News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

French government resigns

The French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has submitted his government´s resignation to President Francois Hollande and has been asked to form a new cabinet by Tuesday. The government was badly shaken on Sunday by criticism over its handling of the economy by the economy minister Arnaud Montebourg. He said austerity policies were choking growth and called for France to change course.

Russia to send second Ukraine aid convoy

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia intends to send another aid convoy to eastern Ukraine in the "next few days." He said that the humanitarian situation there was deteriorating. Ukraine and the West criticised Moscow for sending the first cargo without official permission.

US journalist freed in Syria

The American journalist Theo Curtis has reportedly been released after being held captive by al-Nusra militants in Syria since 2012. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US had worked with more than 20 countries to help secure his release. It comes days after another kidnapped US journalist, James Foley, was killed by the Islamic State group in Syria.

IS fighters seize Syrian military base

It´s being reported that over 500 people were killed after Islamic State fighters stormed the Tabqa military airbase in northeast Syria. It was the Syrian army's last foothold in an area otherwise controlled by the group, which has seized large swaths of Syria and Iraq. It was also one of the most significant government military facilities in the area. US terrorism expert Dr Bruce Hoffman: "After a week in which ISIS was pushed back from the Mosul Dam in Iraq, it starts out the new week with a significant military advance, not least in seizing the territory but in all the armaments and weaponry that one can find on a modern military installation."

California begins quake clear-up

Workers are assessing damage and have begun to clear up after a magnitude 6 earthquake in California's San Francisco Bay area, the strongest there in 25 years. No-one was killed but scores of people were injured in Sunday´s quake, which also caused widespread damage.

Richard Attenborough dies

Tributes are being paid to the Oscar-winning British film director Richard Attenborough who has died at the age of 90. Lord Attenborough was one of Britain's leading actors, before becoming a highly successful director. In a career that spanned six decades, he appeared in films including Brighton Rock, The Great Escape and later Jurassic Park. As a director he was probably best known for Gandhi, which won him two Oscars.

The weather

Some sun shine but light rain in the west later. Highs today from 16 to 24.

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