News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Mass anti-corruption protests in Romania

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has said he will ask the Constitutional Court to strike down a government decree passed on Tuesday that could free dozens of officials jailed for corruption, and which has led to mass protests. Over a quarter of a million people joined demonstrations last night against the decree, the largest protests in Romania since the fall of communism in 1989. Political scientists Oana Suciu from the University of Bucharest: “What is very interesting about these protests is that they are actually in favour of the rule of law. They come to defend the state, a democratic state, not something we feel like we are heading toward a totalitarian state.”

Merkel meets Erdogan 'opposition

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Ankara for talks with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the first time since the failed coup in Turkey last July. Their talks are to cover the European Union deal with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants, as well as a Turkish request for the extradition of around 40 soldiers who are seeking asylum in Germany. Officials said Merkel is also expected to meet members of the main secularist and pro-Kurdish opposition parties.

Putin holds talks in Hungary

Russian president Vladimir Putin is in Budapest for talks with Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban. Orban is expected to repeat his call for a lifting of European Union sanctions against Russia, imposed over Moscow’s support for pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine. In Ukraine fighting continues around the government controlled industrial town of Avdiivka. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he plans a referendum on joining NATO, with polls showing a majority of Ukrainians favouring such a move.

Mattis reassures US Asia allies

The new United States defence secretary James Mattis has arrived in South Korea at a start of a tour of US allies in east Asia. Mattis said he would discuss tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme and the deployment of a US missile defence system.

Tillerson becomes top US diplomat

The former chief executive of the Exxon Mobil oil company, Rex Tillerson, has been sworn in as US secretary of state. Tillerson has faced scrutiny over his ties to Russia.

Britain publishes Brexit strategy

The British government today publishes a policy paper on its withdrawal from the European Union. The Brexit bill passed its first reading in parliament last night. Meanwhile the British government has said it will not facilitate Scotland holding another referendum on seceding from the United Kingdom during the current parliament ending in 2020.

Fillon under pressure to step aside

The conservative candidate in France’s presidential election, Francois Fillon, is facing growing pressure to pull out of the race, following allegations he paid his wife for an allegedly fake job as a parliamentary assistant. Several senior members of his Republican party have called on Fillon who had campaigned on slashing public spending and public jobs to step aside.

The weather

Foggy in low lying areas. Partly sunny, partly cloudy elsewhere. Top temps minus 2 to plus 13 degrees.

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