News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

More protests planned in Egypt

Egypt´s Muslim Brotherhood is calling for peaceful protests after Friday prayers in support of the former president Mohammed Morsi, who was deposed by the army on Wednesday. Morsi´s opponents are also expected to take to the streets. The leader of the main opposition coalition, Mohammed el-Baradei, says the army acted on behalf of the people and would play no role in the political process: "We were between a rock and a hard place and people need to understand that and put it in context. I will never support an army intervention, neither now or any time in the future."

Bolivia threatens US embassy closure

The Bolivian President Evo Morales has threatened to close the United States embassy in La Paz, blaming Washington for urging European countries to ban his plane from their airspace earlier this week. The presidential aircraft was forced to land in Vienna on Tuesday, over unfounded suspicions that the fugitive American intelligence analyst Edward Snowden was on board. Bolivia and other South American countries have demanded an explanation and public apology. They also denounced what they believe was US pressure on France, Portugal, Italy and Spain .

Spying claims against France

France's foreign intelligence service reportedly intercepts computer and telephone data on a vast scale, like the controversial US Prism programme. That´s according to the French daily Le Monde. The paper says the operation is "outside the law, and beyond any proper supervision." French officials have not yet commented on Le Monde's allegations.

Portugal´s coalition government will survive

Portugal´s Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, says a formula has been found to maintain government stability with the junior partner in the ruling coalition, but the full details still need to be agreed to end the most serious political crisis since the country received a bailout in 20-11. The resignations this week of Portugal´s finance and foreign ministers have threatened to deprive the government of a parliamentary majority, as the country battles its worst economic crisis since the 1970s.

The UK votes on EU referendum

Britain´s House of Commons will vote later today on whether to hold a referendum on the country´s membership of the European Union. The bill is being backed by the ruling Conservative party leadership, but is opposed by the junior coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has pledged that, if the Conservatives win an outright Commons majority at the next election, he will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.

The weather

Changeable, with some sunshine, especially in the east and south. There´ll be an increasing chance of thundery showers. Highs today generally from 19 to 26, up to 30 in the southeast.

Übersicht

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