News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Tusk seeks refugee policy consensus

The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, is in Vienna for talks with Chancellor Werner Faymann at the beginning of a tour of the Balkans aimed at building a European consensus on how to handle the refugee and migrant crisis. His talks will deal with the decision by Austria and Balkan nations along the refugee route to act unilaterally to limit the numbers crossing into their territory. Tusk also holds talks in Ankara ahead of next Monday’s European Union summit with Turkey on the migrant crisis.

Macedonia defends border action

Large numbers of refugees and migrants are continuing to gather at the Greek border to Macedonia where only small numbers are being allowed through each day. Aid workers say they are running short of supplies for over 7000 people. Macedonia’s foreign minister Nikola Poposki has defended the use of tear gas yesterday to drive back refugees who stormed the border fence: “If you were part of the security forces and you’re face with a situation where you have a violent attempt from several hundred male young people to enter territory without willing to register, I don’t think this is in line with what we have agreed at the European level.”

“Jungle” clearance continues

Demolition teams have returned to the French port of Calais to continue clearing the migrant camp known as the Jungle. Riot police are forcibly removing people resisting relocation.

“Super Tuesday” voting begins in US

In the United States, numerous states are voting, on what is known as Super Tuesday, for party candidates for the presidential election. Democrat Hillary Clinton will try to extend her lead over her party rival Bernie Sanders in primaries and caucuses in twelve states. Opinion polls give Donald Trump a lead in almost all of the 11 Republican contests. A number of leading Republicans have said they would not back Trump for the presidency.

German court hears NPD ban request

Germany's constitutional court has opened hearings on a landmark request to ban the far-right National Democratic Party, more than a decade after a first attempt failed. The case launched by the upper house of parliament will argue that the NPD is a threat to Germany’s democratic order.

Rouhani welcomes election result

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has said the results of parliamentary elections show his people want engagement with the outside world. He was speaking after official results showed moderates and reformers had won control of parliament, while many hardline opponents of last year’s nuclear deal with world powers failed to win re-election.

China readying for massive layoffs

China’s government is reportedly readying to lay off up to 6 million workers over the next two the three years. Many of the layoffs are expected in the coal and steel industries as China’s economic growth slows.

The weather

Snow and rainfalls over much of the country with high winds in the east, mainly dry with sunny spells in the south, top temperatures minus 2 to plus 11 degrees.

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