News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

US accuses Moscow over Ukraine crisis

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Russia of "destabilising" the situation in eastern Ukraine. In a strongly-worded statement, he called on Moscow to help defuse the crisis or face the prospect of further sanctions. Pro-Russian separatists are continuing to occupy key buildings in several towns. Earlier, Russia called on the US to put pressure on the Ukrainian government to stop its operations against pro-Russian groups in the region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the interim government in Kiev is "staging a war against its own citizens." Ukraine meanwhile says Russian troops have approached to within 1 kilometre of the border. Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk has been quoted as saying that Russia was "trying to start World War Three" by occupying Ukraine "militarily and politically".

Israel tells Abbas to cancel Hamas deal

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas must cancel his party's pact with Hamas if he wants to work towards peace in the region. Israel has suspended negotiations with the Palestinians in response to the reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah. In an interview with the BBC, Netanyahu said his message for Abbas was clear: "he's made a terrible decision for peace and I think by the way a terrible decision for his own people, the Palestinian people. Because they too must choose where they want to go - forward towards peace, or backwards to Hamas." In response, Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said it was Israel which didn't want peace: "it saw the reconciliation as an excuse to finally end the peace talks. I think that Netanyahu is disingenuous, he is not committed to peace."

President Obama visits South Korea

The US President Barack Obama is in South Korea on the second leg of his Asia tour. Talks with President Park Geun-hye have focussed on North Korea following reports of increased activity at its nuclear test site.

Ferry recovery efforts continue

Recovery efforts are continuing in the wake of last week's ferry catastrophe in South Korea. Officials say at least 183 passengers have been confirmed dead. Over 120 are still missing.

Search for plane to widen

Australian officials say the underwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane could be expanded. The operation is currently focussing on an area in the Indian Ocean. But so far it's failed to detect any sign of the aircraft.

The weather

There’ll be occasional rain and thunder storms in the east and southeast. But much of the country will be mainly sunny with a few showers. Highs are ranging between 13 and 22 degrees, in the West up to 25.

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