News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

East Ukraine vote condemned

Germany has said it may be necessary to impose further sanctions on Russia after Moscow said it respects the results of parliamentary and presidential elections held by pro-Russian rebels in areas they control in east Ukraine. The new EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has condemned the elections as illegal and an obstacle to peace, while Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko described them as a farce. Meanwhile there are reports of troops and military equipment crossing the border from Russia into east Ukraine.

Burkina Faso talks to take place

In Burkina Faso, more talks are to be held between the opposition and the military which has promised to hand power to a transitional unity government, following the resignation last week of Blaise Compoare after mass protests. The United Nations and a number of world leaders have said power should be handed back to civilians immediately.

Merkel warns Cameron over EU membership

A spokesman for German chancellor Angela Merkel has said Berlin regards the fundamental European Union rule on freedom of movement as non-negotiable, in a warning to Britain over plans to curb immigration from other EU countries. Germany’s Der Spiegel earlier reported that Merkel has warned British prime minister David Cameron she would rather see Britain leave the EU than alter the principle of freedom of movement. Stephan Mayer is an MP from Merkel's CDU party: “Germany’s position is that we clearly want the UK to stay within the European Union. But on the other hand our position is that it’s now not our duty to make any offers for the British to stay within the European Union.”

Migrant boat tragedy in Black Sea

Rescue operations are continuing in the Black Sea north of Istanbul after a boat believed to be carrying about 40 illegal migrants sank. Twenty four bodies have been retrieved. Turkish media are reporting than many of those who died are children.

Wagah ceremony suspended

India and Pakistan have suspended the daily military ceremony at the Wagah land border crossing after a suicide attack that killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 100. A number of militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack.

UN chief in Vienna

UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon is in Vienna today, to take part in a major UN development conference for landlocked countries. Ban will also address the OSCE.

Spaceship crash investigation ongoing

In the United States, authorities investigating last Friday’s crash of the Virgin Galactic spaceship say they believe a mechanism designed to slow its descent had deployed too early. They say they’ve found almost all parts of the experimental craft, which exploded during a test flight in California.

The weather

Sunny in the mountains. Foggy and overcast in low-lying areas especially in the east. Top temperatures 8 to 22 degrees.

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