News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Donald Trump vows to quit Pacific trade deal

US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to tear up a Pacific trade deal on the first day he assumes office next year. The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been signed by the US and 11 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, representing 40 percent of the global economy. Speaking in a video message, in which he outlined his priorities for his first 100 days, Trump said the TPP deal was disastrous for the United States. “I’m going to issue a notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country. Instead, we will negotiate fair bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.”

Turkey withdraws controversial underage sex bill

The Turkish government has withdrawn a controversial bill from parliament, which would pardon some men convicted of having sex with underage girls. Critics say the legislation would legitimise rape and encourage the practise of child marriage. Haroun Armagan, an MP from the ruling AK Party, says the amnesty aimed to help men who had married underage girls with consent. “This proposal has come to the parliament for a reason and the reason is to protect some families. We’re giving normality to younger women who have been married underage to cultural norms, or now find themselves struggling as single parents, to provide for their children while their husbands are in prison.” The opposition Nationalist Movement Party meanwhile has signalled that it will support proposed changes to the Turkish constitution, giving more power to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Tsunami warning lifted in Japan

Thousands of residents of coastal areas in eastern Japan have returned to their homes after the lifting of a tsunami warning, prompted by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. Officials say there is no sign of problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Syria’s besieged population doubles

The UN's humanitarian chief says the number of people living in besieged areas of Syria has doubled over the past year to almost one million. Stephen O'Brien told the UN Security Council that the Syrian government was bombing and starving people in rebel held areas and denying them access to aid, in order to force them to submit or flee.

Egyptian court orders re-trial of former President

A court in Egypt has overturned a life sentence handed down to former president Mohammed Morsi, and ordered him to be re-tried on charges of conspiring with foreign militant groups. The Islamist president, who was removed by the military in 2013, had a death sentence struck down last week, but still faces lengthy jail terms for other crimes.

Cyprus reunification talks end without deal

The United Nations says talks in Switzerland on reuniting Cyprus have ended without a breakthrough. The Mediterranean island has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974.

The Weather

Cloud has been forecast this afternoon for areas from Vorarlberg through to Carinthia but elsewhere it should be mostly sunny. Top temperatures will range from 8 to 22 degrees.

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