Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has said he had held true to his pledge of free and fair elections, as he conceded defeat to his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.
	"I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word," the 57-year-old said in a statement yesterday after the final results were announced with Buhari some 2.5 million votes ahead.
	Jonathan urged disputes over the results to be settled in court, adding: "Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.

Nigeria's Jonathan: 'I kept my word' on free, fair elections

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At least 62 children have been killed and 30 injured in Yemen over the past week as fighting has escalated, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF has said.
	"Children are in desperate need of protection, and all parties to the conflict should do all in their power to keep children safe," said UNICEF's representative for Yemen, Julien Harneis yesterday.
	Fighting has escalated sharply in Yemen after a Saudi-led coalition over the weekend launched air strikes to block an advance by Shiite rebels know as Huthis.
	UNICEF said the fighting was severely damaging health and education services, and exacerbating already precarious conditions for children who are facing a food crisis and acute malnutrition.
	The violence is leaving children terrified and more of them are being recruited as child soldiers, UNICEF said.
	The United Nations earlier pulled its last remaining 13 foreign employees from Yemen, while its peace envoy, Moroccan diplomat Jamal Benomar, relocated to Jordan to try to .

At least 62 children killed in Yemen in past week: UNICEF

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi left talks in Switzerland to seal an outline nuclear deal with Iran but his negotiating team remained behind, a Western diplomat said.
	"His deputy is staying," the diplomat told reporters as the tough negotiations were going down the wire to a midnight deadline.
	Earlier, a senior US official said that the talks could drag into tomorrow, while an Iranian negotiator said his team was ready to keep talking "as long as necessary.

Chinese FM quits Iran talks, team stays behind

Lawyers for alleged Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev quickly wrapped up their defense case on today as the four-week old trial entered its final stages.
	Attorneys for Tsarnaev, who faces the death penalty if convicted of the April 2013 Boston Marathon attack that killed three people and wounded 264, called only four witnesses after prosecutors wrapped their case yesterday.
	"That is all the witnesses that the defense will present," lawyer Tim Watkins informed the court, following the testimony of an FBI fingerprint expert.
	Prosecutors and defense attorneys will make their closing arguments yesterday, federal judge George O'Toole said. After that, jury deliberations will begin.
	Tsarnaev's lawyers have already admitted the 21-year-old Muslim was responsible for the bombings, telling jurors in their opening statement: "It was him."
	However the defense have sought to portray Tsarnaev's elder brother Tamerlan -- shot dead by police in the days following the attacks -- as the architect ..

Defense wraps up case in Boston bombing trial

The US abandoned late tonight a midnight deadline to agree the outlines of a nuclear deal with Iran but insisted that "enough progress" merited extending marathon talks into tomorrow.
	"We've made enough progress in the last days to merit staying until Wednesday. There are several difficult issues still remaining," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
	The announcement came late on a sixth day of talks in Switzerland aimed at laying the groundwork for a deal that world powers hope will prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian programme.
	The stakes are high, with fears that failure to reach a deal may set the United States and Israel on a road to military action to thwart Iran's nuclear drive, which Tehran says is purely peaceful.
	Earlier Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi left the crunch talks in Lausanne as his French counterpart Laurent Fabius said that the negotiations were "complicated... Long and difficult".
	A German diplomatic source also 

Deadline abandoned in marathon Iran nuclear talks

Indiana Governor Mike Pence, facing mounting criticism, said today he will seek to tweak a contentious new law that some warn discriminates against gays.
	Pence told a press conference that the law he signed last week "does not give anyone a license to discriminate."
	But amid threats of crippling boycotts, the state's largest newspaper demanded in a front-page editorial that Pence "fix this now" by taking immediate action.
	"We've got a perception problem," the embattled Republican governor acknowledged.
	"After much reflection, and in consultation with leadership of the general assembly, I've come to the conclusion that it would be helpful to move legislation this week to make it clear that this law does not give businesses a right to deny services to anyone," Pence said.
	"It's a fix of a bill that through mischaracterization and confusion has come to be greatly misunderstood."
	Although he insisted he wanted to act this week and "move forward," Pence did not specify what remedy ...

Governor backs down, seeks 'fix' to Indiana religion law

Iraq said security and allied forces backed by US-led coalition aircraft "liberated" the city of Tikrit today, its biggest victory yet in the fight against Islamic State jihadists.
	The operation to retake the hometown of former president Saddam Hussein began on March 2 and had looked bogged down before Iraqi forces made rapid advances in the past 48 hours.
	Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi "announces the liberation of Tikrit and congratulates Iraqi security forces and popular volunteers on the historic milestone," his official Twitter account said.
	He was referring to paramilitary groups which played a major role in the fighting to retake Tikrit, a Sunni Arab city which IS had controlled since it captured swathes of Iraq in June.
	A spokesperson for the US-led coalition told AFP however that "parts of the city remain under (IS's) control and there is still work to be done."
	In a statement to AFP just minutes before Abadi's tweet, his spokesman Rafid Jaboori said: "Iraqi forces ...

Iraq PM says Tikrit 'liberated' after month-long battle

Russian President Vladimir Putin on today ordered the creation of a new government agency to oversee ethnic issues, according to an official decree.
	The proposed agency will "implement measures directed at fortifying the unity of... The Russian nation," it said.
	It will also chalk out "preventive measures" against racial or religious discrimination and thwart attempts to "instigate hatred" the decree said.
	The body will further regulate Moscow's cooperation with Cossacks, the nationalist semi-militarised groups whose ancestors were used to expand and strengthen the frontiers of imperial Russia.
	Modern Cossacks have been engaged in police patrols, particularly in southern Russia, and are a major support base for the Kremlin's conservative drive to promote "traditional values", including Orthodox Christianity.
	Russia has dozens of ethnic groups, including many indigenous groups in the Far North and the Caucasus region.
	Putin said in a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ...

Putin creates new agency to 'unite Russian nation'

The UN rights chief expressed alarm today at the situation in Yemen as Arab warplanes pounded the country for a sixth day, warning it appeared about to collapse.
	"The situation in Yemen is extremely alarming, with dozens of civilians killed over the past four days," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.
	"The country seems to be on the verge of total collapse."
	Zeid's comments came after nearly a week of air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition, which has vowed to continue the attacks until Huthi rebels end their uprising against President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has fled to Saudi Arabia.
	Since Friday, at least 93 civilians have been killed and 364 injured in the violence, the UN human rights office said.
	"We have reports that the hospitals are really full of dead and injured people," spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly told AFP. "We have heard about lots of dead bodies," she added.
	Zeid voiced outrage at the high toll.
	"The killing of so many ..

UN rights chief warns Yemen on verge of 'total collapse'

Explosions and gunfire rang out today at the Istanbul court building where a prosecutor was being held hostage by an armed leftist group, an AFP correspondent reported.
	Several shots were fired and at least two explosions were heard, as smoke was also seen coming out of the upper floor where Istanbul prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz was being held.
	Ambulances were also seen rushing to the entrance of the courthouse but there were no details on casualties.
	The authorities, who had earlier been negotiating with the captors, did not immediately confirm they had launched an operation against the hostage-takers.
	However security forces had been outside the court house building for several hours in possible anticipation of such an operation.
	The Turkish government had earlier obtained an order for a media blackout on the standoff and the clashes were not mentioned on Turkish news channels.
	The radical leftists had threatened to kill the prosecutor, if their demands surrounding the case ..

Gunfire, blasts at Istanbul hostage standoff: AFP

The EU will tomorrow introduce labels showing the origins of pre-packed meat other than beef, but critics had sought even tougher rules in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.
	The new rules for fresh, chilled and frozen meat from sheep, goats, pigs and poultry require listing for EU consumers the countries where the animals were raised and slaughtered, said the European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation bloc.
	These rules, which also apply to meat from non-EU countries, are less strict than those for beef that have existed since 2002 and require also listing where the cows were born.
	The commission said that a rule requiring informing consumers of the birthplace of animals other than cattle would be disproportionately costly and burdensome.
	"In practice, the volume of individual cattle movements is significantly higher than with pigs, poultry, sheep and goats," it said.
	And as is the case for beef, processed meats like cured hams and meat pies are not required to show the ..

EU introduces labels on origin of meat other than beef

US and Cuban officials held a brief technical-level meeting today to define an agenda for future sessions on human rights as part of the rapprochement between the long-time adversaries, a Cuban source said.
	The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, provided no details on the substance of the talks.
	The State Department, which hosted them, had previously described them as "preliminary" in nature and devoted to discussions about the modalities and structure of future conversations on human rights.
	The two countries have held a series of talks since US President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro decided in December to work to restore relations severed more than 50 years ago.

US, Cuba hold technical talks on human rights

A rough deadline for today saw only 32 out of 195 countries submit pledges for tackling greenhouse gases under UN climate talks scheduled to conclude just over eight months from now.
	Analysts, though, said the commitments were generally encouraging, even if the UN's aim to curb warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) remained worryingly distant.
	Among major carbon emitters, the United States and the European Union put their positions on the table as expected, along with Mexico, the first emerging country to do so.
	But developing giants China, India and Brazil were absent for now, which could further complicate an already tortured process, these observers added.
	"While there has been some progress in what governments are proposing for the post-2020 period, with several countries moving from 'inadequate' to 'medium,' proposals are still a long way from being 2 C compatible," said Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, a monitoring group.
	"The delay (in submitting pledges) .

Climate pledges: Deadline sees slow but promising start

Thousands of people spilled into the streets in northern Nigeria in celebration today after opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari claimed victory in the presidential election.
	A cavalcade of motorbikes and cars with their headlights on and horns blaring paraded through the streets of Kano, northern Nigeria's biggest city and an ancient seat of learning.
	Drivers performed stunts, filling the air with thick smoke, as veiled women and the crowds shouted "Sai Buhari" (Only Buhari) in celebration.
	Many brandished the wicker broom, symbol of Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) which claims it will sweep Africa's most populous country clean years of government mismanagement and corruption.
	In a neighbourhood of Kaduna, another northern city, the crowds chanted "change, change" as hundreds of people climbed onto rooftops to watch the celebrations.
	Buhari won a landslide victory in Kano, Nigeria's second most-populous state, securing more than 1.9 million votes and 89 percent of the .

Thousands celebrate as Nigeria opposition claims vote win

Russian President Vladimir Putin on today said Russia would extend the current gas deal with Ukraine by another three months, hours before it was due to expire.
	In a meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Kiev has asked to extend the deal signed in October which expires at midnight. "Let's do it," Putin responded.
	He said the deal "would be active for another three months" after which Russia will review it taking into account the "volatile oil prices on global markets."
	Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak said earlier this month that the price Moscow is setting for Ukraine will be USD 348 per 1,000 cubic metres starting on April 1. The deal then lowers the price by USD 100 in what Moscow calls a discount.
	The pact covering the crucial winter months was signed after a cut-off last year that followed a collapse in relations between the ex-Soviet neighbours, prompting fears that deliveries of Russian gas to Europe could be disrupted.
	Moscow had then withdrawn ..

Putin offers to extend gas deal with Ukraine for 3 months

Nigeria's former military leader Muhammadu Buhari claimed a historic election victory in Africa's most populous country today, sending thousands of jubilant supporters into the streets chanting "change, change".
	Buhari's campaign spokesman said incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan had called the retired general to concede defeat in the most closely fought election in Nigeria's history.
	If confirmed, this would be the first ever democratic change of power in Nigeria and cap a remarkable comeback for the 72-year-old, who headed a short-lived military regime in the 1980s.
	With just one state to declare, Buhari is virtually guaranteed victory.
	Thousands of jubilant Buhari supporters poured into the streets in celebration, many in northern Nigeria which has borne the brunt of the bloody six-year Boko Haram uprising.
	Many brandished brooms to symbolise his promise to clean up corruption in the oil-rich country of 173 million people.
	"President Jonathan called at 5:15 (1615 GMT)," his 

Nigeria opposition claims historic election win

French President Francois Hollande said today it would soon be possible to identify the victims of the Germanwings plane disaster, as insurers said hundreds of millions of dollars were being set aside to cover compensation for their families.
	With search teams continuing to scour the crash site in the French Alps under arduous conditions, Hollande said on a one-day visit to Berlin that identifying the 150 people on board Flight 4U9525 would help allow the families to grieve.
	"The interior minister (Bernard Cazeneuve) has confirmed that by the end of the week, it would be possible to identify all the victims thanks to the DNA samples taken and to this exceptional scientific work," Hollande said.
	Questioned by AFP, the French interior ministry later said that the hope was for the DNA of all the victims to have been collected by the end of the week.
	The French president was speaking at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel following a joint meeting of their two 

Alps crash victim identification possible soon: Hollande

Oil sank today as dealers tracked last-ditch efforts between global powers and Iran to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme and ease sanctions imposed on the key crude producer.
	In late afternoon London deals, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in May slid 63 cents to USD 55.66 per barrel.
	US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May shed 51 cents to USD 48.17 a barrel.
	"Oil prices fell further today amid concerns that talks in Iran may prove fruitful and result in the lifting of sanctions on the country's export of oil," said CMC Markets analyst Jasper Lawler.
	Tough talks to reach a framework deal to curtail Iran's nuclear programme may go past a midnight deadline into tomorrow, a top US official acknowledged.
	Diplomats and experts were "working around the clock", the senior State Department official said.
	"Our team is evaluating where we are throughout the day and making decisions about the best path forward," the official added, asking not to be named.
	"We will ..

Oil prices dip as Iran nuclear deadline approaches

The chief executives of Lufthansa and Germanwings will tomorrow travel to the area near last week's plane crash in the French Alps, the airline said.
	Carsten Spohr, head of the parent company Lufthansa and Thomas Winkelmann from the Germanwings low-cost subsidiary will visit Seyne-les-Alpes early tomorrow to inspect recovery operations and pay their respects to the 150 dead.

Lufthansa, Germanwings bosses to visit crash area tomorrow

Nigeria's former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari today said he was "very confident" of victory as vote counting after a tense general election showed him pulling ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan.
	Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) opposition party declared victory and celebrations began among party grandees in the capital, Abuja.
	If confirmed, it would be the first democratic change of power in the history of Africa's most populous country and cap a remarkable return for the 72-year-old who headed a military regime in the 1980s.
	With 34 out of 37 results in, the APC had won 19 states, while Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was on 14, plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
	"This is the first time the opposition has voted a government out of power in Nigeria's history," said APC spokesman Lai Mohammed.
	Buhari was more than 2.75 million votes ahead of 57-year-old Jonathan, after winning Yobe and Adamawa, which have been among the hardest hit by the bloody, ..

Buhari 'very confident' of poll win as party claims victory

France's upper house of parliament rejected a draft law Tuesday penalising clients of prostitution, as the country wrestles with how to legislate the world's oldest profession.
	In December 2013, the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, approved legislation making clients of prostitutes liable for a fine of 1,500 euros ($1,620) for a first offence and double that thereafter.
	But by a large majority, the opposition-dominated Senate reversed the National Assembly's proposal, scrapping the fines for prostitutes' clients and also dropping plans to repeal a law that made soliciting an offence in 2003.
	The legislation has already drawn fierce opposition from sex workers, who said it would drive prostitution further underground and make them vulnerable to abuse.
	Hundreds of prostitutes -- many South American and Chinese -- took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to protest against the proposed law.
	Health Minister Marisol Touraine hit out at the Senate's move, saying: "What 

AFP

AFP

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