1. FIFA’s Blatter Still Being Paid Salary Despite Ban
FIFA’s Sepp Blatter may have been banned for eight years from the game but he is still receiving his president’s salary from world soccer’s governing body, a spokesman for FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee told Reuters.
2. Clinton’s Embrace of Obama Holds Risks for Poll Matchup
Hillary Clinton has distanced herself from President Barack Obama on a number of high-profile issues since starting her bid for the White House. Now, under pressure from left-leaning challenger Bernie Sanders, she is embracing Obama and his legacy with fervour.
But this strategy could pose problems for Clinton in the long run as Republicans look for fodder to portray her as representing Obama’s third term should she win the Democratic nomination.
3. Pakistan, China, US Join Afghan Peace Talks
Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US are participating in talks aimed at laying the ground for a negotiated end to almost 15 years of war between US-supported government forces and Taliban insurgents now firmly on the offensive.
4. Germany Seeks to Limit Migration from North Africa
Germany wants to limit migration from North Africa by declaring Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia “safe countries,” officials from the ruling coalition say, cutting their citizens’ chances of being granted asylum to virtually zero.
5. Seven Killed in Violence Across Turkey’s Largely Kurdish Southeast
Seven people, including two civilians, have been killed in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast, security sources say, as the death toll from operations launched by security forces last month climbs into the hundreds.
6. Iran Boosts Oil Output, Foreign Firms Eager for Deals
Iran ordered a steep increase in oil output to take immediate advantage of the lifting of international sanctions, and some foreign firms have raced to snap up deals as Tehran emerges from years of international isolation.
7. North Korea Nuclear Test Paves Way for Rare Party Congress
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent nuclear weapon test was designed to boost his domestic legitimacy ahead of a rare ruling party conference that could formalise market-based economic experiments in the isolated country, analysts say.
8. Anti-Rousseff Impeachment Push Loses Ground
President Dilma Rousseff’s opponents within her main coalition partner, the fractious Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, are losing hope that they can impeach the leftist leader and replace her with their man, Vice President Michel Temer.
9. Glenn Frey, Founding Member of the Eagles, Dead at 67
Glenn Frey, the prolific guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles, the American rock band known for ‘Hotel California’ and dozens of other hits, died on January 18 at age 67, the band said on its website.