News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Obama pledges action on inequality

The American President Barack Obama has promised a "year of action" in his annual State of the Union address. Obama says he will use his executive powers to bypass Congress and reverse the growing gap between rich and poor in the United States: "Those at the top have never done better, but average wages have barely budged and inequality has deepened."

Ukraine debates prisoner amnesty

Ukraine's parliament is debating a possible amnesty for scores of protesters detained during anti-government demonstrations, a day after the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet. President Viktor Yanukovych has said he wants to make the amnesty conditional on protesters leaving official buildings and taking down barricades. The opposition has so far ruled this out.
Marco Bojcun, the director of the London-based Ukraine Center, says they are deeply suspicious of President Yanucovych: "Given they have the momentum on their side, the protests have spread eastward in recent days, I think they will want to press their advantage and to demand his resignation."

Thai election to go ahead

Thailand´s Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has confirmed that a general election will go ahead on Sunday despite a warning that it could end in chaos. The Election Commission had been pressing for a delay because of on-going unrest.

Syria talks resume in Geneva

Syrian negotiators have begun meeting again in the Swiss city of Geneva, a day after the talks were cut short amid disagreements over the question of a transitional government. There´s also been no progress towards getting aid to besieged residents in Syria's central city of Homs, where United Nations trucks are waiting for access to deliver desperately needed food and medical supplies.

Serbia calls early elections

The Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has called an early parliamentary election for March 16 after the centre-right SNS party said it needed a stronger mandate to accelerate reforms.
The coalition government asked Nikolic on Tuesday to dissolve parliament and call the election, less than two years after the country's last vote.

European air traffic controllers strike

Air travel in parts of Europe is set to be disrupted today and tomorrow because of industrial action by air traffic controllers. France and Portugal are expected to be worst hit. There will also be protest action in Austria on Thursday. There's been opposition to plans by the European Union to overhaul European aviation by centralising air traffic control.

The weather

Overcast in the east with some light snowfall, elsewhere plenty of sunshine. Top temperatures today from minus 6 to zero, up to plus six where it´s sunny.

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