Alexis Tsipras sworn in as new prime minister: The speed at which Greece is forming a new government is incredible. Greek left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras was sworn in on Monday as prime minister and quickly sealed a coalition deal with the small Independent Greeks party only one day after elections. At a brief secular ceremony Tsipras pledged to uphold the constitution in front of President Karolos Papoulias. In a symbolic move, Tsipras’ first action as prime minister was to commemorate Greek resistance fighters at a memorial in Athens to those executed by Nazis. With nearly all the votes counted, Mr. Tsipras’s Syriza party had won 36.3 percent and secured 149 seats in the Parliament, short of the 151 that he needed for an outright majority.
reuters.com, bbc.com, nytimes.com
Europe warns Greece over debt commitments: Alexis Tsipras‘ victory in Greece excites European left- and right-wing populists alike. Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Front party, calls the victory of anti-austerity Syriza party a monstrous democratic slap to the European Union. The European Commission has assured the new Greek coalition government its support, but Parliament’s president Martin Schulz also stressed that Greece has to stick to agreements made to stabilize the country and the European Union. Commissioner Oettinger and Schulz reject waiving Greece’s debt.
dw.de, bbc.com, financialtimes.com, europa.eu
Syrian Kurds drive IS out of Kobane: Kurdish forces have driven Islamic State militants from Kobane and have taken full control of the northern Syrian town, ending a four-month battle. The group still has fighters in hundreds of surrounding villages, the U.S. said it was not yet prepared to declare the battle over. The IS militia is said to have left behind tanks, rockets, and fire arms after being driven out of Kobane.
telegraph.co.uk, bbc.com, newsweek.com
EU increases aid for Ukraine: After the rocket attack on Mariupol, Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists continue fighting in eastern Ukraine. Nearly 500 coal miners have been trapped underground at a site in rebel-held Donetsk as their pit lost power. A shell had reportedly hit a regional electric substation, cutting off the supply. Officials are preparing to evacuate children in risk areas following the deaths of nine people in the past 24 hours. Residents of the rebel-controlled territories say they are now stranded due to a new travel permit system introduced by Kiev. The EU is increasing its aid for Ukraine by 15 million euros. Germany’s foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has hinted at further sanctions against Russia.
abc.net.au, theguardian.com, yahoonews.com, dw.de
NATO jet crashes at military base: A Greek fighter jet has crashed at a Spanish military base in Albacete, killing ten people and injuring 13, according to the country’s defense ministry. The jet crashed at a military base in south-east Spain while it was participating in Nato manoeuvres. The plane was carrying out a training exercise when it lost power during take-off, crashing into a parking area for planes. Most of the victims were believed to be foreigners.
mirror.co.uk, theguardian.com, ibtimes.co.uk
European Parliament debates investment plans, terrorism, and climate: Parliamentarians will meet in their committees this week to discuss anti-terrorism measures and the international climate agreement. On Wednesday, Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s investment plan will be discussed in plenary. German and Italian finance ministers Wolfgang Schäuble and Pier Carlo Padoan will review rules for economic governance in the Parliament. President Martin Schulz will take part in the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Prague.
europa.eu
Human rights MEPs discuss the worldwide situation europa.eu
Support Smaller Spanish companies to unlock 3.2 billion euro additional lending europa.eu
„Syriza stands for a return to corruption.“
The Greek sociologist Michael Kelpanides fears that Greece with a Syriza government is going to lose its last vestige of respect and credibility in the West.
faz.net„Whatever the Germans say, in the end Germany will always pay.“
The designated Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is counting on Germany’s and Europe’s willingness to cooperate.
balkaneu.com
Prague holds Holocaust forum: An international forum to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust is being held in Prague. Europe is facing a new Jewish exodus in the face of rising anti-Semitism and extremism, the head of the European Jewish Congress, Moshe Kantor, said. According to Kantor, many European Jews no longer feel safe. Almost 300 Holocaust survivors from all over the world will participate in a big remembrance event on the anniversary day of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not be present, since he did not receive a formal invitation to the memorial and considered this to be insulting, causing further diplomatic irritations between Poland and Russia.
globalpost.com
Prosecutors demand 26 years for Concordia captain: Italian prosecutors called for Francesco Schettino, the captain of the doomed Costa Concordia, to be jailed for 26 years for a shipwreck which killed 32 people. As part of the prosecution’s three-day closing statement, prosecutor Stefano Pizza said there should be no pity for the man accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship.
theguardian.com, yahoonews.com
Le Pen injured in house fire: The 86-year-old former leader of far-right party Front National, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has reportedly been lightly injured in the face after a fire broke out at his apartment in Rueil-Malmais, west of Paris. According to Le Pen’s daughter Marine, it was an accidental fire that erupted in the chimney. There is currently no evidence of foul play in the starting of the blaze.
telegraph.co.uk, ibtimes.co.uk
More revelations about Orban: The Hungarian whistle blower platform „Direkt36“ has announced new revelations about the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The investigative journalists are working on revealing new information in regards to the scandal about expensive journeys abroad by Orban’s Minister to the Chancellery Janos Lazar. To continue their work, the journalists are looking for financial support on crowdfunding platforms.
derstandard.at, businessweek.com
Protests against muzzling law: Thousands of Spanish protesters marched through Madrid to express their opposition to a proposed law that would set hefty fines for the act of protesting. The legislation covers offenses such as demonstrating outside parliament buildings or strategic installations, and is seen as effectively muzzling the people. The law, officially named the Public Security Law, would allow fines of up to 600,000 euros for individuals if they are deemed to have breached the peace. The bill is heavily criticised by opposition parties and human rights groups as an attempt by the government to muzzle protests over its handling of Spain’s financial crisis.
euronews.com
Romania Hundreds protest for protective financial measures euronews.com
Luxembourg Agreement separates church and state wort.lu
Great Britain Libby Lane is first woman bishop of Church of England euronews.com
4.13 dollars is how much a Big Mac costs in Germany. The European countries rank in the middle of the Big Mac Index, a lighthearted way to measure the value of a currency. The very same burger costs 7.47 euros in Switzerland, making the franc the most overvalued currency in the index.
cnn.com
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Cameron and the drunk caller: A drunk caller pretending to be the director of Britain’s GCHQ secret service agency managed to be put through to Prime Minister David Cameron. The intoxicated man had tricked the intelligence agency earlier into handing over a mobile phone number for its director Robert Hannigan. Cameron ended the phone call when it became obvious that it was a hoax. In neither instance was sensitive information disclosed. Regardless, security procedures in London are under review to ensure that the government learns a lesson from this incident.
mirror.co.uk, nypost.com