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8. April 2017, 21:58

EU summit on Greek debt crisis

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is in Brussels for talks with other European leaders on the Greek debt crisis. Tsipras says he has a viable plan to address the issue. Previous efforts have been blocked by Athens’ refusal to carry out austerity reforms demanded by its creditors. Greece is due to run out of money by the end of this month and will default if no new aid is forthcoming. Former Greek finance minister George Papakonstantinou says Tsipras is expected to again ask creditors to forgive some of Greece’s debts: “I think a lot will depend on whether the EU will be prepared to give Prime Minister Tsipras some kind of a pledge for debt relief down the road. If that’s on the table I think we’ll probably end up with a deal tonight.”

EU extends sanctions on Russia

The European Union today announced that it will extend current sanctions on Russia until the end of the year because of the crisis in Ukraine. Moscow has called the move unfair and says it will expand its own sanctions on European food imports. In a related story, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter delivered a speech today in Berlin in which he said NATO will not allow Russia to, in his words, “drag us back to the Cold War.” He also accused the Kremlin of trying to re-create a Soviet-era sphere of influence.

EU launches refugee naval operation

EU foreign ministers meeting today in Luxembourg have officially launched an EU naval operation to stop the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe. More than 100,000 migrants have reached Europe this year. 20,000 died during the journey. The EU wants to destroy the boats used by people smugglers. But that has been criticized by some human rights groups who say it does not address the root causes of why people become refugees.

Taliban target Afghan parliament

A suicide bomber and six gunmen attacked Afghanistan’s parliament today, wounding at least 19 people. Afghan security forces killed the attackers. Such attacks have increased in the country since NATO-led troops withdrew last year. Nathan Hodge is a journalist in Kabul and says it is clear who was behind today’s violence: “The Taliban quickly issued a claim of responsibility. This is something that happens with frightening regularity in the Afghan capital.”

German decision expected on Arab journalist

Officials in Germany today will rule on the fate of an Arab journalist arrested in Berlin on an arrest warrant issued by Egypt. Ahmed Mansour was sentenced to 15 years in absentia last year on charges that he tortured a man in Cairo four years ago during the protests which led to the overthrow of former leader Hosni Mubarak. Monsour denies the charges which he says are politically motivated.

The weather

This afternoon will remain a mix of sunny and cloudy conditions with scattered rainshowers. Highs today are ranging from 18 to 27 degrees.

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