Briefly

NIGER

137 die in suspected extremist attack

At least 137 people had died in the deadliest suspected extremist massacre to hit Niger, the government said on Monday. Government spokesman Zakaria Abdourahamane said the attack took place on Sunday in villages near Niger's border with Mali. "In treating civilian populations systematically as targets now, these armed bandits have gone a step further into horror and brutality," he said in a statement read on public television. Announcing three days of national mourning for the victims from Tuesday, he vowed that the government would reinforce security in the region.

JAPAN

US pair charged over Carlos Ghosn's escape

Japanese prosecutors charged two US citizens, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, on Monday in the escape of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon, while he was out on bail. Tokyo District Prosecutors have been questioning the Taylors since they were extradited from the United States earlier this month. They have been detained at a Tokyo detention center since March 2. Prosecutors said the Taylors were formally charged with helping a criminal escape, although dates and other details of a trial were undecided.

GERMANY

Merkel orders tough Easter shutdown

Germany said on Tuesday it will impose a strict lockdown for five days over Easter as COVID-19 infections spiral "exponentially".Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered the harsh nationwide measures after marathon talks with regional leaders, warning a potent strain of coronavirus was raging through the EU's most populous country. "The situation is serious," Merkel said. "Case numbers are rising exponentially and intensive care beds are filling up again." Cultural, leisure and sporting facilities will stay shuttered through to April 18, and a lockdown will come into force between April 1 and 5, as Christians celebrate Easter.

Agencies - Xinhua