News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

UN says 4 million have now fled Syria

The UN's refugee agency says the number of people who have fled Syria since the outbreak of the country's civil war in 2011 has now passed 4 million, with another 7 million internally displaced. Officials say the figure is the greatest from any single conflict in almost 25 years. Antonio Guterres is the head of the UNHCR. “An endless tragedy. The worst catastrophic humanitarian crisis of our generation. And there is no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Slovakia agrees to take refugees from Austria

Slovakia has agreed to take 500 asylum seekers from Austria, in an effort to relieve overcrowding at the Traiskirchen reception centre in Lower Austria. Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner says the agreement sends a strong signal of solidarity, as debate rages within the EU over setting quotas for sharing refugees.

Deadline for Greek reform plan looms

Greece is scrambling to finalise a list of reform proposals by the end of today, in the hope of securing a new bailout deal at an EU leaders’ summit on Sunday. Marina Prentoulis is a spokeswoman for the ruling Syriza party. She says the Greek government is determined to find a viable solution to its debt crisis. “We accept that the Greek economy needs restructuring. Now this is another attempt from our side to be reasonable, to compromise and to come to a viable solution; something that will help the Greek economy get out of the situation that it is (in) today. In Greece I don’t think it can happen with more austerity packages.” Analysts say that without a bailout deal, Greece will most likely default on its debts and be forced to leave the euro.

South Carolina votes to remove Confederate flag

Lawmakers in the US state of South Carolina have voted to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol. Opponents of the flag, which was used by the southern states during the American Civil War, say it symbolises slavery and racism. The move was sparked by the recent mass shooting at a black church in South Carolina.

Russia vetoes UN Srebrenica resolution

Russia has vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council, which sought to recognise as genocide, the killing of 8000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces at Srebrenica, during the Bosnian War. Britain's deputy UN Ambassador Peter Wilson has rejected Russian claims that the resolution would inflame divisions in the Balkans ahead of the 20th anniversary of the massacre. “It is a deep disappointment that the Russians chose to veto a resolution that really was incredibly carefully balanced.”

No impediment to Iran nuclear deal

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says there are no insurmountable obstacles to a nuclear agreement with Iran. Iran and six world powers are trying to reach a deal by Friday, having extended talks in Vienna twice already. The west wants guarantees that Iran won't develop nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.

The weather

Partly sunny conditions have been forecast for this afternoon with the chance of some isolated rain showers. Top temperatures will range from 18 to 28 degrees.

Übersicht

• News In English