UKRAINE: At least 25 people were killed today by Ukrainian shelling of a market on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk, local officials reported.

A further 20 people were injured in the strike on the suburb of Tekstilshchik, including two children, said Denis Pushilin, head of the Russian controlled authorities in Donetsk. 

Kiev has not commented on the incident.

LIBYA: The state-owned National Oil Corporation resumed production at the country’s largest oilfield at Ubari, about 590 miles south of Tripoli, today, ending a more than two-week hiatus after protesters blocked the facility over fuel shortages.

The firm said that it had resumed full production. It didn’t provide further details. 

Over the past two weeks, the company’s chief Farhat Bengdara and military officials from eastern Libya have been negotiating with protest leaders Fezzan Group.

GROUP OF 77: The third Southern Summit of the Group of 77 plus China opened in Kampala today.

Handing over the presidency of the group to Uganda, Cuban vice-president Valdes Mesa said “unity must be the order of the day” for the G77 plus China in these difficult times when there are manoeuvres to create divisions.”

NIGERIA: Five sisters have been rescued after being kidnapped in the country’s capital earlier this month, Nigerian authorities said today.

The girls were freed in a joint police-army operation in a forest in northern Nigeria on Saturday night.

The kidnappers had demanded a ransom for their release, but the statement made no mention of one being paid.