Austria Will Shutter 7 Mosques And Review Residency Of Dozens Of Imams
The crackdown follows a 2015 law that bars foreign financing of religious institutions in Austria, but critics say it's driven by Islamophobia.
Europe
Putin Answers Questions During Annual Call-In Show
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday held his annual call-in show in which he takes dozens of questions from the public for hours during a live broadcast on state television.
Uproar Continues Over Pro-Right Remarks By U.S. Ambassador To Germany
The new U.S. ambassador to Germany upset his hosts, and Democratic senators back home, with his announced support for right-wing populists in Europe.
Court Allows Northern Ireland's Abortion Law To Stand — But Says It Violates Rights
On technical grounds, the U.K.'s Supreme Court rejected an attempt to overturn strict abortion limits in Northern Ireland. But the court also said that the law is incompatible with human rights.
Merkel Parries Queries In First-Ever 'Chancellor's Question Time'
The German chancellor fielded questions on issues ranging from immigration to trade in Bundestag's more staid version of the familiar British tradition.
Morning News Brief
Japan's prime minister meets with President Trump to discuss North Korea. And, the U.S. ambassador to Germany raises eyebrows for his support of the far right.
Decades After 'Massive Injustice' Repealed, Scotland Will Offer Pardons To Gay Men
The bill automatically pardons men convicted under Scotland's longtime ban on same-sex relations, which wasn't repealed until 1980. Lawmakers vowed to send a "message that these laws were unjust."
'Your Children Are Safe': A Town In Wales Welcomes Refugees From Syria
The U.K. began its community sponsorship program for Syrians in 2016. Some refugees who arrived earlier have helped newcomers settle in — and are persuading Welsh communities to open their doors.
France's 'Spiderman' Revs Up Debate Over Illegal Immigration
An immigrant who saved a child was awarded French citizenship. The case has inflamed the debate over immigration, and how to handle the large numbers of migrants who continue to come to France.
U.S.-Led Coalition Accused Of 'Potential War Crimes' In Push To Reclaim Raqqa
Amnesty International alleges that during last year's successful campaign to dislodge ISIS from the Syrian city, the coalition's airstrikes were "either disproportionate or indiscriminate or both."