News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Battle for Mosul Begins

The battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul began early today when Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, backed by US air and ground support, launched an operation to drive Islamic State fighters out of the city. I-S captured Mosul over two years ago. Mosul is Iraq’s second-largest city and has more than a million people. The drive to re-take Mosul was announced on state television by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi: “The hour of victory has arrived and operations for the liberation of Mosul have begun. And God willing soon we will meet on Mosul’s soil to celebrate liberation and your salvation.” The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grande, says hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flee the city : “We are prepared for about 400,000, but we are short of resources to complete those preparations. We still need 120 million dollars to complete preparations and to be ready for an extended period of time.”

EU meets on Syria

European Union foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss the war in Syria. The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are faltering and as the humanitarian situation inside Syria continues to deteriorate. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the EU will also call on Russia to use its influence on Damascus: “The solution to this, the future salvation of Aleppo lies really with the Assad regime and above all with the Russians. It’s up to them to pull the plug on this thing.”

Unrest at Greek Refugee Camp

In northern Greece, there has been a riot at a refugee camp near the city of Thessaloniki. The unrest began when a refugee mother and her child were struck and killed by a car near the camp.

Montenegro Holds Elections

In Montenegro, the pro-Western ruling Social Democratic Party of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic won yesterday’s parliamentary elections, but failed to win an overall majority. The election coincided with the arrest of a group of Serbs accused of plotting armed attacks on state institutions and officials.

Warlord Killed in Eastern Ukraine

In eastern Ukraine, a pro-Russian warlord has been killed in a bomb attack in the city of Donetsk. Arsen Pavlov once admitted killing 15 prisoners-of-war. Local reports have attributed his death to infighting among rival separatists.

The Weather

The afternoon will remain mostly cloudy and foggy. Rain can be expected this evening in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Highs today will range from 9 to 16 degrees.

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