News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukraine re-launches „anti-terror“ operations

Ukraine's government has formally ended an Easter truce and is re-launching an "anti-terrorist operation" against armed pro-Russian separatist groups in the east of the country. Acting president Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the military operation after the body of a local politician from his own party was found showing signs of torture near the city of Slaviansk, which is in the hands of pro-Kremlin militants. Meanwhile, the United States is deploying 600 troops to Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to begin a series of military exercises. The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says that Russia will retaliate if its citizens' interests are threatened and its territory comes under attack. He also accused the US of being behind events in Ukraine.

Obama begins Asia tour

The US President Barack Obama has arrived in Japan on the first leg of a six-day tour of Asia. He´s assured Japan of America´s support in a territorial dispute with China. Obama says the US would oppose any attempt to undermine Japan's control over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Analyst Christopher Johnson of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies says Asia is also concerned about Russia´s actions in eastern Ukraine: "We have, I think, the US trying to send very clear signals to China - don´t miscalculate and assume that something like the Crimea gives you some sort of opportunity…we will defend our allies." President Obama will also be visiting South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Violent unrest in Rio

Violent protests have broken out in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro following the death of a young man allegedly beaten by police, who reportedly mistook him for a drug trafficker. One man was shot and killed during the violence. The unrest comes less than two months before Brazil hosts the football World Cup.

Bombing targets Egyptian Brigadier-General

Egyptian state television is reporting that a senior police officer, Brigadier-General Ahmed Zaki, was killed after a bomb exploded under his car outside his home near Cairo. Bombings and shootings targeting the police have become widespread in Egypt since the army deposed president Mohamed Morsi last July.

Sherpa guides stage Everest walkout

Sherpa guides have packed up their tents and left the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal in a walkout to honour 16 of their colleagues who were killed last week in the deadliest avalanche ever recorded on the mountain.

Filmmaker Michael Glawogger dies

It is being reported that the renowned Austrian film-maker Michael Glawogger has died. He was 54. He was filming in Liberia and had contracted malaria. Born in Graz, he studied in San Francisco and Vienna.

The weather

A mix of cloud and sunshine, with the chance of isolated showers or thunderstorms, some of them heavy. Highs today from 15 to 23.

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