Happy Friday, get caught up on today's news before kicking off the weekend.
Dangerous games - A man has been jailed for six years after he strangled a woman to death within seconds of starting a sex game. Mark Bruce, 32, and Chloe Mizek, 20, were at a bus stop in Aberdeen after a night out last November when they met. Scrap cap on child benefits, religious leaders tell government Bruce had been drinking at the Noose and Monkey pub while Chloe had been kicked out of Nox nightclub. They struck up a conversation at the bus stop where they discovered their ‘shared interest’ in choking games and at 3.30am on November 3 they went back to his flat to have sex. However, within seconds of Bruce putting his hands around Chloe’s neck she was dead.
Russian sanctions - The US hit seven Russian oligarchs and 17 Russian government officials with sanctions for what it called ‘malign activity’ around the world, in an attempt to show that Donald Trump is taking tough action against Moscow. A dozen Russian companies owned by the oligarchs were also targeted, along with a state-owned arms-dealing company and a subsidiary bank, the treasury department said.
Skripal recovering - Poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal is ‘responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition’, doctors at Salisbury district hospital have said. Dr Christine Blanshard, medical director at the hospital, said: ‘Following intense media coverage yesterday, I would like to take the opportunity to update you on the condition of the two remaining patients being treated at Salisbury district hospital. Last Thursday, I informed you that Yulia Skripal’s condition had improved to stable. As Yulia herself says, her strength is growing daily and she can look forward to the day when she is well enough to leave the hospital.’
Puigdemont not extradited - Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has called for dialogue with the Spanish government as he left a German prison after being granted bail. The Schleswig-Holstein district court rejected an extradition request on a charge of rebellion for Puigdemont’s role in Catalonia’s push for independence from Spain, but said extradition was possible on a lesser charge of misuse of public funds.
An icon dies - Japanese anime director Isao Takahata, co-founder of the famed Studio Ghibli, has died at the age of 82. Mr Takahata was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya but is best known for his film Grave of the Fireflies. He founded Studio Ghibli with iconic director Hayao Miyazaki in 1985.
South Korea celebrates - South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye has been sentenced to 24 years in jail after she was found guilty of abuse of power and coercion. The verdict was broadcast live and represents the culmination of a scandal which rocked the country, fuelling rage against political and business elites. Park, who was also fined 18bn won (£12m, $17m), faced a string of corruption charges.