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8. April 2017, 21:58

HSBC to slash thousands of jobs

The British banking giant HSBC has announced plans to cut up to 10 percent of its workforce or 25 thousand jobs worldwide, as part of a 5 billion dollar cost cutting strategy. Europe's biggest bank says it will sell businesses in Turkey and Brazil and focus instead on the Asian market. Author and banker Philip Augar says the move is part of a worldwide trend. “Banks are having to reconcile themselves to an environment where interest rates are low, that makes it harder for them to make money, they’re having to pay a lot of fines for their past sins, and the regulators are requiring them to hold a lot more capital. So the banks generally worldwide are shrinking.”

Egypt football violence death sentences upheld

A court in Egypt has upheld death sentences handed down to 11 men for involvement in deadly football violence at a stadium in the city of Port Said in 2012. 74 people were killed and around 500 injured in clashes during a match between the clubs al-Masry and al-Ahly. The matter has now been referred to Egypt's most senior religious authority, the Grand Mufti.

US army website hacked

The US army says it was forced to temporarily take down its website army.mil following an attack by hackers. A group calling itself the Syrian Electronic Army, which supports Syrian president Bashar al Asad, says it was behind the attack. Last week the US accused China of hacking into federal government computers.

New corruption claims against FIFA official

US investigators say they are looking into claims that the former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner expropriated money intended for the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Warner is alleged to have transferred 750 million dollars he raised from football's world governing body and the South Korean Football Association into accounts he controlled. Garvin Nicholas is the Attorney General in Warner's native Trinidad and Tobago. “I think if Jack Warner actually stole money that was meant for Haiti, that is a most despicable crime, and I would expect the authorities to do all that they can to ensure the recovery of that money.”

MERS outbreak prompts South Korea travel alert

Hong Kong has issued a red alert for South Korea, following an outbreak there of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, recommending the cancellation of all non-essential travel. South Korea's health ministry says another person has died of the MERS virus, bringing the total number of deaths to 7 since the outbreak began last month.

Firefighters battle deadly blaze in Ukraine

Emergency crews are battling to control a fire at a fuel depot, near the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Officials say one firefighter has died and several are missing, following a huge explosion. It's not clear what started the blaze.

The weather

Overcast conditions have been forecast from Vorarlberg through to the Waldviertel with the chance of showers. The east and south will be partly sunny, with thunderstorms later in the day. Top temperatures will range from 15 to 28 degrees.

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