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8. April 2017, 21:58

Syria rift overshadows G20 summit

Leaders from the G20 group of the world´s major economies are gathering in the Russian city of St. Petersburg for their annual summit, amid sharp differences over proposed military action against the Syrian government. Ahead of the talks, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, warned that action without United Nations approval would be "an aggression". But the American President, Barack Obama, said the credibility of the international community was on the line. On the eve of the summit, a United States Senate panel approved the use of military force in Syria, in response to alleged chemical weapons attacks in Damascus last month. The proposal, which now goes to a full Senate vote next week, must also be approved by the US House of Representatives. The prominent Republican senator, Marco Rubio, says attacking Syria will not end the country’s civil war: "The only thing that will prevent Assad from using chemical weapons in the future is for the Syrian people to remove him from power. The strike the administration wants us to approve I do not believe furthers that goal. In fact I believe the US military action of the type contemplated here may prove to be counter-productive."

Syria refugee appeal

Officials from Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, which border Syria, have appealed for more help in dealing with the vast influx of refugees fleeing the violence there. The Austrian president, Heinz Fischer, says Austria should offer to take as many Syrian refugees as possible. The government has said it´s prepared to receive some 500 refugees, with preference given to women, children and Christians.

Car bomb targets Egyptian minister

Security officials in Egypt say the convoy of the country´s Interior Minister has been the target of a car bombing in the capital, Cairo, but Mohammed Ibrahim is said to have survived the attack unhurt. The assassination attempt reportedly happened in the Nasr City area of Cairo, a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood of the deposed president, Mohammed Morsi. While there has been unrest and violence across Egypt since Morsi was ousted by the military in July, today´s attack is the first to target a senior government official.

Chile´s judiciary apologises for past role

The body representing judges in Chile has made an unprecedented apology for the actions of its members under military rule in the 1970s and 1980s. In a statement, the National Association of Magistrates said that the judiciary at the time had abandoned its role as protector of basic rights. Over 3,000 people were killed under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990.

The Weather

Mostly sunny, but some cloud in the east, with the chance of showers there and later on the southwest as well. Highs today from 18 to 30.

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