News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Nigeria marks anniversary of mass abduction

Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do everything possible to free over 200 schoolgirls, who were abducted by Boko Haram militants from the north-eastern town of Chibok, exactly one year ago today. Ceremonies are taking place across Nigeria to mark the anniversary, including a march in the capital Abuja. Obiageli Ezekwesili helped found the Bring Back our Girls campaign. She says she remains hopeful that the girls are still alive. “Without the counterfactual evidence, we believe that these girls are somewhere on the face of the planet. As a citizen I must take my cue from those who should know. Our president is the commander in chief of the armed forces. The military people they control the troops. They have not said to us that the Chibok girls are dead.”

US contractors sentenced over Iraq killing

A court in the United States has sentenced four former defence contractors from the firm Blackwater to lengthy prison terms in connection with the 2007 killing of civilians in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. 14 civilians died, after Blackwater security guards opened fire in a crowded square to clear the way for a US convoy.

Ukraine fighting flares despite diplomatic efforts

The Ukrainian military says six soldiers have been killed over the past 24 hours in fighting with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. The violence comes despite renewed diplomatic efforts to enforce a ceasefire. The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France agreed overnight to call for the pullback of tanks and other heavy weapons. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the German Foreign Minister. “What’s decisive is that in light of the worsening situation we agreed today not only to continue with the withdrawal of heavy weapons, but also to include other categories of weapons in the withdrawal.”

Kazakh pair go on trial over bank murder

The trial has opened in Vienna of two Kazakh nationals, accused of aiding the abduction and murder of two bankers from Kazakhstan's Nurbank in 2007. The main suspect in the case, the former Kazakh ambassador to Austria, Rakhat Aliyev, was found dead in his cell in a Vienna prison in February.

Japanese court halts nuclear reactor restart

A court in Japan has issued an injunction, blocking the restarting of two nuclear reactors in the western city of Takahama on safety grounds. Local residents had petitioned the court to intervene, saying the plant could not withstand a strong earthquake. All of Japan's 48 nuclear reactors remain offline, following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Militants attack Somali ministry building

Reports coming out of Somalia say at least five people have been killed in an attack on the Higher Education Ministry in the capital Mogadishu. Police say armed men stormed the building after two large blasts. The Islamist militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility.

The weather

And mostly sunny conditions have been forecast for this afternoon with showers easing. Top temperatures will range from 10 to 20 degrees.

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