News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Giant tornado pounds US city of Oklahoma

A powerful tornado has struck the US city of Oklahoma, killing at least 91 people, including 20 children, and causing extensive damage. The worst hit area was the southern suburb of Moore, which was lashed by winds of over 300 kilometres per hour. Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb described the devastation to journalists. “Churches have been destroyed, neighbourhoods obliterated, schools flattened, hospitals hit and loss of life.” Rescue teams are combing through the rubble as the search for bodies and survivors continues.

Iraq struck by new wave of bombings

Reports coming out of Iraq say at least 13 people have been killed in a series of bombings, including a blast at a military checkpoint north of Baghdad and another at a cattle market in the restive northern city of Kirkuk. Violence in Iraq has increased substantially over the past month, with more than 70 people killed yesterday in bomb attacks.

Israeli soldiers come under attack near Syrian

Israeli troops have reportedly returned fire after being shot at by gunmen in the Golan Heights region, which borders Syria. The Israeli military says no-one was injured in the exchange but one of its vehicles was hit. The incident has renewed fears that the violence in Syria could spill over into neighbouring countries.

Obama praises Myanmar’s President for reforms

US president Barak Obama has praised the leadership of his Burmese counterpart Thein Sein, during historic talks in Washington DC. Obama welcomed recent economic and political reforms enacted by Thein Sein, who's the first ruler of Burma or Myanmar to visit the US since 1966, but said he was concerned by reports of violence against the country's Muslim minority. He said America would continue to do all it could to help. “We are prepared to work in any ways that we can with both the government of Myanmar and the international community to ensure that people are getting the help that they need, but, more importantly, that their rights and their dignity is recognised over the long term.”

Guatemala’s court annuls conviction of former leader

Guatemala's former military leader Efrain Rios Montt has had his conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity overturned by the country's Constitutional Court. Montt was sentenced earlier this month to 80 years in jail, after being found guilty of ordering the deaths of hundreds of ethnic Mayans during the early 1980s.
The court has ordered a partial retrial after ruling that procedural errors were committed.

Apple is accused of massive tax avoidance

A US Senate committee has accused the technology giant Apple of using a complex web of subsidiaries to avoid paying billions of dollars of tax. Apple CEO Tim Cook has denied the use of "tax gimmicks" and says his company paid 6 billion dollars in US taxes last year.

The weather

And partly sunny conditions have been forecast for today, with scattered rain and thunderstorms. Top temperatures will range from 12 to 22 degrees.

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