News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Egypt Air flight missing

A major search is underway in the eastern Mediterranean for an Egypt Air plane which has vanished en route from Paris to Cairo. Air officials say the flight carrying 66 passengers and crew disappeared from radar screens about half an hour before it was due to land in Cairo. The search at the site where contact was lost is being carried out by the Egyptian military and coastguard. Greece has joined the operation. French president Francois Hollande who has been holding an emergency meeting at the Elysee Palace has said no cause for the plane’s disappearance can yet be ruled out. Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has called a meeting of the national security council in Cairo. EgyptAir says thirty Egyptians and 15 French nationals were among the passengers.

US accuses China over intercept

The United States Department of Defense says two Chinese fighters have conducted an unsafe intercept of a US spy plane over the South China Sea. The Pentagon said Chinese fighters flew within twenty metres of the US aircraft. China has strongly denied the US claims.

People “willing to accept refugees”

A worldwide survey has shown that a majority of people in many countries are more willing to accept refugees than are their governments. The survey of 27 countries carried out by Amnesty International showed nearly 70% thought their governments should do more to help refugees. Amnesty secretary general Salil Shetty said European governments should take note: “We cannot have this lurching response from crisis to crisis. We need a permanent distribution system. This is the call we are making to the government. This is the call people are making to the government, and they have to listen.”

Syrian army captures key town

Reports from Syria say government forces have captured an important town from rebels, southeast of Damascus. Monitors say the army has seized Deir al-Asafir, an opposition stronghold since 2012.

New Chancellor Kern addresses parliament

Austria’s new Chancellor and leader of the Social Democrats Christian Kern has given his first address to parliament. Kern, who has promised a fresh start in the coalition government with the People’s party, called for an open political discussion and less dogma. Vice chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner of the People’s party also laid out his party’s views on the coalition’s future policies.

Hope for Chibok girls

Officials in Nigeria say they hope the rescue yesterday, of the first of over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok two years ago by Boko Haram militants may shed light on the whereabouts of the others. The girl who was found with her four-month old baby is to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari today.

The weather

Mainly overcast with rain and thundershowers moving in from the west. Some sun in the east and south east. Top temperatures 7 to 22 degrees.

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