News in English

22. April 2017, 02:00

Air strike „kills dozens“ in Syria

Syrian activists say at least 33 people have been killed in an air strike on a school near Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State terror group. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the building in al-Mansoura was being used as a shelter for displaced people when it was hit on Monday night. The organisation Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently says the fate of 50 families is still unknown. Both groups claim the raid was carried out by the US-led coalition against IS.

International anti-terror gathering in Washington

The new US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is hosting the so-called Global Coalition of nations in Washington. Foreign ministers and other government officials from some 70 countries will spend two days discussing the next steps to defeat the Islamic State group. The Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz will brief the gathering on the anti-terror operations of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whose rotating chairmanship is currently held by Austria.

UK to ban electronic devices on some flights

The UK is to follow the United States in banning laptops and other electronic devices from cabins on some flights to Britain. The restrictions apply to airlines from a series of Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and North Africa. US media are reporting that the ban was prompted by "sustained and credible" intelligence suggesting a terror threat by the Islamic State. White House spokesman Sean Spicer: "Elevated intelligence that we are aware of indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation and are aggressive in pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks, to include smuggling of explosive devices in various consumer objects."

Belgium marks anniversary of IS terror attacks

King Philippe of Belgium has been leading events to mark the first anniversary of the suicide bomb attacks on the Brussels airport and metro system, which killed 32 people. More than 300 people were wounded in the attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State.

French minister resigns over daughters´ jobs

The French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux has resigned over a row involving summer jobs he gave his two daughters when they were teenagers. Le Roux told a news conference that he felt it was his "responsibility", but denied wrongdoing.

North Korean missile test fails

South Korean defence officials say a North Korean missile launch has failed. It is unclear how many missiles were fired or what exactly was being tested. The North has conducted such tests with increasing frequency, in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

The weather

Mostly overcast with isolated showers, but some sunshine in the south.Top temperatures from 6 in the west to 20 in the south.

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