The Brief: Austria votes, Raqqa, Iraq tension, Rohingya

Far right expected to perform well in Austria’s national elections, tensions rise in Iraq and Raqqa in focus in Syria.

Austria To Hold Legislative Elections — A man walks past a poster of Heinz-Christian Strache, lead candidate of the right-wing Austria Freedom Party (FPOe) in Vienna, Austria [Sean Gallup/Getty Images]

Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss, plus the ones you should keep an eye on for Sunday:

Don’t miss:

Austria votes today and the far right is expected to gain popularity. Find out everything you need to know here. We will be bringing you all the latest.

In the Middle East, ISIL is being pushed from its former de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa. What’s expected next in the battle? Read more here.

And in Asia, the Rohingya crisis is far from over. We published an open letter to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi from a member of the persecuted minority. You can read this moving letter here.

Looking ahead:

It’s a day of elections. As well as Austria’s national election, Kyrgyzstan is in the middle of a presidential election and Venezuela is choosing governors in all 23 states.

The Catalan president faces increased pressure to declare independence. We report from Barcelona on rising tensions following the vote to secede from Spain.

And in the Middle East, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have rejected a warning from Iraq to withdraw from oil-rich Kirkuk. We will bring you all the latest.

Stay with us on aljazeera.com for more…

Source: Al Jazeera