News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

UN calls for children to be protected in Fallujah

The UN's children's agency has called on Islamic State fighters and Iraqi troops to protect children as fighting continues for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. UNICEF says there are around 20,000 youngsters there and that in addition to the dire humanitarian situation, they're also at risk of being forcibly recruited into the fighting by IS militants. Leila Jane Nassif is a spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR: "we have heard a variety of stories - parents who have abandoned children because they don't have enough food to give them. Families that have been buried under the rubble of airstrikes. UN agencies have been asking the government to make sure that there are safe routes for families to be able to leave."

World's longest tunnel opened in Switzerland

The world's longest and deepest rail tunnel is being officially opened in Switzerland after almost two decades of construction work. The 57-kilometre Gotthard tunnel will provide a high-speed rail link under the Swiss Alps and is designed to move freight traffic away from the roads. Transport minister Doris Leuthard says the environment will benefit: "in Switzerland you have melting glaciers. Regarding bio-diversity, we have a loss of flora and fauna every year. We have to protect not just the atmosphere, but also the Alpine region."

OAS meets over Venezuela

The Organization of American States has called an urgent meeting to discuss whether Venezuela is violating basic democratic principles. Venezuelan opposition politicians had urged the OAS to meet on the issue. President Nicolas Maduro has been accused of blocking the country's Congress - which is controlled by the opposition - and of putting loyalists in the Supreme Court.

Costa Concordia captain's sentence upheld

A court in Italy has upheld a 16-year jail sentence for the former captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner for his role in the shipwreck which killed 32 people. Francesco Schettino was found guilty last year of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning passengers. The ship capsized after hitting rocks off the island of Giglio in 2012.

Green energy surges to record levels

A new study says investment in renewable energy sources has increased to record levels around the world. According to the "Renewables Global Status Report", money invested in solar, wind and hydropower sources accounted for more than double the amount spent on new coal and gas-fired power plants last year. The report says over 8 million people are now working in the renewable energy sector.

The Weather

Extremely heavy rain in northern Salzburg as well as in the Innviertel with flood warnings for Salzburg and Upper Austria. Elsewhere widespread showers developing with thunderstorms in the East where there'll also be some sunshine. Highs ranging between 13 and 20 degrees, where the sun's out up to 25.

Übersicht

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