News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Austrian student freed in Yemen

A 26-year-old Austrian student who´d been held captive in Yemen since December has reportedly been freed following the intervention of the Sultan of Oman. A Finnish couple kidnapped with Dominik N. has also been released. The three were flown to Vienna on Thursday and are being cared for at the city´s military hospital. The Austrian foreign minister Michael Spindelegger says no ransom was paid and a quote humanitarian solution was found.

Woman rescued after Bangladesh collapse

Rescue workers in Bangladesh say they have freed a woman survivor found in the rubble of a factory building which collapsed 17 days ago. She´s been taken to hospital by ambulance. Her condition is not yet known. Meanwhile, the death toll has reportedly climbed above one thousand, with officials saying that 1038 bodies have now been recovered. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the disaster, including the building's owner.

Ohio kidnap suspect could face death penalty

Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Ohio, say they will seek aggravated murder charges that could carry the death penalty against the man accused of kidnapping and raping three young women who were freed on Monday. Ariel Castro is suspected of holding them captive at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, for a decade. County prosecutor Timothy McGinty: "This child kidnapper operated a torture chamber and private prison in the heart of our city. The horrific brutality and torture the victims endured for a decade are beyond comprehension."

Cyber gang steals $45 million

It´s being reported that a global crime syndicate has stolen 45 million dollars in a matter of hours by hacking into a database of pre-paid debit cards issued by two Middle Eastern banks, in what´s being described as one of the biggest bank thefts ever. The money was withdrawn from cash machines around the world. 7 men have been arrested in New York.

Election campaigning ends in Pakistan

Campaigning ahead of Pakistan's general election on Saturday has ended, with candidates holding their final rallies. The run-up to the election has been marred by violence in which over 100 people have been killed. Ali Haider - the son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and a candidate for the Pakistan People's Party - was reportedly seized during an election rally on Thursday.

G7 finance ministers meet

Finance ministers from the G7 group of industrialised nations are set to begin two days of talks on Friday. Banking reforms will top the agenda at the meeting, which is being held close to London.

The Vienna Festival begins

And finally, the Vienna Festival kicks off Friday evening with a special opening concert outside the City Hall. It´ll be the last organised by director Luc Bondy.

The weather

Sunny in the east and south east but rain and thunderstorms will spread across the country from the west. Highs today just 8 in the west, up to 27 in the east.

Übersicht

• News In English