News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

EU court rules on data privacy

The European Court of Justice has ruled that an agreement between the United States and the European Union allowing companies to share personal data is invalid, after a complaint was brought by Austrian law student Max Schrems. Schrems had launched the case after revelations about US spy agency mass surveillance via technology companies. Though he brought his complaint against Facebook, Google, Amazon and thousands of other companies are also affected by the court ruling. It means companies will have to work out new ways to protect data in line with the EU's privacy laws.

Nato warns Russia over violations

Turkey has for a second time summoned the Russian ambassador over violations of its airspace by Russian warplanes operating in Syria. Turkey has warned Russia that warplanes involved in the incursions risk being targeted. Jens Stoltenberg the general secretary of Nato, of which Turkey is a member, said the violations did not look like an accident. He also criticised Russian military activity in Syria: “I call on Russia to avoid escalating tensions with the alliance. I am also concerned that Russia is not targeting Isil, but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians.” Russia has said it is checking the reported incursions and that Nato is trying to distort the aims of its air campaign in Syria, undertaken at the request of president Bashar Assad.

Faymann checks Lesbos refugee facilities

European Union Council President Donald Tusk has said a victory for Assad in the civil war would lead to a new wave of refugees fleeing Syria. Austrian chancellor Werner Faymann and Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras today visit the island of Lesbos, one of the main entry points for refugees into Europe, to view facilities set up to handle the arrivals.

Yemen attacks target government

Reports from Yemen say rocket attacks in the southern city of Aden have targeted buildings housing the prime minister and his cabinet. Yemeni authorities said government officials were unhurt in the attacks. At least 15 soldiers from the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels were reportedly killed.

Nobel for neutrinos work

This year’s Nobel prize for physics has gone to Takaaki Kajita of Japan and Canadian Arthur McDonald for their work on neutrinos. The Nobel committee said their discoveries had changed our understanding of the innermost workings of matter.

TPP is agreed

Twelve Pacific countries have agreed a free trade zone. The Trans Pacific Partnership would liberalize commerce in 40 percent of the world's economy. It must still be ratified in participating countries.

The weather

Changeable with scattered showers. Longer sunny spells in the west. Top temperatures 14 to 23 degrees.

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