Brazil’s Lula must start prison term +++ Trump deploys National Guard to US-Mexico border

6. Mai 2018, 02:00

Brazil’s Lula must start prison term

Brazil's Supreme Court has ruled that the former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must begin serving his 12 year prison sentence for corruption. The decision could ruin the left-wing leader's chances of standing in October's presidential election - which he was the favourite to win. He's accused of accepting a bribe in return for political favours, but he claims the charges are politically motivated.

Trump deploys National Guard to US-Mexico border

There's been an angry reaction in Mexico, after President Trump ordered the US National Guard to deploy on the border, to help reduce illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The Mexican Senate urged the government to end cooperation, in response to what it called hostile and disrespectful treatment.

Russia requests UN Security Council meeting

Russia has called for the UN Security Council to meet to discuss the poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain last month. The British government believes Russia was behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia - charges which Moscow denies. The global chemical weapons watchdog, the OPCW, is conducting its own tests on the nerve agent used in the attack. Russia's Ambassador to the OPCW, Alexander Shulgin, says Moscow does not believe the inquiry will be impartial: "The UK wants the investigation to prove the results that have already been announced by Theresa May, just after the incident - when the blame was put on Russia even though the investigation will still be ongoing for months."

China-US trade standoff welcomed in Beijing

State media in China have applauded the government's decision to impose trade tariffs on some US imports - saying it demonstrated Beijing's refusal to be bullied. President Trump's economic advisors say they are still hopeful there will be no full-blown trade war. The Chinese Ambassador in Washington, Ciu Tiankai, said China would prefer to resolve the dispute through negotiations: "The relationship is comprehensive and complex... so far we have always been able to expand the good things and manage the not-so-good things. Of course negotiation will still be our preference, but it takes two to tango."

The weather

Mostly cloudy with rain showers, particularly in central Austria. Top temperatures ranging from 8 to 16 degrees.

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