News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Greek bailout talks to start Friday

The Greek government says talks with its creditors on a third bailout worth around 85 billion euros will begin in Athens on Friday. The Greek parliament earlier voted overwhelmingly in favour of a second reform package, the final hurdle Greece was obliged to clear. The aim is to complete a deal by August 20. Thousands demonstrated outside the parliament as the bill was debated, with protests briefly turning violent. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made clear that he was not happy with the measures creditors had imposed: "We will not be cowed. We will not surrender. We will not apologise for lost battles. Lost battles are the ones that were never fought in the first place. Our battles will plant a seed which will grow."

Iran and Europe discuss economic cooperation

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber is hosting a two-day EU-Iran Conference in Vienna, following the landmark nuclear deal signed by Iran and six world powers earlier this month. Iran is looking to rebuild its core industries and trade links, and is planning oil and gas projects worth $185 billion by 2020. President Heinz Fischer is to head a high-level Austrian delegation to Tehran on September 7.

US moves to close Guantanamo

The White House has announced that it´s in the final stage of drafting a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba. The US President Barack Obama had vowed to close it within a year when he came to office in 2009. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the administration hopes to "short circuit" opposition from Republicans in Congress who have blocked the closure of the controversial facility. It was set up after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 for al-Qaeda and Taliban detainees.

US Defence Secretary visits Iraq

The US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit to consult with Iraqi leaders and meet with American military commanders. It is his first visit to Iraq since taking over at the Pentagon in February. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing in a mainly Shia district of Baghdad that killed at least 20 people on Wednesday.

Deadly ship collision on the Nile

Egypt's Interior Ministry says 21 people have drowned after a party boat collided with a cargo ship on the River Nile near Cairo. Six passengers are reportedly missing. The captain of the cargo vessel has been arrested.

The weather

Some sunshine but widespread rain or thunderstorms are forecast, some of them severe. Highs today from 20 to 35, warmest in the east and south.

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