News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Trump fires attorney general

United States president Donald Trump has fired the acting US attorney general Sally Yates after she told justice department lawyers not to defend in court Trump’s executive order banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries. Yates in a memorandum to staff said she believed the president’s action was not lawful. The White House has accused her of betraying the department by refusing to enforce an order designed to protect Americans.

Student charged in Quebec mosque attack

A French Canadian student has been charged with the murder of six people and the attempted murder of five others at a mosque in Quebec on Sunday night. The 27-year-old suspect, Alexandre Bissonnette was known for far-right, nationalist views. Prime minister Justin Trudeau in parliament said Canada stood with its Muslim community: “To the more than one million Canadians who profess the Muslim faith I want to say directly, we are with you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home.”

Third migrant dies on Lesbos

The third migrant in a week has been found dead in his tent on the Greek island of Lesbos. The dead man is believed to be from Pakistan and about 20 years old. Aid groups say conditions at the overcrowded camp are horrendous.

UN to consult on Iran ballistic test

The United Nations Security Council has scheduled urgent consultations today on an Iranian ballistic missile test. The session comes at the request of the United States. Iran has said the test was not part of the nuclear agreement with world powers and that it hopes the Trump administration won’t use the test to create new tensions.

Conflict escalates in east Ukraine

Reports from Ukraine say at least seven people have been killed overnight and many more injured in the latest escalation in fighting between the army and pro-Russian rebels in the east. The Ukrainian government says rebels are using Russian missile systems and had struck civilian targets.

Austrian petition against EU free trade

In Austria, initiators of a petition against European Union free trade agreements - such as CETA and TTIP with Canada and the US - say over half a million people signed the protest. The completed CETA agreement must be ratified by Austria and other EU member state parliaments.

British parliament debates Brexit

British MPs are beginning debate on a bill authorizing the start of talks to leave the European Union. The government was forced to introduce legislation to parliament on Brexit after a Supreme Court ruling last week. Ministers want to get the bill passed in time to trigger Brexit by the end of March.

The weather

Rain and snowfalls with black ice. Top temperatures minus 4 to plus 8 degrees.

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