News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

The EU presents proposals for refugee quotas

Details are just emerging about the European Commission's set of proposals for binding refugee quotas which aim to share the burden more evenly by all 28 member nations. The plan envisages 20-thousand refugees being distributed across the EU over the next two years. So-called "front-line" countries like Italy, Greece, and Malta, have been struggling to cope with increasing numbers of migrants heading for their shores across the Mediterrean from Libya. Austria, Germany and other countries who've also taken in large numbers of asylum seekers... back the quota proposals while others such as Britain and Hungary vehemently oppose it.

Sectarian attack leaves dozens dead in Pakistan

Reports from Pakistan say that at least 43 people have been killed in a gun attack on a bus carrying Is-maili Shia Muslims in the city of Karachi. Another 11 people were wounded. Police say at least six gunmen on motorcycles stopped the bus in the city of Karachi and fired at passengers indiscriminately. Pakistan's Shia minority is the target of frequent sectarian attacks from Sunni militant groups.

A search continues in Nepal

Hundreds of Nepali army troops are searching for a missing U.S. Marine helicopter with eight people on board, a day after the second powerful earthquake in less than three weeks killed dozens and sent panicked residents rushing out of buildings. Nepal is still reeling from last month's devastating quake that killed more than 8,000 people and injured close to 20,000. The U.S. helicopter was delivering aid to one of the districts hit hardest by both quakes, on Tuesday when it went missing with six Marines and two Nepali troops on board.

5 dead and in a train accident Philadelphia

A passenger train in the United States with nearly 240 passengers on board has derailed in the city of Philadelphia, killing at least five people and injuring scores of others, several of them critically. Investigators still say they have no idea what caused the train wreck, in which several rail cars were flipped over, partially crushed, and torn open.

A government official executed in North Korea

South Korea's intelligence agency says the Defence Minister of North Korea has been executed in front of hundreds of officials... for disloyalty and lack of respect towards the country's leader... Kim Jong Un. The defense minister was reportedly executed on a shooting range with powerful anti-aircraft machine-guns. The punishment was reportely meted out because the minister fell asleep during an event attended by Kim Jong-un.

The weather

While there will be sunny periods, increasing rain and thundershowers are forecast for most of the country.

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