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8. April 2017, 21:58

UN says IS has executed scores in Mosul

The UN's Human Rights spokeswoman says Islamic State fighters have executed scores more people around Mosul this week and are reportedly stockpiling ammonia and sulphur in civilian areas, possibly for use as chemical weapons. Ravina Shamdasani also said people with explosive belts, are being deployed throughout Mosul, while abducted women were being "distributed" to fighters and being used to accompany Islamic State convoys as human shields. As evidence, the UN has cited information gathered from sources on the ground, including a man who played dead during a mass execution and then escaped IS territory.

Anti-Trump protests continue in the US

Nationwide protests against Donald Trump's election have continued in the United States, with tens of thousands in cities from coast to coast...taking to the streets to say they "reject" Trump as their leader: "we reject the president-elect!" Trump himself has responded via Twitter, say professional protesters, incited by the media, are behind the demonstrations and called them "very unfair!" Meanwhile, he's been meeting with policy-makers in Washington and said Republican will move quickly to lower taxes and scrap President Obama's healthcare program: "We're going to lower taxes, as you know. We're going to fix healthcare and make it more affordable and better."

Taliban claims attack on German consulate

In Afghanistan, a Taliban suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into the German consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, killing at least four civilians and wounding scores of others. The attack highlighted the security problems spreading across Afghanistan in recent months, underlining one of the most intractable foreign policy challenges that will face U.S. President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office next year.

Haiti appeals for urgent aid in the wake of Hurrican

Haiti's interim President Jocelerme Privert has appealed for urgent international aid to avert a major food crisis in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Privert said Haiti needs crop seeds and other agricultural aid, saying the losses suffered last month were equal to the country's entire national budget. "The losses from Matthew are estimated to be 2-Billion dollars, which are essentially equal to or slightly greater than our entire national budget."

Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82

And , the celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and author - Leonard Cohen - has died at the age of 82. Cohen's most famous song "Hallelujah", which drew parallels between physical love and a desire for spiritual connection, has been covered hundreds of times since he released it in 1984. He remained active, even releasing a new album last year. But, in a recent interview, he also said he was preparing for death: "I like to tie up the strings. Putting your house in order, if you can do it, is one of the most comforting activities."

The weather

Mostly cloudy with rain and snow spreading from the west to all of Austria by evening. Highs ranging from 0 to 8 degrees.

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