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8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukraine offer for pro-Russian activists

The acting President of Ukraine, Olexsander Turchynov, says pro-Russian activists in two cities in the east of the country will not be prosecuted as long as they leave government buildings that they've been occupying. Protestors have been occupying buildings in the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk. Turchynov has offered an amnesty under certain conditions: "we guarantee that there will be no prosecutions of people who surrender their weapons and leave the buildings. I am prepared to issue a presidential decree to that effect."

Greece returns to bond market

Greece has returned to the international bond markets for the first time in four years. The government says it's received strong interest for its sovereign bond issue. The development is being seen as a significant milestone for a country that's been dependant on international bail-outs and at one point was seen in danger of falling out of the Eurozone. Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras says today's return to the bond markets is a sign that Athens was on its way out of its financial crisis.

Possible new signal in plane search

Australian officials say a plane searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft has detected a possible new underwater signal. The Australian aircraft picked up the signal in the same area where a search vessel had detected sounds thought to have come from the plane's flight recorders earlier this week. Officials say the signal would require further analysis.

Key election day in India

In India, millions of voters are going to the polls on the first big day of the country's general election in which the ruling Congress party is facing a challenge from the main opposition BJP party. Over 100 million people are eligible to vote in this third phase which is taking place in 11 out of India's 28 states. The election, which is the biggest in the world, is being held in 9 stages altogether and will conclude on 12th May.

UN vote on CAR peacekeeping force

A vote on a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping force for the Central African Republic is scheduled to take place at the UN Security Council later today. At least 30 people have been reported killed in the latest violence between Muslim and Christian militias. Thousands have been killed since the conflict began. The UN says over a million people are in need of aid.

Knife attack at US school

In the US, 21 students and a security guard have been stabbed at a high school in Pittsburgh. At least 5 pupils were critically wounded in the attack. A 16-year old suspect is in custody.

The weather

It'll be mostly cloudy with a few rain or snow showers in the region between Salzburg and northern Burgenland. Mainly dry conditions and some sunshine in the south and in Vorarlberg. It'll be very windy and highs ranging between 5 and 17 degrees.

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