News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

IS destroys ancient site

Iraqi officials say Islamic State militants are destroying the site of the ancient city of Nimrud. The UN's cultural agency UNESCO has condemned the development, saying it amounts to a "war crime." The IS is reported to have used heavy military vehicles to destroy the site. Archeologist Lamia al-Gailani says it's a tragedy: "I wish it was a nightmare and it's not true. I can't understand it. It's our identity and Nimrud ... and all these are the history of the world."

Concerns grow for Tikrit civilians

Provincial officials say Iraqi forces are continuing their offensive against the Islamic State group and expect to reach the outskirts of the city of Tikrit soon. The battle to take back the town is being seen as a major test for the Iraqi forces. There've been growing concerns for civilians who've fled Tikrit. Lisa Grande, the UN's Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in Iraq, says UN agencies are sending aid to the nearby town of Samarra: "a convoy on Tuesday went into Samarra with water and sanitation. We got a convoy in yesterday with food supplies. On Sunday we have another convoy going in with household kits. And we're helping the government with the construction of two displaced camps. These are camps that are in Samarra and we expect that thousands of families will be housed there."

Decision on Beethoven Frieze

An Austrian panel handling cases of art stolen by the Nazis has recommended that Austria not return the Beethoven Frieze to the heirs of its original Jewish owners. The work, which is in the Secession in Vienna, was painted by Gustav Klimt in 1902 and bought by the industrialist August Lederer in 1915. His family later fled during the Nazi regime. After the war the work was returned to the family but placed under an export ban. Following negotiations, Lederer's heirs sold it to Austria in 1972 but the family argued that the export ban meant they were effectively forced to sell it at a reduced price.

PLO rejects security accord with Israel

The Palestine Liberation Organisation has called for an end to the security co-operation agreement with Israel which dates back to the Oslo Accords of 1993. It's not clear if Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will implement the demand which is being seen as a response to Israel's decision to withhold tax revenues, a key source of funds for the Palestinian Authority.

Alexei Navalny released from jail

The prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been released from jail after serving 15 days for handing out leaflets promoting a protest rally for last Sunday. The demonstration turned into a march to mourn the killing of fellow opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was shot dead in central Moscow last Friday.

The Weather

Frequent sunshine in the region between Vorarlberg and Carinthia. Elsewhere a mix of sun and cloud with some snowshowers in the Alps. Windy and highs between 0 and 10 degrees.

Übersicht

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