News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Sweden offer on Assange questioning

Prosecutors in Sweden have offered to travel to London to question the founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange over allegations of sexual assault and rape. Assange - who denies the claims - has been living at the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition. He says he feared if he went to Sweden he could then be sent on to the US to face charges over the leaking of thousands of classified documents. Assange's lawyer Per Samuelson says his client has welcomed Sweden's offer: "this is a great victory for him. We've been waiting for this for over 4 years. He's been locked up in that embassy for over 2 and a half years now."

Talks on Greece's debt continue

The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is holding talks in Brussels with the President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker over the country's rescue package. Agreement was reached last month to extend the bailout programme by 4 months but on condition that Athens put forward a reform package that was acceptable to its European creditors.

Obama condemns Ferguson shootings

The US President Barack Obama has condemned yesterday's shooting of two policemen in the city of Ferguson, calling for those responsible to be arrested. The officers were treated for injuries. The incident happened during a demonstration which followed the announcement that the city's police chief was stepping down after a government report accused his department of racial bias. Obama said there could be no excuse for the attack on the officers: "I think that what had been happening in Ferguson was oppressive and objectionable and was worthy of protest. But there was no excuse for criminal acts. And whoever fired those shots shouldn't detract from the issue - they're criminals and they need to be arrested."

OSCE to extend Ukraine mission

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has announced it will extend its observer mission to Ukraine by 12 months and may increase its size to 1,000 observers. In another development, Kiev says it's put in a formal request with the United Nations for a peacekeeping mission to be deployed to its eastern regions where government forces have been fighting pro-Russia separatists.

Austrian government reaches deal on tax

The Austrian coalition government has agreed on a tax reform package. A final round of talks was held last night with details to be released later today after both partys’ executive committees have met.

Writer Terry Pratchett dies

The British author Terry Pratchett, who created the "Discworld" series of fantasy novels, has died at the age of 66. He wrote more than 70 books, completing his final one last summer.

The weather

Sunny in the west and south. Cloudy in the East. A bit of rain or snow in the region between Upper Austria and Burgenland. Highs: depending on where the sun's out, will be ranging between zero and 11 degrees.

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