News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Search intensifies for Istanbul gunman

Turkish police are continuing their search for the gunman who killed 39 people celebrating the New Year at a nightclub in Istanbul. Some media reports have identified the suspect as a man from Kyrgyzstan, but this has not been confirmed by the authorities. Yesterday, the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has been blamed for at least half a dozen attacks on civilian targets in Turkey over the past 18 months.

Syrian rebels threaten to boycott talks

Several Syrian rebel groups say they are suspending their participation in the preparations for peace talks being planned by Russia and Turkey for later this month. A statement, signed by a number of groups, accused the government of breaking the four-day old ceasefire. The peace negotiations are due to be held in Kazakhstan.

Foreign Minister Kurz visits eastern Ukraine

Two days after Austria took over the rotating presidency of the OSCE, Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is visiting the conflict region in eastern Ukraine. Around 1,000 OSCE observers are currently in the area. Kurz is being accompanied by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

Wildfires in Chile

In Chile, wildfires have forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes in the coastal city of Valparaiso. The blaze started yesterday, destroying around 100 homes. It spread quickly because of strong winds and hot dry weather. This woman lives nearby: "I live further down, but my family lives here so I came to help. It's chaos, real chaos. Everyone's out of their houses, they're being evacuated because the wind keeps changing from one moment to the other. We have to remain alert."

Police question Netanyahu

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been questioned by police for three hours over allegations that he received gifts from wealthy supporters in breach of his role as a public servant. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

56 killed in Brazil prison riot

56 people have been killed in a prison riot in the Amazonas state in Brazil. Officials said the violence involved fighting between rival criminal gangs. There were reports of torture and beheadings in what's been described as the deadliest jail riot in the country in more than two decades. The unrest began late on Sunday but was brought under control yesterday when the inmates surrendered their weapons and freed the last of 12 guards they had taken hostage. Over 180 prisoners escaped during the violence. 40 have since been re-captured.

The weather

Some sunshine in much of the country but with some thick cloud moving in from the north. A strong wind especially in eastern Austria. Highs ranging between minus 4 and plus 5 degrees.

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