News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Kiev protesters claim victory over police

Riot police and Interior Ministry troops have reportedly withdrawn from protest sites in the Ukrainian, capital Kiev, as protesters claimed victory following clashes. Police and soldiers moved in on a large protest camp in Independence Square overnight and later tried to storm city hall, which has been occupied by demonstrators. Tensions have been rising over the government's decision to withdraw from a landmark deal with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia. The senior Russian senator, Mikhail Margelov, says he´s not surprised at the scale of the protests: "People in Ukraine are really emotional. They react emotionally to any political changes, to anything that happens in domestic political life."

Russia´s military ordered to boost Arctic presence

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to build up its forces in the Arctic as a priority, saying that Russia needed to use every means to protect its national interests in the region. He was speaking after Canada announced plans to claim the continental shelf under the North Pole. Russia and Denmark also lay claim to parts of the shelf, which is rich in resources.

Compromise in US budget row

Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress have unveiled an agreement on the country's budget that should avert the prospect of another government shutdown in January. The deal announced on Capitol Hill on Tuesday night finances the US government for two years and reduces the country's deficit by 23 billion dollars.

Nelson Mandela to lie in state

A casket containing the body of Nelson Mandela has arrived at the main government building in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, where it will lie in state for three days. Members of the public lined the route to form a "guard of honour" for the former president and Nobel laureate, who died on Thursday.

Uruguay votes to legalise marijuana

Uruguay has become the first country in the world to make it legal to grow, sell and consume marijuana. The government hopes it will help tackle drug cartels, but critics say it will expose more people to drugs.

India court re-instates same-sex ban

India´s top court has re-instated a law which criminalises homosexuality. The Supreme Court ruling reverses a landmark order from the Delhi High Court in 2009, which decriminalised homosexual acts. The anti-gay law dates from the British Colonial 1860s. Several political, social and religious groups had petitioned the Supreme Court to have the law reinstated in the wake of the 2009 ruling.

The weather

A mix of mist, fog or drizzle in low-lying areas, but mostly sunny in the mountains. Top temperatures today from 0 to plus 8.

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