Fighting in Eastern Ghouta prompts calls for action +++ Florida students step up pressure after shooting

24. März 2018, 02:00

Heavy fighting in Eastern Ghouta prompts calls for action

The chairman of the United Nations Syria taskforce, Jan Egeland, has called on countries involved in the Syrian conflict to use their influence to secure a pause in the fighting in Eastern Ghouta. Government forces have stepped up their bombardment of the rebel held enclave, which lies on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. Monitoring groups say at least 300 people have been killed there over the past three days. Egeland says the situation in Eastern Ghouta may be worse than the siege of Aleppo. “There are more civilians in Eastern Ghouta than there were in the besieged Eastern Aleppo, they have been besieged for a longer period of time, they are more starved out, if you like, and they are generally, I would say, in a worse condition.”

Florida students step up pressure after school shooting

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to ban the sale of rapid fire devices fitted to guns, in the wake of last week's shooting at a school in Florida, which left 17 people dead. Survivors of the shooting have travelled to the state capital Tallahassee to pressure lawmakers to enact stricter gun control measures. The state legislature has rejected legislation to block the sale of assault rifles like the one used in the attack.

US planned to hold secret talks with North Korea

The US State Department says North Korea cancelled secret talks with Vice President Mike Pence, which were due to take place on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in South Korea, contradicting claims by Pyongyang that it had no interest in such a meeting. Pence repeatedly criticised North Korea during the visit and announced new sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs.

Experts warn of criminal misuse of artificial intelligence

International technical and security experts have called on governments to tackle the emerging threat posed by artificial intelligence. In a new report they outline a range of ways in which the technology could be exploited by rogue states, criminals and terrorists. Dr Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh is one of the authors of the report. “We need to have greater collaboration between the people developing the cutting-edge AI techniques and the people who are thinking about the security angle, the policy angle, the legal angle, the regulatory angle because otherwise the technology will move faster than the people who are trying to prevent the harms.”

Bahrain activist sentenced to 5 years in prison

A court in Bahrain has sentenced prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab to five years in prison for criticising his own government and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The charges stem from posts on social media in which he criticised the Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and accused Bahrain of torturing prisoners.

Details of Asia-Pacific free trade deal released

Pacific nations have released details of a landmark free trade deal, which is due to be signed at the end of March. 11 countries, making up more than 13 percent of the global economy, are set to join the Trans Pacific Partnership but not the US, which pulled out of the deal last year.

The Weather

Generally overcast conditions have been forecast for this afternoon with sleet or snow showers. Some sunshine is expected in the north and southwest. Top temperatures will range from -4 to +4 degrees.

Übersicht

• News In English