News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Blocked migrants opt for Croatia route

It´s being reported that busloads of people have begun arriving in Croatia, a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia. The Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic says they will be allowed to pass into Slovenia and will be given assistance. Croatian demining experts have been sent to the border area, amid concern over the threat posed by minefields left over from the war in the 1990s. Hundreds of refugees and migrants remain at the Serbian border, after being prevented from crossing in to Hungary. The Serbian interior minister Nebojša Stefanović has urged Hungary to allow them to continue their journey into the European Union: “We will try as much as we can to advocate their right for free passage and to let them reunite with their families. Some of them already went through. In the meantime we are going to provide some food, medicines, water, to try to react as humanely as possible."

Austria begins selective border controls

Austria and Germany have called for a special European leaders' summit to address the migration crisis, following talks in Berlin on Tuesday. Austria has begun selective controls of vehicles at crossings in Burgenland, which borders Hungary. Checks are also planned on the borders with Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia. Some 2,000 people stranded at Salzburg´s main railway station have reportedly set off on foot from Austria towards southern Germany.

US warns Russia over Syria support

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Moscow's "continued support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad risks exacerbating and extending the conflict" in Syria. The call came shortly after the Russian President Vladimir Putin defended his military assistance to Assad's government. He said it was impossible to defeat the Islamic State group without cooperating with Damascus.

UN calls for Sri Lanka war crimes court

The United Nations is calling for a special court to try war crimes committed during the Sri Lankan army's long conflict with Tamil Tiger rebels. The UN Human Rights Council has accused both sides of atrocities, especially during the final stages of the war in 2009. According to one UN estimate, 40,000 Tamils died in the final army offensive.

Five cities bid to host 2024 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee has announced the official list of candidates to host the 2024 Olympic Games in Peru. There are four European bids - Budapest, Hamburg, Paris and Rome - plus the US city of Los Angeles.

The weather

Some sunshine but also some mist, fog or cloud, strong southerly Föhn winds. Highs today from 20 to 30.

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