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8. April 2017, 21:58

Kenya security forces comb mall

Kenyan security forces say they are now in control of the Nairobi shopping mall which has been under siege since Saturday by militants believed to be from the Somali al Shabab group, but are still searching the complex for remaining members of the group. An explosion and bursts of gunfire were reported from the complex this morning. At least 62 people are known to have died in the terror attack. The Kenyan Red Cross says 51 people have not been accounted for. Kenya's foreign minister Amina Mohamed has said two or three Americans and a British woman are among the attackers: “The Americans from the information we have are young men, between 18 and 19, of Somali origin or Arab origin.” Meanwhile al Shabaab on its twitter feed has claimed that it is still holding live hostages in the mall.

Iran, Syria dominate UN assembly

The conflict in Syria and Iran’s relations with the West are expected to dominate talks on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly, opening in New York today. United States officials have said a meeting is not scheduled between President Barack Obama and the new Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, though they haven't ruled out the possibility. It would be the first encounter between US and Iranian leaders in over thirty years. Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry and representatives of five other major world powers to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. A meeting between Kerry and the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss differences over a UN resolution on Syria’s chemical weapons is also scheduled.

UN weapons inspectors to return to Syria

Russia's government has said UN chemical weapons inspectors are expected to return to Syria tomorrow. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said they were returning to continue investigations of alleged chemical weapons attacks.

Russia to prosecute Greenpeace activists

Russia's federal Investigative Committee has said environmental activists from Greenpeace some of whom who tried to board a Russian offshore oil platform in the Arctic last week will be prosecuted, regardless of their citizenship. It said they are likely to face charges of piracy.

Australian climate body now NGO

The Australian Climate Commission on global warming which was cancelled by the new conservative government has relaunched itself as a non-profit organisation. The body has appealed for public donations. Australia is the developed world's worst polluter per head of population

The weather

Mainly sunny and warm in the west and south. Changeable with sunny spells and lively winds elsewhere. Top temperatures 15 to 27 degrees.

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