News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

North Korea to restart nuclear complex

North Korea says it will restart all facilities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. They were closed in 2007 as part of an international nuclear disarmament deal. The complex includes a uranium enrichment facility and an atomic reactor. The United States has said it takes seriously North Korea's escalating threats of war, since new UN sanctions were imposed after Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test, but that it has not seen any major troop mobilizations. White House spokesman Jay Carney: “Despite the harsh rhetoric we are hearing from Pyongyang we are not seeing changes to the North Korean military posture such as large scale mobilisations and positioning of forces.“

Syrian death toll mounts

The London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 6,000 people were killed in the civil war in Syria last month, the highest monthly toll since the conflict began two years ago. It says around a third of the documented casualties were civilians.

School fire in Burma kills Muslim boys

Officials in Burma, or Myanmar, say 13 boys have died in a fire at a Muslim school in Rangoon. Police have blamed the fire on an electrical fault. Riot police were sent to the area amid concerns about recent communal violence in the country, mainly targeting the Muslim minority.

Unemployment in the Eurozone hits a record high

Unemployment across the Eurozone has reached a record 12% for the first time since the currency was launched. The latest figures were for February, before the crisis in Cyprus.

Kosovo-Serb talks reach a crucial stage

Reports from Brussels say the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have reached a decisive stage in talks mediated by the European Union. The talks are addressing the most divisive issue, the status of Serb-dominated northern Kosovo. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but its status has not been recognised by Belgrade.

Expert groups meet on Italy’s deadlock

Two groups of experts begin meeting in Italy today, to try to find a way to resolve the country's political deadlock. President Giorgio Napolitano has asked politicians, former judges and top civil servants, to work on a series of proposals for economic, social and political reform. The centre left narrowly won parliamentary elections in Italy in February, but has failed to form a governing coalition.

EU begins training Mali forces

Military experts from the European Union have begun training soldiers in Mali, as part of efforts to combat the Islamist insurgency in the north of the country. The first fully trained battalions are meant to be available for deployment in July.

The weather

Snow and rain falls in the south and east. Some sun in the west. Top temperatures minus 1 to plus 11 degrees.

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