News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

UN demands access to Yarmouk

The UN Security Council has called for humanitarian access to the Palestinian refugee camp known as Yarmouk in the Syrian capital Damascus. The situation has been deteriorating since the beginning of April when Islamic State militants entered the camp clashing with other groups of fighters. Chris Gunness is a spokesman for UNRWA, the agency which provides assistance for Palestinian refugees: "the situation inside Yarmouk is beyond inhumane. For the past week, the streets have been full of fighters which of course has brought the conflict to the doorstep of the 18,000 civilians who are trapped in the camp. This was already a community where women were dying in childbirth for lack of medicine and children were freezing to death."

Verdict due in Boston bomb trial

In the US, a jury is due to begin its deliberations in the Boston bombing trial. Lawyers for 21-year old Dzhokar Tsarnaev have admitted that he carried out the attacks but argue that he was under the influence of his radicalised brother who died during the manhunt that followed the attack. 3 people died in the bombings and more than 260 were wounded. If found guilty,Tsarnaev will face life in prison or the death penalty.

Rising concern over Yemen conflict

The UN's children's agency says more than 100,000 people in Yemen have fled their homes and that at least 74 children have been killed as a result of the recent fighting in the country. UNICEF says the violence has disrupted water supplies in some areas and there are concerns about the risk of diseases. According to reports, hospitals have been struggling to treat the wounded and some medical facilities have come under attack.

Amnesty report on Afghan women activists

Amnesty International says women activists in Afghanistan who are working to improve the human rights situation in their country are facing increased violence, including threats, sexual assault and assassinations. The Secretary General of Amnesty Salil Shetty says the Afghan authorities are ignoring the issue: "I think the shocking thing is that there's a kind of institutionalised indifference. We just think this is a litmus test for this new government. We have new leadership in place which stands up for women's rights in words - the question is can they now convert this into action."

6 wounded in factory blast in China

6 people have been injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in southern China. Hundreds of firefighters were called out to tackle the blaze at the factory in Fujian province. Officials say the fire has been contained and that environmental teams are being deployed to monitor the surrounding area for any contamination.

The weather

It'll be mainly sunny and dry in the west and south. Elsewhere a cloudier picture with some isolated showers. Cool and windy. Highs are ranging between 3 and 12 degrees.

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