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8. April 2017, 21:58

Colombia approves revised peace deal

Colombia's Congress has approved a revised peace accord designed to end the 50-year conflict between the government and the Farc rebel group. The lower house ratified the pact a day after it was endorsed by the Senate in spite of objections from the opposition. The first peace accord was rejected in a referendum, but the new version does not require a popular vote. Inti Asprilla is one of the members of Congress who voted for the deal: "I believe that at this moment I made history. And I was up to the challenge. Peace was in danger. And it was necessary to implement it as quickly as possible to save lives now and in the future. That's why we have voted yes."

Ukraine starts missile tests

Ukraine has started two days of missile tests in a move which has sparked renewed tensions with Russia. Moscow says the tests near Crimea - which it annexed in 2014 - are a "dangerous precedent". The Ukrainian military says the drills will avoid airspace over Crimea and insists the exercises are being carried out in accordance with international law.

Putin says he's ready for cooperation with Trump

The Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's ready for cooperation with the incoming administration of Donald Trump in Washington but that it must be on an equal footing. In his annual state of the nation speech, Putin said Moscow didn't want confrontation with anyone but would not tolerate actions that would harm Russian interests.

Lack of fuel possible cause of plane crash

Authorities in Colombia say evidence is growing that a plane carrying a Brazilian football team crashed because it ran out of fuel as it tried to land. Civil aviation officials say an initial inspection at the crash site indicated the plane did not have fuel at the moment of impact. Only six out of 77 people who were on board the aircraft survived.

Research ministers discuss Mars rover plan

Ambitious plans to land a robot rover on Mars in 2021 have reached a crucial point with Europe's research ministers meeting in Switzerland to decide whether to continue funding the scheme. The vehicle would try to find signs of life on the Red Planet by sampling soil drilled from under the surface. But that would require a further 400 million Euros. Franco Bonacina from the European Space Agency says the investment would be a boost for the European economy: "Space in Europe means 35,000 direct jobs which are in Europe and many many more indirect jobs. 90% of our budget goes into contracts which are given to European industry".

The weather

Mainly cloudy with a few showers about. Some sunshine in the south. A strong to stormy wind. And highs ranging from 1 in the north to 13 in the south.

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