News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Syria denies Assad convoy attack

Syrian state television has broadcast video footage of president Bashar al-Assad at a prayer service at a Damascus mosque to mark the end of Ramadan, as the government denied claims that his motorcade had been targeted by rebels in the heart of the capital. The Tahrir al-Sham rebel brigade, a unit of the Free Syrian Army, claimed to have fired several artillery shells towards Assad's convoy and said that at least some had hit their target. The Syrian information ministry described the claims as "dreams and illusions."

US and EU call to end Egypt stalemate

The United States and the European Union have called on all sides in Egypt's political crisis to end a quote "dangerous stalemate," after the interim government issued a statement saying foreign mediation efforts had failed. The military-backed government has threatened to break up mass sit-ins in Cairo by supporters of the ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Scores have died in unrest since Morsi was overthrown last month. Heba Morayef is a researcher for the organisation Human Rights Watch in Egypt: "I am deeply, deeply concerned about the period ahead in Egypt because I think that this forcible dispersal of a demonstration will result in an extremely high death toll that will create a political crisis that will really be impossible to overcome."

Russia disappointed at Obama “snub”

The Kremlin says it is "disappointed" at the US decision to cancel bilateral talks between President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, which had been scheduled on the side lines of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg in September. The White House said Russia´s decision to grant temporary asylum to the fugitive American intelligence analyst, Edward Snowden, had deepened pre-existing tensions between the two counties.

New Czech PM loses confidence vote

The Czech Republic´s new government has lost a confidence vote in parliament, making it likely that early elections will be held before the end of the year. President Milos Zeman appointed his close ally, Jiri Rusnok, as prime minister last month, despite opposition from the main political parties. His predecessor, Petr Necas, resigned in June after a senior aide was charged with bribery and abuse of power.

Myanmar marks 1988 uprising anniversary

Public commemorations are taking place in Myanmar to mark the 25th anniversary of the uprisings which launched the country's pro-democracy movement. 3,000 protesters were killed and thousands more were jailed in the military crackdown which followed.

International flights resume after Kenya airport fire

International flights have resumed at the main airport in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, following a major fire on Wednesday. The cause of the fire at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is not yet known.

The weather

Extremely hot in the east and south, with showers or thunder storms in the west. Highs today generally from 25 to 35, but up to a record 40 in eastern regions.

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