News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Obama makes EU appeal to the UK

The US President Barack Obama has appealed for Britain to remain in the European Union, saying membership magnified its influence across the world. Obama, who is in the UK for a three-day visit, made the comments in an opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. He´s due to have lunch at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Thursday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. Opponents of Britain's EU membership have accused Obama of meddling. Peter Westmacott is the former British Ambassador to the United States: "What the President is saying is not I´m telling you how you should vote. It´s just saying where you are now is a very important place. You are key members of the European Unions. Your voice and your influence are amplified and please think very carefully about the implications of turning your back on all that."

Paris climate deal signing in New York

Some 170 world leaders are expected to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change at a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Never have so many countries signed an agreement at the first possible opportunity. States that don't sign today have a year to do so. The goal of the climate deal is to keep global warming well below 2 Centigrade.

Macedonia talks postponed

The European Union has called off talks with political leaders from Macedonia, which had been scheduled to take place in Vienna today. Macedonia has been plunged into crisis since President Gjorge Ivanov issued pardons for dozens of politicians who were facing criminal proceedings in connection with a wiretapping scandal. The opposition said it would not attend the talks unless Ivanov revoked the pardons and called off early elections set for June 5.

Paris attacks suspect faces new charge

The main suspect in the Paris terror attacks Salah Abdeslam has been charged with attempted murder after a deadly shootout with police days before the Brussels bombings. One suspect was killed and four police officers were wounded in a gun battle at an apartment in the Forest district of Brussels on March 15. The raid came three days before Abdeslam was arrested and a week before the Brussels attacks.

VW announces settlement in US emissions scandal

Volkswagen has announced that it will offer substantial compensation and a buy-back scheme as part of a settlement in the diesel emissions scandal in the United States. Around half a million vehicles are reportedly involved. Millions of VW owners in Europe are still waiting for a solution.

Tributes to music legend Prince

Tributes are being paid to one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times, Prince, who has died suddenly at the age of 57. He was found dead on Thursday at his home in the US state of Minnesota. His hits included Purple Rain and When Doves Cry. He sold over 100 million records during his career. The cause of death remains unclear, but the celebrity website TMZ said Prince had been treated for a drug overdose last week.

Nobel laureate Walter Kohn dies aged 93

The University of California has announced that the Austrian-born American theoretical physicist Walter Kohn has died at the age of 93. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1998. Kohn, who was from a Jewish family, fled Austria in 1939.

The weather

Plenty of sunshine with isloated showers in the west and south later. Highs today from 15 to 23.

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