WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s conservative Prime Minister John Key swept to a historic election victory yesterday, securing a third term as voters ignored campaign allegations of dirty tricks and mass spying. The resounding win makes Key the first New Zealand leader able to govern in his own right since proportional voting was introduced in 1996 and means his centre-right National Party has increased its vote in all three elections he has contested. “I’m ecstatic, it’s a great night,” the 53-year-old former currency trader said after a result that confounded opinion poll predictions of a tight race. National won 61 of 121 parliamentary seats, up from 59 at the last election in 2011, while the main opposition Labour Party managed only 32. The Internet-Mana party, bankrolled by flamboyant tech mogul Kim Dotcom, did not win a single seat.
Man sparks evacuation at White House
WASHINGTON: A man sparked an evacuation at the White House late on Friday after he scaled and jumped over a fence and made it into the building before being captured. US President Barack Obama and his family were not at the White House at the time, though officials and journalists were rushed out of the building during the disturbance that began on the North Lawn around 7:20pm (2320 GMT) on Friday, the Secret Service said. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary identified the suspect as Omar Gonzalez, 42, from Copperas Cove, Texas.
Security upped at Vatican over attack fears
ROME: Security has been tightened in Saint Peter’s Square after intelligence services intercepted a possible plan to attack the Vatican, Italian media reported, increasing fears Pope Francis could be in danger. A foreign security service alerted Italy this week after intercepting a conversation between two people which referred to “a demonstrative act on Wednesday, at the Vatican,” Il Messaggero daily reported. Wednesday is the day the Pope holds his weekly general audience in the square. Checks by Italy’s anti-terrorism unit revealed that one of the speakers passed through the country eight months ago, heightening concerns the threat may be real. The Repubblica daily said plain clothes special operations officers with sniffer dogs trained in seeking out explosives were helping Vatican police vet tourists, while hotels in the area were also being kept under surveillance.
Australia plans tougher anti-terror laws
SYDNEY: The Australian government will introduce tough new legislation in parliament next week to tackle terrorism, reports said, in the aftermath of the biggest crackdown in the country’s history. Prime Minister Tony Abbott will seek sweeping counter-terror powers when the proposals go before the House on Wednesday, NewsCorp Australia reported. Thursday’s unprecedented raids in Sydney and Brisbane had foiled a plot by Islamic State jihadists to carry out gruesome “demonstration executions” which could have taken place within days, Abbott said.
36 killed in shootout in Nigerian town
MAIDUGURI: Fighters from Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram stormed the northeastern town of Mainok on Friday, sparking a gun battle that killed at least 36 people and continued into Saturday, two security sources said. Four civilians were also killed in the remote north of Cameroon in a cross-border attack by Boko Haram militants. Agencies
