News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Russia tightens its grip on Crimea

Russia’s military has taken de facto control of Ukraine's Crimea region… despite Western demands that it withdraw. The world's seven major industrialised powers – the G7 - have condemned what they call Moscow's "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty". Ukraine itself has ordered full mobilization of its military - issuing call-up papers and asking for more international support. Russia says it’s protecting its interests and those of Russian-speakers in Crimea. But the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, says that’s nonsense.: “You just don’t invade another country on phony pretext in order to assert your interests. There’s sort of a hidden pretext here of possibly trying to annex Crimea.”

Oscar Pistorius murder trial begins

The South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial in Pretoria for the pre-meditated murder of his girlfriend – the model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot her dead at his home on Valentine’s Day last year. He claims it was an accident after he mistook her for an intruder. But prosecutors say he deliberately shot her following an argument. Steenkamp's friend Gwyn Guscott says she and the victim’s family simply want the truth: “The main thing I want to know from Oscar is what happened, what caused him to do what he did. And just answer those (questions) as honestly as he can.”

Serbia and Croatia file genocide charges

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened proceedings in which Serbia faces allegations that it committed genocide during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. Croatia filed the charges against Belgrade in 1999. Meanwhile, Croatia faces a similar lawsuit of genocide charges filed by Serbia.

Security tight following China mass stabbing

The authorities in south-west China have tightened security in the city of Kunming… following a mass knife attack on Saturday. A group of ten men and women burst into city’s main train station, stabbing people at random. 29 people were killed and 130 wounded. Officials have blamed separatists from the Xinjiang region for the attack.

Hollywood hands out its Oscars

This year’s Oscars have been handed out in Hollywood. Cate Blanchett was named Best Actress for Blue Jasmine while Matthew McConaughey took the Best Actor award for The Dallas Buyers Club. Alfonso Cuaron won the Best Director Oscar for Gravity. The biggest award of the night - Best Film - went to 12 Years a Slave. The movie’s director Steve McQueen had this to say: “I dedicate this award to all the people who have endured slavery – and the 21 million people who still suffer slavery today. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

The Weather

Only occasional sunshine in places. Cloud will move in from the west and the south-east, bringing rain and even snow showers in higher elevations. Top temperatures will range from +4C to +15C in areas affected by föhn winds.

Übersicht

• News In English