News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

German high court hears anti-CETA arguments

Germany’s highest court today is hearing arguments against the CETA trade agreement between the European Union and Canada. Critics say the deal violates the German constitution and will damage health services, workers’ rights, and the environment. Supporters say it will boost EU-Canadian trade by 20 percent. EU trade ministers are set to vote on CETA next week ahead of a summit between European and Canadian leaders at the end of the month.

Sweden calls for EU sanctions against Russia

Sweden’s foreign minister, Margot Wallström, is calling for EU sanctions against Russia because of ongoing Russian air strikes on the Syrian city of Aleppo. Russia is already under EU sanctions because of the conflict in Ukraine. France, Britain and the United States have all said that Moscow could face war crimes charges over the bombing of civilians in Aleppo. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: “If Russia continues on its current path, then I believe that great country is in danger of becoming a pariah nation.”

Senior UN officials blasts Trump

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, says if Donald Trump becomes president of the United States, that it would pose a danger to the entire international community. Americans elect a new president next month and polls indicate Hillary Clinton is far ahead of Trump. President Barack Obama has appealed to Republican voters to reject Donald Trump: “He doesn’t have the temperament or the judgement or the knowledge…or apparently the desire to obtain the knowledge… or the basic honesty that a president needs to have.”

Lawyers for Paris terror suspect quit

Lawyers for the main suspect in last year’s attacks in Paris say they will no longer defend him. Salah Abdeslam is the sole survivor of a cell accused of carrying out the attacks in which 130 people were killed. The lawyers say he is refusing to talk to them and that his mental state has deteriorated since he was captured and arrested in March.

UN seeks more aid for Haiti

The United Nations has issued a new appeal for aid to hurricane victims in Haiti. More than 1000 people were killed when hurricane Matthew hit the country last week. Infrastructure has been shattered and thousands of other lost their homes. Marie LaCroix is with the UN in Port-au-Prince . “The absence of clean drinking water and the contamination by sewage of other water sources is causing a very high level of cholera. We are providing water purification systems and medicines to hard-to-reach areas.”

PI leader to visit China

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited to visit China later this month. Recent strains between Manila and its longtime ally the United States have led to reports that Duterte may seek closer ties to both China and Russia.

The weather

A chance of some sunshine this afternoon in the west and south. The rest of the country will remain mostly cold and cloudy with scattered rain and snowfall and strong winds in the east High temperatures today are ranging from 3 to 14 degrees.

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