News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Thousands flee fighting in South Sudan

The United Nations says that fighting between rival army factions in South Sudan has claimed up to 500 lives. South Sudan has seen two days of clashes following a reported coup attempt against President Salva Kiir. The French ambassador Gerard Araud, who holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, says the conflict has the potential of a civil war: "Some reports are speaking of hundreds of casualties. We really don´t know exactly what has happened. But one of the consequences, unfortunately, is that thousands of civilians have fled and took refuge in the UN."

Ukraine saved from bankruptcy

The Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko has accused President Viktor Yanukovych of betraying the country´s independence by accepting a $15 bln lifeline from Russia. On Tuesday the Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to buy billions of dollars-worth of Ukrainian government bonds and slash the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas. The announcement comes as Ukraine remains divided over forming closer ties with Russia or Europe.

Italy probe into migrants´ treatment

Italy has launched an inquiry into the treatment of migrants at a reception centre on the island of Lampedusa. Footage filmed secretly on a mobile telephone appears to show male and female detainees being forced to strip naked while a worker hoses them down. The man who took the video - an unnamed Syrian refugee - says the migrants are being treated like "animals".

Eurozone closer on banks rescue package

Eurozone finance ministers have reportedly made progress on key negotiations on forming a banking union - the European Union´s most ambitious project since the launch of the Euro. They´ve agreed that banks themselves should help banks facing collapse by contributing some 55 billion € to a fund over a 10 year period. The aim is to prevent tax payers being forced to bear the costs.

New EU tobacco legislation

The EU has approved new anti-tobacco legislation, which includes larger and more graphic health warnings on cigarette packets, as well as the bloc's first ever rules on electronic cigarettes. The new laws will come into effect in 20-16.

Ronnie Biggs dead at 84

The notorious British criminal Ronnie Biggs, who´s best known for his role in the Great Train Robbery, has died at the age of 84. Biggs was part of the gang which escaped with over £2.5m from the Glasgow to London mail train in 1963 - the equivalent of 40 million pounds £40 m today.

The weather

Fog or freezing fog in low-lying regions, elsewhere a mix of sunshine and cloud. Top temperatures minus 5 to plus 9.

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