After getting too close to grizzly bears, a woman in the state of Illinois, the United States, has been sentenced to four days in jail, supervised probation and a one-year ban from Yellowstone National Park. &nbsp;

The woman, Samantha Dehring, pleaded guilty to approaching, remaining near to and photographing wildlife within 100 yards. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a statement from the Department of Justice, the woman was subsequently sentenced to four days in jail, one year of supervised probation and a one-year ban from Yellowstone. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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The woman also has to pay a $1,000 fine, $1,000 to the Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund as part of a community service payment, a $30 court processing fee and a $10 assessment, as per the statement. &nbsp;

On May 10, Dehring was caught on video approaching and photographing three grizzly bears, a mother and her cubs, a Facebook post from Yellowstone National Park said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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The mother bear quickly charged towards Dehring, prompting the woman to turn and walk away. &nbsp;

"Oh my god. Oh my god," a woman said in the background, while another is heard saying that she "got that on video." &nbsp;

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The safety rules of Yellowstone's park state visitors must remain "at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves" even if they appear to look calm and approachable. The rules explain that wildlife at the park is "unpredictable." &nbsp;

In the statement, acting US Attorney Bob Murray said, "Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are, indeed, wild. The park is not a zoo where animals can be viewed within the safety of a fenced enclosure." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After getting too close to grizzly bears, a woman in the state of Illinois, the United States, has been sentenced to four days in jail, supervised probation and a one-year ban from Yellowstone National Park.

After getting too close to grizzly bears, a woman in the state of Illinois, the United States, has been sentenced to four days in jail, supervised probation and a one-year ban from Yellowstone National Park. The woman, Samantha Dehring, pleaded guilty to approaching, remaining near to and photographing wildlife within 100 yards. According to a statement from the Department of Justice, the woman was subsequently sentenced to four days in jail, one year of supervised probation and a one-year ban from Yellowstone. Also Read: Lurching from crisis to crisis, Congress is addicted to cliffs The woman also has to pay a $1,000 fine, $1,000 to the Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund as part of a community service payment, a $30 court processing fee and a $10 assessment, as per the statement. On May 10, Dehring was caught on video approaching and photographing three grizzly bears, a mother and her cubs, a Facebook post from Yellowstone National Park said. × The mother bear quickly charged towards Dehring, prompting the woman to turn and walk away. "Oh my god. Oh my god," a woman said in the background, while another is heard saying that she "got that on video." Also Read: Moderna, racing for profits, keeps Covid vaccine out of reach of poor The safety rules of Yellowstone's park state visitors must remain "at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves" even if they appear to look calm and approachable. The rules explain that wildlife at the park is "unpredictable." In the statement, acting US Attorney Bob Murray said, "Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are, indeed, wild. The park is not a zoo where animals can be viewed within the safety of a fenced enclosure." (With inputs from agencies)

For close grizzly bear encounter, US woman gets 4-day jail, national park ban  

When you eat too much, you might get into a lot of problems.Obesity not only causes health problems, but it may also lead to you being arrested by the cops if you are a fugitive.&nbsp;

A suspected British terrorist who gained six stone after fleeing Islamic State was apprehended because of his kebab obsession.

While on the run, former rapper Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 31, put on so much weight that Spanish cops had to use his ears to identify him.

The Londoner had fought alongside Islamic State in Syria and was mistaken for the group's leading beheader, Jihadi John.

He escaped Syria for Algeria, where he was apprehended in 2020 with two associates after receiving kebab orders.

Due to a social media post, detectives recognised suspected Algerian fixer and people smuggler Adbeizerrak Seddiki as the guy buying kebabs online.&nbsp;

They watched the address in Almeria, Spain's south east, before swooping in on Abdel Bary as the suspected terror group received their third kebab delivery.

According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Seddiki ordered takeout meals from The Kebab Shop on April 15, 2020, at 10.46 p.m. local time, five days before his arrest.&nbsp;

When you eat too much, you might get into a lot of problems.Obesity not only causes health problems, but it may also lead to you being arrested by the cops if you are a fugitive.

When you eat too much, you might get into a lot of problems.Obesity not only causes health problems, but it may also lead to you being arrested by the cops if you are a fugitive. A suspected British terrorist who gained six stone after fleeing Islamic State was apprehended because of his kebab obsession. While on the run, former rapper Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, 31, put on so much weight that Spanish cops had to use his ears to identify him. The Londoner had fought alongside Islamic State in Syria and was mistaken for the group's leading beheader, Jihadi John. He escaped Syria for Algeria, where he was apprehended in 2020 with two associates after receiving kebab orders. Due to a social media post, detectives recognised suspected Algerian fixer and people smuggler Adbeizerrak Seddiki as the guy buying kebabs online. They watched the address in Almeria, Spain's south east, before swooping in on Abdel Bary as the suspected terror group received their third kebab delivery. According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Seddiki ordered takeout meals from The Kebab Shop on April 15, 2020, at 10.46 p.m. local time, five days before his arrest.

How an ISIS terrorist's craving for kebab landed him in police net

The Israeli army made&nbsp;more&nbsp;arrests&nbsp;Friday of&nbsp;relatives&nbsp;of six escaped&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;prisoners, an advocacy body said, as troops kept up a massive manhunt in the occupied West Bank.&nbsp;

Israel&nbsp;has poured troops into the&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;territory since Monday's breakout by six militants from the high security Gilboa&nbsp;prison&nbsp;in northern&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;through a tunnel dug beneath a sink in a cell.

Two brothers and a sister of suspected mastermind Mahmud Ardah were arrested on Friday morning in the village of Arraba near Jenin in the northern West Bank, the&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;Prisoners Club said.&nbsp;

Ardah, a member of militant group Islamic Jihad, has been imprisoned for life since 1996 over his role in deadly attacks.

Other&nbsp;relatives&nbsp;of the six fugitives, all from the Jenin area, were arrested on Wednesday and are being held in detention, according to the&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;advocacy group.&nbsp;

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The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the Friday&nbsp;arrests.&nbsp;

Speaking on a visit to a checkpoint between&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and the West Bank, Defence Minister Benny Gantz vowed: "Sooner or later, we'll lay our hands on those we seek."

Gantz stressed that&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;did not want to see its reinforced military presence in the territory lead to any escalation.

"It's six people out of the millions living here," he said. "We need to be able to deal with these six and their accomplices without disrupting the other balances here.

"I hope this day will end quietly, either way the (army) is prepared for any development," Gantz said.&nbsp;

Palestinians have been celebrating the breakout with demonstrations in both the West Bank and the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, some of which have been accompanied by rioting.&nbsp;

Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza, have called for a "Day of Rage" in the West Bank on Friday.&nbsp;

An Israeli injunction is in effect against publishing details of the jailbreak investigation, even as Israeli media report on the scramble to recover from the embarrassing lapse.

On Thursday, Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev said he and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had agreed to form a commission of inquiry led by a retired judge.

The Israeli army made more arrests Friday of relatives of six escaped Palestinian prisoners, an advocacy body said, as troops kept up a massive manhunt in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli army made more arrests Friday of relatives of six escaped Palestinian prisoners, an advocacy body said, as troops kept up a massive manhunt in the occupied West Bank. Israel has poured troops into the Palestinian territory since Monday's breakout by six militants from the high security Gilboa prison in northern Israel through a tunnel dug beneath a sink in a cell. Two brothers and a sister of suspected mastermind Mahmud Ardah were arrested on Friday morning in the village of Arraba near Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said. Ardah, a member of militant group Islamic Jihad, has been imprisoned for life since 1996 over his role in deadly attacks. Other relatives of the six fugitives, all from the Jenin area, were arrested on Wednesday and are being held in detention, according to the Palestinian advocacy group. Also read | White House says Biden, Jinping hold first phone call in seven months The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the Friday arrests. Speaking on a visit to a checkpoint between Israel and the West Bank, Defence Minister Benny Gantz vowed: "Sooner or later, we'll lay our hands on those we seek." Gantz stressed that Israel did not want to see its reinforced military presence in the territory lead to any escalation. "It's six people out of the millions living here," he said. "We need to be able to deal with these six and their accomplices without disrupting the other balances here. "I hope this day will end quietly, either way the (army) is prepared for any development," Gantz said. Palestinians have been celebrating the breakout with demonstrations in both the West Bank and the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, some of which have been accompanied by rioting. Islamic Jihad and Hamas, the Islamist rulers of Gaza, have called for a "Day of Rage" in the West Bank on Friday. An Israeli injunction is in effect against publishing details of the jailbreak investigation, even as Israeli media report on the scramble to recover from the embarrassing lapse. On Thursday, Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev said he and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had agreed to form a commission of inquiry led by a retired judge.

Israel arrests more relatives of Palestinian jail breakers

In a shocking development, at least six Palestinian nationals have escaped from a high-security&nbsp;Israeli jail on Monday. These inmates were members of militant groups, said the officials, as per&nbsp;report of&nbsp;Israel's Kan public radio.

Five of the prisoners belonged to the Islamic Jihad movement and one was a former commander of a militant group affiliated with the mainstream Fatah party,&nbsp;the report said.&nbsp;A Palestinian prisoners organisation said that four of the men were serving life sentences.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called it a grave incident.&nbsp;According to the Bennett's office, PM spoke with Israel's internal security minister and "emphasised that this is a grave incident that requires an across-the-board effort by the security forces" to find the escapees.

Watch:&nbsp;Taliban claim to defeat NRF, takeover Panjshir

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As per the report, the six inmates were cell mates and dug a tunnel beneath the sink&nbsp;to flee the Gilboa prison in northern Israel. The security forces have launched a search operation to nab the culprits.

Service's northern commander Arik Yaacov&nbsp;said the escapees appeared to have opened an hole from their cell toilet floor to access passages formed by the prison's construction, Reuters reported.

The prison is about 4 km (2 miles) from the boundary with the occupied West Bank. It houses Palestinians convicted or suspected of anti-Israeli activities.

An Israel Prison Service statement on the incident said an alert was sounded at roughly 3 am when locals spotted "suspicious figures" in the area surrounding Gilboa Prison.

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A spokesman for the police said security forces believe&nbsp;the fugitives may try to reach the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule&nbsp;or the Jordanian border, which is some 14 km (9 miles) to the east.

It also confirmed that the escapees included Zakaria Zubeidi, former head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the flashpoint city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Some Palestinian factions have hailed the jailbreak. "This great victory proves again that the will and determination of our brave soldiers inside the prisons of the enemy cannot be defeated," said&nbsp;Islamist militant group Hamas&nbsp;spokesman&nbsp;Fawzi Barhoum.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a shocking development, at least six Palestinian nationals have escaped from a high-security Israeli jail on Monday. These inmates were members of militant groups, said the officials, as per report of Israel's Kan public radio.

In a shocking development, at least six Palestinian nationals have escaped from a high-security Israeli jail on Monday. These inmates were members of militant groups, said the officials, as per report of Israel's Kan public radio. Five of the prisoners belonged to the Islamic Jihad movement and one was a former commander of a militant group affiliated with the mainstream Fatah party, the report said. A Palestinian prisoners organisation said that four of the men were serving life sentences. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has called it a grave incident. According to the Bennett's office, PM spoke with Israel's internal security minister and "emphasised that this is a grave incident that requires an across-the-board effort by the security forces" to find the escapees. Watch: Taliban claim to defeat NRF, takeover Panjshir × As per the report, the six inmates were cell mates and dug a tunnel beneath the sink to flee the Gilboa prison in northern Israel. The security forces have launched a search operation to nab the culprits. Service's northern commander Arik Yaacov said the escapees appeared to have opened an hole from their cell toilet floor to access passages formed by the prison's construction, Reuters reported. The prison is about 4 km (2 miles) from the boundary with the occupied West Bank. It houses Palestinians convicted or suspected of anti-Israeli activities. An Israel Prison Service statement on the incident said an alert was sounded at roughly 3 am when locals spotted "suspicious figures" in the area surrounding Gilboa Prison. Also Read: UK PM Boris Johnson's brother conned over 'gold mine in Gobi desert' A spokesman for the police said security forces believe the fugitives may try to reach the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule or the Jordanian border, which is some 14 km (9 miles) to the east. It also confirmed that the escapees included Zakaria Zubeidi, former head of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the flashpoint city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Some Palestinian factions have hailed the jailbreak. "This great victory proves again that the will and determination of our brave soldiers inside the prisons of the enemy cannot be defeated," said Islamist militant group Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. (With inputs from agencies)

Six Palestinians including top ex-militant flee from Israeli jail, say officials

Flordelis&nbsp;dos&nbsp;Santos&nbsp;de&nbsp;Souza, a former Brazilian congresswoman accused of orchestrating the execution of her husband in June 2019, was arrested on Friday evening after being stripped of her parliamentary immunity.

Flordelis, as she is widely known in Brazil, was charged with murder a year ago along with 10 alleged co-conspirators in the&nbsp;death of her husband, pastor Anderson do Carmo. He was shot 30 times in the garage of their home.

But her position as a federal&nbsp;deputy representing Rio&nbsp;de&nbsp;Janeiro state had shielded her from prosecution.

On Wednesday, Brazil's lower house voted to remove her from office. A judge ordered that she be arrested shortly thereafter at the request of state prosecutors.

Flordelis' lawyer, Anderson Rollemberg, criticised the arrest and vowed to appeal on Monday morning.

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"Totally arbitrary," he wrote in a WhatsApp message. "She went to all the hearings and she was wearing an ankle bracelet."

The&nbsp;Flordelis&nbsp;case has fascinated Brazil for several reasons including the&nbsp;defendant's unusual profile. A former evangelical pastor and singer,&nbsp;Flordelis&nbsp;rose to fame by adopting dozens of children in need, some of whom later accused her of running a cult-like organization.

The brutal murder of her husband struck a chord in a state where powerful organised crime groups and evangelical power brokers have&nbsp;developed close links in recent years.

Police have alleged Carmo's murder came amid a power struggle within the sprawling family.

Television images on Friday evening showed Rio&nbsp;de&nbsp;Janeiro police escorting&nbsp;Flordelis&nbsp;from her home into a police car, clutching a Bible.

Flordelis dos Santos de Souza, a former Brazilian congresswoman accused of orchestrating the execution of her husband in June 2019, was arrested on Friday evening after being stripped of her parliamentary immunity.

Flordelis dos Santos de Souza, a former Brazilian congresswoman accused of orchestrating the execution of her husband in June 2019, was arrested on Friday evening after being stripped of her parliamentary immunity. Flordelis, as she is widely known in Brazil, was charged with murder a year ago along with 10 alleged co-conspirators in the death of her husband, pastor Anderson do Carmo. He was shot 30 times in the garage of their home. But her position as a federal deputy representing Rio de Janeiro state had shielded her from prosecution. On Wednesday, Brazil's lower house voted to remove her from office. A judge ordered that she be arrested shortly thereafter at the request of state prosecutors. Flordelis' lawyer, Anderson Rollemberg, criticised the arrest and vowed to appeal on Monday morning. Also read | US issues new terrorism threat warning ahead of 9/11 anniversary "Totally arbitrary," he wrote in a WhatsApp message. "She went to all the hearings and she was wearing an ankle bracelet." The Flordelis case has fascinated Brazil for several reasons including the defendant's unusual profile. A former evangelical pastor and singer, Flordelis rose to fame by adopting dozens of children in need, some of whom later accused her of running a cult-like organization. The brutal murder of her husband struck a chord in a state where powerful organised crime groups and evangelical power brokers have developed close links in recent years. Police have alleged Carmo's murder came amid a power struggle within the sprawling family. Television images on Friday evening showed Rio de Janeiro police escorting Flordelis from her home into a police car, clutching a Bible.

Former Brazil congresswoman goes to jail on charges of killing husband

Former US President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;longtime aide&nbsp;Tom Barrack,&nbsp;who was indicted&nbsp;on charges of illegal foreign lobbying&nbsp;earlier this week,&nbsp;was&nbsp;released from jail pending trial,&nbsp;after&nbsp;an&nbsp;order&nbsp;of&nbsp;a federal magistrate judge on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He was&nbsp;freed&nbsp;on a bail package, which&nbsp;includes a $250 million bond secured by $5 million in cash.&nbsp;

Barrack was&nbsp;also ordered to wear a GPS location monitoring bracelet by the&nbsp;judge.&nbsp;He&nbsp;has also been&nbsp;barred from transferring any funds overseas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;judge also&nbsp;restricted his travel to parts of Southern California and New York. He will have a curfew to be determined by pretrial services.&nbsp;

Barrack&nbsp;must appear in&nbsp;Brooklyn&nbsp;federal court on Monday, where he will be arraigned.&nbsp;He intends to plead not guilty, a spokesman has said.&nbsp;

Thomas Barrack, a billionaire friend of Donald Trump who chaired the former president's inaugural fund, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with illegally lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;

Barrack and two other defendants are accused of failing to register as lobbyists and using their influence to advance the UAE's foreign policy goals in the United States.&nbsp;

"The defendants repeatedly&nbsp;capitalised&nbsp;on Barrack's friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected president, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the American media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government without disclosing their true allegiances," US Department of Justice official Mark Lesko in a press release.&nbsp;

Barrack is also alleged to have repeatedly lied during an FBI interview about his dealings with the UAE.&nbsp;He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Barrack, 74, is a longtime Trump ally and founder of the large private equity firm Colony Capital. Barrack stepped down as Colony Capital's chief executive in 2020. In April, he resigned as executive chairman of the firm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Former US President Donald Trump’s longtime aide Tom Barrack, who was indicted on charges of illegal foreign lobbying earlier this week, was released from jail pending trial, after an order of a federal magistrate judge on Friday.

Former US President Donald Trump’s longtime aide Tom Barrack, who was indicted on charges of illegal foreign lobbying earlier this week, was released from jail pending trial, after an order of a federal magistrate judge on Friday. He was freed on a bail package, which includes a $250 million bond secured by $5 million in cash. Barrack was also ordered to wear a GPS location monitoring bracelet by the judge. He has also been barred from transferring any funds overseas. The judge also restricted his travel to parts of Southern California and New York. He will have a curfew to be determined by pretrial services. Barrack must appear in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, where he will be arraigned. He intends to plead not guilty, a spokesman has said. Thomas Barrack, a billionaire friend of Donald Trump who chaired the former president's inaugural fund, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with illegally lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. Barrack and two other defendants are accused of failing to register as lobbyists and using their influence to advance the UAE's foreign policy goals in the United States. "The defendants repeatedly capitalised on Barrack's friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected president, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the American media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government without disclosing their true allegiances," US Department of Justice official Mark Lesko in a press release. Barrack is also alleged to have repeatedly lied during an FBI interview about his dealings with the UAE. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Barrack, 74, is a longtime Trump ally and founder of the large private equity firm Colony Capital. Barrack stepped down as Colony Capital's chief executive in 2020. In April, he resigned as executive chairman of the firm. (With inputs from agencies)

$250 million bail deal helps Trump’s ally Tom Barrack get out of jail 

South Africa has slipped into anarchy. It's no longer about Jacob Zuma. Looters say they're stealing because others are. Mob justice is rising with armed vigilantes on the streets and Indians are facing the worst of this. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: South Africa slips into Anarchy

South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has been admitted to start serving a 15 month sentence at Estcourt Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal.&nbsp;

"Zuma will be taken through all the admission processes as per DCS regulations. Other relevant prescripts pertaining to admitting and orientating newly incarcerated persons will also be followed and executed, "the statement read.&nbsp;

It said that the details about the appropriate classification, prerogatives and incarceration conditions can only be determined at the completion of the assessment process to be undertaken by relevant authorities within the employ of DCS.&nbsp;

"Keeping inmates in a safe and secure custody remains cardinal to Correctional Services and we remain committed to this cause," the statement said.&nbsp;

The sentence handed to Zuma by the Constitutional Court last week for snubbing anti-graft investigators also set a benchmark for the continent, by jailing a former head of state for refusing to respond to a corruption probe.

Police had earlier on Wednesday warned they were prepared to arrest Zuma by a midnight deadline to enforce the ruling, unless the top court instructed otherwise.

But in the end the former leader decided to make his own way to prison.

Just minutes before the deadline expired, his foundation tweeted that Zuma had "decided to comply with the incarceration order" and hand himself to a correctional facility.

A convoy of cars believed to be carrying Zuma drove out of his homestead at high speed about 40 minutes before the cut-off time.

Zuma's daughter Dudu Zuma-Sambudla tweeted that he was "still in high spirits" and that "he said that he hopes they still have his same overalls from Robben Island... We salute dad!"

Corruption scandals

Zuma had mounted a last-ditch legal defence and refused to turn himself in.&nbsp;

He had pleaded with the court for an 11th-hour reprieve, requesting that it suspend its arrest orders until all legal processes were finalised -- under the ruling, police were given three days to arrest him if he failed to surrender.

Zuma's first application to halt his arrest was heard on Tuesday but the judgement was reserved until Friday.

Separately, he has pleaded with the Constitutional Court to reconsider and rescind its jail order.&nbsp;

That challenge will be heard next Monday.

Zuma, 79, was forced out of office in 2018 and replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa after a nine-year tenure stained by corruption scandals and the taint of cronyism.

Critics nicknamed him the "Teflon president" for his perceived ability to sidestep justice.

But his fortunes changed on June 29 when the court issued its damning judgement against him for contempt.

Zuma had refused to obey a court order to appear before a commission probing the siphoning-off of state assets under his presidency.

Clout

Prison officials said Zuma checked into the prison, renovated in 2019, some 200 kilometres away from his Nkandla homestead at around 1am (2300 GMT).

At the weekend he defiantly declared he was prepared to go prison, even though "sending me to jail during the height of a pandemic, at my age, is the same as sentencing me to death."

That was after he had told his supporters that there would be chaos if police "dared" arrest him.

Despite his tarnished reputation, the former president carries substantial weight among officials and grassroots members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

The former herdboy was the ANC's intelligence chief during the armed struggle against apartheid and spent 10 years in jail on notorious Robben Island.

Despite its internal tensions and divisions, the ANC said it would not interfere with the judiciary processes enveloping Zuma.

Zuma has also been accused of involvement in a bribery affair dating back more than 20 years.

He faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5 billion. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has been admitted to start serving a 15 month sentence at Estcourt Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has been admitted to start serving a 15 month sentence at Estcourt Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal. "Zuma will be taken through all the admission processes as per DCS regulations. Other relevant prescripts pertaining to admitting and orientating newly incarcerated persons will also be followed and executed, "the statement read. It said that the details about the appropriate classification, prerogatives and incarceration conditions can only be determined at the completion of the assessment process to be undertaken by relevant authorities within the employ of DCS. "Keeping inmates in a safe and secure custody remains cardinal to Correctional Services and we remain committed to this cause," the statement said. The sentence handed to Zuma by the Constitutional Court last week for snubbing anti-graft investigators also set a benchmark for the continent, by jailing a former head of state for refusing to respond to a corruption probe. Police had earlier on Wednesday warned they were prepared to arrest Zuma by a midnight deadline to enforce the ruling, unless the top court instructed otherwise. But in the end the former leader decided to make his own way to prison. Just minutes before the deadline expired, his foundation tweeted that Zuma had "decided to comply with the incarceration order" and hand himself to a correctional facility. A convoy of cars believed to be carrying Zuma drove out of his homestead at high speed about 40 minutes before the cut-off time. Zuma's daughter Dudu Zuma-Sambudla tweeted that he was "still in high spirits" and that "he said that he hopes they still have his same overalls from Robben Island... We salute dad!" Corruption scandals Zuma had mounted a last-ditch legal defence and refused to turn himself in. He had pleaded with the court for an 11th-hour reprieve, requesting that it suspend its arrest orders until all legal processes were finalised -- under the ruling, police were given three days to arrest him if he failed to surrender. Zuma's first application to halt his arrest was heard on Tuesday but the judgement was reserved until Friday. Separately, he has pleaded with the Constitutional Court to reconsider and rescind its jail order. That challenge will be heard next Monday. Zuma, 79, was forced out of office in 2018 and replaced by Cyril Ramaphosa after a nine-year tenure stained by corruption scandals and the taint of cronyism. Critics nicknamed him the "Teflon president" for his perceived ability to sidestep justice. But his fortunes changed on June 29 when the court issued its damning judgement against him for contempt. Zuma had refused to obey a court order to appear before a commission probing the siphoning-off of state assets under his presidency. Clout Prison officials said Zuma checked into the prison, renovated in 2019, some 200 kilometres away from his Nkandla homestead at around 1am (2300 GMT). At the weekend he defiantly declared he was prepared to go prison, even though "sending me to jail during the height of a pandemic, at my age, is the same as sentencing me to death." That was after he had told his supporters that there would be chaos if police "dared" arrest him. Despite his tarnished reputation, the former president carries substantial weight among officials and grassroots members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The former herdboy was the ANC's intelligence chief during the armed struggle against apartheid and spent 10 years in jail on notorious Robben Island. Despite its internal tensions and divisions, the ANC said it would not interfere with the judiciary processes enveloping Zuma. Zuma has also been accused of involvement in a bribery affair dating back more than 20 years. He faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma starts serving jail term for contempt of court 

The Constitutional Court has agreed to hear former President Jacob Zuma's rescission application which means Zuma will no longer be going to prison on Sunday.

South Africa's top court to hear Jacob Zuma's plea again

The Constitutional Court has agreed to hear former President Jacob Zuma's rescission application which means Zuma will no longer be going to prison on Sunday.&nbsp;

The apex court has agreed that the matter will be heard on July 12.&nbsp;

Zuma was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after he was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-africa-jacob-zuma-files-urgent-application-in-constitutional-court-395453" hreflang="en">South Africa: Jacob Zuma files urgent application in Constitutional Court</a>

After the apex court made its judgment, the following day, the Jacob Zuma foundation released a strong-worded statement denouncing Judge Kampepe's judgment as "judicially emotional and angry and not consistent" with the constitution.&nbsp;

It also stated that Zuma "has never believed he is above the law or the constitution and he has always insisted that he must be treated like every other citizen, and his rights to equal protection of the laws must be respected and protected."

On Friday, Zuma and his legal team filed an urgent application to the Constitutional Court to rescind and reconsider its decision and take into account his unstable health.&nbsp;

The former president was supposed to hand himself over to the police on Sunday.

The Constitutional Court has agreed to hear former President Jacob Zuma's rescission application which means Zuma will no longer be going to prison on Sunday. The apex court has agreed that the matter will be heard on July 12.

The Constitutional Court has agreed to hear former President Jacob Zuma's rescission application which means Zuma will no longer be going to prison on Sunday. The apex court has agreed that the matter will be heard on July 12. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after he was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission on Tuesday. Also read | South Africa: Jacob Zuma files urgent application in Constitutional Court After the apex court made its judgment, the following day, the Jacob Zuma foundation released a strong-worded statement denouncing Judge Kampepe's judgment as "judicially emotional and angry and not consistent" with the constitution. It also stated that Zuma "has never believed he is above the law or the constitution and he has always insisted that he must be treated like every other citizen, and his rights to equal protection of the laws must be respected and protected." On Friday, Zuma and his legal team filed an urgent application to the Constitutional Court to rescind and reconsider its decision and take into account his unstable health. The former president was supposed to hand himself over to the police on Sunday.

Court in South Africa to hear Zuma's challenge to jail term

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, who was ordered to hand himself to the police to start his 15 months jail time, has made an urgent application to the Constitutional Court to rescind and reconsider its decision to send him to prison.

South Africa: Jacob Zuma's last ditch bid to evade prison

A French woman who killed her rapist husband was spared any more jail time Friday in a case that has become a rallying cause for feminists.

Valerie&nbsp;Bacot, who shot her husband Daniel Polette dead in 2016, was sentenced to a four-year term with three years suspended.&nbsp;

But she walked free from the court in Saone-et-Loire in eastern France as she had already served a year in pre-trial detention.&nbsp;

The verdict was met with thunderous applause in the courtroom, and some of&nbsp;Bacot's friends and family burst into tears.&nbsp;

Announcing the jury's decision, judge Celine Therme said the court had recognised the "terror" that&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;had endured for years.&nbsp;

Prosecutors had told the court that the 40-year-old should not go back to prison, as she was "very clearly a victim" of her tyrannical husband.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chauvin-gets-22-12-years-in-prison-for-george-floyds-death-394037">Also Read |&nbsp;Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death</a>

Bacot&nbsp;was just 12 when Polette, her mother's boyfriend at the time, first raped her.

He was imprisoned after the initial rape but continued to abuse&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;after he was released, and she became pregnant when she was 17.

Bacot's alcoholic mother threw her out of the house and she was forced to live with Polette, who later coerced her into sex work.&nbsp;

Bacot, who confessed to shooting 61-year-old Polette and hiding his body in a forest with the help of two of her children, published a book last month about her experiences, "Everyone Knew".

Her case has become a feminist cause celebre in France at a time when more women are breaking their silence on sexual assault.

"I want to thank the court,"&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;said as she walked free, sounding frail.&nbsp;

"It's a new fight now for all the other women and all the abuse," she said, adding that she felt "empty" rather than relieved. &nbsp;

State prosecutor Eric Jallet earlier told the court: "Valerie&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;should not have taken the life of the person who was terrorising her."&nbsp;

But judges should "uphold the transgression without incarcerating her again", he said.

A visibly fatigued&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;had collapsed upon hearing the prosecutor's request, prompting an intervention of emergency personnel and a brief suspension of the hearing.

'I had nobody'

More than 700,000 people signed a petition demanding that&nbsp;Bacot, who had risked life in prison, be cleared.

She told the court how she had felt trapped into staying with her abuser.&nbsp;

"I wanted to keep my child. I had nobody. Where could I go?" she said.

Polette became increasingly violent, attacking her with a hammer at one point, and forced her to work as a prostitute for truck drivers in the back of a van.

Polette threatened to kill her and the children if she left him, pointing a gun at her many times.&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;described her life as an "extreme hell".

'This has to stop'

When he started questioning their 14-year old daughter Karline about her budding sexuality,&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;said she decided that "this has to stop".

In March 2016, after Polette ordered&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;to undergo yet another sexual humiliation by a client, she shot her husband with his own gun.

Bacot&nbsp;said she wanted to make sure her daughter would not suffer the same fate that she had.

A court-ordered expert evaluation found that&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;was "certain that she needed to commit this act to protect her children".

Bacot&nbsp;hid the body in a forest but in October 2017 she was arrested, and later released on bail.&nbsp;

Her lawyers, Janine Bonaggiunta and Nathalie Tomasini, previously defended Jacqueline Sauvage, a French woman who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her abusive husband.

Sauvage won a presidential pardon in 2016 after becoming a symbol for the fight to stop violence against women.

Tomasini said that Friday's verdict, while allowing&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;to walk free, was still too harsh.&nbsp;

"How can society ask&nbsp;Valerie&nbsp;Bacot&nbsp;for redress, when it did not know how to protect her?" she said.&nbsp;

Tomasini listed a "chain of dysfunctions" that prevented authorities from protecting&nbsp;Bacot, including the fact that relatives had twice tried to alert the police, in vain.&nbsp;

Violence against women has become an increasingly prominent political issue in France, where cases of women being murdered by their partners have repeatedly grabbed the headlines in recent years.&nbsp;

Hundreds of women staged a protest in Paris on Friday against what they said was government inaction on the issue, carrying signs that read "silence is killing us".&nbsp;

A French woman who killed her rapist husband was spared any more jail time Friday in a case that has become a rallying cause for feminists. Valerie Bacot, who shot her husband Daniel Polette dead in 2016, was sentenced to a four-year term with three years suspended.

A French woman who killed her rapist husband was spared any more jail time Friday in a case that has become a rallying cause for feminists. Valerie Bacot, who shot her husband Daniel Polette dead in 2016, was sentenced to a four-year term with three years suspended. But she walked free from the court in Saone-et-Loire in eastern France as she had already served a year in pre-trial detention. The verdict was met with thunderous applause in the courtroom, and some of Bacot's friends and family burst into tears. Announcing the jury's decision, judge Celine Therme said the court had recognised the "terror" that Bacot had endured for years. Prosecutors had told the court that the 40-year-old should not go back to prison, as she was "very clearly a victim" of her tyrannical husband. Also Read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death Bacot was just 12 when Polette, her mother's boyfriend at the time, first raped her. He was imprisoned after the initial rape but continued to abuse Bacot after he was released, and she became pregnant when she was 17. Bacot's alcoholic mother threw her out of the house and she was forced to live with Polette, who later coerced her into sex work. Bacot, who confessed to shooting 61-year-old Polette and hiding his body in a forest with the help of two of her children, published a book last month about her experiences, "Everyone Knew". Her case has become a feminist cause celebre in France at a time when more women are breaking their silence on sexual assault. "I want to thank the court," Bacot said as she walked free, sounding frail. "It's a new fight now for all the other women and all the abuse," she said, adding that she felt "empty" rather than relieved. State prosecutor Eric Jallet earlier told the court: "Valerie Bacot should not have taken the life of the person who was terrorising her." But judges should "uphold the transgression without incarcerating her again", he said. A visibly fatigued Bacot had collapsed upon hearing the prosecutor's request, prompting an intervention of emergency personnel and a brief suspension of the hearing. 'I had nobody' More than 700,000 people signed a petition demanding that Bacot, who had risked life in prison, be cleared. She told the court how she had felt trapped into staying with her abuser. "I wanted to keep my child. I had nobody. Where could I go?" she said. Polette became increasingly violent, attacking her with a hammer at one point, and forced her to work as a prostitute for truck drivers in the back of a van. Polette threatened to kill her and the children if she left him, pointing a gun at her many times. Bacot described her life as an "extreme hell". 'This has to stop' When he started questioning their 14-year old daughter Karline about her budding sexuality, Bacot said she decided that "this has to stop". In March 2016, after Polette ordered Bacot to undergo yet another sexual humiliation by a client, she shot her husband with his own gun. Bacot said she wanted to make sure her daughter would not suffer the same fate that she had. A court-ordered expert evaluation found that Bacot was "certain that she needed to commit this act to protect her children". Bacot hid the body in a forest but in October 2017 she was arrested, and later released on bail. Her lawyers, Janine Bonaggiunta and Nathalie Tomasini, previously defended Jacqueline Sauvage, a French woman who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing her abusive husband. Sauvage won a presidential pardon in 2016 after becoming a symbol for the fight to stop violence against women. Tomasini said that Friday's verdict, while allowing Bacot to walk free, was still too harsh. "How can society ask Valerie Bacot for redress, when it did not know how to protect her?" she said. Tomasini listed a "chain of dysfunctions" that prevented authorities from protecting Bacot, including the fact that relatives had twice tried to alert the police, in vain. Violence against women has become an increasingly prominent political issue in France, where cases of women being murdered by their partners have repeatedly grabbed the headlines in recent years. Hundreds of women staged a protest in Paris on Friday against what they said was government inaction on the issue, carrying signs that read "silence is killing us".

French woman who killed rapist husband spared more jail time

A Salvadoran woman, who had served nearly a third of her 30-year prison sentence on charges of terminating her pregnancy and violating El Salvador's harsh abortion ban, was released on Monday, activists said.

Sara Rogel was arrested in October 2012 after going to a hospital with bleeding injuries caused by what she said was a fall while carrying out chores at home. Then a 22-year-old student, Rogel was prosecuted and sentenced for killing her unborn daughter.

"Sara never deserved to be in prison," feminist activist Morena Herrera said. "While in mourning for the heartbreaking loss of her pregnancy, Sara should have been with her family. Instead, she was unjustly imprisoned for nine years."

Her release from a jail in Zacatecoluca, 35 miles (56 km) southeast of capital San Salvador, was initially ordered a week ago, but Rogel was forced to remain in detention until a deadline passed for the Attorney General's office to appeal her release.

El Salvador has one of the world's strictest bans on abortion. It does not permit exceptions, even for rape or if the mother's life is at risk, and prison sentences can stretch up to 40 years.

In recent years, some rulings have been reversed, with several women released&nbsp;from jail after serving parts of their long sentences.

Still, women are often prosecuted for stillbirths and abortions induced because of medical emergencies.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Salvadoran woman, who had served nearly a third of her 30-year prison sentence on charges of terminating her pregnancy and violating El Salvador's harsh abortion ban, was released on Monday, activists said.

A Salvadoran woman, who had served nearly a third of her 30-year prison sentence on charges of terminating her pregnancy and violating El Salvador's harsh abortion ban, was released on Monday, activists said. Sara Rogel was arrested in October 2012 after going to a hospital with bleeding injuries caused by what she said was a fall while carrying out chores at home. Then a 22-year-old student, Rogel was prosecuted and sentenced for killing her unborn daughter. "Sara never deserved to be in prison," feminist activist Morena Herrera said. "While in mourning for the heartbreaking loss of her pregnancy, Sara should have been with her family. Instead, she was unjustly imprisoned for nine years." Her release from a jail in Zacatecoluca, 35 miles (56 km) southeast of capital San Salvador, was initially ordered a week ago, but Rogel was forced to remain in detention until a deadline passed for the Attorney General's office to appeal her release. El Salvador has one of the world's strictest bans on abortion. It does not permit exceptions, even for rape or if the mother's life is at risk, and prison sentences can stretch up to 40 years. In recent years, some rulings have been reversed, with several women released from jail after serving parts of their long sentences. Still, women are often prosecuted for stillbirths and abortions induced because of medical emergencies. (With inputs from agencies)

Salvadoran woman freed from jail after 30-year abortion sentence

Australian residents and citizens, who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home, will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said. &nbsp;

The emergency determination, made late on Friday, is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world's second most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.&nbsp;

The restrictions come into effect from May 3 and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years imprisonment, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.&nbsp;

"Our hearts go out to the people of India – and our Indian-Australian community. The friends and family of those in Australia are in extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting COVID-19 and many, sadly, are dying every day," Hunt said.&nbsp;

The Australian government will reconsider the restrictions on May 15, he said.&nbsp;

India's coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 this week, and cases are nearing 19 million - nearly 8 million since February as virulent new strains have combined with 'super-spreader' events.&nbsp;

Australia, which has no community transmissions, on Tuesday introduced a temporary suspension of direct flights from India to prevent more virulent COVID-19 variants entering the country.&nbsp;

However, some Australians, including cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, returned via Doha.&nbsp;

"The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level," Hunt said.&nbsp;

Australia has all but stamped out the coronavirus from its shores after closing its borders to non-citizens and permanent residents in March 2020 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.&nbsp;

Travellers now have to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense, a system that has largely helped Australia to keep its COVID-19 numbers relatively low, with just over 29,800 cases and 910 deaths.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Australian residents and citizens, who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home, will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said.

Australian residents and citizens, who have been in India within 14 days of the date they plan to return home, will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday and those who disobey will face fines and jail, government officials said. The emergency determination, made late on Friday, is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world's second most populous nation as it contends with a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The restrictions come into effect from May 3 and breaching the ban risks civil penalties and up to five years imprisonment, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the people of India – and our Indian-Australian community. The friends and family of those in Australia are in extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting COVID-19 and many, sadly, are dying every day," Hunt said. The Australian government will reconsider the restrictions on May 15, he said. India's coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 this week, and cases are nearing 19 million - nearly 8 million since February as virulent new strains have combined with 'super-spreader' events. Australia, which has no community transmissions, on Tuesday introduced a temporary suspension of direct flights from India to prevent more virulent COVID-19 variants entering the country. However, some Australians, including cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, returned via Doha. "The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level," Hunt said. Australia has all but stamped out the coronavirus from its shores after closing its borders to non-citizens and permanent residents in March 2020 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Travellers now have to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense, a system that has largely helped Australia to keep its COVID-19 numbers relatively low, with just over 29,800 cases and 910 deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia bans arrivals from India, says offenders face jail, fines 

Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges.&nbsp;

The officials were detained in November 2017 after being called into a meeting at the Caracas office of state oil company PDVSA, which owns Citgo. &nbsp;

The detention of the former executives, which includes five naturalised US citizens and one permanent resident, has been a major sticking point in tense relations between Caracas and Washington, which has repeatedly called for the men's release and called their detention unlawful.&nbsp;

The United States labels Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, and the former Trump administration imposed crippling sanctions on the OPEC nation's oil sector to try to force his ouster. The release of the six men comes as Maduro seeks to improve ties with US President Joe Biden's new administration.&nbsp;

A Venezuelan court in November sentenced the six former executives, who were accused of crimes including embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy, to prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years.&nbsp;

The executives - Jose Pereira, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas - all denied the charges. &nbsp;

Neither Venezuela's Information Ministry nor its chief prosecutor's office immediately replied to a request for comment.&nbsp;

"I'm happy my brothers will sleep in a better place tonight, but the job is not finished until they are back home in the USA," Alirio Rafael Zambrano, the brother of Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Jose Zambrano, wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

The men had been granted house arrest in December 2019, but were moved back to prison at the Helicoide - as the headquarters of the Venezuelan intelligence agency Sebin is known - just months later, in February 2020, hours after President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.&nbsp;

The United States recognises Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader, accusing Maduro of rigging his 2018 re-election and using the justice system to stifle dissent. Maduro says Washington wants to control Venezuela's oil reserves and aims to oust him in a coup. &nbsp;

"This is a positive and important step that should help secure their wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak in Venezuela," said veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, who has traveled to Caracas to help negotiate the men's release.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges.

Venezuela has released from jail six former executives of US-based refining company Citgo and put them on house arrest, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday, more than three years after they were arrested on corruption charges. The officials were detained in November 2017 after being called into a meeting at the Caracas office of state oil company PDVSA, which owns Citgo. The detention of the former executives, which includes five naturalised US citizens and one permanent resident, has been a major sticking point in tense relations between Caracas and Washington, which has repeatedly called for the men's release and called their detention unlawful. The United States labels Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, and the former Trump administration imposed crippling sanctions on the OPEC nation's oil sector to try to force his ouster. The release of the six men comes as Maduro seeks to improve ties with US President Joe Biden's new administration. A Venezuelan court in November sentenced the six former executives, who were accused of crimes including embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy, to prison terms ranging from eight to 13 years. The executives - Jose Pereira, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas - all denied the charges. Neither Venezuela's Information Ministry nor its chief prosecutor's office immediately replied to a request for comment. "I'm happy my brothers will sleep in a better place tonight, but the job is not finished until they are back home in the USA," Alirio Rafael Zambrano, the brother of Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Jose Zambrano, wrote on Twitter. The men had been granted house arrest in December 2019, but were moved back to prison at the Helicoide - as the headquarters of the Venezuelan intelligence agency Sebin is known - just months later, in February 2020, hours after President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. The United States recognises Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader, accusing Maduro of rigging his 2018 re-election and using the justice system to stifle dissent. Maduro says Washington wants to control Venezuela's oil reserves and aims to oust him in a coup. "This is a positive and important step that should help secure their wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak in Venezuela," said veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson, who has traveled to Caracas to help negotiate the men's release. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuela releases former Citgo executives to house arrest: Source 

Eight Hong Kong democracy activists detained in China last year for illegally crossing the border were due back in the city on Monday after completing jail terms, in a case that drew international attention and concern over their treatment.&nbsp;

They were among 12 activists whose boat was intercepted at sea by mainland authorities in August 2020 allegedly en route to the democratic island of Taiwan.&nbsp;

All had faced charges in Hong Kong over the pro-democracy protest movement and are expected to be taken directly into custody on their return.&nbsp;

Among the eight is Andy Li, arrested under a sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the Asian financial hub in June 2020 that critics say is aimed at crushing dissent.&nbsp;

In December, a Chinese court sentenced 10 of the 12 to between seven months and three years in jail. Defendants Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon, who were sentenced to three and two years, respectively, remain in Shenzhen.&nbsp;

Two minors, who were among the 12, pleaded guilty to illegally crossing the border and were returned to Hong Kong in December.&nbsp;

During the detention of the 12 in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, mainland authorities denied their families and lawyers access, insisting they be represented by officially appointed lawyers, provoking criticism from rights groups.&nbsp;

Pro-democracy activists began fleeing Hong Kong for democratic Taiwan from the early months of the protests in 2019, most of them legally by air, but some by boat, activists in Taipei have said.&nbsp;

Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and assembly.&nbsp;

Democracy activists complain that Communist Party rulers in Beijing are whittling away at those freedoms, a charge China rejects.&nbsp;

Since Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong, scores of democracy campaigners have been arrested, some elected legislators have been disqualified and others have fled overseas.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Eight Hong Kong democracy activists detained in China last year for illegally crossing the border were due back in the city on Monday after completing jail terms, in a case that drew international attention and concern over their treatment.

Eight Hong Kong democracy activists detained in China last year for illegally crossing the border were due back in the city on Monday after completing jail terms, in a case that drew international attention and concern over their treatment. They were among 12 activists whose boat was intercepted at sea by mainland authorities in August 2020 allegedly en route to the democratic island of Taiwan. All had faced charges in Hong Kong over the pro-democracy protest movement and are expected to be taken directly into custody on their return. Among the eight is Andy Li, arrested under a sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the Asian financial hub in June 2020 that critics say is aimed at crushing dissent. In December, a Chinese court sentenced 10 of the 12 to between seven months and three years in jail. Defendants Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon, who were sentenced to three and two years, respectively, remain in Shenzhen. Two minors, who were among the 12, pleaded guilty to illegally crossing the border and were returned to Hong Kong in December. During the detention of the 12 in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, mainland authorities denied their families and lawyers access, insisting they be represented by officially appointed lawyers, provoking criticism from rights groups. Pro-democracy activists began fleeing Hong Kong for democratic Taiwan from the early months of the protests in 2019, most of them legally by air, but some by boat, activists in Taipei have said. Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and assembly. Democracy activists complain that Communist Party rulers in Beijing are whittling away at those freedoms, a charge China rejects. Since Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong, scores of democracy campaigners have been arrested, some elected legislators have been disqualified and others have fled overseas. (With inputs from agencies)

Eight Hong Kong democracy activists set to return from China after jail terms 

Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday.&nbsp;

A sixth member of the same cell, Ravsan B, was sentenced to seven years in jail in January after being prosecuted separately. &nbsp;

The five men charged on February 1, named as Farhodshoh K, Muhammadali G, Azizjon B, Sunatullokh K and Komron B, are accused of having various roles in the cell founded in January 2019.&nbsp;

"The aim of the cell members, who were in contact with IS leaders in Syria and Afghanistan, was to take up the armed struggle against what they saw as 'infidels' and to commit attacks in Germany," the indictment said.&nbsp;

The men allegedly circulated in the same circles as the Tajik-born perpetrator behind the Stockholm truck attack of April 2017, as well as the Macedonian-Austrian national, who gunned down four people in Vienna in November.&nbsp;

One of them, Azizjon B, is said to have been involved in the same online network used to recruit the Stockholm attacker.&nbsp;

Azizijon B is accused of being an IS member since at least March 2017 and carrying out instructions from high-ranking IS leaders in Afghanistan from Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state. &nbsp;

He also allegedly recruited members for IS in Germany, leading to the founding of the cell in January 2019.&nbsp;

The cell members had been planning to attack targets including US army bases in Germany, prosecutors said on arresting four of them in April.&nbsp;

The fifth -- Komron B -- was transferred from Albania before being arrested in August.&nbsp;

The group allegedly held training sessions, including paintball games, attended by members of the Islamist scene, who had contact with the Vienna attacker.&nbsp;

They also ordered bomb parts online and stocked up on firearms and ammunition.

Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday.

Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday. A sixth member of the same cell, Ravsan B, was sentenced to seven years in jail in January after being prosecuted separately. The five men charged on February 1, named as Farhodshoh K, Muhammadali G, Azizjon B, Sunatullokh K and Komron B, are accused of having various roles in the cell founded in January 2019. "The aim of the cell members, who were in contact with IS leaders in Syria and Afghanistan, was to take up the armed struggle against what they saw as 'infidels' and to commit attacks in Germany," the indictment said. The men allegedly circulated in the same circles as the Tajik-born perpetrator behind the Stockholm truck attack of April 2017, as well as the Macedonian-Austrian national, who gunned down four people in Vienna in November. One of them, Azizjon B, is said to have been involved in the same online network used to recruit the Stockholm attacker. Azizijon B is accused of being an IS member since at least March 2017 and carrying out instructions from high-ranking IS leaders in Afghanistan from Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state. He also allegedly recruited members for IS in Germany, leading to the founding of the cell in January 2019. The cell members had been planning to attack targets including US army bases in Germany, prosecutors said on arresting four of them in April. The fifth -- Komron B -- was transferred from Albania before being arrested in August. The group allegedly held training sessions, including paintball games, attended by members of the Islamist scene, who had contact with the Vienna attacker. They also ordered bomb parts online and stocked up on firearms and ammunition.

Germany charges five Tajiks over membership in IS cell

In what could further poison already tense relations between Tehran and European capitals, a Belgian court convicted an Iranian diplomat on Thursday for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing of an opposition rally outside Paris and ordered him to be jailed for 20 years.&nbsp;

The trial was conducted under tight security in the Belgian port of Antwerp. The terrorism conviction was also claimed as a victory by the exiled National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), the opposition group that was targeted for attack.&nbsp;

Assadollah Assadi, now 49, was attached to the Iranian mission in Austria when he supplied explosives for an attack that was planned for a June 30, 2018 NCRI rally in France.&nbsp;

Belgian officers foiled the attack when they intercepted a car carrying the device, and Assadi was arrested the next day in Germany, where he was deemed unable to claim diplomatic immunity.&nbsp;

Three of his accomplices, dual Iranian-Belgians, were also arrested and on Thursday, they were given jail terms of between 15 and 18 years and stripped of their Belgian citizenship.&nbsp;

The 2018 gathering in Villepinte, near Paris, included senior NCRI leaders and some high-profile supporters, including former US president Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. &nbsp;

The case has shone a light on Tehran's international operations just as it hopes the arrival of new US President Joe Biden will herald a loosening of sanctions re-imposed by Trump.&nbsp;

Assadi was charged with 'attempted murders of a terrorist nature' and 'taking part in the activity of a terrorist group'.&nbsp;

Iran had warned even before the conviction that it would not recognise the trial or the verdict, denying any official role in the plot and insisting Assadi ought to have enjoyed immunity from prosecution. But investigators concluded that he was an Iranian agent working under diplomatic cover.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In what could further poison already tense relations between Tehran and European capitals, a Belgian court convicted an Iranian diplomat on Thursday for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing of an opposition rally outside Paris and ordered him to be jailed for 20 years.

In what could further poison already tense relations between Tehran and European capitals, a Belgian court convicted an Iranian diplomat on Thursday for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing of an opposition rally outside Paris and ordered him to be jailed for 20 years. The trial was conducted under tight security in the Belgian port of Antwerp. The terrorism conviction was also claimed as a victory by the exiled National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI), the opposition group that was targeted for attack. Assadollah Assadi, now 49, was attached to the Iranian mission in Austria when he supplied explosives for an attack that was planned for a June 30, 2018 NCRI rally in France. Belgian officers foiled the attack when they intercepted a car carrying the device, and Assadi was arrested the next day in Germany, where he was deemed unable to claim diplomatic immunity. Three of his accomplices, dual Iranian-Belgians, were also arrested and on Thursday, they were given jail terms of between 15 and 18 years and stripped of their Belgian citizenship. The 2018 gathering in Villepinte, near Paris, included senior NCRI leaders and some high-profile supporters, including former US president Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The case has shone a light on Tehran's international operations just as it hopes the arrival of new US President Joe Biden will herald a loosening of sanctions re-imposed by Trump. Assadi was charged with 'attempted murders of a terrorist nature' and 'taking part in the activity of a terrorist group'. Iran had warned even before the conviction that it would not recognise the trial or the verdict, denying any official role in the plot and insisting Assadi ought to have enjoyed immunity from prosecution. But investigators concluded that he was an Iranian agent working under diplomatic cover.

Iran diplomat gets 20-year jail for Paris bomb plot in Belgium

As a Turkish Muslim televangelist who surrounded himself with scantily-clad women he called "kittens" starts a 1,075-year jail term for sex crimes, we look at some of the world's longest prison sentences. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-religious-cult-leader-adnan-oktar-jailed-for-1075-years-for-sex-crimes-356054">Also read | Turkish religious cult leader Adnan Oktar jailed for 1,075 years for sex crimes</a> 
&nbsp;

Several countries, including the United States and Spain, allow for consecutive sentences, with prisoners condemned in theory to spend many lifetimes behind bars.

US: 30,000-year sentence

Far-right terrorist Terry Nichols was convicted of helping fellow former soldier Timothy McVeigh carry out the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in which 168 people died -- including 19 children.

Although he tried to pull out of the attack on a federal government building at the last minute, he got 161 life sentences plus 9,300 years without parole.

McVeigh was executed.

Nichols, 65, shares the same Colorado cell block as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph and Ramzi Yousef, a Pakistani convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center attack on the Twin Towers.

Another Oklahoma jury sentenced Charles Scott Robinson to 30,000 years behind bars in 1994 for raping a small child.

Thailand's world record

The world's longest non-life sentence, according to the "Guinness Book of Records", was imposed on Thai pyramid scheme fraudster Chamoy Thipyaso, who was jailed for 141,078 years in 1989.

However she was released after only eight years behind bars despite having conned some members of the royal household.

Spain: Europe's longest

Madrid holds the EU record for handing down the longest prison stretches, often to those convicted of Basque or Islamist terror attacks.

Three men were sentenced to a total of 120,000 years in jail for their part in the 2004 Al-Qaeda Madrid train bombings in which 193 people were killed.

ETA members have been also sentenced to thousands of years each including Ines del Rio Prada, who was sentenced to 3,828 years for her part in 24 murders and other terrorist acts.

But she was freed in 2013 after 26 years by the European Court of Human Rights after a fellow ETA member Henri "Unai" Parot challenged his 4,797-year sentence for the Zaragoza Barracks bombings in 1987.

European law now restricts Spain to holding convicted criminals for a maximum of 30 or 40 years depending on when they were sentenced.

Tough Turkey

The sentence handed down to televangelist Adnan Oktar on Monday is the second super-sentence in only a few months in Istanbul.

Uzbek terrorist Abdulkadir Masharipov got 40 life sentences in September, one for each of his victims for a New Year's Day massacre at the Reina nightclub in the city in the first minutes of 2017.

He got an additional 1,368 years for attempting to kill revellers in the attack claimed by the Islamic State.

490 years: Britain's longest&nbsp;

The highest British sentence handed down to the IRA bomber and sniper Bernard McGinn who got 490 years for his part in various attacks including the Docklands and Baltic Exchange bombings in London.

He was arrested by the SAS in Crossmaglen but was released after serving 16 months in 2000 under the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Andrew Aston got 26 life sentences in 2002 for attacking elderly and disabled people around Birmingham, but his terms are concurrent.

The six Irishmen wrongly convicted of the 1974 IRA bombings in the same city were given 21 life sentences, but freed 16 years later when their convictions were quashed.

As a Turkish Muslim televangelist who surrounded himself with scantily-clad women he called "kittens" starts a 1,075-year jail term for sex crimes, we look at some of the world's longest prison sentences.

As a Turkish Muslim televangelist who surrounded himself with scantily-clad women he called "kittens" starts a 1,075-year jail term for sex crimes, we look at some of the world's longest prison sentences. Also read | Turkish religious cult leader Adnan Oktar jailed for 1,075 years for sex crimes Several countries, including the United States and Spain, allow for consecutive sentences, with prisoners condemned in theory to spend many lifetimes behind bars. US: 30,000-year sentence Far-right terrorist Terry Nichols was convicted of helping fellow former soldier Timothy McVeigh carry out the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in which 168 people died -- including 19 children. Although he tried to pull out of the attack on a federal government building at the last minute, he got 161 life sentences plus 9,300 years without parole. McVeigh was executed. Nichols, 65, shares the same Colorado cell block as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph and Ramzi Yousef, a Pakistani convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center attack on the Twin Towers. Another Oklahoma jury sentenced Charles Scott Robinson to 30,000 years behind bars in 1994 for raping a small child. Thailand's world record The world's longest non-life sentence, according to the "Guinness Book of Records", was imposed on Thai pyramid scheme fraudster Chamoy Thipyaso, who was jailed for 141,078 years in 1989. However she was released after only eight years behind bars despite having conned some members of the royal household. Spain: Europe's longest Madrid holds the EU record for handing down the longest prison stretches, often to those convicted of Basque or Islamist terror attacks. Three men were sentenced to a total of 120,000 years in jail for their part in the 2004 Al-Qaeda Madrid train bombings in which 193 people were killed. ETA members have been also sentenced to thousands of years each including Ines del Rio Prada, who was sentenced to 3,828 years for her part in 24 murders and other terrorist acts. But she was freed in 2013 after 26 years by the European Court of Human Rights after a fellow ETA member Henri "Unai" Parot challenged his 4,797-year sentence for the Zaragoza Barracks bombings in 1987. European law now restricts Spain to holding convicted criminals for a maximum of 30 or 40 years depending on when they were sentenced. Tough Turkey The sentence handed down to televangelist Adnan Oktar on Monday is the second super-sentence in only a few months in Istanbul. Uzbek terrorist Abdulkadir Masharipov got 40 life sentences in September, one for each of his victims for a New Year's Day massacre at the Reina nightclub in the city in the first minutes of 2017. He got an additional 1,368 years for attempting to kill revellers in the attack claimed by the Islamic State. 490 years: Britain's longest The highest British sentence handed down to the IRA bomber and sniper Bernard McGinn who got 490 years for his part in various attacks including the Docklands and Baltic Exchange bombings in London. He was arrested by the SAS in Crossmaglen but was released after serving 16 months in 2000 under the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the Northern Ireland Troubles. Andrew Aston got 26 life sentences in 2002 for attacking elderly and disabled people around Birmingham, but his terms are concurrent. The six Irishmen wrongly convicted of the 1974 IRA bombings in the same city were given 21 life sentences, but freed 16 years later when their convictions were quashed.

141,078 years in jail: A look at world's longest prison sentences

They are not convicted criminals. But more than 60 people in South Korea will work, eat and sleep in prisons- an alternative to compulsory military service. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: The alternative to compulsory military service in South Korea

A special NIA court here has sentenced four militants of the banned Jamat-ul-Mujaheedin of Bangladesh (JMB) terror group to seven years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each for their involvement in the Burdwan blast case of 2014.

Ziaul Hoque, Motiur Rahaman, Mohammad Yusuf and Jahirul Sheikh have been jailed for seven years and fined Rs 5,000 by the court which delivered the judgement on Tuesday, an NIA spokesperson said.

On October 2, 2014, a powerful blast caused by an improvised explosive devise (IED) took place at the first floor of a rented house in the busy Khagragarh locality of West Bengal's Burdwan.

The IED had accidentally gone off at the time of its fabrication by members of the Bangladesh-based banned terrorist organisation JMB.

The rented house was occupied by JMB members for the nefarious activity of bomb making, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said.

Two terrorists had succumbed to their injuries caused due to the bomb blast and another survived with grievous injuries.

The case was initially registered by the West Bengal police and was subsequently taken over by the NIA on October 10, 2014.

The JMB conspired to radicalise, recruit and provide training in arms and explosives to its members in India as well as to commit terrorist acts and wage a war against the democratically-established governments of India and Bangladesh, the official said.

A large number of IEDs, explosives, hand grenades, training videos were recovered during the investigation of the case.

A total of 33 accused were charge-sheeted for various offences in this case, out of which 31 were arrested.

Earlier on August 30 last year, as many as 19 accused and on January 15 last year five accused were convicted and sentenced for various terms by the NIA special court.

The trial against the remaining three arrested and two absconding charge sheeted accused will continue.

 
&nbsp;

A special NIA court here has sentenced four militants of the banned Jamat-ul-Mujaheedin of Bangladesh (JMB) terror group to seven years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each for their involvement in the Burdwan blast case of 2014.

A special NIA court here has sentenced four militants of the banned Jamat-ul-Mujaheedin of Bangladesh (JMB) terror group to seven years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each for their involvement in the Burdwan blast case of 2014. Ziaul Hoque, Motiur Rahaman, Mohammad Yusuf and Jahirul Sheikh have been jailed for seven years and fined Rs 5,000 by the court which delivered the judgement on Tuesday, an NIA spokesperson said. On October 2, 2014, a powerful blast caused by an improvised explosive devise (IED) took place at the first floor of a rented house in the busy Khagragarh locality of West Bengal's Burdwan. The IED had accidentally gone off at the time of its fabrication by members of the Bangladesh-based banned terrorist organisation JMB. The rented house was occupied by JMB members for the nefarious activity of bomb making, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said. Two terrorists had succumbed to their injuries caused due to the bomb blast and another survived with grievous injuries. The case was initially registered by the West Bengal police and was subsequently taken over by the NIA on October 10, 2014. The JMB conspired to radicalise, recruit and provide training in arms and explosives to its members in India as well as to commit terrorist acts and wage a war against the democratically-established governments of India and Bangladesh, the official said. A large number of IEDs, explosives, hand grenades, training videos were recovered during the investigation of the case. A total of 33 accused were charge-sheeted for various offences in this case, out of which 31 were arrested. Earlier on August 30 last year, as many as 19 accused and on January 15 last year five accused were convicted and sentenced for various terms by the NIA special court. The trial against the remaining three arrested and two absconding charge sheeted accused will continue.

4 JMB terrorists jailed for 7 years in Burdwan blast case

With several inmates and staff at prisons in the city testing positive for COVID-19, a high-powered committee headed by a Delhi High Court judge has issued several directions, like creating isolation wards and carrying out rapid tests, to prevent further spread of the virus among prisoners.

With several inmates and staff at prisons in the city testing positive for COVID-19, a high-powered committee headed by a Delhi High Court judge has issued several directions, like creating isolation wards and carrying out rapid tests, to prevent further spread of the virus among prisoners. The high powered committee (HPC), headed by Justice Hima Kohli, also directed prison authorities to take extra precautions with regard to inmates over 55 years of age after a 62-year-old prisoner, who died in his sleep, was later found to be COVID positive. The committee further said that new prisoners between ages 18 and 21 be kept in isolation wards and also asked the DG Prisons and Special Secretary (Home) of the Delhi government to make efforts to get the 360 vacant police quarters adjacent to Mandoli jail here for use as a temporary jail to create isolation ward for new prisoners and COVID positive cases. To prevent new prisoners from spreading the virus among the inmates, the HPC was of the opinion that rapid tests needed to be conducted on every new entrant and it directed accordingly. The committee, in its meeting held on June 20, further resolved that all jail hospitals must be equipped with 'oxygen concentration machines' and two such machines for each of the two jail hospitals must be procured at the earliest. To prevent spread of COVID-19 among inmates through jail staff, the committee resolved that rapid testing of the staff be carried out as per guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). "This is to ensure that the suspected cases of corona positive jail staff could be prevented from getting in touch with jail inmates," according to the minutes of the meeting. With regard to decongesting jails by granting interim bails and parole, the committee was informed that total 4,129 undertrials and convicted prisoners have been released till June 20. After taking note of the figures, the committee said since there was no certainty when the threat of pandemic shall be over and requirement of social distancing no longer necessary, the interim bail of under-trial prisoners (UTPs) needs to be extended for a further period of 45 days from their respective date of expiry of the relief. The committee said a judicial order from Delhi HC was required in this regard and recommended accordingly. It directed the Delhi State Legal Services Authority to place the recommendation before the Delhi HC for necessary action. With regard to extension of eight weeks emergency parole granted to prisoners, the Delhi government informed the committee that a decision has been taken on May 22 to further extend it by another eight weeks.

Create isolation wards, conduct rapid tests to curb spread of COVID-19 in jails: Committee

Sevdalin Atanasov, a Turkish national, has been sentenced to 13 years of prison for raping a&nbsp;woman at knifepoint in her bedroom in north London.

The man was known to a flatmate of the victim,&nbsp;and had agreed to let him spend the night at the property.

The victim, however, woke up in the middle of the night&nbsp;to find the man in her bedroom with his hand over her mouth.&nbsp;He was holding a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her throughout the attack.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/officer-charged-with-murder-of-floyd-still-eligible-for-1-million-pension-305498">Also read:&nbsp;Officer charged with murder of Floyd still eligible for $1 million pension</a>

The victim managed to flee to her friend's house nearby, where the friend called the police.

Atanasov had denied the offence, but later plead guilty&nbsp;after forensic evidence of the assault was presented in the court.

The police has thanked the victim for her full cooperation and has also appreciated her for staying brave and thinking on the spot.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sevdalin Atanasov, a Turkish national, has been sentenced to 13 years of prison for raping a woman at knifepoint in her bedroom in north London. The man was known to a flatmate of the victim, and had agreed to let him spend the night at the property.

Sevdalin Atanasov, a Turkish national, has been sentenced to 13 years of prison for raping a woman at knifepoint in her bedroom in north London. The man was known to a flatmate of the victim, and had agreed to let him spend the night at the property. The victim, however, woke up in the middle of the night to find the man in her bedroom with his hand over her mouth. He was holding a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her throughout the attack. Also read: Officer charged with murder of Floyd still eligible for $1 million pension The victim managed to flee to her friend's house nearby, where the friend called the police. Atanasov had denied the offence, but later plead guilty after forensic evidence of the assault was presented in the court. The police has thanked the victim for her full cooperation and has also appreciated her for staying brave and thinking on the spot. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Man jailed for 13 years for raping a woman on knifepoint

Authorities in Maharashtra have released over 7,200 prisoners so far to check overcrowding in jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Sunday. Around 10,000 more will be released shortly, they said. 
 
In a bid to decongest state jails due to coronavirus outbreak, the state prisons department has so far released over 7,200 prisoners across the state on either temporary bail or parole, an official said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-count-in-mumbais-dharavi-crosses-1000-death-toll-stands-at-40-298508">Also read:&nbsp;Coronavirus count in Mumbai's Dharavi crosses 1,000, death toll stands at 40</a>

Following the Supreme Court directives to states and Union territories to set up a panel to consider the release of prisoners on parole to avoid overcrowding in jails to check the spread of coronavirus, the state government had said that around 11,000 prisoners in Maharashtra, whose sentence period is less than seven years, would be released temporarily.

"The pre-lockdown population in the 60 prisons across the state was over 35,000 and so far we have released over 7,200 inmates temporarily to decongest the jails," an official from the prisons department told PTI.

In all, around 17,000 jail inmates would be released on temporary bail or parole, he said.

A high-powered committee appointed by the state government recently decided to release 50 per cent prisoners from various jails across the states and this figure is around 17,000, he said.

The committee's decision came after over 100 inmates and staff of central Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail tested positive for COVID-19.

The pre-lockdown population of Arthur Road Jail was 2300, of which around 700 prisoners were released, he said. There are 1572 inmates in the jail now, he added.&nbsp;

Authorities in Maharashtra have released over 7,200 prisoners so far to check overcrowding in jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Sunday. Around 10,000 more will be released shortly, they said.

Authorities in Maharashtra have released over 7,200 prisoners so far to check overcrowding in jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Sunday. Around 10,000 more will be released shortly, they said. In a bid to decongest state jails due to coronavirus outbreak, the state prisons department has so far released over 7,200 prisoners across the state on either temporary bail or parole, an official said. Also read: Coronavirus count in Mumbai's Dharavi crosses 1,000, death toll stands at 40 Following the Supreme Court directives to states and Union territories to set up a panel to consider the release of prisoners on parole to avoid overcrowding in jails to check the spread of coronavirus, the state government had said that around 11,000 prisoners in Maharashtra, whose sentence period is less than seven years, would be released temporarily. "The pre-lockdown population in the 60 prisons across the state was over 35,000 and so far we have released over 7,200 inmates temporarily to decongest the jails," an official from the prisons department told PTI. In all, around 17,000 jail inmates would be released on temporary bail or parole, he said. A high-powered committee appointed by the state government recently decided to release 50 per cent prisoners from various jails across the states and this figure is around 17,000, he said. The committee's decision came after over 100 inmates and staff of central Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail tested positive for COVID-19. The pre-lockdown population of Arthur Road Jail was 2300, of which around 700 prisoners were released, he said. There are 1572 inmates in the jail now, he added.

COVID-19: Maha releases 7,200 prisoners to curb overcrowding

Police in authoritarian Kazakhstan detained dozens of people in the Central Asian country's largest city Sunday after an activist's death in jail triggered diplomatic condemnation and calls for anti-government rallies.

AFP correspondents in Almaty saw around 40 people detained by police close to the city hall, where two opposition groups had called for anti-government rallies.

Elsewhere in the city, 26 members of Oyan Qazaqstan, one of the groups that called for a rally, were detained in the morning before they had a chance to reach the protest site, a member of the group told AFP.

"According to our information, they have not been released yet," Dimash Alzhanov, one of Oyan Qazaqstan's founding members, told AFP by telephone.

One man who AFP correspondents saw bundled into a van full of detainees by black-clad police appealed to "the lawmakers in the European parliament", which sent a delegation to Kazakhstan last month.

"My constitutional rights are being violated. This is the 21st century!" the man cried out as he was shoved into the van.

Also Read:-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-government-protesters-held-in-kazakhstan-after-president-resigns-204885">Anti-government protesters held in Kazakhstan, after president resigns</a>

Two journalists were also amongst those detained on Sunday.

The protests were called after Dulat Agadil, a prominent activist, died in detention hours after he was detained by plainclothes police on Monday night. &nbsp;

Both the United States and the United Kingdom raised concern over his death this week and called for a "thorough" investigation.

Activists have cited video footage of Agadil's corpse with bruises as evidence that he was beaten in detention, rather than dying of heart failure, as police said on Tuesday.

The state prosecutor's office on Friday called on citizens not to make "hasty conclusions" about the bruises, which the official said was common on corpses.

Kazakhstan regularly cracks down on citizens who attempt to hold rallies, citing laws that make public assemblies subject to permits from the authorities.

The country is in the process of changing its legislation on public assemblies, and a draft of the new law has been released for public discussion.

But civil society groups in the Central Asian state have expressed dissatisfaction with a new draft law, which they argue would introduce additional restrictions 
&nbsp;

Police in authoritarian Kazakhstan detained dozens of people in the Central Asian country's largest city Sunday after an activist's death in jail triggered diplomatic condemnation and calls for anti-government rallies.

Police in authoritarian Kazakhstan detained dozens of people in the Central Asian country's largest city Sunday after an activist's death in jail triggered diplomatic condemnation and calls for anti-government rallies. AFP correspondents in Almaty saw around 40 people detained by police close to the city hall, where two opposition groups had called for anti-government rallies. Elsewhere in the city, 26 members of Oyan Qazaqstan, one of the groups that called for a rally, were detained in the morning before they had a chance to reach the protest site, a member of the group told AFP. "According to our information, they have not been released yet," Dimash Alzhanov, one of Oyan Qazaqstan's founding members, told AFP by telephone. One man who AFP correspondents saw bundled into a van full of detainees by black-clad police appealed to "the lawmakers in the European parliament", which sent a delegation to Kazakhstan last month. "My constitutional rights are being violated. This is the 21st century!" the man cried out as he was shoved into the van. Also Read:-Anti-government protesters held in Kazakhstan, after president resigns Two journalists were also amongst those detained on Sunday. The protests were called after Dulat Agadil, a prominent activist, died in detention hours after he was detained by plainclothes police on Monday night. Both the United States and the United Kingdom raised concern over his death this week and called for a "thorough" investigation. Activists have cited video footage of Agadil's corpse with bruises as evidence that he was beaten in detention, rather than dying of heart failure, as police said on Tuesday. The state prosecutor's office on Friday called on citizens not to make "hasty conclusions" about the bruises, which the official said was common on corpses. Kazakhstan regularly cracks down on citizens who attempt to hold rallies, citing laws that make public assemblies subject to permits from the authorities. The country is in the process of changing its legislation on public assemblies, and a draft of the new law has been released for public discussion. But civil society groups in the Central Asian state have expressed dissatisfaction with a new draft law, which they argue would introduce additional restrictions

Police in Kazakhstan detain dozens after activist's death

An accountability court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking the transfer of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fake-accounts-case-asif-ali-zardaris-remand-extended-till-august-8-239293">Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari</a> from jail to a hospital. 
 
The former president is currently on judicial remand till October 22 in the fake accounts case. Zardari had moved the court on October 4 seeking it to declare a hospital a sub-jail for him, Dawn News reported. 
 
However, on Tuesday, the court rejected the plea maintaining that the matter "does not fall in the court's jurisdiction". 
 
Judge Mohammad Bashir, while pronouncing the previously reserved decision, directed Zardari to approach the "relevant forum" for the matter. 
 
The judge in its three-page verdict declared that the court cannot declare a hospital a sub-jail, as sought in the plea. According to the verdict, jail authorities can declare a hospital a sub-jail through an executive order.

The court advised the petitioner to, therefore, approach the jail authorities with his request. 
 
The court also ordered the jail superintendent to act upon the recommendations of the medical officers or the medical board. 
 
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Zardari on June 10 after the cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court in the fake bank accounts case. 
 
On August 16, the court had sent the former president to Adiala jail on judicial remand. 
 
The case pertains to a massive money laundering scam that was being probed by the Federal Investigation Agency. 
 
The suspects include Zardari, Talpur, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Omni Group CEO Anwar Majeed and his sons and several other high profile persons. 
 
The case was later taken over by NAB on the Supreme Court's orders.

An accountability court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking the transfer of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari from jail to a hospital.

An accountability court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking the transfer of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari from jail to a hospital. The former president is currently on judicial remand till October 22 in the fake accounts case. Zardari had moved the court on October 4 seeking it to declare a hospital a sub-jail for him, Dawn News reported. However, on Tuesday, the court rejected the plea maintaining that the matter "does not fall in the court's jurisdiction". Judge Mohammad Bashir, while pronouncing the previously reserved decision, directed Zardari to approach the "relevant forum" for the matter. The judge in its three-page verdict declared that the court cannot declare a hospital a sub-jail, as sought in the plea. According to the verdict, jail authorities can declare a hospital a sub-jail through an executive order. The court advised the petitioner to, therefore, approach the jail authorities with his request. The court also ordered the jail superintendent to act upon the recommendations of the medical officers or the medical board. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested Zardari on June 10 after the cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court in the fake bank accounts case. On August 16, the court had sent the former president to Adiala jail on judicial remand. The case pertains to a massive money laundering scam that was being probed by the Federal Investigation Agency. The suspects include Zardari, Talpur, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Omni Group CEO Anwar Majeed and his sons and several other high profile persons. The case was later taken over by NAB on the Supreme Court's orders.

Court rejects plea seeking former Pakistan president Asaf Ali Zardari's transfer from jail to hospital

Philippines President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-duterte-to-bring-up-territorial-issues-with-china-during-meeting-with-president-xi-philippines-ambassador-246386">Rodrigo Duterte</a> has offered big bounties for hundreds of convicted murderers and rapists set free in a corrections bureau blunder and said he would be happier if they were caught dead rather than alive.

The release under a good-behaviour reward programme of more than 1,700 criminals guilty of mostly violent offences has been a huge embarrassment for a crime-busting leader elected almost entirely on promises to make the streets safer.

Duterte said there was a "prize" of a million pesos ($19,175) for tracking down each convict still at large after less than 700 of them heeded his call for their surrender.

"The one million prizes are available to those who can capture them dead or alive. But maybe dead would be a better option. I will pay you smiling," he told reporters late on Tuesday.

Duterte is a former mayor and prosecutor who boasted he would kill as many as 100,000 criminals if be became president.

Since his election, he has become known for a bloody "war on drugs" during which police have killed thousands of mostly urban poor dealers and users.

Activists say many of the killings were executions, but police deny this.

His latest remarks are likely to outrage opponents who accuse him of deliberately inciting vigilantism.

His office rejects that and says his tough talk is endearing him to millions of Filipinos.

However, on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra appeared to row back from Duterte's bounty offer.

"Dead or alive' should not be taken literally," he said.

"Law enforcers are supposed to effect peaceful arrests, but they may use reasonable force if the subject of the arrest violently resists."

The good conduct law was passed under Duterte's predecessor to try to reduce the populations of some of the world's most crowded jails.

More than 21,000 inmates were released, but justice department officials say more than 2,000 of them were sentenced for crimes like rape, drugs, murder, bribery, plunder, kidnapping and arson, and were therefore not eligible for release.

Some 1,700 of them were freed by a corrections bureau run by Duterte's appointees, two of them staunch loyalists. One of them, Nicanor Faeldon, was sacked after it emerged that nearly 900 serious offenders were freed on his watch. Faeldon denies wrongdoing.

Duterte defended the appointment on Tuesday of a new corrections bureau boss a prison chief for whom prosecutors have sought homicide charges.

Gerald Bantag ran a Manila jail wherein 2016, a grenade explosion killed 10 inmates, most of them drug offenders. A court has yet to take up the case.

"I don't think that he did it. If he did, then he might be convicted," Duterte said.

"But in the meantime, I like him because I heard he throws grenades," he added.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has offered big bounties for hundreds of convicted murderers and rapists set free in a corrections bureau blunder and said he would be happier if they were caught dead rather than alive.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has offered big bounties for hundreds of convicted murderers and rapists set free in a corrections bureau blunder and said he would be happier if they were caught dead rather than alive. The release under a good-behaviour reward programme of more than 1,700 criminals guilty of mostly violent offences has been a huge embarrassment for a crime-busting leader elected almost entirely on promises to make the streets safer. Duterte said there was a "prize" of a million pesos ($19,175) for tracking down each convict still at large after less than 700 of them heeded his call for their surrender. "The one million prizes are available to those who can capture them dead or alive. But maybe dead would be a better option. I will pay you smiling," he told reporters late on Tuesday. Duterte is a former mayor and prosecutor who boasted he would kill as many as 100,000 criminals if be became president. Since his election, he has become known for a bloody "war on drugs" during which police have killed thousands of mostly urban poor dealers and users. Activists say many of the killings were executions, but police deny this. His latest remarks are likely to outrage opponents who accuse him of deliberately inciting vigilantism. His office rejects that and says his tough talk is endearing him to millions of Filipinos. However, on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra appeared to row back from Duterte's bounty offer. "Dead or alive' should not be taken literally," he said. "Law enforcers are supposed to effect peaceful arrests, but they may use reasonable force if the subject of the arrest violently resists." The good conduct law was passed under Duterte's predecessor to try to reduce the populations of some of the world's most crowded jails. More than 21,000 inmates were released, but justice department officials say more than 2,000 of them were sentenced for crimes like rape, drugs, murder, bribery, plunder, kidnapping and arson, and were therefore not eligible for release. Some 1,700 of them were freed by a corrections bureau run by Duterte's appointees, two of them staunch loyalists. One of them, Nicanor Faeldon, was sacked after it emerged that nearly 900 serious offenders were freed on his watch. Faeldon denies wrongdoing. Duterte defended the appointment on Tuesday of a new corrections bureau boss a prison chief for whom prosecutors have sought homicide charges. Gerald Bantag ran a Manila jail wherein 2016, a grenade explosion killed 10 inmates, most of them drug offenders. A court has yet to take up the case. "I don't think that he did it. If he did, then he might be convicted," Duterte said. "But in the meantime, I like him because I heard he throws grenades," he added.

Preferably dead: President Duterte offers cash for the capture of freed Filipino felons

Bihar Cabinet-led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has approved a proposal to punish sons and daughters who abandon their elderly parents with a jail term.&nbsp;

The proposal of Bihar social welfare department has provisions for punishments which could go up to imprisonment if wards do not look after their parents properly in their old ages.

The cases against the wards will be registered under the non-bail able section in Bihar after receiving complaints from the elderly parents.

Many other decisions were also taken during the cabinet meeting that took place on Tuesday.

Bihar Cabinet-led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has approved a proposal to punish sons and daughters who abandon their elderly parents with a jail term. The proposal of Bihar social welfare department has provisions for punishments which could go up to imprisonment if wards do not look after their parents properly in their old ages.

Bihar Cabinet-led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has approved a proposal to punish sons and daughters who abandon their elderly parents with a jail term. The proposal of Bihar social welfare department has provisions for punishments which could go up to imprisonment if wards do not look after their parents properly in their old ages. The cases against the wards will be registered under the non-bail able section in Bihar after receiving complaints from the elderly parents. Many other decisions were also taken during the cabinet meeting that took place on Tuesday.

Bihar: Abandoning elderly parents will now land sons, daughters in jail

A team of Pakistan’s top anti-graft body has quizzed deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail for over two hours over the illegal purchase and use of more than 30 bulletproof government vehicles from Germany.&nbsp;

A four-member National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team arrived at the Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore Central Prison) where the 69-year-old Sharif is serving a seven-year sentence awarded to him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case.

A source told Dawn that Sharif insisted upon being given a questionnaire, to which he would reply with the help of his legal counsel.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Nawaz’s daughter, confirmed the investigation by the NAB team in jail where the former prime minister is being held since December 2018 after his conviction.

In a message on her Twitter account on Monday, Maryam rubbished the investigation, point fingers at “fake Prime Minister” Imran Khan who used the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s helicopter for personal use was above the law.

Earlier reports said the NAB team will record the three-time prime minister’s statement in the case of an alleged import of 34 bulletproof vehicles from Germany without payment of customs duty on any of them.

The anti-graft body said the cars were purchased without duty for guests of the 19th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in 2016, Geo News reported.

The SAARC Summit, however, did not take place as India boycotted the meeting after the Uri terror attack. Later, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives also pulled out of the summit, culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit.

According to the NAB, Sharif added 20 of those 34 cars to his own motorcade, and he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz also used the bulletproof vehicles for their personal use.

Former Prime Minister and a member of the PML-N Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s statement has already been recorded, it said.

The anti-graft body also said that officers associated with the foreign ministry misused their authority by allocating the bulletproof cars for the Sharif’s family.

Sharif has been serving a seven-year prison term at the jail since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court’s July 28, 2017 order in Panama Papers case.

Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing and allege that the corruption cases against them were politically motivated.

A team of Pakistan’s top anti-graft body has quizzed deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail for over two hours over the illegal purchase and use of more than 30 bulletproof government vehicles from Germany.

A team of Pakistan’s top anti-graft body has quizzed deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat Jail for over two hours over the illegal purchase and use of more than 30 bulletproof government vehicles from Germany. A four-member National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team arrived at the Kot Lakhpat Jail (Lahore Central Prison) where the 69-year-old Sharif is serving a seven-year sentence awarded to him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case. A source told Dawn that Sharif insisted upon being given a questionnaire, to which he would reply with the help of his legal counsel. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Nawaz’s daughter, confirmed the investigation by the NAB team in jail where the former prime minister is being held since December 2018 after his conviction. In a message on her Twitter account on Monday, Maryam rubbished the investigation, point fingers at “fake Prime Minister” Imran Khan who used the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s helicopter for personal use was above the law. Earlier reports said the NAB team will record the three-time prime minister’s statement in the case of an alleged import of 34 bulletproof vehicles from Germany without payment of customs duty on any of them. The anti-graft body said the cars were purchased without duty for guests of the 19th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit in 2016, Geo News reported. The SAARC Summit, however, did not take place as India boycotted the meeting after the Uri terror attack. Later, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives also pulled out of the summit, culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit. According to the NAB, Sharif added 20 of those 34 cars to his own motorcade, and he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz also used the bulletproof vehicles for their personal use. Former Prime Minister and a member of the PML-N Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s statement has already been recorded, it said. The anti-graft body also said that officers associated with the foreign ministry misused their authority by allocating the bulletproof cars for the Sharif’s family. Sharif has been serving a seven-year prison term at the jail since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court’s July 28, 2017 order in Panama Papers case. Sharif and his family have denied any wrongdoing and allege that the corruption cases against them were politically motivated.

Nawaz Sharif quizzed in jail by anti-graft body over illegal purchase of over 30 bulletproof vehicles

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-president-sirisena-extends-emergency-by-month-220647">President Maithripala Sirisena </a>pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

"The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said.

Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assemble outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him.

On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court.

Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed.

Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016.

He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead.

His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people.

Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country.

Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said.

Sri Lanka's president granted amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said. President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. "The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said. Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assemble outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him. On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court. Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed. Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016. He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people. Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists.

Sri Lanka President Sirisena pardons firebrand Buddhist monk

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jailed-catalan-separatists-elected-to-parliament-in-spain-polls-214246">Catalan separatists</a> were released from jail on Monday to obtain their formal certificates as elected MPs the day before the Spanish parliament is to open in Madrid.

The four MPs and a senator, elected in April, arrived at the two chambers early Monday in military police vehicles. They were barred from speaking to reporters.

The five, who have been in custody for more than a year, will return to their cells at the Soto del Real prison near Madrid after carrying out the formality.

The Supreme Court, which has been trying the men for their role in an October 2017 secession attempt in Catalonia, ruled last week that they could also attend the opening session of parliament and take the oath of office on Tuesday.

But the court ruled against definitively releasing the five, who include the former vice president of the wealthy northeastern region, Oriol Junqueras.

And parliament is to decide whether to suspend their functions as lawmakers until the top court reaches a verdict on the rebellion charges against them.

Junqueras, 50, was elected an MP as a member of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). He faces 25 years in prison in Catalonia.

The others include civic leader Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Turull, Catalonia's government spokesman at the time of the failed attempt to break from Spain.

Both were candidates for Together for Catalonia, the party of Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain and avoided arrest.

Josep Rull, also formerly part of Catalonia's regional government, was another elected to the lower house, while Raul Romeva, in charge of Catalonia's foreign affairs at the time of the secession bid, was elected to the upper house Senate.

They were all part of a push to hold an independence referendum in October 2017 in defiance of a court ban.

That sparked Spain's deepest political crisis in decades, with the referendum followed by a short-lived declaration of independence.

Spain's then conservative prime minister moved in, taking direct control of the region, sacking the Catalan executive and calling snap polls.

Spain's April elections saw Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's socialists win but without the necessary majority to govern solo in a fragmented political landscape marked by the far right's entry into parliament.

As such, Sanchez could need the backing of Catalan separatist lawmakers like the five jailed politicians.

During the parliament's opening session, the five Catalan lawmakers will have to promise to honour the Spanish constitution which calls for the "unbreakable unity" of Spain.

Catalan separatists were released from jail on Monday to obtain their formal certificates as elected MPs the day before the Spanish parliament is to open in Madrid.

Catalan separatists were released from jail on Monday to obtain their formal certificates as elected MPs the day before the Spanish parliament is to open in Madrid. The four MPs and a senator, elected in April, arrived at the two chambers early Monday in military police vehicles. They were barred from speaking to reporters. The five, who have been in custody for more than a year, will return to their cells at the Soto del Real prison near Madrid after carrying out the formality. The Supreme Court, which has been trying the men for their role in an October 2017 secession attempt in Catalonia, ruled last week that they could also attend the opening session of parliament and take the oath of office on Tuesday. But the court ruled against definitively releasing the five, who include the former vice president of the wealthy northeastern region, Oriol Junqueras. And parliament is to decide whether to suspend their functions as lawmakers until the top court reaches a verdict on the rebellion charges against them. Junqueras, 50, was elected an MP as a member of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). He faces 25 years in prison in Catalonia. The others include civic leader Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Turull, Catalonia's government spokesman at the time of the failed attempt to break from Spain. Both were candidates for Together for Catalonia, the party of Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain and avoided arrest. Josep Rull, also formerly part of Catalonia's regional government, was another elected to the lower house, while Raul Romeva, in charge of Catalonia's foreign affairs at the time of the secession bid, was elected to the upper house Senate. They were all part of a push to hold an independence referendum in October 2017 in defiance of a court ban. That sparked Spain's deepest political crisis in decades, with the referendum followed by a short-lived declaration of independence. Spain's then conservative prime minister moved in, taking direct control of the region, sacking the Catalan executive and calling snap polls. Spain's April elections saw Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's socialists win but without the necessary majority to govern solo in a fragmented political landscape marked by the far right's entry into parliament. As such, Sanchez could need the backing of Catalan separatist lawmakers like the five jailed politicians. During the parliament's opening session, the five Catalan lawmakers will have to promise to honour the Spanish constitution which calls for the "unbreakable unity" of Spain.

Spain's Catalan separatists let out of jail for induction as MPs

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