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8. April 2017, 21:58

Priest killed in French church attack

Police in France say two men armed with knives who took five people hostage in a church near Rouen in Normandy are dead and one hostage, a priest, has been killed. They said the hostage’s throat had been slit before the attackers were shot by police. Another man who also had his throat cut is in a critical condition. Interior ministry official Pierre Henry Brandet said anti-terrorism investigators have been summoned: “We are trying to find out if there are any explosives, any booby-trapped areas. That’s what the anti-terrorist officers are trying to do.” French President Francois Hollande is en route to the scene.

Germany investigates IS link in Ansbach

Top security officials in Germany are calling for tougher security screening of asylum-seekers, after recent terror attacks involving immigrants. The German government is reportedly discussing the creation of new police reserve units to assist in security crises. Meanwhile Germany’s federal authorities have taken over the investigation of Sunday’s suicide bombing in Ansbach, after evidence emerged of the bomber’s allegiance to the Islamic State terror group.

Sanders calls for Democratic party unity

In the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders has called on his supporters to end divisions in the Democratic Party and vote for Hillary Clinton in the November election. In a speech at the party’s National Convention in Philadelphia, Sanders said Republican candidate Donald Trump must be stopped at all costs from gaining the presidency and that Clinton, his former rival for the Democratic nomination, is fully qualified for the post: “Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her tonight.”

Disabled attacked in Japan

In Japan a man has killed 19 patients and wounded over twenty others at a facility for the disabled in the town of Sagamihara near Tokyo. The suspect is a 26-year-old former employee of the facility who gave himself up to police.

Syria peace talks effort

Senior officials from the United Nations, the United States and Russia meet in Geneva today to try to find a way to restart peace talks for Syria. Fierce fighting continues around Aleppo, where aid agencies say a quarter of a million people are trapped and in desperate need of help.

Kern holds talks in Budapest

Austrian chancellor Christian Kern is in Budapest today for talks with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban on refugee policy. Talks are also touching on how to secure the European Union’s outer borders.

Solar Impulse completes journey

The first round-the-world solar powered flight has been completed. The experimental aircraft Solar Impulse Two has touched down in Abu Dhabi after leaving the emirate in March of last year.

The weather

Humid and changeable with rain and thundershowers. Sunniest in the east. Top temperatures 23 to 31 degrees.

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