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8. April 2017, 21:58

Syria warns against US military strike

President Barack Obama and his senior aides have launched a full-scale political offensive to try to persuade a sceptical Congress to approve a military strike against Syria, after it reconvenes from the summer recess next week. The American president stepped back from his threat to launch an attack unilaterally over the weekend. Secretary of State John Kerry has said there´s new evidence that the deadly nerve gas, sarin, was used in last month´s chemical attacks near Damascus, and that over 14 hundred people were killed. Syria has accused Obama of hesitation, confusion and a quote "historic retreat." The Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, has also warned that any military action by the United States against Syria would amount to support of al-Qaeda and its affiliates: "History will not forgive those people who commit mistakes and who destroy other countries and who launch attacks to support terrorist organisations, like al-Qaeda in Syria." Meanwhile, the French Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, is due to meet parliamentary leaders to brief them on possible strikes. France earlier pledged to support US military intervention in Syria.

Egypt to put Mohammed Morsi on trial

Egypt's state prosecutor has announced that the deposed president, Mohammed Morsi, will stand trial on charges of inciting the murder of protesters while in office. The accusations relate to violence outside the presidential palace in Cairo last December when at least seven people were killed.

Merkel battles rival in TV debate

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and her Social Democrat challenger, Peer Steinbrück, have taken part in the only television duel before national elections on September 22. The debate, which produced no clear winner, was dominated by the euro, tax policy and US surveillance. Merkel´s conservative coalition is reportedly leading the SPD, with 40% to 25% in the latest polls.

Fukushima radiation levels warning

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, says the government will take prompt, comprehensive steps to clean up the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The plant´s embattled operator, Tepco, has confirmed that radiation near a tank holding highly contaminated water had spiked 18-fold and would prove fatal to anyone exposed within four hours. Japan´s nuclear regulator has also raised safety concerns about hastily built storage tanks and their foundations, amid reports of new leaks of contaminated water.

The Weather

A mix of cloud and sunshine, brightest in the west and south. Highs today from 16 to 23.

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