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8. April 2017, 21:58

Aleppo evacuations are underway

The Russian defence ministry says the evacuation of some 5,000 Syrian rebels and their families from east Aleppo has begun. Fighters and civilians had been due to leave on Wednesday, but a ceasefire collapsed. Rebels say a new truce came into effect this morning. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, an operation to evacuate around 200 wounded is also now underway. Government forces recaptured nearly all remaining rebel-held parts of Aleppo this week after a four-year battle. A British based Syrian doctor, Munir Hakimi, says he's appalled by the devastation: "I never thought that my country would be destroyed like this. Unfortunately what happened in Aleppo over the last few days, everyone should feel ashamed".

Russia detains IS terror suspects

It´s being reported that Russia's Federal Security Service has detained members of a terrorist group who were planning high-profile attacks in Moscow. The FSB said the group was acting on instructions from an Islamic State commander in Turkey. It´s understood those detained are from the former Soviet Republics of Moldova and Tajikistan. They were reportedly in possession of weapons and explosives.

EU leaders in Brussels for year end summit

European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for their final summit of the year. The talks will focus on the migration crisis, relations with Turkey, the sanctions against Russia, defence and the Eurozone economy. They will later meet over dinner - in the absence of the British Prime Minister Theresa May - to discuss Britain´s decision to leave the bloc.

“One billion” affected by Yahoo hacking attack

The internet giant Yahoo says more than one billion user accounts may have been affected in a hacking attack dating back to 2013. Yahoo said names, phone numbers, passwords and email addresses were stolen, but not bank and payment data. Yahoo disclosed another breach in September, when 500 million accounts were accessed.

Austria MPs approve seizure of Hitler´s house

The Austrian parliament has approved the compulsory purchase of the house where Adolf Hitler was born in 1889, another step towards changing the site beyond recognition to reduce its appeal as a place of pilgrimage for neo-Nazis. The compulsory purchase of the house in Braunau in Upper Austria should put an end to a long-standing dispute with its owner, who has turned down previous offers by the state to acquire the building.

The weather

Mist or fog in low lying areas, elsewhere mostly sunny. Top temperatures today from minus 2 to plus 8.

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