News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Trump attacks the media over „fake news“

The Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper has denied suggestions that government agencies leaked claims that Russia had compromising personal and financial information about president-elect Donald Trump. Clapper says he has spoken with Trump and both men agree the leaks were corrosive and damaging to national security. At a rare press conference on Wednesday Trump criticised the media for spreading what he called fake news: "I saw the information. I read the information. It´s all fake news. It´s phoney stuff. It didn´t happen.”

Taliban release video of western hostages

The Taliban have released a video of an Australian and an American who they kidnapped in Afghanistan last year. American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weekes, professors at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, were abducted in August. In the video they appeal to US president-elect Donald Trump to offer a prisoner swap for their release, saying they will be killed if he does not negotiate.

US troops arrive in Poland

The first of 3,000 US troops have begun arriving in Poland to be deployed along NATO´s eastern frontier. More than 80 battle tanks and hundreds of armoured vehicles have already arrived in Germany and are now being moved into Eastern Europe by road and rail. The US Armoured Brigade will also carry out military exercises in the Baltics, as part of President Barack Obama's response to concerns about a more aggressive Russia.

Cyprus talks gather momentum in Geneva

It´s been announced that the Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim will join international diplomats at talks in Geneva aimed at reunifying Cyprus after more than 40 years of division. The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, have been in Geneva for four days trying to reach a deal which would see the country united again under a two-state federation. They´ll be joined today by the British, Greek and Turkish foreign ministers. The new UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will also be attending.

German economy shows strong growth

Figures released today show that the German economy grew by 1.9 percent in 2016, the strongest rate in five years. Europe's largest economy is benefiting from rising private consumption and increased state spending on refugees.

VW to pay record fine over emissions scandal

US officials say Volkswagen will admit guilt and pay a record $4.3bn in fines to settle a diesel emissions cheating scandal. The US justice department has also charged six senior VW executives for their roles in the conspiracy.

The weather

Some sunshine in the south and east, but cloud will build in the northwest. Top temperatures from minus 2 to plus 8.

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