News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

US Congress orders spying review

The US Senate's Intelligence Committee has ordered a major review of the country's surveillance operations, in light of recent allegations that the US has been spying on the leaders of partner nations, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. US President Barak Obama claims that he didn't know the full extent of these operations. In a television interview he said the activities of the National Security Agency needed to be kept under control. “We give them policy direction but what we’ve seen over the last several years is their capacity has continued to develop and expand. And that’s why I’m initiating a review to make sure that what they’re able to do doesn’t necessarily mean what they should be doing.”

WHO confirms polio outbreak in Syria

The World Health Organisation has confirmed 10 cases of polio among children in north-eastern Syria and says it's continuing to investigate another 12 suspected infections. It's the first outbreak of the disease, which leads to irreversible paralysis, in Syria in 14 years. The UN estimates that half a million children have not been immunised in Syria, due to the ongoing conflict.

Suspects identified in suspicious Beijing crash

Police in China say they are seeking two people from the restive western region of Xinjiang, in connection with a deadly car crash in central Beijing on Monday. The vehicle drove into a crowd in Tiananmen Square, killing five people, and then burst into flames. Reports suggest the crash may have been a suicide attack. Xinjiang is home to the Muslim Uighur people, who complain of repressive Chinese rule. Barbara Demick is the Beijing bureau chief of the LA Times newspaper. “For something like this to happen in the heart of Beijing, I mean, really to hit a bull’s- eye at the spiritual centre of the country, is going to, I’m sure, make the Chinese government very nervous.”

Rail tunnel opens in Istanbul

A new rail tunnel is being opened today in the Turkish city of Istanbul, which will link the parts of the city divided by the Bosphorus straight. The project was initially conceived in the 1860s. Work finally began in 2004 but was delayed due to archaeological finds. The Turkish government hopes the 4 billion dollar tunnel will open up a new trade route between Europe and Asia.

Drone strike kills Somali Islamist commander

The Somali government says it believes a senior commander of the militant group al Shabab has been killed in a suspected US drone strike in the south of the country. The militant has been identified as Ibrahim Ali Abdi, al Shabab's leading explosives expert.

Russia warns Ukraine over gas debts

Russia says it will ask Ukraine to pay in advance for its gas supplies, if it doesn't settle outstanding debts of almost 900 million dollars. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, cut gas deliveries to Ukraine during similar disputes in 2006 and 2009. Ukraine is preparing to sign a landmark association agreement with the EU, which has strained ties with Moscow.

The Weather

Conditions will remain generally wet and overcast this afternoon. Top temperatures will range from 8 to 20 degrees.

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