News in English

13. April 2017, 02:00

Turkey summons Dutch envoy in Ankara

Turkey has summoned the Dutch envoy in Ankara to complain about the actions of Rotterdam police against Turkish protesters who took to the streets after the Netherlands barred Turkish ministers from holding political campaigns. Turkey's foreign ministry says the police intervention was disproportionate and called for legal action against police misconduct. Dutch police used dogs and water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters outside the consulate in Rotterdam. Some protesters threw bottles and stones. Mounted police charged the crowd and several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons.

US says IS fighters in Mosul will die there

A senior US official coordinating efforts to tackle the so-called Islamic State group says any IS fighters left in the Iraqi city of Mosul are likely to die there. Brett McGurk issued the warning, after Iraqi forces cut off the militant's last remaining route out of the city. Iraqi government forces and their allies have been making steady progress in Mosul and McGurk says the battle is being won: "ISIS has now lost over 60 % of the territory it once held here in Iraq. It is losing more every day. In total, in Iraq and Syria, coalition enabled operations have cleared 50,000 square kilometers of territory from ISIS."

2016 was worst year yet for children in Syria

The United Nations' child relief agency - UNICEF - says 2016 was the worst yet for the country's rising generation. Confirmed incidents prove over 650 children were killed in attacks on schools, hospitals, playgrounds, parks and homes as the Syrian government, its opponents and the allies of both sides showed callous disregard for the laws of war. Najwa Mecki is a spokesperson for UNICEF: "At least 652 children were killed in 2016. At least 850 children were recruited and forced to join the fighting. There were at least 338 attacks on hospitals and medical staff. These are only the numbers we were able to check and verify and the actual numbers are probably much higher."

Brexit could become law later today

A so-called Brexit Bill could become law later today, allowing UK Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger negotiations on Britain's exit from the EU. The legislation is being debated again by MPs, and it's thought they will send it back to the House of Lords without amendments for final approval. If that happens, Theresa May will be free to trigger Article 50, kicking off the formal Brexit process.

Death toll rises from Ethiopia dump disaster

Officials in Ethiopia say at least 50 people have now died from a landslide at a trash dump on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa. Nearby residents say around 150 people were at the dump at the time of the landslide where several makeshift homes were destroyed.

Airport strikes extended in Berlin

Ground staff at Berlin's two airports have extended their strike action until at least Wednesday. Workers represented by the union - Verdi - went on strike this morning for the second time in four days, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Ver.di argued that another walkout was necessary because employers failed to react to the previous strike and made no new offer in their wage dispute.

The weather

Most sunny across Austria, but the afternoon will bring increased cloud cover to parts of the east and west. High temperatures are ranging from 4 to 14 degrees.

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