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8. April 2017, 21:58

World divided over the Syria crisis

World leaders meeting at the G20 summit in St Petersburg in Russia remain deeply divided over the crisis in Syria. France, Turkey, Canada and Britain have reportedly backed United States plans to launch a military strike against the forces of Syrian president Bashar al Assad, over an alleged chemical weapons attack. Russia has said it is unclear whether Assad’s forces or rebel fighters had used the weapons. United Nations secretary general Ban ki Moon at the summit warned that there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict: “There is only a political solution that can bring peace and end this bloodshed.” Meanwhile the US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, has said Washington will not seek Security Council approval for a military strike on Syria and has condemned Russia’s stance: “Russia continues to hold the Council hostage and shirk its international responsibilities including as a party to the chemical weapons convention.” Talks on economic policy at the G20 summit have reached agreement on steps to combat international tax evasion.

US and British agencies crack online privacy

Secret documents from the former CIA contractor Edward Snowden have revealed that United States and British intelligence agencies have cracked much of the encryption technology on the internet meant to protect the privacy of online banking, medical records and email of hundreds of millions of people. Reports in The New York Times, Britain's Guardian newspaper and the website ProPublica reveal covert partnerships between technology companies, internet service providers and the intelligence agencies.

Confusion over Muslim Brotherhood status

Egypt's prime minister's office has denied reports that a decision has been taken to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood as a legal body. Earlier reports in Egyptian state media had said a decision had been taken at the social solidarity ministry to revoke the Brotherhood’s status as an NGO "within days".

Dutch “responsible” for Srebrenica deaths

The Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that the Netherlands can be held responsible for the deaths of three Bosnian Muslim men killed during the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. The men had been ordered to leave a UN safe haven run by Dutch peacekeeping forces. The court ruling may have an impact on future UN peacekeeping missions.

Ashton to meet Iran’s Zarif

The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss his country's disputed nuclear program later this month. Iran's new president Hasan Rouhani has appointed Zarif as nuclear negotiator, replacing hardline security officials.

The Weather

Mainly sunny, some cloud in the south and south east. Top temperatures 20 to 30 degrees.

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