News | 12 January 2018

Breakthrough in German coalition talks +++ Czechs vote for president

Breakthrough in German coalition talks +++ Czechs vote for president +++ Trump criticised for outburst against migrants +++ US expected to extend Iran sanctions relief +++ Facebook plans major changes +++ Saudi women-only car showroom opens +++ The Weather

News | 12 January 2018

Rosie Waites

Breakthrough in German coalition talks

There's been a breakthrough in talks in Germany on forming a new coalition government. Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democrats and their former coalition partners, the Social Democrats, have now agreed a basis upon which a coalition treaty can be negotiated. They say the agreement could give Germany and the European Union a fresh start. Merkel has been unable to form a government since inconclusive elections in September.

Czechs vote for president

Voters in the Czech Republic go to the polls today in the first round of the country's presidential election. Polls indicate that incumbent Milos Zeman will likely be re-elected. Zeman has sought to bring his country closer to Russia and China in his first five year term... while most of the eight men challenging him want to reaffirm the Czech Republic's place in the European Union. Ondřej Lipár is a journalist in Prague: "It will be a very close election I think, and judging from the past few months and years, with Trump and with Brexit, I'm afraid that the outcome will be that he will, you know, stay in office for the next five years."

Trump criticised for outburst against migrants

The US President Donald Trump has been criticised for insulting a number of African countries, Haiti, and El Salvador - describing them as, quote "shithole" countries. He made the comment during a White House meeting to discuss a bipartisan immigration agreement. Trump also said that migrants from a country like Norway would be preferable. Democrat members of Congress said the remarks clearly showed the president was racist. Scott Lucas is Professor of American Studies at the University of Birmingham: "Donald Trump has said that all Haitians have AIDS. He's talked about how Africans should go back to their mud huts. So, he has made these types of remarks before. So, these latest comments simply reinforce the fact that this is what this president believes."

US expected to extend Iran sanctions relief

Reports from Washington suggest President Trump is to extend relief from sanctions, granted to Iran under an international nuclear deal. The decision, which is due to be announced later today, leaves the deal intact for the time being, in spite of Trump withdrawing his support from it.

Facebook plans major changes

Facebook's chief executive has acknowledged that changes it is making, to prioritise meaningful social interactions on the site, mean many users will spend less time on it. Mark Zuckerberg said he wanted to make sure Facebook wasn't just fun to use, but also good for people's well-being.

Saudi women-only car showroom opens

The first car showroom for women has opened in Saudi Arabia, following the overturning of the Kingdom's ban on women drivers. Potential customers have been inspecting the vehicles at a shopping centre in Jeddah.

The Weather

Mostly cloudy and foggy with some rain showers in the east. Partly sunny in the west. Highs today between 0 and 7 degrees.

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