News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Italian PM Letta to resign

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is expected to submit his resignation to president Giorgio Napolitano today after losing the support of his own Democratic Party for his coalition government. The new Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi, had earlier called for a change of government to institute radical reforms. Renzi, who is mayor of Florence, is expected to be asked to form the next government but must seek the support of other parties.

Eurozone growth picks up

Official figures show economic recovery in the Eurozone accelerated in the fourth quarter of last year. Eurozone growth of 0.3%, up from 0.1% in the previous quarter, was stronger than economists had expected.

UN warns of “major assault” in Syria

The United Nations human rights office has warned of an apparent Syrian government military build-up around the rebel held city of Yabroud, and says it fears a major assault. It says hundreds of families are fleeing the region for Lebanon. Meanwhile UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has urged the Security Council to pass a resolution ensuring aid deliveries to millions of people trapped by the fighting: “People who are weak, traumatised, who have run out of their coping mechanisms, they’re looking to the members of the Security Council, are looking to us, as a world community, to do something.” The UN negotiator at Syrian peace talks in Geneva, Lakhdar Brahimi, has warned that failure is staring him in the face, despite efforts by envoys from the United States and Russia to break the deadlock between the warring parties.

Java eruption displaces thousands

Tens of thousands of people have had to leave their homes on the island of Java in Indonesia after the volcano, Mount Kelud erupted. Ash and debris have been thrown over a large area, including cities over a 100 kilometres away, and airports have been closed.

Thai police disperse camps

In Thailand, riot police have begun clearing protest camps in Bangkok as part of efforts to re-claim areas that have been closed during a campaign to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Police retreated from another protest venue after hundreds of demonstrators refused to leave.

US storm wreaks havoc

In the United States, a second huge snow storm this winter has struck the north east. Hundreds of thousands of people are without power after the storm swept through southern states. At least 22 people have died as a result of the severe weather.

Virginia ban on gay marriage overturned

A federal judge has struck down a ban on same-sex marriage in the US state of Virginia as unconstitutional. The ruling is the first time a conservative southern state has had a voter-approved ban on gay marriage overturned. An appeal is expected.

The Weather

Partly sunny, with skies clearing in the east, cloudier in western regions. Top temperatures 1 to 11 degrees.

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