11.07.2016

News in English

Renewed fighting in South Sudan / US defence secretary visits Baghdad / First Eurozone meeting after Brexit vote / Hollande to promote the “EU project” / Japan´s PM promises stimulus package / North Korea issues new threat / Portugal wins Euro 2016 / The weather

8. April 2017, 21:58

11.07.2016

Renewed fighting in South Sudan

Heavy fighting involving tanks and helicopter gunships is being reported in South Sudan´s capital, Juba, just hours after the UN Security Council called for an end to the violence. Hundreds of people have been killed since Friday in the fighting between soldiers loyal to the president Salva Kiir and those supporting the first Vice-President Riek Machar. Despite a peace deal last year ending two years of civil war, each side accuses the other of bad faith. Grant McDonald is a freelance reporter working in South Sudan: "Right now large explosions can be heard all over Juba after a night of relative calm. The heavy fighting stopped around 8 o´clock last night after 12 hours of consistent fighting in an area west of the city centre, where the UN has bases and protection of civilian sites."

US defence secretary visits Baghdad

The US Defence Secretary Ash Carter is on an unannounced visit to Iraq. It´s being reported that he will meet the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other senior officials, as well as US military commanders. Washington is seeking to capitalise on the recent seizure of a major airbase close to Mosul, as Iraqi forces prepare to try to recapture the city from the so-called Islamic State.

First Eurozone meeting after Brexit vote

Eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels today to discuss the consequences of Britain´s vote to leave the EU. It's the first meeting of the group since last month´s referendum. In an interview with the German public broadcaster ZDF, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she expects the UK to begin the formal process of leaving the bloc as soon as it has a new prime minister.

Hollande to promote the “EU project”

The French President Francois Hollande has announced he will visit five EU countries later this month to promote the European Union project, following the referendum in Britain. Hollande will visit Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ireland.

Japan´s PM promises stimulus package

The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to use his commanding victory in elections to the upper house of parliament to deliver a large stimulus package to boost the country´s flagging economy. Abe´s Liberal Democrats and their allies now have a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament - enough to revise the country´s pacifist constitution imposed by the United States after the second World War.

North Korea issues new threat

North Korea has threatened a quote "physical response" after the United States and South Korea announced an agreement to deploy an advanced missile defence system. The system will be used to counter North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Portugal wins Euro 2016

Portugal have beaten the hosts France in the final of the European football championship. It is their first major international title. Portugal substitute Eder scored the only goal of the game in extra-time.