News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

EU leaders meet on migration crisis

European Union leaders meeting in Brussels later today are set to ratify a plan to relocate 120,000 refugees across the bloc, despite fierce opposition from several members. Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania voted against the mandatory quota system, which was agreed by the majority of EU interior ministers on Tuesday. Slovakia says it will not implement the scheme and will challenge it at the European Court of Justice. Today's emergency summit will also focus on tightening EU borders and boosting aid to countries neighbouring Syria. Melissa Fleming is with the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR: "The relocation programme cannot be effectively implemented without creating adequate reception facilities and we are talking about an average of 6,000 people entering every single day on European shores. Obviously that requires a massive investment in receiving them."

New Greek government sworn in

Greece’s newly re-elected leftist government has been officially sworn in. Few changes have been made to key ministry posts in the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, with the emphasis on continued spending cuts and reforms. Tsipras was re-elected by a wide margin in Sunday´s election, and has again formed a coalition government with the small right-wing party, the Independent Greeks.

VW board holds emergency meeting

Volkswagen shares are sliding for a third consecutive day as the company scrambles to contain its widening emissions-rigging scandal. On Tuesday, VW said 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide contain software that can evade emissions controls, far more than the number identified by US authorities as violating clean air laws. The executive committee of Volkswagen´s supervisory board is meeting to discuss the crisis, amid questions over the future of the CEO, Martin Winterkorn.

Pope Francis begins US tour

Pope Francis has begun a six-day tour of the United States, after an historic visit to Cuba. The Pontiff was welcomed by President Barack Obama and his family - a rare honour for a foreign dignitary. Francis will be the first Pope to address the US Congress and the UN General Assembly. He will also hold an open-air Mass in Philadelphia where 1.5 million people are expected to attend.

Civilian rule “restored” in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso's interim President Michel Kafando says he is back in charge and civilian rule has been restored nearly a week after a coup. The announcement came after elite soldiers behind the coup and troops loyal to the government signed an agreement to avoid an outbreak of violence.

The weather

Mainly overcast with widespread rain. Top temperatures generally from 5 to 15, up to 23 in the east.

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