Russia's foreign minister has justified the use of Russian troops streaming into neighbouring Ukraine's Crimea region as a necessary protection for his country's citizens living there.

A proposed Swiss-German tax accord is dead and buried amid growing public opposition in Germany to any deal that is seen as too easy on evaders, senior members of chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition said.

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi fell ill during a news conference in Switzerland today, shortly after saying how exhausted she was after a long trip from Asia to Europe – her first in 24 years.