News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

UN says civilians are being executed in Aleppo

The United Nations say it has received credible reports that Syrian pro-government forces are entering homes in eastern Aleppo and killing civilians, including women and children. Rebel groups have lost most of the territory they once held in Aleppo and are now on the brink of defeat. Thousands of people are believed to be trapped in the small pocket of territory still under rebel control. Rupert Colville is UN human rights spokesman. “We’re filled with the deepest foreboding for those who remain in this last hellish corner of opposition held eastern Aleppo. While some reportedly managed to flee yesterday, some were reportedly caught and killed on the spot and others were arrested.” Senior UN humanitarian official Jan Egeland says the Russian and Syrian governments must be held responsible for any atrocities committed in Aleppo.

Trump names oil executive as foreign minister

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Exxon-Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson is his choice for Secretary of State. Tillerson is seen as a controversial appointment because of his close ties to the Russian leadership.

Austria calls on EU to freeze Turkey talks

Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is urging the European Union to freeze membership talks with Turkey, amid concerns about the ongoing crackdown by Ankara in the wake of July's failed coup attempt. EU Foreign Ministers are set to discuss the matter at talks today in Brussels. Kurz told reporters it was wrong to continue negotiations with Turkey as if nothing negative had happened.

People smuggler to be sentenced in Italy

A court in Italy is due to sentence the captain of a ship that capsized in the Mediterranean last year, killing around 700 refugees and migrants. Mohammed Ali Malek, a Tunisian national, is accused of ramming the ship into a Portuguese vessel that was attempting to help. Most of those who died were locked in the hold. International Organisation for Migration spokesman, Flavio di Giacomo, said such cases highlighted the criminal nature of people smuggling. “I think it’s very important to show that these shipwrecks happening in the Mediterranean Sea are not actually incidents. We are not facing random acts of nature but the crimes of men. So it is very important to find, identify and prosecute these men.”

Jakarta Governor faces blasphemy trial

The governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta has gone on trial today accused of blasphemy. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is alleged to have insulted Islam, after accusing his opponents in an election campaign earlier his year of misusing a verse from the Koran. The Christian governor faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted.

Iran to develop nuclear marine propulsion

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has reportedly ordered the development of a nuclear marine propulsion system. In a letter published by Iranian State Media, Rouhani said the move was in response to US violations of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The weather

Sunny conditions are set to continue in most areas this afternoon, with heavier cloud cover in parts of Styria, Upper and Lower Austria. Top temperatures will range from -3 to +5 degrees.

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