News in English

28. April 2017, 02:00

Amnesty report on Mosul airstrikes

Amnesty International says a recent sharp rise in civilian casualties in the Iraqi city of Mosul suggests that the U.S.-led coalition is not taking adequate precautions to protect the civilian population. The coalition has been carrying out air strikes to support Iraqi ground forces who are trying to re-capture the city from the IS militant group. Amnesty says evidence it's gathered points to what it described as an "alarming pattern" of airstrikes in the city which have destroyed houses with families inside. Amnesty spokesperson Donatella Rovera has just come back from Mosul: "it is not only possible but absolutely necessary for coalition forces and Iraqi forces to take more precautions to minimise civilian casualties." There's been no immediate response from the coalition to Amnesty's report. But earlier the US said it was examining reports of civilian casualties.

EU court upholds sanctions against Russia

Europe's top court, the European Court of Justice, has upheld EU sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. They include sanctions on the energy giant Rosneft. The EU imposed penalties on Moscow after it annexed Crimea in 2014.

Trump to cancel Obama's climate policies

The US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order later today overturning measures that were part of Barack Obama's plan to curb global warming. As part of the roll-back, he will initiate a review of the Clean Power Plan, which restricts greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants.

Cyclone Debbie hits north eastern Australia

A powerful storm has hit the north-eastern coast of Australia bringing torrential rain and causing major damage and power cuts. Cyclone Debbie arrived as a category 4 storm with winds of over 260 kilometres per hour but has since been downgraded to category 3 on the 5-point scale. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk: "we have more than 45,000 homes without power. We have major trees down. We are hearing reports of some quite severe structural damage to properties and houses around Proserpine. This is a dangerous cyclone."

Anti-apartheid campaigner Ahmed Kathrada dies

The South African anti-apartheid campaigner Ahmed Kathrada has died at the age of 87. Along with Nelson Mandela, he was among eight ANC activists who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. Kathrada spent 26 years in jail and was released in 1989.

Actress Christine Kaufmann dies

Christine Kaufmann, the Austrian-born German actress has died of leukemia at the age of 72. Kaufmann made her acting debut in 1952 and won a Golden Globe for the film "Town Without Pity".

The weather

Mainly sunny skies with highs ranging between 15 and 22 degrees.

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