News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

US Secretary of State begins Middle East tour

The US Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the first day of a tour of the Middle East to build support to defeat the Islamic State group. President Barack Obama is due to make a television address to the nation later today in which he will outline an expanded military and political strategy to combat the Islamic State, which could include air strikes in Iraq and possibly Syria. The leader of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives, John Boehner, says he would support swift action: "I think we have to be going after the terrorist threat wherever it is and anyone that thinks this is just an Iraq/Syria issue is not paying much attention to what´s happening around the world. There is a serious threat here that has to be dealt with on many levels."

New EU Commission line-up announced

The President of the European Commission, Luxembourg´s former Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, has announced his new 28-strong team, with the emphasis on economic growth, energy reforms, competition and trade. The Austrian EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn has been put in charge of Neighbourhood and Enlargement, a role that will focus heavily on the difficult situation in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.

Ukraine pledges more autonomy in the east

The Russian and Ukrainian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko, are said to be broadly satisfied with the way the cease-fire is holding in eastern Ukraine. President Poroshenko today pledged to introduce a bill to parliament as early as next week that would offer greater autonomy to regions in the east.

Liberia warns of national catastrophe

Liberia´s national defence minister is warning of a national catastrophe, as deaths from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa near 2,300 and reported cases surge. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council in New York, Brownie Samukai said the disease was spreading like wild fire, devouring everything.

Monsoon floods in Asia displace thousands

Hundreds of thousands of people are stranded in India and many more have been warned to leave their homes in Pakistan, following flooding caused by monsoon rains. The death toll in the worst floods in the region in decades has now passed 450.

UK party leaders in “no” campaign in Scotland

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has appealed to people in Scotland to shun independence, as he tries to stem a steep rise in support for secession ahead of a referendum on September 18. Cameron and the opposition leader Ed Miliband have scrapped their weekly question-and-answer session to visit Scotland. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will also be campaigning in Scotland today.

The weather

Mostly overcast with isolated showers or thunderstorms, but some sunshine in the north. Highs today from 15 to 23.

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