News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Russia supports Ukraine rebel vote

Russia says it will recognise the results of controversial elections planned by pro-Russian rebels in parts of eastern Ukraine which have been scheduled for November 2nd. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the polls in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions would be “important to legitimise the authorities there". A fragile truce is holding in both regions, where Ukrainian troops have been fighting pro-Russia separatists. Kiev has urged Russia to put pressure on the separatists not to hold their own elections.

Mexico investigates mass grave

Reports coming out of Mexico say the authorities who are searching for 43 students who disappeared after a protest last month are investigating a suspected mass grave. Legal officials say the testimony of two arrested members of a drug gang had led them to a site in the southern state of Guerrero. Some reports have said that the students were handed to the gang by local police. Jesus Murillo Karam is Mexico's Attorney General: "two of the detained have referred to receiving a big group of people. And at this time they're giving statements about their fate. At the same time a group of experts from the Attorney General's office and a group of experts from Argentina are searching for evidence to corroborate the statements of the detained."

Ebola vaccine trial approved

The Swiss agency that regulates new drugs says it's approved an application for a clinical trial with an experimental Ebola vaccine at the Lausanne University Hospital. A spokesman for the agency said the trial will be conducted among 120 volunteer participants with support from the U.N.'s World Health Organization.

Plan for Barrier Reef criticised

Australia's Academy of Science says an Australian government plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef will not prevent its decline. The group said the proposal failed to address the impact of climate change and argued that much bolder action was needed. The Environment Ministry defended the plan, saying it showed a strong commitment to the health of the reef.

Survey: global gender gap narrowing

The World Economic Forum says increased access for women to politics and the workforce has narrowed the global gender gap over the past ten years. In its annual survey, the WEF said there had been "sweeping changes" in many countries. Iceland tops the list for gender equality for the sixth year running, with Yemen placed last. The organisation looked at economic factors, health, education and political participation.

The weather

Sunny in much of Austria - but there are still some persistent foggy patches around and it will stay overcast in some places in Carinthia, the Salzkammergut and the northeast. Highs, depending on where it’s foggy and where it’s sunny, will be ranging between 6 and 16 degrees.

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