News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

US-Russia talks on Syria in Geneva

The American secretary of state, John Kerry, is meeting his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Geneva to discuss a Russian proposal to put Syria´s chemical weapon stockpiles under international control before destroying them. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council met in New York on Wednesday to discuss the plan, which is aimed at averting military intervention by the United States in response to last month´s suspected poison gas attack in Damascus. The opposition Free Syrian Army has rejected the Russian proposal, saying that President Bashar al-Assad's government should instead be referred to the International Criminal Court.

President Putin appeals to America

Meanwhile, the Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis. In an opinion article in the New York Times, he warned that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism and throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

Concern over North Korea nuclear reactor

Satellite images have been released showing steam rising from North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility, suggesting that the reactor has been restarted. Pyongyang vowed to restart facilities at its main nuclear complex in April, amid heightened tensions on the peninsula. The reactor can produce plutonium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. It has been technically out of operation for 6 years. Dr Jeffrey Lewis led the team at the US-Korea institute which made the discovery: "The reactor looks like it either is, or will within a matter of days, be fully operational. And as soon as that happens it will start producing plutonium. It´s about 6 kilogrammes of plutonium a year, and that´s anywhere between one to two bombs a year". Analysts believe North Korea already possesses between four and 10 nuclear weapons.

Turkish police clash with protesters

Demonstrators have clashed with police in southern Turkey for a third straight night, a day after the funeral of a 22-year-old protester whose death has reignited the anti-government movement. Clashes were also reported in Ankara and Istanbul.

EU set to abolish roaming charges

The European Commission is seeking to abolish mobile phone roaming charges across the European Union, while streamlining its telecoms sector and boosting investment in new high-speed networks. The Commission wants to scrap roaming charges completely by 2016. The plan must still be approved by the EU parliament and member states.

The weather

Mostly overcast with scattered showers and snow showers above 18 hundred metres - a mix of sunshine and showers in the east and south east. Highs today from 10 to 20.

Übersicht

• News In English