News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Turkey´s AKP celebrates election victory

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hailed his party's election victory as a vote for "unity and integrity." The ruling Justice and Development or AK Party won nearly 50 percent of the vote - enough for a majority of 316 seats. Erdogan called Sunday´s vote after the AKP lost its parliamentary majority in June and attempts to form a coalition government failed. Istanbul-based journalist Dorian Jones says a surge in violence boosted support for the government: "Since the June election there´s been a collapse in the ceasefire with the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK. Added to that last month you saw the country experience its worst terror attack in its history. So the president and his AKP Party fought on the base of saying that the country needed a strong government to deal with these threats."

“No distress call” before Sinai plane crash

An investigation is continuing into Saturday's air crash in Egypt. All 224 people on board the Russian Metrojet Airbus died when it came down over the Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The Russian Air Transport Agency says the airliner disintegrated at high altitude. The plane's flight recorders have been found. Early analysis suggests the captain did not issue a distress call before the crash.

Mediterranean refugee record in October

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, says over 218,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe by sea in October, up from 172,000 in September. It is the highest number for any month to date and roughly the same as the entire total for 2014.

Lufthansa talks break down

Talks between Lufthansa and its main cabin crew union broke down at the weekend, raising the prospect of more strikes at the German carrier. The union, which represents 19,000 staff, had given Lufthansa until Sunday to put forward a better offer in long-running talks over pay, retirement benefits and working conditions. A dispute with the pilots´ union has resulted in over a dozen strikes which have cost Lufthansa 130 million euros.

Iraqi PM under pressure

Iraq's parliament has voted to bar the government from passing key reforms without its approval in an effort to restrict Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. The chamber took the step after Abadi unilaterally passed administrative reforms in August which members considered a violation of the constitution.

Japan-S Korea report progress on sex slaves issue

Japan and South Korea have agreed to speed up talks to resolve a row about Korean women forced to work in Japanese brothels during the second World War. The announcement came after the first formal meeting in three years between Korean Prime Minister Park Geun-hye and Japan's Shinzo Abe.

The weather

Plenty of sunshine with föhn conditions along the north of the Alps. Top temperatures from 9 to 16, up to 20 where there´s föhn.

Übersicht

• News In English