While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 19 edition

Manhunts and death threats as Europe on high terror alert

Europe remained on high alert on Sunday as the suspected mastermind of a terrorist cell in Belgium remained at large and anti-Islamist rallies were blocked by nervous authorities in Germany and France.

Amid the heightened tensions, the second gunman in the Charlie Hebdo magazine attack was given a secretive burial in an unmarked grave near Paris late on Saturday, designed to ensure it did not become "a pilgrimage site" for radical Islamists.

Meanwhile, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, considered the brains behind the cell plotting to kill Belgian police, was still on the run days after the group was busted by intelligence services.

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Fury in Brazil and Netherlands as Indonesia executes foreigners by firing squad

Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia and expressed fury on Sunday after Jakarta defied their pleas and executed two of their citizens along with four other drug offenders.

The other convicts to face a firing squad were from Vietnam, Malawi, Nigeria and Indonesia. The six were the first people executed under new President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia has tough anti-drugs laws and Widodo, who took office in October, has disappointed rights activists by voicing support for capital punishment despite his image as a reformist. He defended the executions, saying drugs ruin lives.

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British PM David Cameron rebuts Pope Francis on speech offensive to religion

British Prime Minister David Cameron defended the right to speech that gives offence to others' religious beliefs, in a rebuttal to Pope Francis who said there should be limits.

In an interview that aired on United States network CBS Sunday morning talk show Face the Nation, Cameron said the West must show that its values, like free speech, are stronger than those of Islamist extremists pursuing a "poisonous death cult narrative".

"I think in a free society, there is a right to cause offence about someone's religion. I'm a Christian. If someone says something offensive about Jesus, I might find that offensive but in a free society I don't have a right to wreak my vengeance upon them," he said.

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Football: Santi Cazorla stars as Arsenal stun Man City 2-0 to energise its push to top four

Santi Cazorla scored one goal and made another as Arsenal damaged Manchester City's Premier League title challenge with a brilliant 2-0 victory at a chilly Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Spanish midfield scored a 24th-minute penalty and teed up Olivier Giroud for a second-half header to re-energise Arsene Wenger's side's push for a top-four finish, and maybe more.

Victory avenged Arsenal's crushing 6-3 loss on their last visit to this ground in December 2013 and left Manuel Pellegrini's City five points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who they play at Stamford Bridge on Jan 31.

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American Sniper blasts competition at North American box office

Clint Eastwood's American Sniper blasted into first place with a massive US$90.2 million (S$119.66 million) take, blowing away the competition at the American box office, industry estimates said Sunday.

The war drama, based on the true story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, set a new record for January opening, US media reported, and comes after the film wracked up six Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor for star Bradley Cooper. This was the film's first weekend in wide release.

Well behind, but with another solid debut, action comedy The Wedding Ringer opened in second place with US$21 million, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. The critically panned flick stars Kevin Hart as a best-man-for-hire for a socially awkward groom.

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