greens about forming a coalition government.
Officials from all three political groups traded barbs and insults in a series of media interviews, dimming hopes that next week’s talks could result in progress for a so-called Jamaica coalition – a name chosen because the parties’ black, yellow and green colors mirror those of the Jamaican flag.
Kenya reels as post-election chaos worsens
AFP, Nairobi
Kenya found itself in a dangerous limbo on Saturday after two days of violent protests sparked by a deeply divisive presidential election that left eight people dead and scores injured.
It is the country’s worst crisis in a decade, raising fears for the stability of east Africa’s economic powerhouse and one of its strongest democracies.
As Kenyans counted the cost of Thursday’s chaotic and bloody ballot-its second election in three months-supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga vowed to maintain their boycott of efforts to reschedule a vote in areas where they’d managed to block it.
Iceland leans toward leftist government
Reuters, Reykjavik
Icelanders, angry over a string of political scandals, ousted the center-right government in an election that could pave the way for a young charismatic opposition leader to form a left-leaning coalition, vote counts indicated on Sunday.
With the defeat of incumbent Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson’s coalition government likely, his main opponent, The Left-Green Movement’s Katrin Jakobsdottir, could get a chance to form a narrow majority in parliament.
US soldier killed in Afghan copter crash
AFP, Kabul
A US soldier died after the helicopter they were in crashed in Afghanistan, foreign forces said Saturday, denying Taliban claims that it had shot down the aircraft.
Six other US crew members were injured in the accident late Friday in Logar province, south of Kabul, NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said in a statement.
Russian copter missing off Norway found
Reuters, Oslo
The wreckage of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter missing off Svalbard, Norway, since October 26 has been located, Norway’s rescue coordination center said on Sunday.
The wreckage was found offshore at a depth of 209 meters, it said.
Eight Russian men – five crew and three passengers – are assumed dead and the search for them will continue.
