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page 30 EU EU suspends direct aid to Burundi government over political crisis The European Union has suspended direct financial support for the Burundian government after concluding that it had not done enough to find a political solution to conflict that has so far cost more than 400 lives. Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza triggered the […]

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EU

EU suspends direct aid to Burundi government over political crisis

The European Union has suspended direct financial support for the Burundian government after concluding that it had not done enough to find a political solution to conflict that has so far cost more than 400 lives.

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza triggered the crisis in April last year when he announced a bid for a third term. He went on to win a disputed election in July, in the face of street protests and violent clashes.

The European Council, the body that represents the 28 EU nations, said in a statement on Monday that it had finished talks with Burundi and declared that commitments proposed by Bujumbura were insufficient to address EU concerns.

The European Union funds about half the annual budget of Burundi and has imposed sanctions on officials close to Burundi’s president.

Neven Mimica, the EU Commissioner for international cooperation and development, said that the EU remained committed to providing emergency assistance and was preparing projects to ensure basic services for the population, but without channelling resources through the government.

The EU decision will be reviewed at least twice a year.

MACEDONIA

Migrant crisis: Hundreds seek new route into Macedonia

Hundreds of migrants are heading towards a river on the Greece-Macedonia border, trying to find a way through the border fence.

They were seen leaving their camp in Idomeni, Greece, and are now walking to a river that separates the two nations.

Greek police later surrounded the group, but there were no reports of any clashes.

Some 14,000 people have been stranded at the camp, where conditions have deteriorated following days of rain.

In other developments on Monday, Macedonian police say two men and one woman found drowned in the Suva river on Monday were migrants trying to enter the country from Greece

Macedonia last week said it would no longer let any migrants in, blocking the so-called Balkan route north.

I/COAST

Ivory Coast steps up security following attack

By Abdullateef Salau with agency report

The Ivory Coast government has said security in schools, hotels and on borders will be stepped up after Islamist militants killed at least 18 people on Sunday.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it was behind the gun attack on Grand Bassam beach.

The resort is popular with locals and foreigners. French and German nationals were among the dead, officials say. It is the first jihadist attack in Ivory Coast.

President Alassane Ouattara, during a visit to the site, promised to strengthen the country’s security. He met with ministers on Monday in an emergency meeting and announced three days of national mourning.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has condemned the terrorist attacks and wished the injured speedy recovery.

UN’s Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement by its spokesman, reiterated the agency’s support to the Ivorian government in its efforts to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

GERMANY

No change to Merkel’s migrant policy despite election setbacks

The German government has said there will be no change in the country’s immigration policy despite right-wing gains in three state elections.

The anti-immigrant AfD party had campaigned against what it called Chancellor Merkel’s “catastrophic” decision to welcome a million migrants and refugees last year. But the AfD remains a minor force, especially in western Germany.

The poll was seen as a test of support for Mrs Merkel’s refugee policy.

Her Christian Democrats (CDU) lost votes but remained the strongest party in the poor eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD made its biggest gains, taking a quarter of the vote. That made it the second-biggest party there.

The CDU lost a third of its vote in Baden-Württemberg, reaching a historic low of 27%. The Green Party came first, while the AfD gained about 15% of the vote.

In Rhineland-Palatinate the Social Democrats maintained their position as the strongest party, the CDU came second – in a state they had hoped to win – and the AfD came fourth with 12.5%.

PALESTINE

Palestinian refugee camp teacher wins $1m global prize

A Palestinian teacher has won a $1m (£707,000) global teaching prize – with the award announced in a video message by Pope Francis.

Hanan Al Hroub grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp and now is a teacher of refugees herself.

She specialises in supporting children who have been traumatised by violence.

The winner was announced at an awards ceremony in Dubai, with a video message of congratulation sent by Prince William.

Pope Francis sent a message saying that teachers were “the builders of peace and unity”.

Ms Al Hroub told the audience that “teachers could change the world”.

Growing up in a refugee camp near Bethlehem, Ms Al Hroub now works with refugee pupils, with an approach using play that is aimed at resolving violence and tension.

“I am proud to be a Palestinian female teacher standing on this stage,” she said after receiving the award. She says she will spend the prize money on supporting her students.

TURKEY

Turkey pounds Kurdish bases after Ankara bombing

Turkey on Monday held four suspects over a suicide car bombing that killed at least 36 people in Ankara, as warplanes pounded Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq over the attack, the capital’s third in five months.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest carnage, which reduced cars and buses to charred husks on a busy road in the heart of the city on Sunday evening, wounding more than 120 people.

But Ankara believes one of the bombers was a woman with ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Turkish official told AFP on Monday.

Turkish police detained four people near the Syrian frontier on Monday, state-run Anatolia news agency reported, acting on a tip-off that the car used in the bombing had been bought in Sanliurfa, a Kurdish-dominated town some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border.

SYRIA

UN envoy warns of ‘worse war’ in Syria if peace talks fail

U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura began a new round of peace talks Monday in Geneva, warning that the only alternative to the negotiations is returning to “even worse war than we had so far.”

Speaking before meeting with a delegation from the Syrian government, de Mistura said it is up to the people of Syria to decide their future, and the U.N. must help them.

He said the plan is to hold indirect talks with each side for about 10 days, then after a recess convene the next round of negotiations beginning in early April and another one after that. The envoy said he believes the process will yield at least a roadmap for peace

“By then we believe that we should have at least a clear roadmap – I’m not saying an agreement, but a clear roadmap – because that is what Syria is expecting from all of us,” de Mistura said.

He also stressed the need to maintain the cessation of hostilities and increased humanitarian access that have been in place for more than two weeks.

THAILAND

Thailand chemical accident in Bangkok bank kills eight

Eight people have died in a chemical accident in the basement of a Bangkok bank, officials have confirmed.

The contractors were working on a fire safety system at the headquarters of the Siam Commercial bank on Sunday night, the bank said in a statement.

They apparently suffocated after a gas mixture which depletes oxygen was released.

Another seven were injured in the incident, which may have been caused by contractors’ “negligence”, it added.

A bank spokesman said the incident took place in a vault storing documents in the head office in Bangkok.

EGYPT

Egypt dismisses minister after ‘prophet’ comments

Egypt’s prime minister has sacked Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zend after his controversial remarks about imprisoning “the prophet” went viral.

Ahmed el-Zend was on a private Egyptian channel discussing his opponents on Friday when the interviewer asked him whether he would imprison journalists.

“Even if it’s the prophet – peace and prayers upon him,” Zend said before quickly repenting. He then added that anyone who is at fault will be imprisoned “regardless of their stature”.

Egyptian judges issued a statement opposing Zend’s removal over what the head of the Judges Club told Reuters news agency was a slip of the tongue that could have happened to anyone.

INDIA

Indian student hacked to death for inter-caste marriage

An Indian student from the lowest Dalit caste was hacked to death and his wife critically injured in southern India in a suspected “honour killing” by relatives angered by their marriage, police said Monday.

Three men armed with sickles and sharp weapons attacked the 22-year-old student and his wife, who is from a higher caste, on a crowded street in Tamil Nadu state on Sunday.

Local police commissioner N Manjunatha said the 19-year-old woman’s relatives were angered by the couple’s marriage.

Thevars are a dominant community in Tamil Nadu while Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, are a historically marginalised community.