News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Ukranian activist claims he was tortured

A prominent anti-government activist, who disappeared a week ago in Ukraine, has been found in a forest outside Kiev. Dmytro Bulatov, one of the leaders of anti-government protest motorcades called Automaidan, says he was kidnapped and tortured by his abductors: “I was crucified. I´ve got holes in my hands. A part of my ear was cut off. They cut my face. There is not a spot on my body that hasn´t been beaten. I couldn´t tell who they were, as it was always dark where they kept me. But their accent was Russian.” Ukraine's army today called on the embattled President Viktor Yanukovych to take "urgent steps" to ease the political crisis.

Murder convictions reinstated in Perugia case

Lawyers acting for the American Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, say they will appeal after an Italian court reinstated guilty verdicts for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia in 2007. The court in Florence also upheld prison sentences of 28 and 25 years respectively. Legal experts say it´s unlikely Italy will request Knox's extradition from the United States until the court´s ruling is confirmed. Sollecito´s passport has been confiscated and he´s been barred from leaving Italy. He is reportedly at a police station in Udine, after earlier crossing the Austrian border into Carinthia. Police say he has not been arrested and will be released later.

Austrian rape victim home from Dubai

A 29-year old Viennese woman is back in Austria from Dubai where she was facing a prison sentence after being raped. Extra-marital sex is illegal in Dubai and even in cases of rape women risk being sent to jail. The woman, who´d also been charged with alcohol consumption, was released following intervention by the Austrian Foreign Ministry.

Syria talks end in deadlock

The first round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition has reportedly ended in Geneva, with both sides in entrenched positions. The United Nations mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, says he´s frustrated that there hadn´t even been agreement on an aid convoy for civilians trapped in the besieged city of Homs

Alert at UK nuclear plant

Non-essential staff at the Sellafield nuclear re-processing plant in north-western England have been told not to come to work, after "elevated levels of radioactivity" were detected at the site. The plant´s operator says there´s no risk to the public or workforce, and there´s no evidence of a quote "nuclear event."

The Weather

Heavy snow in the south and along the main Alpine Ridge, with freezing rain at lower elevations. Sunshine and Föhn conditions in the north. Top temperatures from minus 3 to plus 13.

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