The authorities in Brussels say a man armed with Kalashnikov been shot dead during a major security operation linked to last year's attacks in Paris. The main part of the operation, a siege in the suburb of the Belgium capital is over. Officers surrounded the property where the man was killed just after lunch time. Four police officers, including a woman, were likely injured when gunmen opened fire. Belgium's interior minister Jan Jambon gave an update on their condition. Two of them have already left hospital after treatment. One was hit in the ear and the helmet. The other was grazed by a bullet when someone grabbed for his service weapon. Two others are still in hospital. Neither of them are really wounded but they are still in shock. A BBC reporter in Brussel says that some suspects escaped over rooftops and there is still a huge armed police presence but it's not clear if any suspect is still at large.
The UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura says the Syrian peace talks now have a new sense of urgency and momentum. He said one reason for this was Russia's decision to withdraw the bulk of its forces from Syria. He was speaking on the second day of peace talks. Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva. Mr de Mistura said that in a change from previous negotiations, this time major powers like the United States and Russia were engaged and committed. On Wednesday, he will hold further talks with Syrian government negotiators. One area where Mr de Mistura expected progress is on the release of detainees. That is a key demand of the Syrian opposition too. A UN human rights report estimates tens of thousands of people are being held in Syrian government jails and that many are subjected to torture and execution.
An army plane with 22 people on board has crashed in the Amazon region of Ecuador. The cause of the accident is unknown. Our America's editor Leonardo Russia has more details. This Israeli-built Arava plane was carrying soldiers who are going to take part in a parachuting exercise. It crashed in the middle of the afternoon in the eastern province of Pastaza. 19 parachuters, 2 pilots and 1 mechanic were on board. President President Rafael Correa said there were no survivors. He offered his embrace of solidarity to the families and the armed forces and described the accident as a tragedy. Defense minister Ricardo Patino and rescue teams are traveling to the area.
Health officials in northern Yemen say more than 40 civilians have been killed in an air raid. They said a market was hit in the Mustaba district. The area is in the heartland of the Houthi rebels. They're fighting the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition force which frequently carries out air strikes. World news from the BBC.
Media reports in Morocco say the government is planning to withdraw from the United Nations' mission in the deserted territory in western Sahara following controversial remarks by the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. The move comes a day after Mr Ban strongly criticized Morocco for its response to comments he made earlier this month when he called the situation there an 'occupation'.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles say a man charged with hacking into email and online accounts of several female celebrities has agreed to plead guilty. They say the man Ryan Collins also admitted that he stole private information including nude photos and videos. The authorities have not named the victims but the attacks coincide with the stolen images of the actress Jennifer Lawrence and others being posted on the Internet two years ago.
A homeless man from San Francisco has been given a award of 100,000 dollars for helping police recapture two prison inmates who had escaped. Matthew Hay-Chapman, who had seen photographs of the two fugitives on the news spotted the men in a stolen van. BBC news.