News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Flooding and landslides across central Europe

Communities along the Danube in Austria have been declared disaster areas as severe flooding and landslides affect many regions after days of torrential rain. One person has died in Salzburg state. Two others are reported missing. Hundreds have been forced to leave their homes, and road and rail transport have been disrupted. The situation remains critical in the east of the country where river levels are expected to peak later tonight or by the early hours of tomorrow. Severe flooding has also been reported in Germany where at least four people are dead or missing, and in the Czech Republic, where the government has declared a nationwide emergency.

Anti-government protests continue in Turkey

Violent clashes have taken place in Istanbul in Turkey between demonstrators and police on the fourth day of protests against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Over 1700 people have now been arrested nationwide as tens of thousands joined protests in the capital Ankara and other cities, accusing Erdogan of increasing authoritarianism. Erdogan has called for calm and described the demonstrators as extremists. The unrest was set off by a police crackdown on an environmental protest in Istanbul. Blogger and activist Defne Suman says the demonstrations have united disparate groups: “Now people stop being polarised between religious and secular but find a common ground to fight for free speech no matter from what background you’re coming from.”

China factory fire kills over 100

Authorities in China say the death toll has risen to at least 119 in a massive fire at a poultry plant in Jilin province. Dozens more are injured. Many of the victims were trapped inside the burning buildings.

Manning goes on trial

The American soldier Bradley Manning who is accused of providing hundreds of thousands of secret documents to the WikiLeaks website goes on trial in Maryland today. Manning faces 21 charges, including the most serious of aiding the enemy, and faces a maximum sentence of life in military custody with no chance of parole.

Politkovskaya murder suspects in court

The trial has opened in Moscow of five men charged with the murder in 2006 of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. She had accused the Russian military and Chechen authorities of massive human rights abuses in Chechnya.

Taiwan’s Chen Shui-bian suicide attempt

Taiwan’s Justice Ministry says former president Chen Shui-bian has tried to kill himself in prison. Chen is serving a 20-year term for corruption charges he claims were politically motivated because of his strong anti-China stance.

The Weather

Overcast with rain north of the Alps and in the east. Mainly dry and some sun in the west and south. Top temps 6 to 20 degrees.

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