News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Greece delivers reforms proposals

The European Commission has confirmed that Greece has delivered a list of economic reforms to its international creditors on time… in an effort to secure a four-month extension of its international bailout. The proposals will be considered by European finance ministers during a conference call this afternoon. The Greek Finance Minister Yannis Varoufakis outlined some of the priorities: “The reforms concern tax evasion, a number of areas in which there is corruption. It’s a very comprehensive list of reforms that this government is intent on.”

I.S. kidnaps 90 Christians in Syria

Islamic State militants have reportedly abducted at least 90 people from Christian villages in north-eastern Syria during dawn raids. The kidnappings come as Kurdish forces – backed by U.S.-led airstrikes – continue to attack I.S. fighters in northern Syria.

Rakhat Aliyev found hanged in prison cell

The former Kazakh ambassador to Austria, Rakhat Aliyev, has been found dead in a Vienna prison cell after apparently hanging himself. He had been awaiting trial this spring for the murder in 2007 of two bankers in Kazakhstan. Aliyev fled to Malta in 2011 but then was arrested upon returning to Austria last June and charged with the two murders in December.

Ukraine ceasefire conference in Paris

Foreign Ministers from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany are meeting in Paris today to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement for eastern Ukraine, which was brokered earlier this month in Belarus. Meanwhile, the Russian president Vladimir Putin has told state television that all-out war with Ukraine is – quote - “unlikely”. Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, agrees - but only if the West helps out now: “We don’t believe that we will have to fight the whole Russian army. We are trying to protect our lands form all these mercenaries, the irregular forces of Russia, the locals… and we believe that with some assistance from (the) West we can deal with this threat as well.”

2022 World Cup set for November start

A task force from football’s governing body FIFA has recommended that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar be held in November and December. There are fears that an event played in Qatar’s blistering summer could endanger the health of players and fans. Today’s recommendation is expected to be ratified by FIFA’s executive committee in Zurich next month.

Indonesia’s president defends death penalty

The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, says the planned execution of eleven convicts will go ahead and no one should interfere in his country’s right to use the death penalty. He was responding to pressure from Australia, Brazil and France, whose citizens are among the 11 people scheduled to be executed by firing squad – mostly for drug trafficking offences.

The weather

This afternoon’s weather: cloudy with increasing rain and even snow between 300m and 900m. Highs are ranging from 0C and to +8C degrees.

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