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8. April 2017, 21:58

Obama postpones vote on Syria action

President Barack Obama says he will pursue diplomatic efforts to remove Syria's chemical weapons but has ordered the United States military to "be in a position to respond" if such measures fail. In a televised address to the nation, Obama said he had asked the US Congress to postpone a vote authorising the use of force: "America´s not the world´s policeman. Terrible things happen across the globe and it is beyond our means to right every wrong. But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act." The US had threatened air strikes after a suspected chemical weapons attack killed hundreds in Damascus last month. Russia has proposed such weapons be placed under international control. Although Syrian officials have agreed in principle, the US and its allies remain sceptical.

“Heinous” war crimes in Syria

Meanwhile, a United Nations commission investigating human rights abuses in Syria says it has confirmed at least eight massacres perpetrated by the Syrian regime and one carried out by rebel forces over the past 18 months. Investigators say both sides have committed heinous war crimes.

Barroso warns against EU complacency

The European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, has called on the European Union to cement its fragile economic recovery, adding that political upheaval was still the biggest risk.
Giving his annual "State of the Union" speech to the European Parliament, Barroso also warned against complacency.

Delhi gang rape sentencing Friday

Indian prosecutors are demanding the death penalty for four men convicted of the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman last December, saying it was important to send a signal to the country that such crimes would not be tolerated. The victim´s injuries were so severe that she died in hospital two weeks after the attack on a bus in New Delhi. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

North and South Korea to reopen Kaesong

North and South Korea have reportedly agreed to restart operations at the joint Kaesong industrial complex. The South's Unification Ministry says a "trial" restart is set for September 16. Work at the complex stopped in April when the North withdrew its workers amid heightened political tensions.

Bomb strikes Egyptian intelligence HQ

State television is reporting that four soldiers were killed when a car bomb exploded at Egypt´s military intelligence headquarters in the Sinai Peninsula. Another soldier reportedly died in a second explosion at a nearby army checkpoint. The Sinai has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the army ousted the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.

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A mix of cloud and sunshine, with the chance of isolated showers. Highs today from 12 to 21.

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