News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Saudis turn back on UN Security Council

Saudi Arabia has refused to take up its rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, saying the council is not capable of ending wars and resolving conflicts. The Saudis say the council has failed in its duties toward Syria, allowing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to continue to kill his own people. Russia and China have blocked any serious UN moves against the Assad government.

Nairobi attacker identified as Norwegian citizen

A 23-year old Somali with Norwegian citizenship called Hassan Dhuhulow has been identified as one of the gunmen in last month’s assault on a shopping mall in Kenya in which 67 people were killed, including all four of the attackers. Dhuhulow moved with his family as refugees to Europe in 1999, but returned to Africa ten years later. One of his neighbours back in Norway was Morton Henriksen: “He was extreme. He was talking about the Koran all the time. He didn’t like the way we lived here.” The Somali militant group Al-Shabab says it was behind the violence in Nairobi.

Wildfires continue in Australia

In Australia, more than 100 wildfires continue to burn across the state of New South Wales. One person has been killed and more than 80 homes have been destroyed. Hundreds of other people have been evacuated. Prime Minister Tony Abbott: “This is a fire emergency which could go on for quite some time. We grieve for everyone impacted by these fires.”

Edward Snowden speaks to New York Times

Former US National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden has told the New York Times that he did not take any secret documents when he fled to Russia last summer. He said he gave all the documents he had to journalists in Hong Kong before going to Moscow, where he has been given temporary asylum. Snowden is wanted by the US on spy charges, but he told the Times he has no regrets and wanted to trigger a debate about government spy operations. Snowden’s father Lon has just returned to the US after visiting his son at an undisclosed location in Russia.

UK takes harder line on human trafficking

Britain has announced tougher prisons sentences for people convicted of human trafficking. The move comes amid a rise in the number of people being smuggled into the UK, many from Eastern Europe, who are then forced into prostitution or made to work as virtual slaves.

New sleep research results announced

And finally, experts in the United States says sleep is used to wash toxins out of the brain, and that sleep deprivation could lead to brain disorders.

The weather

The rest of today will be partly sunny with strong winds out of the northwest. Today’s high temperatures are ranging from 10 to 20 degrees.

Übersicht

• News In English