News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

FPÖ sets its sights on the Austrian presidency

The Freedom Party candidate, Norbert Hofer, is celebrating a resounding victory in the first round of the Austrian presidential election. He will face the former Green Party leader Alexander Van der Bellen in the run off on May 22. Hofer won 35 per cent of the vote, far more than opinion polls had predicted. Van der Bellen got over 21 per cent, coming in ahead of Irmgard Griss, the former president of Austria´s Supreme Court. For the first time since the second World War, the candidates from the Social Democrats and the People´s Party did not make it to the run-off. Both parties have governed Austria for decades - either alone or in coalition. Political analyst Thomas Hofer says the FPÖ has a good chance in the run-off: "Until yesterday I would´ve said, you know, it´s very hard for the Freedom Party to get over 50 per cent. However, I have to reverse that. I think the core of it is that there is a huge distrust with the way we´re enacting democracy in this country."

Obama announces 250 US troops for Syria

President Barack Obama is meeting key US allies in Germany today to discuss issues he says are putting European unity "under strain." He´ll be joined in Hannover by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Britain, France and Italy. In a speech ahead of the talks, Obama announced the deployment of 250 US military personnel to Syria to assist local forces fighting the so-called Islamic State. He also said Europe and NATO could still do more, particularly in Syria and Iraq.

Republican rivals unite against Trump

Donald Trump's rivals for the Republican Party's US presidential nomination have announced that they will now co-ordinate strategies to reduce his chances of winning more state primaries. Ted Cruz will cut back his campaigning in Oregon and New Mexico. In return John Kasich will give Cruz a clear run in Indiana. Trump has won most state contests, but remains short of securing a majority of delegates ahead of the Republican national convention in July.

Brussels Metro station reopens

The Brussels Metro station targeted in last month´s terror attacks reopened today. A suicide bomber killed 16 people at the Maelbeek station on March 22, shortly after the deadly bombings at Zaventem airport. Security remains high across the underground network in the Belgian capital, with bags being searched and soldiers guarding station entrances.

Serbian coalition wins general election

The governing coalition in Serbia has won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. The results are seen as an endorsement of the pro-Europe policies of the Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic. His centre-right Progressive Party received 48 per cent of the vote with its ally, the Socialists, getting 11 per cent.

Anti-government protests in Egypt

The Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has called on citizens to defend the state and its institutions ahead of planned anti-government protests. In a televised speech, Sisi said attempts to destabilize Egypt would not succeed if the country stood united. Security has been stepped up across the country, with officials warning they will deal firmly with protesters. Discontent has worsened following a recent deal to cede control over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The weather

Some sunshine, especially in the south, but also widespread rain, hail or snow showers. Top temperatures from 2 to 12.

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