News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Hamas reportedly ready for truce

Reports from Gaza say the Palestinian militant group Hamas is ready for a ceasefire with Israel. Egyptian intelligence officials have reportedly negotiated a potential truce. Israel has not confirmed the reports. There has been an increase in rocket and mortar attacks into southern Israel from Gaza in recent days and of retaliatory airstrikes by Israel, which has also sent additional military forces to its frontier with Gaza.

Abu Khdair funeral expected today

The development comes ahead of the planned funeral in east Jerusalem of the Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdair who was kidnapped and murdered this week in the aftermath of the killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Abu Khdair’s funeral has been delayed while Israeli authorities carried out an autopsy. His family say police have assured them the body will be handed over for burial today. No arrests have been made in relation to his killing.

US doubts Iraqi military capability

The United States top military official, general Martin Dempsey, has said the Iraqi military will be unable to retake territory captured by the Sunni extremist group ISIS without outside help: “If you’re asking me will the Iraqis at some point be able to go back on the offensive to recapture the part of Iraq that they’ve lost, probably not by themselves.” In Iraq, the provincial leader who fled the city of Mosul when it was seized by ISIS says the militants are hunting down opponents and non-Sunnis, and demanding officials and soldiers pledge allegiance to the group or face possible execution.

Intense fighting in east Ukraine

Government troops in east Ukraine say at least 150 pro-Russian rebels and two soldiers have been killed in the latest fighting. A contact group including rebel leaders is meant to meet tomorrow at the latest to discuss a new ceasefire.

Ebola strategy agreed

West African countries have adopted a joint strategy to fight an Ebola epidemic which has killed hundreds of people. At a two-day meeting in Ghana they agreed on better cooperation with one another and the World Health Organization to fight what is the world’s deadliest outbreak of Ebola.

Anthrax outbreak in Hungary

Hungarian health authorities say there has been an outbreak of anthrax in the east of the country. They said the deadly bacteria was identified in frozen beef from two cows slaughtered illegally. Five people have been hospitalised.

Coulson sentenced for hacking

A former British newspaper editor Andy Coulson who was a top advisor to prime minister David Cameron has been given an 18 month prison sentence for phone hacking. He was editor of the now defunct News of the World.

The weather

Hot and mainly sunny. Top temperatures 24 to 34 degrees.

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