by Associated Press BC-AP--Europe News Digest, AP Associated Press - 7 August 2014 07:24-04:00 TOP STORIES FROM EUROPE AT 1115 GMT RUSSIA-SANCTIONS MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday banned most food imports from the West in retaliation for sanctions over Ukraine — a sweeping move that will cost Western farmers billions of dollars but could also lead to empty shelves in Russian cities. The decision shows that President Vladimir Putin has no intention of bowing to Western pressure over Ukraine and will instead try to strike back at the West. It also demonstrated that the Kremlin is prepared to inflict damage on Russia while pursuing its course in Ukraine. By Vladimir Isachenkov. SENT: 640 words, photos. UPCOMING: 750 words by 1300 GMT. UKRAINE DONETSK, Ukraine — A mortar shell hit a large hospital in the troubled Ukrainian city of Donetsk Thursday, killing at least one person, as government forces tighten their grip on the pro-Russian rebel stronghold. The incident follows a night of shelling in another central neighborhood. The city council said in a statement posted on its website that three people had been killed and five wounded, and several residential buildings destroyed. By Yura Karmanau. SENT: 370 words, photos, video. GREECE-FATHER FREEDOM THESSALONIKI, Greece — Germany made headlines this week by letting Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One chief, pay $100 million to end his bribery trial. In Greek justice, money talks in a different way: Some inmates jailed for minor offences are allowed to buy their freedom — at an average rate of five euros per day. With the rich at a clear advantage, Greek Orthodox priest Gervasios Raptopoulos has devoted his life to paying off the prison terms of penniless inmates. By Costas Kantouris. SENT: 810 words. UPCOMING: Photos by 1400 GMT. TURKEY-PALESTINIANS ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutogolu says his country wants to establish an air corridor to bring seriously wounded people from Gaza to Turkey for treatment. In a television interview late Wednesday, Davutoglu said either Israel or Egypt would need to make an airport available for Turkey's use. If that's not possible, he says Turkey would set up a field hospital in the region to treat the wounded. GERMANY-ECONOMY BERLIN — German industrial production grew by a smaller-than-expected 0.3 percent in June, official data showed Thursday — the second set of disappointing figures this week from Europe's biggest economy. The increase reported by the Federal Statistical Office was short of economists' forecast of a 1.2 percent rise compared with the previous month. In May, production dropped by 1.7 percent. SPAIN-LIBERIA-EBOLA MADRID — A Spanish missionary priest who tested positive for the Ebola virus was in stable condition after being evacuated from Liberia, health officials said Thursday. The priest, Miguel Pajares, was helping to treat people infected with Ebola and was one of three who tested positive at the San Jose de Monrovia Hospital in Liberia earlier this week. He was flown to Spain on Thursday. By Ciaran Giles. SENT: 300 words, photos. GERMANY-SYRIA-ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS BERLIN — Germany's domestic intelligence chief says more than 400 Islamic extremists from the country are now believed to have traveled to Syria, and about 25 have returned with experience of battle. Hans-Georg Maassen told news agency dpa in comments published Thursday that authorities have "no indications that these people are pursuing a concrete terrorist mandate in Germany." News Topics: General news, Ebola virus, Economy, Hemorrhagic fever, Infectious diseases, Diseases and conditions, Health, Business People, Places and Companies: Vladimir Putin, Bernie Ecclestone, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Liberia, Middle East, Greece, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, West Africa, Africa Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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