P&O Ferries workers to protest over 'jobs massacre"

Protests are expected to take place at ports all over the UK after 800 P&O Ferries staff members were sacked without notice.

Members of Parliament, workers and unions have condemned the company's decision to replace employees with cheaper agency staff.

Sally Patterson has more from London.

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Russian-backed TV channel RT loses license to broadcast in UK

Britain's media regulator has revoked RT's license to broadcast over the Russian channel's coverage of the Ukraine conflict - effective immediately.

Ofcom said the move was prompted by a probe into the Russian-backed channel's standards of impartiality.

Naomi Choy Smith reports.

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Fire Incident Destroys Over 400 Makeshift Homes Occupied By IDPs In Nigeria’s Borno state

A fire incident has destroyed over 400 makeshift homes which were occupied by internally displaced persons in Nigeria's northeast state of Borno.

The internally displaced persons are victims of an insurgency which has been in operation in the country for over 10 years.

Correspondent Tesem Akende reports.

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PROTESTS AGAINST P&O SACKINGS

A series of protests is being held in the UK against P&O Ferries' decision to sack 800 staff without any notice.

Unions are threatening legal action against the ferry operator for removing the workers, in an announcement made while some were on board their ships.

The company says it would be "not be a viable business" without replacing its staff with cheaper agency workers.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell says the law needs to change to stop other companies doing the same thing.

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Ugandan Leader Calls for Neutral Interim Government in Sudan

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The chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of  Sudan Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Al – Burhan has held bilateral talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

President Museveni reiterated the need for the formation of a neutral interim government in order for peace to return to Sudan.

Isabel Nakirya reports

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Chinese stocks retreat after rollercoaster week

Chinese stocks suffered early falls in Hong Kong, following renewed US concerns over Beijing’s close ties to Russia. The losses round off a rollercoaster week of trading for some of China’s biggest companies. 

Richard Kimber reports from Hong Kong. 

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Wall St rallies despite concerns over Ukraine

Wall St pulled back from early losses in Thursday trading, despite
persistent concerns about the conflict in Ukraine.

It was the third straight day of gains for US markets, which have
reacted positively to confirmation that interest rate hikes are here
to stay.

Nick Harper reports.

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Biden & Xi to speak over Ukraine

US President Joe Biden will speak to Chinese leader Xi Jinping on
Friday, after Washington warned Beijing not to give support to
Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US intelligence suggests China is willing to provide Moscow with
military and financial assistance.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

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P&O Ferries fires 800 workers and suspends services

P&O Ferries has sacked 800 staff as part of what it calls "necessary" changes, as the ferry company struggles to stay afloat. Hundreds of seafaring staff were served immediate severance notices on Thursday… and P&O has suspended its sailings for the next few days. Naomi Choy Smith Reports.

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BA.2 coronavirus variant fueling a surge in COVID-19 cases

A new more transmissible subvariant of Omicron is spreading throughout Europe and Asia, and could cause another surge in coronavirus cases in the United States.

Just as all 50 states are lifting mask mandates, and other coronavirus restrictions.

Caroline Malone reports from Washington.

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Bank of England increases interest rate to 0.75%

The Bank of England has raised interest rates to 0.75% with inflation predicted to reach 10% by the end of the year.

The rate increase is in response to numerous factors including the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the UK's economy.

Chris Jones has more from London.

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UN Security Council to hold another emergency meeting on Ukraine

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold another emergency
meeting to discuss the war in Ukraine.

It comes ahead of a possible vote on a resolution on the humanitarian
situation in the country proposed by Russia.

Sarah Walton reports.

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Ukraine's defence minister tells EU lawmakers country needs more lethal weapons

Ukraine's defence minister Oleksii Reznikov told European Union lawmakers his country needs more military aid in a virtual address on Thursday.

Reznikov accused Russia of state terror, urging parliamentarians to take more action.

Rosie Birchard reports from Brussels 

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US basketball star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia extended - state media

Russian media is reporting that American basketball star Brittney Griner will remain in prison for at least two more months.

Griner was arrested in February on allegations of drug smuggling.

Toni Waterman has more from Texas.

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Irish PM tests positive for Covid in DC

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin has tested positive for Covid-19 on a visit to Washington DC, as the White House prepares to host St Patrick's Day celebrations.

The Taoiseach was due to hold talks with President Joe Biden on Thursday and take part in the traditional shamrock handover ceremony in the Oval Office. Those engagements will now be virtual. 

From Washington, Benji Hyer reports. 

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UGANDA AUTHOR IN DETENTION OVER OFFENSSIVE COMMUNICATION

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Another Ugandan writer and human rights activist is being held under detention on charges of offensive communication. The arrest of Norman Tumuhimbise comes one month after Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija fled into exile after he was detained for a month on charges of insulting President Yoweri Museveni and his son. Leon Solomon reports

 

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Buhari Apologises To Nigerians Over Fuel Scarcity, Power Outage

President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to Nigerians for the inconvenience caused by prolonged scarcity of petroleum products and power outage experienced across the country.

 

Since February, Nigeria has been experiencing petrol shortages which led to long queues at filling stations, following the importation of off-spec petrol into the country. This was further worsened by the collapse of the national electricity grid, leading to a three-day power outage.

 

Correspondent Ajeck Mangut has more

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DRC OVERWHELMED HOSPITAL

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A hospital in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is overwhelmed by the number of victims of armed conflict following an increase in attacks against civilians.

Authorities at the General Referral hospital in Beni say the arrival of hundreds of patients with machete and gunshot wounds has strained their operations. Chris Ocamringa has more from the DRC capital Kinshasa.

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UK: RELEASE OF DETAINED BRITONS NOT LINKED TO IRANIAN OIL SUPPLIES

Two British-Iranian nationals have arrived back in the UK after being detained for years in Iran.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were released after months of negotiations and the payment of a near £400m debt to Tehran by London.

They were detained in 2016 and 2017 respectively on charges they denied of plotting to overthrow the government and spying.

Foreign office minister James Cleverly says it's not linked to attempts to improve relations with Iran so its oil supplies can help ease spiking energy prices.

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Russia investigates three over military disinformation

Russian prosecutors have opened the first criminal cases against people spreading what they call disinformation about the country's military. A new law was signed by President Putin earlier this month, exposing dissenting voices to up to 15 years in prison. Restricted by these same laws, Julia Chapman reports from Moscow.

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