News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Syria ceasefire agreed

Reports are coming through that agreement has been reached for a ceasefire to begin in Syria tomorrow. The Syrian army says the truce will exclude groups the United Nations considers to be terrorist organisations - such as Islamic State and the former Nusra Front. The Russian president Vladimir Putin says that Russia and Turkey will act as guarantors.

Tension mount between U.S. and Israel

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu has criticised as biased a speech by the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Kerry warned that the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank jeopardised a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last week Israel voiced its anger at the U.S. for choosing not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlement construction. Kerry defended that decision: “Is ours the generation that gives up on the dream of a democratic state of Israel living in peace and security with its neighbours? Because that is really what is at stake. Now that is what informed our vote at the Security Council last week. The need to preserve the two-state solution. And both sides in this conflict must take responsibility to that.” Meanwhile the US President-elect Donald Trump has tweeted in support of Israel – saying that once in office he will not allow it to be – quote – “treated with disdain and disrespect.

Amnesty in Colombia for FARC rebels

Colombia's Congress has approved an amnesty law to protect thousands of FARC rebels from prosecution for minor crimes committed during the country’s civil war – which last more than half a century. The amnesty does not include fighters accused of carrying out war crimes or human rights violations. The move is part of a peace deal signed last month between the government and FARC. Colombia's Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo says it's a big step towards a lasting peace: “It paves the way to ensure that a demobilization of the members of the FARC will take place in the first half of next year. It will be the end of 52 years of conflict with the FARC.”

Terrorism not ruled out in Russian plane crash

Russian officials believe technical failure or human error is likely to have caused the plane crash that killed 92 people on Sunday. But they say they can’t rule out the possibility of an attack. The plane was heading to Russia's air force base in Syria with 64 members of the famed Alexandrov Military Choir, who were due to perform at a New Year's concert.

Debbie Reynolds dies one after daughter Carrie Fisher

The Hollywood entertainer Debbie Reynolds has died of a stroke at the age of 84 - just one day after the death of her daughter, the actress and author Carrie Fisher. Reynolds starred in musicals and comedies in the 1950s and 60s – the most famous of which was Singing in the Rain.

The weather

Mainly sunny – although there’ll be some persistent fog in Upper Austria and western parts of Lower Austria. Highs are ranging from -3 to +7 degrees.

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