Erstellt am: 28. 1. 2015 - 14:44 Uhr

The Russian connection

Reality Check: Greek election aftermath, child soldiers released in South Sudan, revolutionising education.

While most have been looking to Brussels for outside reaction to the new government in Greece, an intriguing development has been surfacing to the east, or more precisely, the north-east: Moscow, to be exact.

Syriza is promising an end to austerity and to renegotiate with the EU, with the distant but real possibility of leaving both the Eurozone and the Union. This appears to be music to Russian ears. The EU is proving to be something of a thorn in the Kremlin's flesh, and any possibility of conflict between EU members, or even a split, is very welcome indeed.

EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Russia and Greece both follow the Orthodox religion and share many cultural and social values

Greece, for its part, has historic ties to Russia and shares substantial religious and political ground. Although Greece is a NATO member, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it would forego NATO for a closer alliance with Moscow, and while Russia has its own economic problems, from the Greek point of view, it may be an easier and more welcoming economic sponsor than Brussels.

Of course, it's early days, and what actually transpires when a government takes office is often very different from its election promises. However, it will be interesting to see how this scenario plays out. There's nothing Mr Putin would like better than an ally in an EU member, and it's quite possible there's nothing Mr Tsipras would like better than an alternative to haggling with Mrs Merkel and the EU.

Tom Barton reports from Moscow on the Russian view of Greece.

The new Greek cabinet

As the key positions in the new Greek government become clear, political correspondent with To Vima, Angelos Kovaios, explains the significance of the appointments.

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Child Soldiers International wants the release of child soldiers to be incorporated in all peace agreements

Child soldiers to be released in South Sudan

The first 280 of 3,000 child soldiers to be released in South Sudan have been freed today.

Charu Latta Hogg of Child Soldiers International explains how the release came about, what will happen to the children now, and why the issue of child soldiers needs to be the focus of more international attention.

Revolutionising school teaching

Education innovator, Margret Rasfeld, discusses a new type of school system she is pioneering in Berlin.

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