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8. April 2017, 21:58

Greek PM accepts bailout offer „with conditions“

Euro zone finance ministers will hold another conference call later today, a day after Greece´s current bailout deal expired following five months of failed negotiations. Greece also missed the deadline for a 1.5 billion euro repayment to the International Monetary Fund and no longer has access to funding from the IMF and Europe. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has reportedly written to international creditors to accept their latest bailout offer, but with several conditions. Germany has rejected suggestions that a deal is possible before Sunday´s planned referendum. Otmar Issing, the former Chief Economist of the European Central Bank, has criticised Greek politicians: "I think I´ve never seen in my life politicians playing with the fate of a country like the Greek politicians have done over the last months and especially over the last two weeks."

USA and Cuba set to reopen embassies

US officials say that the United States and Cuba have reached a deal to reopen embassies in Washington and Havana, a major step in re-establishing diplomatic ties which have been frozen since the early 1960s. The US and Cuba agreed to normalise relations at the end of 2014.

IAEA chief to visit Tehran

Iran and six world powers meeting in Vienna have extended negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear agreement until July 7. The head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, will reportedly travel to Tehran on Thursday to meet the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other officials.

Death toll rises after Sumatra plane crash

Indonesian police say 141 bodies have been recovered after a military transport plane crashed in a residential area of Medan on the island of Sumatra on Tuesday. No-one on board survived. Some 20 people were reportedly killed on the ground.

No end in sight to Europe´s migrant crisis

The United Nations refugee agency says 137,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe by sea in the first half of 2015 - that´s an 80 per cent increase from the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, Austria, Hungary and Serbia have called on the European Union to step up efforts to fight human smuggling through the Balkans and not just focus on southern immigration routes. The three countries on Tuesday agreed to increase cooperation in patrols along Serbia's borders with Hungary and Macedonia.

Militants attack Sinai military checkpoints

It is being reported that Islamic militants have carried out simultaneous attacks on at least six Egyptian military checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula. Over 30 soldiers were killed. The attackers also reportedly took soldiers captive. Militants linked to the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility.

The weather

Sunny in the west, some cloud in the east and south. Highs today from 26 to 34.

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