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8. April 2017, 21:58

Massive security crackdown in Pakistan

Officials in Pakistan say they have killed at least 35 suspected militants and detained dozens of others in a sweeping security crackdown a day after a massive bombing killed at least 80 people at a Sufi shrine in southern Sindh province. The bombing has been claimed by the Islamic State terror group. The Pakistani military has said attacks are being orchestrated from Afghanistan and that the border has been closed with immediate effect.

Trump denies administration in chaos

United States president Donald Trump’s latest choice to be national security adviser has refused the position. Retired vice admiral Robert Harward had been asked to replace Michael Flynn, who was dismissed after he lied to officials about his contacts with the Russian ambassador. Harward reportedly turned down the job over concerns about whether the National Security Council would be fully in charge of security matters, rather than Trump's political advisers. Meanwhile Trump at a press conference has again attacked the media, and denied links to Russia and disarray in his administration: “I turn on the tv, open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos, chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine.”

US posture concerns security conference

Leading members of the Trump administration are in Germany for the G20 meeting in Bonn and the Munich security conference, amid concerns over the new president's commitment to NATO and posture toward Russia. European Union leaders are also concerned over disparaging comments about the EU made by Trump and some associates, who have suggested it should be broken up. French and German foreign ministers after talks in Bonn with the new US secretary of state Rex Tillerson say Europe and the US are in agreement that a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict must come under United Nations auspices.

Refugees storm Ceuta

Emergency services in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta say hundreds of refugees have forced their way through border fences, to get from Morocco onto European territory. Reports say around 500 people from sub Saharan Africa stormed the Ceuta enclave, and that Moroccan security services pushed many of them back.

Samsung heir arrested

The heir to Samsung, South Korea’s largest company, has been arrested on corruption charges. The allegations against Lee Jae-yong are linked to the scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye. Lee is accused of paying nearly 40 million in bribes to a confidante of the president in return for political favours.

Egypt appoints female governor

Egypt for the first time in is history has appointed a woman as a provincial governor. Nadia Ahmed Abdou has been sworn in as the governor of Beheira.

The weather

Cloudy with rain showers. Some sunny spells especially in the south, and top temperatures 2 to 12 degrees.

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