The world in brief

Danish prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen tells reporters he is satisfied with Wednesday’s verdict in a torture and murder case.
Danish prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen tells reporters he is satisfied with Wednesday’s verdict in a torture and murder case.

Dane gets life in killing, dismemberment

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A self-taught Danish engineer was convicted of murder Wednesday for luring a Swedish journalist on to his homemade submarine, then torturing and killing her before dismembering her body and dumping it at sea.

Peter Madsen, 47, was sentenced in Copenhagen City Court to life in prison for killing Kim Wall, a 30-year-old freelance reporter, after taking her aboard his submarine with the promise of an interview last summer.

Presiding Judge Anette Burkoe described the crimes as “cynical” and “planned.”

Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison, but convicts are reassessed during their incarceration to determine if they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer.

Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen said he was satisfied that Madsen got “the heaviest penalty in Danish law, namely prison for life.”

Although he had insisted he did not kill Wall, Madsen did eventually admit to dismembering her body but struggled during his trial to explain why.

Philippines cancels visa, orders nun out

CANBERRA, Australia — The Philippines on Wednesday canceled an Australian nun’s missionary visa for engaging in political activity and gave her 30 days to leave the country, though she said she still hoped she could explain her mission and have the decision reconsidered.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered an investigation into 71-year-old Sister Patricia Fox as an “undesirable” foreigner.

The Bureau of Immigration’s board of commissioners had canceled Fox’s visa and ordered her to leave because of “her involvement in partisan political activities,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Fox’s visa “granted her only the privilege to engage in missionary work and not in political activities,” Morente added.

Fox is a coordinator of a Philippine congregation of Roman Catholic nuns called Notre Dame de Sion and has lived in the Philippines for almost 30 years.

Fox said she was surprised by the decision, which she heard about through the media.

Fox had taken part in rallies demanding the release of political prisoners and urging Philippine authorities to respect human rights.

Turks: Journalists guilty of terror counts

ISTANBUL — A Turkish court on Wednesday convicted journalists and other staff members from the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper on terror charges.

Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency said Wednesday that 14 employees were found guilty of “aiding a terror group without being a member,” with sentences ranging from 2½ to 7½ years.

The newspaper said those convicted include the editor-in-chief, leading columnists and a prominent investigative journalist, and that it was an attempt “to silence Cumhuriyet.”

The court convicted Akin Atalay, the board chairman but ruled to release him. Eleven others were released earlier in the trial.

Indonesia oil well fire kills 18 people

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A newly drilled unregulated oil well in western Indonesia exploded into flames early Wednesday, burning 18 people to death and injuring dozens of others.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the well in Pasir Putih village in eastern Aceh province ignited about 1:30 a.m. and that firefighters were still struggling to extinguish the flames late in the afternoon. Five nearby houses were engulfed by the inferno.

Sutopo said the 820-foot-deep well was gushing when it ignited, and many people were trying to collect the oil. He said 41 people had been admitted to three hospitals.

Edi Gunawan, director of a local hospital, told Indonesian television that those hospitalized had burns over 20 percent to 60 percent of their bodies.

Several people with serious injuries were transferred to a larger hospital, he said.

The disaster agency described the well as “traditional,” likely meaning it had unclear ownership and was used by the local community.

photo

AP/ZIK MAULANA

A man photographs the burning oil well Wednesday in Pasir Putih, Indonesia.

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