News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Greek parliament votes for bailout deal

Eurozone finance ministers have been holding a conference call to discuss the next steps in negotiating a new bailout for Greece. On the agenda is discussion of short-term emergency funding aimed at keeping the country afloat until the new rescue package is finalised. The talks follow a late night vote in the Greek parliament which saw the majority of MPs accepting the EU's tough conditions for a bailout. More than 60 parliamentarians voted against - including several from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party. Tsipras told MPs he did not believe in the measures - but insisted there was no alternative: "I will admit that the measures we're tabling are harsh. And I don't agree with them. I don't believe they'll help the Greek economy. And i say so openly. But I also say that I must implement them...there is no other option." There were anti-austerity demonstrations outside parliament ahead of the vote. One group of protestors threw petrol bombs at police officers who responded with tear gas.

Japan debates changes to security law

The lower house of Japan's parliament has approved a controversial security bill that will allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. The change - which will now need approval from the upper house - is backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He says it will allow Japan to counter new threats: "the security situation surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly challenging. With this in mind, it is an absolutely necessary legislation to protect the lives of the Japanese and also to prevent the country from going to war." But opinion polls suggest around 60% of Japanese citizens oppose the move. Thousands of people have demonstrated outside parliament in protest.

France says it's foiled terror plot

French officials say they've foiled a terrorist plot to attack military bases in the country. The Interior Ministry says several suspects have been arrested and that one of them had links to jihadist groups.

FIFA official extradited to US

Swiss justice officials say one of the seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich as part of a corruption investigation in the United States has been extradited to the US. They said the man, who was not identified, was put on a flight to New York yesterday. The remaining 6 soccer officials are fighting extradition procedures.

Images reveal ice mountains on Pluto

Images from the space probe New Horizons have revealed that Pluto has high mountains made of ice. Scientists have been presenting the first pictures acquired by the spacecraft during its historic flyby of the dwarf planet earlier this week.

The weather

Frequent sunshine but with showers and some heavy storms at times in the mountain and hilly regions. Highs ranging between 26 and 34 degrees.

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