News in french

8. April 2017, 21:58

The IS issues a ´message` from its leader

The Islamic State group has released an audio recording it says is of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, just days after targeted air strikes in Iraq led to rumours that he had been killed or seriously injured. In the 17-minute message posted on the internet, the man purported to be Baghdadi mentioned developments that have occurred since the strikes.

Obama meets with Suu Kyi

Myanmar´s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi says the country´s democratic reform process has hit a "bumpy patch," as she warned against complacency: "If we want democracy we have to be prepared to live by the principles of democracy. We have to dare to live according to the principles of democracy. I think we´ll get there, but it´ll take us some time." Suu Kyi was speaking after talks with the US President Barack Obama in Yangon. Obama said reforms were "by no means complete or irreversible."

Steps to calm tensions in Jerusalem

The US Secretary of State John Kerry says that Israel and the Palestinians have pledged to take concrete steps to calm tensions around Jerusalem's holiest site. Violence has flared in recent weeks over the compound, revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, and by Jews as the Temple Mount. Kerry met Jordan's King Abdullah and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Thursday. He earlier held talks with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

World leaders gather for G20 summit

World leaders are arriving in the Australian city of Brisbane for this weekend's G20 summit of leading and emerging economies. The two-day summit, attended by the US, Russian and Chinese leaders among others, will focus on plans to boost the global economy. The Ukraine crisis is also likely to be high on the agenda, following reports of Russian troops and military equipment pouring into the east of the country.

Better news for Eurozone growth

Figures released today by the European Union's statistics office Eurostat show that the two largest economies in the Eurozone, Germany and France, both grew slightly in the third quarter. Analysts had been concerned that Germany might have slipped into recession. The growth in France was marginally higher than economists had forecast. The report also confirmed that Greece's six-year recession is over.

Philae comet lander battery fears

Scientists working on the Philae comet lander say it is time to take more risks with the probe, before its batteries run out. Philae is sitting in the shadow of a cliff, and will not get enough sunlight to work beyond Saturday. The European Space Agency says it will upload commands today to tell Philae to deploy its drill in the hope that it can collect samples from the comet. It is, however, risky because it could destabilise the lander.

The weather

Overcast in the south. Sunny with Föhn conditions along the north of the Alps, with some persistent mist or fog. Top temperatures from 7 to 15, up to 18 with the Föhn.

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