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8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukraine ceasefire under strain

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly agreed on concrete steps with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to prevent the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine from collapsing. Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe are to be given greater access to monitor the ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline should be started today. The withdrawal had been due to begin at midnight local time but was delayed because of continued fierce fighting for control of the strategic town of Debaltseve.

Shares fall after Greek talks break down

European shares have fallen after talks in Brussels between Greece and euro zone finance ministers broke down, raising doubts about Greece´s future in the euro. The Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis rejected a proposal to request a six-month extension of the international bailout package as "unacceptable". The Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Greece had until Friday to request an extension, otherwise the bailout would expire at the end of the month. Yanis Varoufakis says he remains hopeful of a deal despite the impasse: "There is a government now in Greece which is challenging a programme that has been going for five years, which has failed, and our difficulty is to convince our partners that Europe must cut its losses with a programme that is not working."

Egypt seeks UN mandate on Libya

The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has called for a United Nations resolution allowing an international coalition to intervene in Libya. The Egyptian military carried out airstrikes on Islamic State group targets in neighbouring Libya on Monday, following the execution of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian captives.

Strauss-Kahn plaintiffs drop cases

Five out of six plaintiffs in the aggravated pimping trial of the former head of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn have dropped their accusations against him. They have abandoned damages claims because they say they have no proof. The surprise move at the start of the final week of the trial in the French city of Lille is seen as a boost for the defence. Strauss-Kahn maintains that he was unaware that women involved in orgies with him were paid sex workers.

Huge fire after US train derails

A train carrying crude oil has derailed in the US State of West Virginia, setting 14 wagons ablaze and forcing the evacuation of two nearby towns. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures are hampering efforts to deal with the incident.

Many dead and injured in Haiti carnival accident

Officials in Haiti say 18 people were killed when a carnival float hit power lines in the capital Port-au-Prince. Sixty others were reportedly injured.

The weather

Mostly sunny but some persistent mist or fog. Top temperatures from minus 2 to plus 12.

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