News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Thai military declares coup

The Thai military says it is taking over control of the government, two days after declaring martial law. In a televised statement, Thailand's army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the military would restore order and enact political reforms. The coup follows months of violent demonstrations and political deadlock. Soldiers have surrounded a building where talks were being held between the government, opposition and protest leaders.

Deadly attack on market in western China

Officials in China say 31 people have been killed in a bomb attack in the restive western region of Xinjiang. The assailants reportedly drove two cars into shoppers at a busy street market in the regional capital Urumqi, before detonating their explosives. The region has seen a series of deadly attacks, amid tensions between Han Chinese and the Muslim Uighur minority. Regional expert James Leibold says the nature of those attacks appears to be changing. “This pattern of violence goes all the way back to the 50s and beyond that, but what’s new, and what I think is significant, is that we have a shift in target. We have a targeting of places where innocent civilians gather, an attempt to main innocent civilians in large numbers.”

Ukrainian soldiers killed in Donetsk

At least 8 Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have been killed in an attack on a checkpoint in the eastern region of Donetsk. The Ukrainian government has blamed the killing on terrorists, the term it commonly uses to describe armed pro-Russian separatists. The attack comes just days before Ukrainians go to the polls to elect a new President.

Nigerian teachers strike over missing girls

Teachers in Nigeria are going out on strike today, in support of more than 200 schoolgirls, who were abducted last month by the Islamist group Boko Haram. The action follows two days of violence in Nigeria that has left nearly 150 people dead. Union leader Segun Raheem says more needs to be done to protect teachers, with over 170 dying in militant attacks. “The majority of them are very scared. They don’t even sleep at home. When they go to school it is with a shock. We feel that enough security has not been put in place. We feel that our intelligence agencies are not doing enough.”

Syrian troops break siege in Aleppo

Reports coming out of Syria say government forces have broken a year long siege by rebels at a prison in the northern city of Aleppo. The rebels have been trying to free thousands of inmates being held at the facility.

EU parliamentary elections begin

The European Union parliamentary elections kick off today, with voters going to the polls in Britain and the Netherlands. Around 400 million people are eligible to vote over the next four days, with most of the 28 EU member states holding ballots on Sunday.

The Weather

Mostly sunny conditions should continue this afternoon, with some cloud and the chance of thundery showers in the west. Top temperatures will range from 24 to 32 degrees.

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