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8. April 2017, 21:58

German police hunt Tunisian suspect

German media are reporting that police are hunting for a Tunisian man in connection with Monday's deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. Reports say an identity document of the Tunisian was found in the truck which ploughed into the market, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 50. They say the suspect is known to be part of Islamist extremist circles. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has said many leads are being pursued including a statement from the Islamic State terror group that they were responsible for the attack. German prosecutors yesterday released a suspect detained on Monday night, citing lack of evidence. Meanwhile German president Joachim Gauck has visited some of those injured in the attack in hospital.: “Now, just before the Christmas holidays the fate of these victims is especially moving, this attack on innocent people, this attack on our way of life. We will answer this with a readiness to help, with human contact, with sympathy, by being there for others.”

Russia, Turkey, Iran seek Syrian settlement

Russia, Turkey and Iran have said they are working towards a nationwide ceasefire in the Syrian civil war, after a trilateral meeting of foreign and defence ministers in Moscow. They said opponents of the regime of President Bashar Assad must be defeated and that efforts by the United States and its partners to end the war had failed. Reports from Syria say the last buses meant to evacuate around 3,000 civilians and rebels from Aleppo have been delayed for nearly 24 hours for reasons that are unclear. Parallel evacuations from two Shia pro-government villages besieged by rebels have also reportedly been delayed.

Mexico fireworks tragedy

In Mexico, explosions at a fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital Mexico City, have killed at least 31 people and injured 70. Many have suffered severe burns.

Obama bans offshore oil drilling

United States president Barack Obama has permanently banned new oil and gas drilling in most US-owned waters in the Arctic and north Atlantic oceans. In a joint initiative with Canada, Obama used a 1953 law that allows presidents to block the sale of new offshore drilling and mining rights and makes it difficult for their successors to reverse the decision.

Roscic new State Opera director

Austria's minister of culture Thomas Drozda has announced the appointment of Bogdan Roscic as the new director of the Vienna State Opera. Roscic, former head of Ö3 and currently of the classical division at the music company Sony, takes over in 2020.

The Weather

Mainly foggy in low lying regions, sunny elsewhere. Top temperatures minus 4 to plus 10 degrees.

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