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8. April 2017, 21:58

Search continues for missing flight

A huge international search is continuing over the ocean around Malaysia and Vietnam for traces of a Malaysia Airlines flight missing for nearly three days. No wreckage has yet been found of the aircraft which was carrying 239 passengers and crew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Malaysian police have identified one of two passengers on the flight who were travelling on stolen passports from Austria and Italy. Authorities have said a hijacking attempt could not be ruled out.

US invites Ukraine’s PM

The White House says US president Barack Obama has invited Ukraine’s interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk for talks on Wednesday to demonstrate US support for Ukrainian sovereignty, as Russia strengthens its control over Crimea. Crimea’s pro-Russian prime minister Sergei Aksyonov says people in the territory will be given the choice of taking Russian or Ukrainian passports if a majority vote to join Russia in a referendum on March 16th.

Iran hopeful of nuclear deal

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after talks in Teheran with the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has said a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme could be completed in the next four months: “Iran is determined to reach an agreement. Iran finds it in its own interests to make sure there are no ambiguities about Iran’s intentions because we have no intention to seek nuclear weapons.” Ashton has cautioned there is no guarantee that Iran and six world powers will reach a final deal over the country's nuclear program.

Syrian nuns released

Thirteen Greek Orthodox nuns and their three assistants captured by rebel forces in the Syrian civil war last December have been released. Lebanese officials involved in the negotiations say the Syrian government has agreed to the release of around 150 female prisoners in exchange for the nuns’ freedom.

Starvation “used as weapon of war” in Syria

The human rights group Amnesty International has accused the Syrian government of using starvation as a weapon of war. Amnesty says around 200 people in Yarmouk camp in Damascus have died of hunger-related illnesses in a yearlong blockade by the Syrian army.

Taliban threaten Afghan vote

The Taliban in Afghanistan has ordered its fighters to use all possible force to disrupt presidential elections to be held on April 5th. The militant group said the election is being manipulated by the United States.

Hoeneß trial opens

The trial has opened in Munich of the president of the Bayern Munich football club Ulli Hoeneß on charges he evaded more than 3 and a half million euros in taxes. He has admitted holding a secret bank account in Switzerland.

The weather

Mainly sunny, with some cloud in the south east. Top temperatures 8 to 18 degrees.

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