News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukraine launches full-scale offensive

Ukrainian forces have launched a full-scale military operation against pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. A 10-day ceasefire ended on Monday evening, with President Petro Poroshenko saying criminal elements had thwarted the chance for peace: “We will attack and free our land. The non-extension of the ceasefire plan is our response to terrorists, rebels and marauders, to all those who torture civilians, who paralyse the country´s economy.”

Israel vows retribution for teenagers´ deaths

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Palestinian militant group Hamas will pay the price for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Their bodies were found near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Monday evening, more than two weeks after they disappeared. Hamas had praised the abduction of the teenagers but not taken responsibility for it. It warned Israeli reprisals would "open the gates of hell."

Stalemate in key Iraq parliament session

The Iraqi parliament has ended its first session since April´s elections, after failing to make any progress in choosing the country's new leadership, including a prime minister. It is facing the task of creating a unified government to tackle the escalating crisis, with huge swathes of the country now in the hands of Sunni insurgents.

Erdogan to run for Turkish presidency

Turkey's ruling AK party has formally nominated Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run in Turkey's first direct presidential election in August. Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003, has presided over Turkey's economic ascent but has also provoked outrage for his increasingly authoritarian stance. The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained by police for questioning over corruption allegations, in an unprecedented step against a former leader. His lawyer was questioned on Monday.

Court upholds French full-face veil ban

The European Court of Human Rights has upheld a ban by France on wearing the Muslim full-face veil - the niqab. The case was brought by a 24-year-old French woman, who argued that the ban on wearing the veil in public violated her freedom of religion and expression.

BNP Paribas to pay US $9bn

France's largest bank BNP Paribas has agreed to a record $9bn settlement with prosecutors in the United States over allegations of sanctions violations. The bank pleaded guilty to two criminal charges of breaking US sanctions against trade with Sudan, Iran and Cuba.

Schulz re-elected as EU Parliament president

The German Social Democrat Martin Schulz has been re-elected as the president of the European Parliament. He had the backing of the biggest political groups.

The weather

Some sunshine, but showers or thunder storms in the mountains. Highs today from 18 to 26.

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