News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

IS hostage crisis deepens

The Japanese government says it is trying to verify the authenticity of a new audio message apparently from the Japanese hostage Kenji Goto held by Islamic State militants. The message sets a deadline of sunset today for Jordan to release a female terrorist at the Turkish Syrian border in return for a Jordanian fighter pilot also being held hostage by IS. Jordan has said it is ready to do a prisoner swap but wants proof its pilot is alive. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga: “We are working continuously with the Jordanians. The situation is constantly changing. We don’t believe that we should comment on the position of the government.”

EU considers new Russia sanctions

European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels this afternoon to discuss imposing more sanctions on Russia in response to the latest escalation in fighting in east Ukraine. The emergency meeting was called after at least 30 civilians were killed during a pro-Russian rebel attack on the port of Mariupol last weekend. Meanwhile the new Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has said media reports have misrepresented Athens’ position on Russia and that it is not preparing to veto EU sanctions on Moscow but wanted consultation. European Parliament president Martin Schulz had earlier warned Greece against abandoning the joint EU position on Russia. Schulz holds talk in Athens today with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and will discuss the Greek government’s plans to tackle its debt

WHO says Ebola cases down

The World Health Organisation says the number of new confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in west Africa has fallen below 100 a week for the first time since last June. Meanwhile scientists at the Pasteur institute in Paris say the virus has mutated since the first cases of Ebola were identified and that it could become more contagious.

Israel: Hezbollah seeks de-escalation

Israel says it has received a message from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah saying it does not want a further escalation after border clashes yesterday that killed three people. Israel said the message came via the United Nations mission in Lebanon, and that its troops remained on alert.

MH370 disappearance “an accident”

Malaysia has declared the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in March last year an accident. It says the search for the plane continues but that the 239 people on board are now presumed dead, which should clear the way for compensation to be paid to victims’ families.

The weather

Cloudy with scattered snowfalls, rain in low-lying areas. Clearer skies in the south. Top temperatures minus 2 to plus 5 degrees.

Übersicht

• News In English