News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Pistorius guilty of manslaughter

The South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide or manslaughter after the judge found that he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by mistake. Judge Thokozile Masipa said the athlete had acted "negligently" but he did believe there was an intruder in his home. Criminal law expert Kelly Phelps has been following the proceedings in Pretoria: "Murder is all concerned with what the accused was actually thinking whereas negligence is concerned with how people should and could behave in society." Pistorius was also found guilty of negligently handling a firearm that went off in a restaurant. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

New EU sanctions on Russia

The European Union has imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia over its role in Ukraine, including restrictions on financing for some Russian state-owned companies and asset freezes on leading Russian politicians. The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says there can no military solution to the crisis in the east of the country and he reiterated his support for a measured decentralisation of power to the regions.

US seeks Turkish support in fight against IS

The US Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting Turkey today, seeking more support for action against the Islamic State group. The CIA says the Islamic State may have over 30,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria - three times as many as previously feared. The US has announced nearly $500 million in aid for those affected by the Syrian conflict.

Freed UN peacekeepers “in good condition”

Forty-five UN peacekeepers from Fiji, who were freed two weeks after being captured by al-Qaeda-linked rebels in the Golan Heights, are undergoing medical and psychological testing. The UN says all were in good condition.

No camp retakes lead in Scotland poll

A new poll shows that Scotland is set to narrowly reject independence in an historic referendum in a week's time. The YouGov survey showed the pro-union "No" campaign ahead by four points with 52 percent support, compared to 48 percent who were in favour of independence. It´s the first time the "No" campaign has been ahead in a YouGov poll since early August.

Rally for Catalan independence

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in a rally in the Spanish city of Barcelona, demanding that the Catalan region be allowed to hold a referendum on independence. The Catalan government is planning to hold a non-binding referendum in November. But experts say the move will be blocked by Spain's Constitutional Court.

The weather

Overcast with showers. Heavy rain is forecast for the west. Top temperatures from 8 to 17.

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