News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Hollande warns of global IS threat

The US Secretary of State John Kerry and foreign ministers from around the world are meeting in Paris to discuss how to defeat the Islamic State group. The meeting is being co-hosted by France and Iraq. The French President Francois Hollande said the beheading of a British aid worker showed the world must act against the IS, which he described as a global threat requiring a global response.

Sweden´s Democrats to begin coalition talks

The Swedish Social Democrat leader Stefan Lof-ven says he is ready to start coalition talks after winning Sunday´s election. But he says he will not work with the far right Sweden Democrats who made big gains, taking 13% of the vote: "I will start negotiations with the Green party, the party I have always said is our natural coalition partner. But I also want to make it clear I am open to cooperating with other democratic parties that want to take responsibility for Sweden. Our country is too small for conflicts." The Social Democrats are set to return to power after eight years in opposition but with no clear parliamentary majority.

Austria´s foreign minister in Kiev

The Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz is in Kiev today for talks with the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and other senior officials, as efforts continue to deescalate the crisis in the east of the country. Troops from the United States and 14 of its NATO allies are beginning more than a week of military exercises in the west of Ukraine. Russia has described it as a provocation.

Air France pilots begin strike action

Over half of Air France flights worldwide have been cancelled as pilots begin a week-long strike. They are angry that Air France-KLM is shifting jobs and operations to low-cost carrier Transavia to better keep up with competition. The strike will cost the airline an estimated 20 million euros a day.

Scotland vote still too close to call

With just three days to go before the referendum on Scottish independence, the vote is still too close to call. Scotland´s First Minister Alex Salmond and the British Prime Minister David Cameron are both due to hit the campaign trail to win over undecided voters ahead of Thursday's vote. The latest poll of polls collating the six most recent surveys puts the "No" campaign on 51% and the "Yes" camp on 49%.

Hundreds of migrants die trying to reach Europe

Around 200 migrants, mostly from Africa, have reportedly drowned after a boat heading to Europe sank off the Libyan coast. The Libyan Navy says only 36 people were rescued. There are also reports of a migrant boat going down off Malta. Up to 500 people are feared dead.

The weather

Sunshine in the west, with the chance of showers in the east and south east. Highs today ranging from 16 to 25, warmest in Tyrol.

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