News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

US Election Day arrives

Polls have opened in the last hour for the United States presidential election. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump held final rallies in the early hours of Election Day. Trump told his supporters he offered an unprecedented opportunity to overturn a corrupt political class:” And so to every parent who dreams for their child, and every child who dreams for their future I say these words to you tonight, I am with you, I will fight for you and I will win for you, I promise.” At the end of one of the most divisive election seasons in US history, Clinton - running to be the first female US president - appeared with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, and promised voters she offered an inclusive vision of America. “I do want to be the president for all Americans, not just some, not just the people who support me and vote for me. I want to be president for everyone because we all have a role to play in building that better future for our country and for each of you.” The last opinion polls gave Clinton a 3 to 4% lead nationwide over Trump. The first polls close in just over 11 hours.

Hungary’s MPs rejects anti-refugee bill

Hungary’s parliament has narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment designed to make it impossible for the European Union to impose refugee quotas on the country. The measure was put forward by prime minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party. Hungary’s radical nationalist Jobbik party has said it will support the measure if the government abolishes a bond programme which grants wealthy foreigners residency.

Germany arrests IS suspects

German media are reporting that five men have been arrested in Lower Saxony and North Rhein Westphalia under suspicion of recruiting fighters for the Islamic State terror group. One of the men is reported to be a 32 year old preacher born in Iraq regarded by investigators as a central figure in the German radical Islamist scene.

IS abducts hundreds near Mosul

The United Nations says Islamic State fighters have abducted nearly 300 former Iraqi Security Forces members near Mosul and have forced 1,500 families to retreat with them towards the city’s airport. The UN says the hostages may be used as human shields. Meanwhile Iraqi troops advancing near Mosul have found a mass grave containing an estimated 100 bodies, many of them decapitated.

The weather

Partly sunny in the west and north. Cloudy elsewhere with showers in the south east. Top temperatures 1 to 7 degrees.

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