News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukrainian crisis intensifies

In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings in the town of Kostyantynivka. The town is 35 kilometres from Slovyansk, which has been under rebel control for three weeks and where separatists continue to hold seven observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Meanwhile, the mayor of the eastern city of Kharkiv has been shot and severely wounded. Hennady Kernese is seen as a supporter of the Ukrainian government in Kiev. The United States has indicated it will impose more economic sanctions today on Russia because of the Ukrainian crisis, and the chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag, Norbert Röttgen, is also calling new sanctions on Moscow. He says President Vladimir Putin is intentionally trying to de-stabilize Ukraine to prevent it from moving closer to Europe. Ian Jack of the Financial Times newspaper says sanctions are having an impact: “The word out of Moscow is that a number of individuals who have been squeezed are expressing concern. There’s been some degree of nervousness about instability and how far the Russian economy in itself will begin to suffer and that could put some domestic pressure on President Putin to change course.”

683 Egyptians sentenced to death

A court in Egypt today recommended the death sentence for 683 people, including Mohamed Badie, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood. The charges relate to unrest last year in the city of Minya in which policemen were killed. Today’s verdicts are expected to raise tensions in Egypt, which has been in turmoil since the army removed the Muslim Brotherhood from power last year.

Deadly tornadoes in USA

A series of tornadoes has hit the central and southern United States. 17 people were killed. The worst-hit areas were in Arkansas and Oklahoma. James Firestone is the mayor of Vilonia, Arkansas: “The storm hit. Buildings are completely leveled. Very few walls left standing in its path. Just a tremendous amount of damage.”

Obama: China has a major role in Asia-Pacific area

US President Barack Obama is in the Philippines today, the final stop of a week-long tour of Asia. Speaking today in Manila, he said that China is going to be a dominant power in the Asia-Pacific region, just by the sheer size of the country. But he also said that China’s neighbours should be able to prosper on their own terms.

Conservatives win in Macedonian elections

Macedonia’s conservatives are claiming victory in yesterday’s general election. They won 42 percent of the vote but fell one seat short of having an absolute majority in parliament. They are now expected to seek a coalition with a party representing ethnic Albanians, which won 13 percent. The main opposition Social Democrats won 24 percent. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov was also re-elected yesterday.

The weather

This afternoon’s weather will remain variable to mostly cloudy with some scattered rainshowers, but with mostly sunny skies in low-lying areas. Highs today are ranging from 8 to 22 degrees.

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