10.10.2013

News in English

Libya's Prime Minister released / US suspends some aid to Egypt / Lon Snowden visits his son in Russia / Bubonic plague concerns in Madagascar / Malala Yousafzai wins Sakharov prize / The weather

10.10.2013

Libya's Prime Minister released

The Libyan government says Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been released just hours after being seized by a group of armed men in Tripoli. Details over the case remain sketchy, but it's been reported that the abduction was carried out by a militia with loose ties to the government. The motive for the incident remains unclear. But there's been speculation that it could have been in retaliation for a U.S. special forces' raid last weekend in which an al-Qaida suspect was captured on the streets of the capital. Many saw the raid as a breach of Libyan sovereignty and there had been pressure on the government to explain if was involved.

US suspends some aid to Egypt

The US government says it's is suspending some of the aid it gives to Egypt. The State Department says the delivery of large-scale military systems as well as cash assistance to the government will be withheld.The move follows a crackdown by the Egyptian authorities on supporters of the ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Washington says it wants to see progress being made towards free and fair elections. White House spokesman Jay Carney: "our overriding interest throughout these past few years has been to encourage a government that legitimately reflects the will of the Egyptian people and recognises true democracy as requiring respect for minority rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech and assembly and a strong civil society." Washington's decision to suspend some aid has been criticised by the Egyptian government which said it was wrong and that the country was "continuing on its path towards democracy".

Lon Snowden visits his son in Russia

The father of the former US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden has arrived in Moscow to visit his son. Lon Snowden says he doubts that his son will return to the US, where he's wanted on spying charges over his disclosure of secret surveillance programmes. Snowden has been granted asylum in Russia and has been living at a secret location.

Bubonic plague concerns in Madagascar

Experts have warned that Madagascar faces a bubonic plague epidemic unless action is taken to slow down the spread of the disease. The Red Cross says prison inmates in the country's crowded jails are particularly at risk because of the prevalence of rats in the jails.

Malala Yousafzai wins Sakharov prize

The European Parliament has awarded their top human rights prize to Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year old Pakistani school girl and education campaigner, who was shot in the head by the Taliban last year. Previous winners of the Sakharov Award include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.

The weather

Staying mostly cloudy with the increasing chance of rainfall. Towards the evening the snowline on the northern side of the Alps will sink to 900 metres bringing snow overnight in Vorarlberg and northern Tyrol. Highs ranging between 11 and 19 degrees.

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