News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Taliban claim suicide attack in Pakistan

A suicide bomber has attacked a government office in Pakistan, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than 30 others. The attack, in the north-west of the country, targeted an office which issues government ID cards. A Pakistani Taliban faction has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iraq says it will defeat IS in 2016

Iraq's Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, has vowed to drive Islamic State fighters out of his country in the year to come - after government forces recaptured Ramadi from the militants. In a televised address, Abadi vowed to retake Iraq's second city of Mosul, saying it would be "the fatal and final blow" to I.S. The United States has welcomed the recapture of Ramadi but State Department Spokesman, Mark Toner, says much hard work remains: "The Iraqi national flag is once again flying over Ramadi. That's a significant step forward but there's still going to be pockets of resistance as Iraqi troops move to clean up the city. And now the second part of this very hard process comes into play - which is creating an environment where all people can return to their homes."

Belgium makes arrests ahead of New Year celebrations

Authorities in Belgium have announced the arrest of two people, both suspected of plotting an attack in Brussels on New Year's Eve. Police say they found military clothing and Islamic State propaganda material but no weapons or explosives.

The WHO says Ebola crisis in Guinea is over

The World Health Organization has announced that the Ebola outbreak in Guinea is over. The worst Ebola epidemic in history began in Guinea almost two years ago killing more than 2,500 people in the West African country and a further 9,000 in neighboring Sierra Leone and Liberia. Despite the victory, Tarek Jasa-revic from the W.H.O. says the region must remain vigilant: “Survivors can still be infectious. But three countries now - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - are far better prepared to detect and respond to these flare-up much more than they were a year ago.

Police who shot boy in US will not be charged

A U.S. Grand Jury in Cleveland, Ohio has decided NOT to bring charges against a white policeman who shot dead a 12-year-old black boy armed with a toy gun. Prosecutors say there was no way the officer and his partner could have known the gun was not real, when they confronted Tamir Rice in November of last year. County Prosecutor Tim McGinty called the events that led to the death of the boy a "perfect storm of human error": "The death of Tamir Rice was an absolute tragedy. It was horrible, unfortunate and regrettable. But it was not, by the law that binds us, a crime."

Sunny Santas shave off beards in Brazil

After more than a month sweating in the tropical heat, dozens of Brazilian Santa Clauses have celebrated the end of the season yesterday by shaving off their thick white beards in a public ceremony. The men were graduates of the Rio Santa Claus School, which trains aspiring Santas who are looking to make some extra cash as Brazil struggles through a deep recession.

The weather

Western Austria will see sunny and mild conditions. The east will be mainly overcast with drizzle or light snow in places. Top temperatures will range from minus 1 in the east to plus 11 in the west.

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