News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Turkey seeks NATO support

Turkey is reportedly continuing its military offensives against Kurdish PKK fighters in northern Iraq and the Islamic State group across the border in Syria. But Turkey´s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says there are no plans to send ground troops into Syria. Meanwhile, the NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss security at the request of Turkey: "The background is the different terrorist attacks which have taken place in Turkey over the last days. When Turkey requests such a meeting I think it´s very right and very timely to have a meeting where we address the turmoil and the instability we see in Syria, Iraq , surrounding and close to NATO borders over Turkey."

Yemen ceasefire not holding

Fighting is reportedly raging across several provinces in Yemen, hours after the start of a five-day humanitarian pause in the Saudi-led air campaign. Houthi rebels earlier said they had not committed to the ceasefire declared by the Saudi-led coalition, claiming it would give pro-government fighters a chance to regroup.

President Obama visits Ethiopia

The US president Barack Obama has arrived in Ethiopia on a two-day visit. He is meeting with Ethiopia's leaders in the capital, Addis Ababa, for talks on counterterrorism, human rights and regional security issues, including the civil war in neighbouring South Sudan. He will also become the first US president to address the African Union. Obama earlier visited Kenya. He urged Kenyans to deepen democracy, tackle corruption and end exclusion based on gender or ethnicity. He also promised Kenya more security assistance.

Gunmen attack Afghan wedding party

Officials in Afghanistan say armed men have opened fire at a wedding ceremony, killing at least 21 guests. It was not immediately clear what prompted the attack in the northern province of Baghlan, but insurgent activity has increased there over the past year and private militias have proliferated.

Protests by French farmers continue

French farmers angry over low prices have massed on the borders with Germany, looking for trucks carrying foreign meat and milk products. It´s part of an ongoing protest against low prices caused by cheap imports and pressure from grocery chains. Around 10 percent of livestock farms are reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy.

Germany business confidence rises

Business confidence in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has risen unexpectedly this month, according to a closely watched survey. The Ifo think tank's monthly confidence index increased in July, while economists had expected another slight decline. The German economy has been helped recently by low unemployment and increasing domestic demand. Worries over Greece have also subsided.

The weather

A mix of sunshine and showers, most of them in the south. Highs today from 18 to 25.

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