News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Palestinian minister killed in clashes

A senior Palestinian official has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the occupied West Bank. Eye witness reports say Ziad Abu Ein, who was a minister without portfolio in the Palestinian Authority, was hit and shoved by soldiers. Palestinian medics have reportedly said he died as a result of suffocation from tear gas that was fired.

Calls for prosecution after torture report

The United Nations, human rights activists and international legal experts have called for the prosecution of United States officials responsible for the CIA torture programme carried out on Al Qaida suspects after the 9/11 terror attacks. The calls follow publication of a report by the Senate intelligence committee which found the CIA misled the US government and the public over the level of brutality employed by CIA interrogators and the effectiveness of the programme in deterring attacks. President Barack Obama, who ended the torture programme when he first took office, commented on the report’s release, which has been repeatedly delayed by his administration: “There’s never a perfect time to release a report like this. But it was important for us to recognise that part of what sets us apart is that when we do something wrong we acknowledge it.”

Record deaths on Mediterranean

The United Nations says a record number of people, over 3,400, have died this year trying to flee across the Mediterranean from war zones in Africa and the Middle East to Europe. The UN refugee agency said governments must focus on saving lives rather than keeping out people who may be fleeing war or persecution.

Medvedev addresses rouble fears

Russia’s prime minister Dmitry Medvedev has called on Russians not to panic as the value of the rouble continues to slide. In a live TV interview he urged people not to put their money into dollars and euros.

Nobel Peace Prize awarded

The Pakistani school girl Malala Yousafzai today receives the Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo. Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen two years ago for campaigning for girls' education. She shares the prize with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian child rights campaigner.

France unveils economy reforms

France’s economy minister Emmanuel Macron today unveils a series of reforms aimed at tackling record unemployment, including relaxing labor rules. The bill is praised by economists but has sharply divided his Socialist Party.

Pistorius appeal allowed

In South Africa a judge has ruled that prosecutors can appeal against the acquittal on murder charges of Oscar Pistorius in the killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The case will now go to the Supreme Court.

The weather

Sunny in the east and south. Cloud drawing in, in the west, with rain and snow showers toward evening. Top temperatures minus 2 to plus 6 degrees.

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