News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Iraq´s Maliki fights for a third term

Iraq´s Federal Court has ruled that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shia bloc is the largest in parliament, in an apparent boost to his bid to stay on for a third term. The decision means that President Fuad Masum, who Maliki criticised for not intervening after parliament failed to appoint him, will now have to invite him to form a government. The move plunges Iraq into a new political crisis as it battles the Islamic State group, which has seized a large swath of territory in the north and west. Critics accuse Maliki of precipitating the current crisis through sectarian policies. Sunnis, Kurds and even fellow Shia have urged him to go. Bayan Abdul Rahman is the Kurdish Regional Government's High Representative in London: "I think it´s tragic for Iraq that our prime minister at this moment of mortal threat to all of us in Iraq is more worried about clinging to power than thinking about the good of his country and the good of his people."

Gaza talks resume in Cairo

An Israeli delegation has arrived in Cairo to resume indirect talks with Palestinian factions on a longer term solution to the conflict in Gaza. A fresh three-day ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, went into effect just after midnight.

Victory for Erdogan in Turkey´s presidential vote

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised a new era of social reconciliation in Turkey, a day after becoming the country´s first directly elected president. He´s also said he plans to give more powers to the presidency, which has traditionally been a largely ceremonial role.

Ukraine´s military posed to retake Donetsk

Ukrainian government forces are reportedly preparing for the final stage of retaking the city of Donetsk from pro-Russian separatists, after making significant gains that have divided rebel ranks. The Ukrainian military says it has now cut Donetsk off from the other main rebel-held city of Luhansk on the border with Russia.

WHO meeting on Ebola in Geneva

The World Health Organisation has called a meeting of medical ethics specialists in Geneva later today, to explore the use of new experimental treatments for the Ebola virus. Two Americans diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia recently have been treated with a US-made experimental drug and are said to be improving. The world's worst outbreak of Ebola has killed nearly 1,000 people in West Africa and the disease could continue spreading for months.

The weather

Rain and thunder storms will spread across the country from the west. Highs today from 16 to 23 in the west, up to 31 in the south east.

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