News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

76 killed in Colombia plane crash

Officials in Colombia say 76 people have been killed in a plane crash. The aircraft was carrying 81 people and went down on its approach to the city of Medellin. Among those on board was the Brazilian football team Chapecoense. It was due to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana. It's not yet clear what caused the disaster but the plane's crew had reported electrical problems. Federico Gutierrez is the Mayor of Medellin: "now we are focussing on the 5 survivors who are being treated in hospital. We'll then start working on the transport of the bodies to Medellin. There, we'll be expecting relatives, members of the club's executive board and several foreign journalists who were here to cover what was going to be a joyous occasion and has ended up being a tragedy."

16,000 displaced in Aleppo

The UN's humanitarian and relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien says up to 16,000 people have been displaced in Aleppo as Syrian government forces advance on rebel-held areas. He said the area has no functioning hospitals left and that food stocks are nearly exhausted. Meanwhile, France is calling for an urgent UN Security Council meeting in a bid to try and stop hostilities and bring in humanitarian aid. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian: "what's happening in Aleppo at the moment is a great tragedy. A population is under siege ... without food, without water."

Families struggling in Mosul

The UN says there are indications that poorer families in the Iraqi city of Mosul are struggling to feed themselves as food prices increase following the military offensive to try and re-take the city from Islamic State fighters. Iraqi government and Kurdish forces surround the city from the north, east and south whilst a coalition of Iranian-backed Shi'ite groups are trying to move in from the west.

Ankara says constitutional reform almost ready

The Turkish government says the ruling AK Party is close to finalising its proposal on constitutional reform. It says it will hold further meetings with members of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party to work out the details. The reform, which will expand the powers of the president, will be put to parliament.

South Korea's President offers to step down

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has offered to resign over accusations that she allowed a long-term friend to influence political decisions. Park has asked parliament to help her find a way to stand down but the opposition claims her offer is a tactic to fend off impeachment.

The weather

Mostly sunny and cold. A few clouds about in places in the east. A lively wind and highs ranging between minus 3 and plus 5 degrees.

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