News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Syria bombs ISIS militants in Iraq

Iraq has confirmed that Syrian jets have bombed positions held by Islamist insurgents in western Iraq, on the border to Syria. Prime minister Nouri Maliki said Iraq did not request the military action but welcomed any attack on the Isis militants. The United States which has so far refused to carry out air attacks despite requests from Iraq has said Syrian intervention is not the solution to the insurgency. Elsewhere in Iraq, Iran has reportedly shelled an area close to the border, in the Kurdish region in the north. Meanwhile Iraq has started the process of forming a new government by next week's deadline, after the presidency issued a decree for a parliament session on Tuesday.

EU summit likely to choose Juncker

European Union leaders at a two day summit opening today are expected to choose former Luxembourg prime minister Jean Claude Juncker as the next Commission president over objections from Britain. British prime minister David Cameron is likely to force a vote tomorrow on the appointment, despite Juncker having the support of a very large majority of EU leaders. Prominent Greens MEP Ska Keller says Juncker’s position as leader of the strongest European parliamentary fraction after recent elections should give him the job: “Mr Cameron has put himself in a not so nice corner. He’s not accepting voters’ choice and for me that’s unbelievable and he’s been even blackmailing about leaving the European Union.” The EU summit opens in Ypres in Flanders where leaders will commemorate the outbreak of World War One a century ago.

US demands Russia action on Ukraine

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said Russia should call on separatists in east Ukraine to disarm today. Speaking after talks in Paris with France's foreign minister, Kerry said EU leaders would discuss possible further sanctions on Russia at their summit unless Moscow acted to calm the Ukrainian crisis.

Abu Qatada cleared on terror charge

Jordan's state security court has acquitted radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada on terror charges linked to an alleged plot in 1998. Abu Qatada remains in custody awaiting a verdict on separate terror charges.

Libya vote turnout low

Turnout in Libya’s parliamentary election yesterday was lower than 50%. In Benghazi, gunmen shot dead the prominent human rights activist Salwa Bugaighis, who helped organize the first protests against the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Hunt for MH370 shifts

Australia says the hunt for the Malaysia Airlines Flight missing since March 8 will shift further south in the Indian Ocean, based on the latest analysis of satellite data. It says the plane was most likely on auto pilot when it crashed.

The weather

Mainly sunny and dry. Scattered thundershowers in the south west. Top temperatures 18 to 26 degrees.

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