News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Second terror attack in Volgograd

At least 14 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in Volgograd in southern Russia, the second terror attack in the city in less than twenty four hours. At least 17 people died in a suicide bombing at the Volgograd central railway station yesterday. Russian journalist Maxim Akhmetov was at the scene of today’s attack on a trolleybus. “The blast was very powerful. It was hard from several kilometres away. The scene is terrible because the trolleybus is a mangled wreck. There are bodies scattered everywhere, blood on the snow.” President Vladimir Putin has ordered security to be tightened at transport hubs across Russia. The attacks have heightened concerns militants could target the winter Olympics in Sochi next year.

Schumacher “fighting for his life”

The seven-times Formula 1 champion, Michael Schumacher, is in a critical condition after a skiing accident in the French Alps yesterday. Doctors said he has suffered serious brain trauma and is fighting for his life.

Armed group attacks in DRC

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say security forces have retaken control of the headquarters of state radio and television in the capital Kinshasa, after it was seized by an armed group. The attackers delivered a political message against President Joseph Kabila before transmission was cut. Shooting was also reported at the international airport and a military base in Kinshasa as well as in the eastern city of Lubumbashi.

Renewed violence in Xinjiang

Authorities in Xinjiang in western China say police have shot dead eight people who attacked a police station. More than a hundred people have died in similar incidents this year in Xinjiang, where there are tensions between the authorities and the Muslim Uighur population.

Iran nuclear talks resume

Representatives from Iran and six world powers meet in Geneva today to finalise technical details on a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for some easing of international sanctions. An outline agreement reached last month is due to come into force in January.

German envoy’s Athens home shot at

The home of Germany's ambassador to Greece was sprayed with gunfire from automatic weapons early this morning. No one was hurt. The government in Athens has described the incident as a terrorist attack aimed at harming Greece’s image as it assumes the presidency of the European Union.

Antarctic rescue fails

Bad weather has forced back a rescue attempt by an Australian icebreaker trying to reach an icebound Russian research ship trapped for a week in the Antarctic. The 74 people on board the Russian ship include scientists and tourists.

The weather

Sunny in the west and north. Fog and cloud in the south and south east. Top temperatures minus 1 to plus 9 degrees.

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