News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Kern to be sworn in as Chancellor

Christian Kern is to be sworn in as Austria's new Chancellor today. The former head of Austrian Railways, who's now head of the Social Democrats, replaces Werner Faymann who resigned last week. Kern will also be presenting 4 new members of his government team as part of a cabinet re-shuffle. They are Sonja Hammerschmid, currently head of "Universities Austria", who will replace Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek as Education Minister. Jörg Leichtfried from the Styrian provincial government will take over the Infrastructure Ministry. Thomas Drozda, the head of the Vereinigten Bühnen, will become the new Chancellery Minister who'll also have responsibility for cultural affairs. And lawyer and Vienna Council member Muna Duzdar becomes state secretary in the Chancellery.

Syria talks in Vienna

Members of the International Syria Support Group, which include the US, Russia, the EU and regional powers, are meeting in Vienna in the latest attempt to revive the Syrian peace process. Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says the aim is find a way to return to political negotiations and peace talks in Geneva.

Libya talks in Vienna

A meeting of international diplomats in Vienna yesterday concluded that Libya's UN-backed government should be supplied with weapons to fight so-called Islamic State and other militant groups which have been gaining ground in the country. UN Security Council permanent members and more than 15 other states say they'll give their approval for arms sales and aid to the "Government of National Accord."

Senior Beijing official visits Hong Kong

One of China's top leaders, Zhang Dejiang, has arrived in Hong Kong. He's the most senior official from Beijing to go there since the pro-democracy protests of 2014. More than 6,000 police have been deployed amid planned protests by pro-democracy groups. The Chairperson of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong Emily Lau says she hopes he'll be able to meet the people's demands: "the real way to solve the problem is to improve governance. Give us a democratic system. I guess we don't expect Mr Dejiang to immediately say yes, but after he's been here and listened to the views, he'll go back and discuss with his colleagues in Beijing. Let's hope that we can turn over a new leaf. "

Canada’s wildfire forces more evacuations

The authorities in Canada have ordered the evacuation of more oil workers in the province of Alberta because of a renewed threat from a resurgent wildfire. Firefighters are continuing to try and bring the blazes under control.

The weather

Cool and changeable with a few showers and sunny periods. It’ll be windy in the Danube region. Highs ranging between 8 and 16 degrees, in the southeast up to 18.

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