News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Voting underway in Scotland

Voters in Scotland are casting their ballots in a referendum on whether it should stay in the UK or become an independent nation. A high turnout is expected. Recent opinion polls suggest the outcome will be close. The result is expected tomorrow morning. Ian Swanson, the political editor of the Edinburgh Evening News, says the economy has been one of the main issues during the campaign: "the question is whether we would be better or worse off and both sides make very precise claims. The SNP says there would be a 1,000 pound bonus if we were independent. The "No" campaign says there's a 1,400 pound dividend from being in the union. Nobody really knows who to believe."

Anti-terror operation in Australia

Police in Australia have carried out a major anti-terror operation following reports that militants connected with the Islamic State group were planning to attack the public and carry out a beheading. Fifteen people were arrested in the raids in Brisbane and Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott: "we have got to guard against potential terror attacks here in Australia. We should guard against crime. We should protect ourselves against potential terror. And that's exactly what our police and security forces have done today."

US House approves Syria plan

The US House of Representatives has approved President Barack Obama's plan to train and arm some of the rebels who've been fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. The IS controls large areas of Syria and northern Iraq. The vote passed by a majority in the Republican-controlled House and is expected to be adopted in the Senate.

3 million Syrian children not in school

The aid group Save the Children says 3 million children in Syria are not attending school because of the conflict. In a report, it said nearly three and a half thousand schools were either damaged, destroyed or were being used for military purposes. It concludes the lack of education will have serious consequences that could last for generations.

Poroshenko visits Washington

The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is visiting Washington to seek further support over the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Poroshenko will hold talks with President Obama before addressing a joint session of Congress. More than 3,000 people have died in the fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.

Iran nuclear talks in New York

Nuclear talks between Iran and the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China are due to resume in New York later today. Officials say that a breakthrough in the negotiations over the country's controversial nuclear programme is unlikely.

The weather

Frequent sunshine, but along the Alpine ridge and south of it there'll be some thick cloud and isolated showers. There'll be a lively to strong wind and a föhn. Highs ranging between 16 and 24 degrees but where there's a föhn wind up to 27.

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