Greece extradites oligarch to Moldova in $1bn fraud case
A Moldovan oligarch and former senior politician has been extradited from Greece accused of involvement in the theft of $1bn (£748m), BBC reported.
Vladimir Plahotniuc, 59, was flown from Athens to Chisinau on Thursday morning and then taken to a detention centre in Moldova's capital, local officials said.
The tycoon, who faces several long-running criminal cases in Moldova, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to prove his innocence.
His extradition comes days before Sunday's parliamentary elections, with President Maia Sandu warning that Moldova's independence and European future are in danger because of attempts by Russia to foment violence and spread disinformation, according to BBC.
Former French president Sarkozy given five-year sentence after Libya case
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, BBC reported.
The Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.
The ruling means he will spend time in jail even if he launches an appeal, which Sarkozy says he intends to do, according to BBC.
Speaking after Thursday's hearing, the 70-year-old, who was president from 2007-12, said the verdict was "extremely serious for rule of law".
Typhoon Ragasa makes landfall in China after 17 killed in Taiwan
Typhoon Ragasa has made landfall in southern China, where nearly two million people have been evacuated in preparation for its arrival, BBC reported.
It comes after authorities said at least 17 people had been killed and more missing in Taiwan after a lake burst on Tuesday, causing severe flooding in the island's east.
Ragasa was downgraded from a super to a severe typhoon on Wednesday but it remains highly destructive, with top winds of 241km/h (150mph) recorded in Taishan county in China's south-eastern Guangdong province.
The equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, Ragasa is the world's strongest storm this year and has been roaring over the South China Sea for days, according to BBC.
Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza City, hospitals say, as offensive expands
More than 80 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City, local hospitals said, BBC reported.
Women and children were among at least 20 who died when a strike hit a building and tents sheltering displaced families near Firas market in Gaza City's central Daraj neighbourhood overnight, according to first responders.
The Israeli military said it struck two Hamas fighters and that the number of casualties did not align with its own information.
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops continued their advance into the heart of the city, which Israel says is the last stronghold of Hamas, according to BBC.
