Here are the biggest stories in the world today, 17th April 2014
Ukraine steps closer to the brink
Three pro-Russian separatists were killed yesterday as they attacked a base of the Ukrainian national guard. It is the most violent incident to date in a 10-day pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine. It has overshadowed emergency talks which are taking place between Ukrainian, Russian and Western diplomats in Geneva to try to resolve the conflict. The incident follows farcical scenes earlier in the week when Ukrainian soldiers, sent to restore order in the east, were confronted by pro-Russian crowds and forced to retreat and give up their weapons and equipment. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Ukraine is on the brink of a civil war. For more go to Reuters.
Korean ferry search hampered by conditions
Bad weather and strong currents are among the conditions hampering search efforts for 282 people reported missing after the South Korean ferry, The Sewol, capsized yesterday off the south coast of the country. Of the 475 people on board, 340 were students and teachers from a Seoul High School. So far 179 people have been rescued and 14 people have been confirmed dead although that figure is expected to rise as rescuers struggle to locate survivors. It has been reported that only two life rafts were successfully launched sparking suspicion of the conduct of the captain and crew. For more go to the BBC.
Abducted Nigerian students whereabouts unknown
The fate of 115 Nigerian schoolgirls reported to have been abducted by Islamist extremists on Tuesday has been thrown into doubt today after their principal denied the Nigerian military’s report that they had been freed. The military had reported that all but eight of the 129 students and teachers abducted by men posing as soldiers had been accounted for. The mass abduction coincided with an attack on a bus station outside the capital Abuja, which has also been blamed on Islamist extremists. For more go to The New York Times.
Also in the news today
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