News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukraine troops retreat from key town

The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says government forces are carrying out a "planned and organised" departure from the strategic town of Debaltseve which has been under siege by pro-Russia separatists for weeks. He said 80% of forces had been withdrawn from the town and that another two columns were expected to leave. The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has accused the Russian-backed separatists of violating the internationally agreed ceasefire which was signed in Minsk last week. In another development, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has given a press conference in which he said the truce was holding in most areas of eastern Ukraine with the exception of Debaltseve.

Greece to ask for loan extension

Greek officials say Athens is preparing to request a six-month extension of its international loan agreement but not the bailout programme which includes the austerity measures which the new government has promised to put an end to. The German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has told the ZDF broadcaster that no such deal is on offer and that Athens must stick to the terms of its existing bailout. The Eurozone has given Athens until Friday to decide if it wants to continue with that arrangement.

Syria agrees to UN Aleppo plan

The United Nations envoy to Syria says he's received a commitment from the Syrian government to suspend its bombardment of the city of Aleppo for six weeks so that a proposed U.N. plan for a local cease-fire can take place. Staffan de Mistura was briefing the Security Council on his latest efforts to find a solution to the 4-year old conflict: "the government of Syria has indicated to me its willingness to halt all aerial bombing and artillery shelling for a period of 6 weeks all over the city of Aleppo." Under the plan, opposition forces would also be expected to suspend their mortar and rocket fire. A monitoring group says the latest fighting in and around Aleppo has killed at least 70 pro-government fighters and 80 anti-government forces.

US compensation for damaged reef

The US has paid nearly two million dollars to the Philippines as compensation for damage caused to a reef. An American minesweeper ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2013, causing extensive damage to its coral. Philippine officials say the money will be used to protect the area.

The weather

Persistent fog, especially in the low-lying areas. Mostly sunny in the mountains, but some fog in those areas too. Highs where it's foggy ranging between minus 2 and plus 4 degrees, where it's sunny between 5 and 10.

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