News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

School meal kills 22 children in India

Violent protests are being reported in India, following the deaths of at least 22 children from apparent poisoning after eating a free school meal. Dozens more, aged from eight to 11, were reportedly taken to hospital after eating the tainted meals at the school in Bihar state. Traces of pesticide were reportedly found in the food and an investigation has been launched.

Syria crisis is the worst since Rwanda

The head of the United Nations refugee agency says the conflict in Syria has caused the world's worst refugee crisis for 20 years. Antonio Guterres says refugee numbers have not risen quote "at such a frightening rate" since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda : "The people of Syria continue to suffer tremendously. Syria´s neighbours have allowed huge numbers of refugees to find safety on their soil, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. But their generosity comes at an increasingly heavy price." Guterres was speaking to the UN Security Council, which also heard that an average of 6, 000 people were fleeing Syria every month, while another 5,000 were being killed.

Putin warns Snowden over US ties

The Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the fugitive American intelligence analyst Edward Snowden has been warned against taking any actions that would damage relations between Moscow and Washington. Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia, three weeks after arriving at a Moscow airport from Hong Kong. The United States wants him sent home to face prosecution for espionage. The Interfax news agency is reporting that Snowden may be about to leave the airport.

Cuban arms on seized North Korean ship

Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons hidden in a shipment of sugar on a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal. The Cuban foreign ministry said the ship was carrying obsolete Soviet-era arms from Cuba for repair in North Korea.

Greece set to approve public sector lay-offs

The Greek parliament is expected to approve new legislation today that would lead to at least 15,000 lay-offs in the public sector, which has - until now - been spared from austerity measures imposed under the terms of an international bailout. Unions began a 24-hour general strike against the job cuts on Tuesday.

Costa Concordia captain on trial

The trial of the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which capsized off the Italian coast last year killing 32 people, has resumed after it was delayed by a lawyers' strike earlier this month. Captain Francesco Schettino is accused of abandoning ship before all crew and passengers had been rescued. He also faces charges including manslaughter and causing the loss of his ship, which still rests on its side in the Tuscan port of Giglio.

The weather

Mostly sunny and warm, with isolated showers or thunderstorms in the west. Highs today from 24 to 32.

Übersicht

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