News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

North Korea condemned after nuclear test

There has been strong condemnation of North Korea, following claims that it has carried out a 5th nuclear test, in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. South Korean President Park Geun-hye described the test as an act of self-destruction, accusing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of acting with the recklessness of a maniac. The Security Council has imposed 5 rounds of sanctions on North Korea since its first nuclear test in 2006. North Korea expert Jean H. Lee says this latest test appears to be the most powerful yet. “With every nuclear test, North Korea improves its technology. And what they claim today is that they’ve figured out how to make this nuclear warhead lighter and more sophisticated so that they can get it on a ballistic missile – a ballistic missile that would be designed to strike US territory.”

Talks continue on securing a ceasefire in Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry holding talks today with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the Swiss city of Geneva, as effort continue to broker a ceasefire in Syria. The US has offered to co-ordinate military action with Russia, if Moscow can convince its ally, Syrian President Bashar al Assad, to stop his bombing campaign and lift the siege of Aleppo.

NATO chief backs Turkey in fight against IS

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed efforts by Turkey to tackle the Islamic State militant group. Speaking on Turkish television, Stoltenberg said Turkey, which launched an incursion into Syria last month to drive back IS militants, had the right to defend itself from cross-border attacks.

French policeman stabbed in terror arrest

A French policeman has been stabbed during an operation south-east of Paris to arrest three women, suspected of planning a terrorist attack. Officials say the arrests are in connection with the discovery of a car laden with gas canisters near Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral last Sunday. One of the women had reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Tourists freed from cable cars in French Alps

Rescue workers in the French Alps have freed more than 30 people, who were forced to spend the night trapped in cable cars on the Mont Blanc massif. The cable cars stopped working on Thursday afternoon after the cables became tangled in high winds. American tourist Lisa Dowd was freed by a rope belay system after poor weather hampered rescue efforts. “They tried to take us with a helicopter but the fog came in. So the two rescuers stayed with us and then we did a belay after we decided that there was no other way to get down and thank goodness that they were able to help us down.”

The weather

Mostly sunny conditions should continue this afternoon, with the chance of some showers in Alpine areas. Top temperatures will range from 23 to 30 degrees.

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