Syria Blames Foreign Countries For Blasts

The Syrian government has accused Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia of being behind a wave of bombings in the cities of Tartous and Jableh. It said the attacks constituted a serious escalation, and were aimed at derailing peace efforts. The self-styled Islamic State says it carried out the bombings, which killed dozens of people in President Assad's coastal heartland.

European leaders have expressed relief at the outcome of Austria's presidential election - where a far-right candidate was defeated by the narrowest of margins.

Chinese scientists have developed an experimental new treatment for blindness by transplanting pig corneas into human eyes.