News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Deadly blasts hit Egypt´s capital

Security sources in Egypt say three bombs have exploded in and around the capital, Cairo, a day before the third anniversary of the start of the 2011 revolution. In one of the most high profile attacks in months, a suicide car bomber blew himself up at the main police headquarters in central Cairo. Four people were killed and 70 others wounded. The nearby Islamic art museum was severely damaged. One person died in another blast targeting police vehicles near a Cairo metro station. No casualties were reported in the third explosion at a police station near the Giza Pyramids.

Brahimi meets Syrian delegations in Geneva

The international mediator on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is meeting separately with delegations from the Syrian government and opposition today in Geneva, Switzerland. The Syrian government has threatened to leave if “serious talks” do not begin Saturday

High security for Vienna ball

An unprecedented security operation is planned in the Austrian capital today, ahead of protests to coincide with the Akademiker ball at Vienna´s Hofburg Palace. The ball is being organised by the Vienna branch of the Freedom Party, and is the successor to a similar event staged in the past by far right student fraternities. The Austrian political scientist Reinhard Heinisch says the FPÖ is trying to play the victim card: "It´s trying to say it´s a democratic event, the people there have distanced themselves from Nazi war crimes. This is overblown by the critics and we just want to have a fun time, and we should be allowed to have this, and there are extremists on the left turn this into a ritual every year."

Negotiations continue in Ukraine

Opposition leaders in Ukraine have called on anti-government demonstrators to refrain from further protests, while negotiations continue with President Viktor Yanukovych to try to resolve the on-going political crisis. Yanukovych has so far rejected protesters demands for snap elections and the resignation of the government.

Thai election can be postponed

Thailand's Constitutional Court has ruled unanimously that the Election Commission does have authority to postpone a general election scheduled for February 2. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had called the election to try to defuse anti-government protests and argued that a delay was not legally possible.

Ceasefire in South Sudan

South Sudan´s government has signed a ceasefire with rebels loyal to the former vice president, Riek Machar, to end more than five weeks of fighting that brought the country to the brink of civil war. Thousands of people have been killed and more than half a million have fled their homes.

The weather

Generally overcast with some snow, sleet or rain in lower lying areas in the west, but dry in the north east. Top temperatures from minus 3 to plus 3.

Übersicht

• News In English