News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

New developments in Paris attacks investigation

The Belgian authorities say police found traces of explosives and the fingerprint of a key suspect in the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, during a raid on a flat in Brussels last month. Handmade suicide belts were also found. The information adds to indications that the November 13th attacks, in which 130 people were killed, were at least partly planned in Belgium.

Access granted to besieged Syrian town

The UN has welcomed a decision by the Syrian government to allow humanitarian assistance for the besieged town of Madaya following reports of deaths from malnutrition. Madaya - which is near the Lebanese border - has been surrounded by government troops and their Hezbollah allies for months. Greg Barrow, from the World Food programme, says getting aid into Madaya is a major challenge: "we have to accept that this situation that they would be moving into is incredibly tense. We're moving across front lines. We need to make sure that that access is there, that there's no risk and that we can get the food in - and the other supplies that we'd be carrying on behalf of the whole humanitarian community - and then we can make sure that it actually gets to the people who need it most."

Rise in illnesses in refugee camps

Medical workers at refugee camps in the Balkans say they're seeing a sharp rise in the number of people falling ill as freezing temperatures arrive. The medical charities International Medical Corps and Medecins Sans Frontieres say most patients are suffering with respiratory problems such as bronchitis and flu.

Obama criticises the NRA

The US President Barack Obama has strongly criticised the powerful gun lobby the NRA during a televised public forum. He said the NRA had deliberately misrepresented his proposed legislation on gun control, saying all he was seeking to do was strengthen background checks on those who buy weapons. The NRA declined to take part in the discussion.

3 missing in Australia bushfire

In Western Australia, a massive bushfire that devastated the town of Yarloop is still reported to be burning. 3 people have been reported missing. Dozens of homes and businesses have been destroyed in the blaze. The region's emergency services commissioner is Wayne Gregson: "it appears that we've lost around 95 houses, a number of structures within the town site, including some historical buildings, some workshops, some factories and our own bushfire fire station infrastructure."

Van der Bellen to run for President

In Austrian news, the former head of the Green Party Alexander van der Bellen has confirmed that he will run as a candidate in presidential elections which will take place in April.

The weather

Occasional sunshine but some cloud and a bit of rain in the West and some fog in the south. Highs ranging between minus 2 and plus 10 degrees.

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