<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/1-billion-from-pentagon-for-trumps-wall-us-congress-committee-says-move-not-permitted-205901">$1 billion from Pentagon for Trump's wall: US Congress committee says move not permitted</a>

A Democrat-led congressional committee challenged Tuesday the Pentagon's plan to divert $1 billion to support President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

Less than one day after acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan authorized moving the funds from existing Defense Department projects to border construction, the House Armed Services Committee said this move was not permitted.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906">Boeing 737 MAX makes </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906">emergency</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906"> landing in </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906">US</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-makes-emergency-landing-in-us-faa-205906">: FAA</a>

A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines made an emergency landing Tuesday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California, the US Federal Aviation Agency said.

"The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando," the FAA said in a statement, adding that no passengers were on board the aircraft, which was being transferred to Victorville, California for storage.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/737-max-pivotal-day-today-for-boeing-as-it-meets-with-pilots-airlines-205915">737 MAX: Pivotal day today for Boeing as it meets with pilots, airlines</a>

Wednesday will be a pivotal day for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners.

Boeing has scheduled a briefing on Wednesday for about 200 pilots and airline representatives in Renton, Washington, home of its 737 assembly complex. The company is expected to outline changes to software that controls a system designed to automatically prevent a mid-flight stall.

Also on Wednesday in Washington, DC, a US Senate panel plans to question the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Department's inspector general and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board about how thoroughly the 737 MAX's automated flight control system was tested, and what will be done to assure that any fixes work.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nawaz-sharif-released-from-jail-after-he-gets-bail-205903">Nawaz Sharif released from jail after he gets bail</a>

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was released from a jail here in the early hours of Wednesday after the Supreme Court granted him bail for six weeks on medical grounds.

On Tuesday, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa accepted Sharif's appeal and allowed him to get medical treatment from any health facility of his choice within the country.&nbsp;

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mma-star-conor-mcgregor-under-investigation-for-sexual-assault-nyt-205909">MMA star Conor McGregor under investigation for sexual assault: NYT</a>

Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is under investigation in his native Ireland on an accusation of sexual assault, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

The report, in which the Times cited four unnamed sources, came a day after the trash-talking star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship wrote on Twitter that he had decided to retire from his career inside the octagon.

$1 billion from Pentagon for Trump's wall: US Congress committee says move not permitted A Democrat-led congressional committee challenged Tuesday the Pentagon's plan to divert $1 billion to support President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

$1 billion from Pentagon for Trump's wall: US Congress committee says move not permitted A Democrat-led congressional committee challenged Tuesday the Pentagon's plan to divert $1 billion to support President Donald Trump's plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. Less than one day after acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan authorized moving the funds from existing Defense Department projects to border construction, the House Armed Services Committee said this move was not permitted. Boeing 737 MAX makes emergency landing in US: FAA A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines made an emergency landing Tuesday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California, the US Federal Aviation Agency said. "The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando," the FAA said in a statement, adding that no passengers were on board the aircraft, which was being transferred to Victorville, California for storage. 737 MAX: Pivotal day today for Boeing as it meets with pilots, airlines Wednesday will be a pivotal day for aircraft maker Boeing Co and federal aviation safety regulators as they try to rebuild trust following two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX airliners. Boeing has scheduled a briefing on Wednesday for about 200 pilots and airline representatives in Renton, Washington, home of its 737 assembly complex. The company is expected to outline changes to software that controls a system designed to automatically prevent a mid-flight stall. Also on Wednesday in Washington, DC, a US Senate panel plans to question the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Department's inspector general and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board about how thoroughly the 737 MAX's automated flight control system was tested, and what will be done to assure that any fixes work. Nawaz Sharif released from jail after he gets bail Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was released from a jail here in the early hours of Wednesday after the Supreme Court granted him bail for six weeks on medical grounds. On Tuesday, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa accepted Sharif's appeal and allowed him to get medical treatment from any health facility of his choice within the country. MMA star Conor McGregor under investigation for sexual assault: NYT Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is under investigation in his native Ireland on an accusation of sexual assault, the New York Times reported Tuesday. The report, in which the Times cited four unnamed sources, came a day after the trash-talking star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship wrote on Twitter that he had decided to retire from his career inside the octagon.

News brief: Big stories of the day

President Donald Trump's former campaign chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-ex-campaign-chief-paul-manafort-sentenced-to-47-months-in-prison-for-tax-crimes-bank-fraud-201865">Paul Manafort, already facing 47 months in prison for tax and bank fraud</a>, was sentenced to an additional 43 months in prison Wednesday on conspiracy charges.

"The defendant is not public enemy number one," US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said in delivering the sentence in a hushed Washington courtroom.

"But he is not a victim either," Jackson added, stressing that the veteran Republican lobbyist and political consultant had shown little remorse and had lied repeatedly.

Manafort's case is the highest-profile yet stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Jackson stressed to the court that the case had nothing to do with the 2016 vote but was connected to political consulting and lobbying activities he performed for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians.

She said the question of whether any members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia was "not presented in the case. Period."

"Therefore it was not resolved in this case either," Jackson said.

She ridiculed defense arguments that Manafort's prosecution only came about because of the Mueller probe.

"That argument falls flat," Jackson said. "The Department of Justice was already looking into this matter."

Before his sentencing, Manafort, who was brought into court in a wheelchair, pleaded to the judge not to sentence him to more time other than the 47 months he was given last week in a separate case.

"I am sorry for what I have done and all the activities that have got me here today," Manafort told the court.

"Let me be very clear I accept responsibility for the acts that have got me here today," he went on. "For those mistakes, I am remorseful."

But Jackson dismissed his plea for no more prison time on the charges of conspiring to launder money and tamper with witnesses.

She added 43 months to the 47 months he already received, making the total 90 months. She gave him credit for the nine months he has already spent in prison, reducing the term facing him to 81 months -- a little under seven years.

Manafort is one of a half-dozen former Trump associates and senior aides charged by Mueller, although none of them have been accused so far of direct collusion with Moscow to get Trump elected to the White House.

President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort, already facing 47 months in prison for tax and bank fraud, was sentenced to an additional 43 months in prison Wednesday on conspiracy charges.

President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort, already facing 47 months in prison for tax and bank fraud, was sentenced to an additional 43 months in prison Wednesday on conspiracy charges. "The defendant is not public enemy number one," US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said in delivering the sentence in a hushed Washington courtroom. "But he is not a victim either," Jackson added, stressing that the veteran Republican lobbyist and political consultant had shown little remorse and had lied repeatedly. Manafort's case is the highest-profile yet stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Jackson stressed to the court that the case had nothing to do with the 2016 vote but was connected to political consulting and lobbying activities he performed for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians. She said the question of whether any members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia was "not presented in the case. Period." "Therefore it was not resolved in this case either," Jackson said. She ridiculed defense arguments that Manafort's prosecution only came about because of the Mueller probe. "That argument falls flat," Jackson said. "The Department of Justice was already looking into this matter." Before his sentencing, Manafort, who was brought into court in a wheelchair, pleaded to the judge not to sentence him to more time other than the 47 months he was given last week in a separate case. "I am sorry for what I have done and all the activities that have got me here today," Manafort told the court. "Let me be very clear I accept responsibility for the acts that have got me here today," he went on. "For those mistakes, I am remorseful." But Jackson dismissed his plea for no more prison time on the charges of conspiring to launder money and tamper with witnesses. She added 43 months to the 47 months he already received, making the total 90 months. She gave him credit for the nine months he has already spent in prison, reducing the term facing him to 81 months -- a little under seven years. Manafort is one of a half-dozen former Trump associates and senior aides charged by Mueller, although none of them have been accused so far of direct collusion with Moscow to get Trump elected to the White House.

Trump's ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort jailed for 43 more months

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is serving seven-year imprisonment in a corruption case, has been shifted to a hospital in Lahore from the Kot Lakhpat jail here for cardiac treatment.

Sharif, 69, was brought to the Jinnah Hospital from the jail in high security.&nbsp;

The Punjab home department has declared the private ward of Jinnah Hospital a "sub-jail" for the duration of Sharif's stay there.

The ousted premier was shifted back to jail on February 7 after having a six-day treatment at Services Hospital where a multi-disciplinary medical board examined him and unanimously opined that he needs some kind of cardiac intervention.&nbsp;

Subsequently, the PML-N supremo's personal physician Adnan Khan had requested the Punjab government to provide round-the-clock expert cardiac care to Sharif at a facility where cardiology intervention and multidisciplinary backup would be available.

Entertaining the request, the Punjab Home Department accorded sanction for "shifting of high-profile National Accountability Bureau convicted prisoner Sharif from central jail to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, for medical treatment for minimum required period.

The PML-N has been demanding to shift of Sharif to London for his treatment. The PML-N has also submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly demanding that Sharif should be shifted to London as he always had undergone cardiac treatment there and the doctors knew his medical history.

The medical board here, however, declared that Sharif's treatment is possible in any specialised cardiac health facility in Pakistan.

After examining all results of his tests, the medical board has reached a unanimous decision that Sharif needs some kind of cardiac intervention.&nbsp; 
For the purpose, he should be shifted to a cardiac institute, the head of the medical board at the Services Hospital, Professor Dr Mahmood Ayaz, had said.

He said Sharif had heart issues because of his previous history of some diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problem.

Dr Ayaz further said: &nbsp;According to the findings of the board, Sharif is facing some problems in blood supply of heart veins that must be addressed by cardiac specialists. We had engaged some cardiac specialists from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology who examined the patient and his test reports and suggested little change in Sharif's medicines.

Sharif has been behind the bars since December 24, 2018, after an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed under the direction of the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

On Thursday Sharif's younger brother PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif got bail from high court in two corruption cases.&nbsp;

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is serving seven-year imprisonment in a corruption case, has been shifted to a hospital in Lahore from the Kot Lakhpat jail here for cardiac treatment.

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is serving seven-year imprisonment in a corruption case, has been shifted to a hospital in Lahore from the Kot Lakhpat jail here for cardiac treatment. Sharif, 69, was brought to the Jinnah Hospital from the jail in high security. The Punjab home department has declared the private ward of Jinnah Hospital a "sub-jail" for the duration of Sharif's stay there. The ousted premier was shifted back to jail on February 7 after having a six-day treatment at Services Hospital where a multi-disciplinary medical board examined him and unanimously opined that he needs some kind of cardiac intervention. Subsequently, the PML-N supremo's personal physician Adnan Khan had requested the Punjab government to provide round-the-clock expert cardiac care to Sharif at a facility where cardiology intervention and multidisciplinary backup would be available. Entertaining the request, the Punjab Home Department accorded sanction for "shifting of high-profile National Accountability Bureau convicted prisoner Sharif from central jail to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, for medical treatment for minimum required period. The PML-N has been demanding to shift of Sharif to London for his treatment. The PML-N has also submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly demanding that Sharif should be shifted to London as he always had undergone cardiac treatment there and the doctors knew his medical history. The medical board here, however, declared that Sharif's treatment is possible in any specialised cardiac health facility in Pakistan. After examining all results of his tests, the medical board has reached a unanimous decision that Sharif needs some kind of cardiac intervention. For the purpose, he should be shifted to a cardiac institute, the head of the medical board at the Services Hospital, Professor Dr Mahmood Ayaz, had said. He said Sharif had heart issues because of his previous history of some diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problem. Dr Ayaz further said: According to the findings of the board, Sharif is facing some problems in blood supply of heart veins that must be addressed by cardiac specialists. We had engaged some cardiac specialists from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology who examined the patient and his test reports and suggested little change in Sharif's medicines. Sharif has been behind the bars since December 24, 2018, after an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed under the direction of the Supreme Court. On Thursday Sharif's younger brother PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif got bail from high court in two corruption cases.

Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif shifted to hospital in Lahore from jail

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday.

Court filings on Friday in cases that stemmed from a federal probe into Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election pointed to potential problem areas for Trump, including whether he instructed six-figure payments to two women during the campaign to keep quiet about affairs.

Federal prosecutors sought prison time for longtime Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen for paying off an adult film star and a former Playboy model at Trump's behest, evading taxes and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow.

If the payments are proven to be felony campaign finance violations, Democratic US&nbsp;Representative Jerrold Nadler told CNN those would be grounds for impeachment.

"Well, they would be impeachable offences. Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question," said Nadler, who will lead the Judiciary Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January.

Under US&nbsp;law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. Such payments are also limited to $2,700 per person.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Friday that Cohen has lied repeatedly and that the filing was insignificant.

Friday's court filings also revealed new information about contacts between people working for Trump and Russians in the cases of Cohen, Trump's former longtime personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, Trump's short-lived campaign chairman who was convicted in August on tax and bank fraud charges.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Manafort lied to investigators about his interactions with a Russian tied to Russian intelligence services. Mueller's office said the lying prompted prosecutors last week to retract a plea agreement with Manafort on two separate conspiracy charges.

"I think what these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the centre of a massive fraud - several massive frauds - against the American people," Nadler told CNN.

Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to sway the election. Russia denies interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has denied any collusion occurred.

The investigation has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency, with its implication Moscow may have had a hand in his White House victory. The Republican president repeatedly has expressed his impatience with the probe that Mueller took over in March 2017, saying it was politically motivated.

PROSPECT OF JAIL TIME

Trump said the filings did not prove any collusion with Russia and called for an end to the investigation.

"Time for the Witch Hunt to END!" Trump said in a Twitter post on Saturday.

However, the end of the Mueller probe could be the beginning of bigger problems for Trump.

"There's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office the Justice Department may indict him, that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time," Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat who will lead the House Intelligence Committee next year, told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Legal experts are divided over whether a sitting president can be charged with a crime, as well as on whether a violation of campaign finance law would be an impeachable offence.

Republican Senator Rand Paul warned against over-criminalizing campaign finance violations, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that errors in disclosures should be punished with fines, not jail.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio told CNN he was waiting for the results of the Russia investigation and related federal probes. However, he cautioned that "no one should be above the law."

Rubio said it would be a "terrible mistake" if Trump pardoned Manafort, saying that "could trigger a debate about whether the pardon powers should be amended."

Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Manafort, praising him as a good man. In contrast, he has said Cohen, who has cooperated with federal prosecutors, should go to jail.

Schiff said Trump may end up needing to seek a pardon for himself from the next US&nbsp;president. House Democrats have promised an array of investigations into Trump's activities.

"What is clear also is that the Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president," Nadler said. "The new Congress will not try to shield the president."

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said on Sunday. Court filings on Friday in cases that stemmed from a federal probe into Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election pointed to potential problem areas for Trump, including whether he instructed six-figure payments to two women during the campaign to keep quiet about affairs. Federal prosecutors sought prison time for longtime Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen for paying off an adult film star and a former Playboy model at Trump's behest, evading taxes and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow. If the payments are proven to be felony campaign finance violations, Democratic US Representative Jerrold Nadler told CNN those would be grounds for impeachment. "Well, they would be impeachable offences. Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question," said Nadler, who will lead the Judiciary Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January. Under US law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. Such payments are also limited to $2,700 per person. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Friday that Cohen has lied repeatedly and that the filing was insignificant. Friday's court filings also revealed new information about contacts between people working for Trump and Russians in the cases of Cohen, Trump's former longtime personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, Trump's short-lived campaign chairman who was convicted in August on tax and bank fraud charges. Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Manafort lied to investigators about his interactions with a Russian tied to Russian intelligence services. Mueller's office said the lying prompted prosecutors last week to retract a plea agreement with Manafort on two separate conspiracy charges. "I think what these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the centre of a massive fraud - several massive frauds - against the American people," Nadler told CNN. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to sway the election. Russia denies interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has denied any collusion occurred. The investigation has cast a shadow over Trump's presidency, with its implication Moscow may have had a hand in his White House victory. The Republican president repeatedly has expressed his impatience with the probe that Mueller took over in March 2017, saying it was politically motivated. PROSPECT OF JAIL TIME Trump said the filings did not prove any collusion with Russia and called for an end to the investigation. "Time for the Witch Hunt to END!" Trump said in a Twitter post on Saturday. However, the end of the Mueller probe could be the beginning of bigger problems for Trump. "There's a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office the Justice Department may indict him, that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time," Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat who will lead the House Intelligence Committee next year, told CBS' "Face the Nation." Legal experts are divided over whether a sitting president can be charged with a crime, as well as on whether a violation of campaign finance law would be an impeachable offence. Republican Senator Rand Paul warned against over-criminalizing campaign finance violations, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that errors in disclosures should be punished with fines, not jail. Republican Senator Marco Rubio told CNN he was waiting for the results of the Russia investigation and related federal probes. However, he cautioned that "no one should be above the law." Rubio said it would be a "terrible mistake" if Trump pardoned Manafort, saying that "could trigger a debate about whether the pardon powers should be amended." Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Manafort, praising him as a good man. In contrast, he has said Cohen, who has cooperated with federal prosecutors, should go to jail. Schiff said Trump may end up needing to seek a pardon for himself from the next US president. House Democrats have promised an array of investigations into Trump's activities. "What is clear also is that the Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president," Nadler said. "The new Congress will not try to shield the president."

Top Democrats say Trump may face impeachment, jail over hush money

The Florida man accused of mailing bombs to prominent Democrats and other critics of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump agreed to be held without bail on

Tuesday during his first appearance in federal court in New York.

Cesar Sayoc was arrested on October&nbsp;26 in Fort Lauderdale and agreed in a Florida court appearance last week to be transferred to New York to face five criminal charges.

Sayoc, a former stripper and pizza delivery driver who lived in a white van festooned with right-wing political images supporting Trump and attacking his critics, was arrested following an intense manhunt.

Dressed in a navy blue prison overalls with his gray hair pulled back and knotted at the back of his head, Sayoc appeared respectful and alert in court.

When US&nbsp;Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger asked him if he understood his rights as explained to him, Sayoc responded: "Yes, sir, a hundred percent."

Prosecutors had argued before the hearing that Sayoc was too dangerous to be released on bail. But Sayoc`s attorney, federal defender Sarah Baumgartel, told the hearing he would not make an application for bail at this point.&nbsp;

A preliminary hearing in the case was set for November&nbsp;12.

The mailed bombs and the separate massacre of 11 Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue in late October heightened tensions days ahead of Tuesday`s

elections, which will determine the balance of power in the US&nbsp;Congress currently controlled by Trump`s Republican Party.&nbsp; 
Prosecutors have accused Sayoc of sending 16 improvised explosive devices. None of the devices exploded before being intercepted and no one was

hurt. 
The first bomb discovered was sent to billionaire investor George Soros at his home in New York`s Westchester County, and some of the other high-profile targets also live in New York state, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Other targets of the improvised explosive devices included former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, among others.

Sayoc faces a maximum 48 years in prison if convicted on the five counts he now faces, including for mailing explosives and threatening the Clintons. 
Prosecutors have said Sayoc is likely to face additional charges and penalties from their ongoing investigation.

In a letter to ABC News Sayoc`s mother, Madeline Sayoc, wrote that she had unsuccessfully tried to get him treatment for what she said was long-standing mental illness.

The Florida man accused of mailing bombs to prominent Democrats and other critics of US President Donald Trump agreed to be held without bail on Tuesday during his first appearance in federal court in New York.

The Florida man accused of mailing bombs to prominent Democrats and other critics of US President Donald Trump agreed to be held without bail on Tuesday during his first appearance in federal court in New York. Cesar Sayoc was arrested on October 26 in Fort Lauderdale and agreed in a Florida court appearance last week to be transferred to New York to face five criminal charges. Sayoc, a former stripper and pizza delivery driver who lived in a white van festooned with right-wing political images supporting Trump and attacking his critics, was arrested following an intense manhunt. Dressed in a navy blue prison overalls with his gray hair pulled back and knotted at the back of his head, Sayoc appeared respectful and alert in court. When US Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger asked him if he understood his rights as explained to him, Sayoc responded: "Yes, sir, a hundred percent." Prosecutors had argued before the hearing that Sayoc was too dangerous to be released on bail. But Sayoc`s attorney, federal defender Sarah Baumgartel, told the hearing he would not make an application for bail at this point. A preliminary hearing in the case was set for November 12. The mailed bombs and the separate massacre of 11 Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue in late October heightened tensions days ahead of Tuesday`s elections, which will determine the balance of power in the US Congress currently controlled by Trump`s Republican Party. Prosecutors have accused Sayoc of sending 16 improvised explosive devices. None of the devices exploded before being intercepted and no one was hurt. The first bomb discovered was sent to billionaire investor George Soros at his home in New York`s Westchester County, and some of the other high-profile targets also live in New York state, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Other targets of the improvised explosive devices included former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden, among others. Sayoc faces a maximum 48 years in prison if convicted on the five counts he now faces, including for mailing explosives and threatening the Clintons. Prosecutors have said Sayoc is likely to face additional charges and penalties from their ongoing investigation. In a letter to ABC News Sayoc`s mother, Madeline Sayoc, wrote that she had unsuccessfully tried to get him treatment for what she said was long-standing mental illness.

US mail bomb suspect agrees to be held without bail

A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to another seven years in prison on corruption charges that her supporters say are politically motivated.

Zia, long a rival to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is already behind bars after being handed a five-year term in February on separate embezzlement charges.

That verdict triggered clashes between police and thousands of supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which Zia still leads from prison.

In her latest trial, Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzman found the 73-year-old guilty of abuse of power and misusing 31.5 million taka (US $375,000) destined for a charitable fund.

This fresh conviction is expected to further impede her chances of challenging Hasina, who has been accused of stifling her opponents, in a general election slated for December.&nbsp;

There was no immediate reaction from Zia's BNP, but her lawyers have consistently described the trial as "political vengeance".

Zia, once an ally to Hasina, boycotted the 2014 general election which saw her opponent returned to power.

Zia entered politics in the mid-1980s after her husband, a former military dictator, was assassinated in an abortive coup.

She faces dozens of separate charges related to violence and corruption that her lawyers insist are baseless.

Zia says the charges are designed to keep her family out of politics.

In recent months, her health has deteriorated inside Dhaka Central prison where she is the sole prisoner in incarceration.&nbsp;

She was absent from the court Monday as she was being treated in hospital for various ailments.

A special room inside the prison was converted into a makeshift court in an effort to fast track her trial.&nbsp;

Her lawyers protested the move, described it as unconstitutional.

Her family suffered another political blow this month when her eldest son and heir apparent to the opposition movement, Tarique Rahman, was jailed for life in absentia.

He lives in exile in London.

Rahman was found guilty of playing key role in a 2004 grenade attack on the political rally of Hasina, which killed at least 20 people and injured the then opposition leader.

A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to another seven years in prison on corruption charges that her supporters say are politically motivated.

A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to another seven years in prison on corruption charges that her supporters say are politically motivated. Zia, long a rival to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is already behind bars after being handed a five-year term in February on separate embezzlement charges. That verdict triggered clashes between police and thousands of supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which Zia still leads from prison. In her latest trial, Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzman found the 73-year-old guilty of abuse of power and misusing 31.5 million taka (US $375,000) destined for a charitable fund. This fresh conviction is expected to further impede her chances of challenging Hasina, who has been accused of stifling her opponents, in a general election slated for December. There was no immediate reaction from Zia's BNP, but her lawyers have consistently described the trial as "political vengeance". Zia, once an ally to Hasina, boycotted the 2014 general election which saw her opponent returned to power. Zia entered politics in the mid-1980s after her husband, a former military dictator, was assassinated in an abortive coup. She faces dozens of separate charges related to violence and corruption that her lawyers insist are baseless. Zia says the charges are designed to keep her family out of politics. In recent months, her health has deteriorated inside Dhaka Central prison where she is the sole prisoner in incarceration. She was absent from the court Monday as she was being treated in hospital for various ailments. A special room inside the prison was converted into a makeshift court in an effort to fast track her trial. Her lawyers protested the move, described it as unconstitutional. Her family suffered another political blow this month when her eldest son and heir apparent to the opposition movement, Tarique Rahman, was jailed for life in absentia. He lives in exile in London. Rahman was found guilty of playing key role in a 2004 grenade attack on the political rally of Hasina, which killed at least 20 people and injured the then opposition leader.

Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia sentenced to 7 years in jail for corruption

A Pakistani court on Tuesday extended the remand of PML-N chief and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif by 14 days in the Rs 1,400 crore housing scam.&nbsp;

Shahbaz, 67, the younger brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5 in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project scam. He was remanded to a 10-day custody to NAB.

The former Punjab chief minister was brought to the accountability court amid high security. A large number of PML-N workers were also present at the court premises.

He told the accountability court judge Najamul Hasan that he had committed no illegality in the award of the contract (in the housing project).

He also said the NAB was unable find any evidence against him during his 10-day remand.

Shahbaz asked why the NAB wanted extension of his remand when he was fully cooperating.

"No NAB official investigated me in the last three days," he said, adding that his government had followed the legal procedure in award of contract the housing project.&nbsp;

"I have served the country and saved billions of rupees in different development projects during my tenure as chief minister (2008-2018)," he said.

Shahbaz's counsel opposed the extension of his remand, saying the NAB has failed to present any proof of his involvement in the scam.

"Therefore the NAB's plea for further extension to his client's remand be dismissed," he said, adding that the case against Shahbaz had been instituted on "political grounds" as he had not issued any illegal orders being the chief minister.

The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant extend Shahbaz's remand, which was accepted.&nbsp;

The court remanded Shahbaz into NAB's custody for another 14 days (till October 30).

Shahbaz is accused of ordering the cancellation of a contract given to successful bidder Chaudhry Latif and Sons in the Ashiana housing in order to oblige his 'favourite fir' - Lahore Casa Developers, resulting in a loss of Rs 193 million to the exchequer.

He is also accused of directing the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) to award the consultancy services of the Ashiana project to Engineering

Consultancy Services Punjab (ECSP) for Rs 192 million while the actual cost was supposed to be Rs 35 million as quoted by Nespak.

Nawaz Sharif has termed his brother's arrest as political victimisation. "Shahbaz Sharif being the chief minister of Punjab had set great examples of transparency and honesty in all projects. The Imran Khan's government is responsible for this political victimization."

Meanwhile, NAB may take Shahbaz to Islamabad on Wednesday to take part in the National Assembly session. The NA Speaker has already issued production order of Shahbaz, directing the NAB to allow him to take part in the parliament session.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday extended the remand of PML-N chief and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif by 14 days in the Rs 1,400 crore housing scam. Shahbaz, 67, the younger brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5 in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project scam.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday extended the remand of PML-N chief and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif by 14 days in the Rs 1,400 crore housing scam. Shahbaz, 67, the younger brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5 in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project scam. He was remanded to a 10-day custody to NAB. The former Punjab chief minister was brought to the accountability court amid high security. A large number of PML-N workers were also present at the court premises. He told the accountability court judge Najamul Hasan that he had committed no illegality in the award of the contract (in the housing project). He also said the NAB was unable find any evidence against him during his 10-day remand. Shahbaz asked why the NAB wanted extension of his remand when he was fully cooperating. "No NAB official investigated me in the last three days," he said, adding that his government had followed the legal procedure in award of contract the housing project. "I have served the country and saved billions of rupees in different development projects during my tenure as chief minister (2008-2018)," he said. Shahbaz's counsel opposed the extension of his remand, saying the NAB has failed to present any proof of his involvement in the scam. "Therefore the NAB's plea for further extension to his client's remand be dismissed," he said, adding that the case against Shahbaz had been instituted on "political grounds" as he had not issued any illegal orders being the chief minister. The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant extend Shahbaz's remand, which was accepted. The court remanded Shahbaz into NAB's custody for another 14 days (till October 30). Shahbaz is accused of ordering the cancellation of a contract given to successful bidder Chaudhry Latif and Sons in the Ashiana housing in order to oblige his 'favourite fir' - Lahore Casa Developers, resulting in a loss of Rs 193 million to the exchequer. He is also accused of directing the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) to award the consultancy services of the Ashiana project to Engineering Consultancy Services Punjab (ECSP) for Rs 192 million while the actual cost was supposed to be Rs 35 million as quoted by Nespak. Nawaz Sharif has termed his brother's arrest as political victimisation. "Shahbaz Sharif being the chief minister of Punjab had set great examples of transparency and honesty in all projects. The Imran Khan's government is responsible for this political victimization." Meanwhile, NAB may take Shahbaz to Islamabad on Wednesday to take part in the National Assembly session. The NA Speaker has already issued production order of Shahbaz, directing the NAB to allow him to take part in the parliament session.

Court extends Shahbaz's remand by 14 days in Rs 1,400 crore housing scam

Former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for his "strong support" and his telephone call.&nbsp;

PM Modi phoned the former president days after his release from jail on bail.&nbsp;

Gayoom took to Twitter and said: "Thank you Excellency PM @narendramodi for your telephone call today and for your strong support for our democratic process. I am particularly grateful for the kind sentiments you have expressed about me personally."

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Thank you Excellency PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> for your telephone call today and for your strong support for our democratic process. I am particularly grateful for the kind sentiments you have expressed about me personally.
— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/maumoonagayoom/status/1047102107994619904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He was released from jail on Sunday, a week after his estranged half-brother suffered a shock electoral defeat, raising hopes that other high profile political prisoners could soon have their convictions overturned.

Gayoom, 80, and his legislator son Faris Maumoon, were released on bail by the High Court in Male, a week after strongman Abdulla Yameen's spectacular loss at the polls in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation.

He was arrested in February along with the country's Chief Justice and another Supreme Court judge on a charge of attempting to topple Yameen. He declared a 45-day state of emergency to block impeachment.

Gayoom was serving a 19-month jail term for obstruction of justice and was also under trial on a "terrorism" charge when the High Court ordered his release. The ex-leader had bail set at 60,000 rufiyaa (US $3,900) and his son Faris at 40,000 rufiyaa, and they were ordered not to travel abroad without the court's permission.

Former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for his "strong support" and his telephone call. PM Modi phoned the former president days after his release from jail on bail.

Former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for his "strong support" and his telephone call. PM Modi phoned the former president days after his release from jail on bail. Gayoom took to Twitter and said: "Thank you Excellency PM @narendramodi for your telephone call today and for your strong support for our democratic process. I am particularly grateful for the kind sentiments you have expressed about me personally." Thank you Excellency PM @narendramodi for your telephone call today and for your strong support for our democratic process. I am particularly grateful for the kind sentiments you have expressed about me personally. — Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) October 2, 2018 × He was released from jail on Sunday, a week after his estranged half-brother suffered a shock electoral defeat, raising hopes that other high profile political prisoners could soon have their convictions overturned. Gayoom, 80, and his legislator son Faris Maumoon, were released on bail by the High Court in Male, a week after strongman Abdulla Yameen's spectacular loss at the polls in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. He was arrested in February along with the country's Chief Justice and another Supreme Court judge on a charge of attempting to topple Yameen. He declared a 45-day state of emergency to block impeachment. Gayoom was serving a 19-month jail term for obstruction of justice and was also under trial on a "terrorism" charge when the High Court ordered his release. The ex-leader had bail set at 60,000 rufiyaa (US $3,900) and his son Faris at 40,000 rufiyaa, and they were ordered not to travel abroad without the court's permission.

PM Modi calls former Maldives president Gayoom days after his release on bail 

In a novel initiative, the women inmates of the Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad have taken up the task of making sanitary napkins.

The enterprise will serve not only as a source of income for them but also promote better menstrual hygiene among women inmates in jails across Gujarat, an official said. The sanitary pads, made at the manufacturing unit installed last week by a city-based NGO in the women’s barrack of the Sabarmati jail, will be given free of cost to all women inmates lodged in various prisons of the state, the official said.

The Navjivan Trust, an organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi, acted a bridge between the NGO, Karma Foundation, and the jail authorities in shaping up this innovative project of providing some meaningful work to the women inmates. The work to manufacture sanitary pads at the unit in the Sabarmati jail premises was formally launched on May 11. The Karma Foundation’s managing trustee, Priyanshi Patel, said the idea of starting the project struck her when she visited the jail six months back and saw women inmates spending their time without doing any work.

“The Navjivan Trust then suggested me to install a sanitary napkins manufacturing unit. This will provide income to these inmates,” Patel said. The sanitary pads made in the Sabarmati jail will be given free of cost to all women prisoners across the state, she said. In future, the NGO would also take up the task of selling these napkins at subsidized rates through government agencies, Patel said. “The women inmates can also start a small business of making sanitary pads after they come out of the jail,” she suggested.

At present, one manufacturing unit has been installed where about 12 women prisoners can work at a time. “We will gradually increase the number of manufacturing units,” Patel said. The in-charge superintendent of Sabarmati jail, V H Dindor, expressed happiness that the women prisoners have now got some work to do.

The Navjivan Trust’s managing trustee, Vivek Desai, said they would encourage more NGOs to come forward and bring up such projects for the benefit of the Sabarmati jail inmates.

The Navjivan Trust's managing trustee, Vivek Desai, said they would encourage more NGOs to come forward and bring up such projects for the benefit of the Sabarmati jail inmates.

In a novel initiative, the women inmates of the Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad have taken up the task of making sanitary napkins. The enterprise will serve not only as a source of income for them but also promote better menstrual hygiene among women inmates in jails across Gujarat, an official said. The sanitary pads, made at the manufacturing unit installed last week by a city-based NGO in the women’s barrack of the Sabarmati jail, will be given free of cost to all women inmates lodged in various prisons of the state, the official said. The Navjivan Trust, an organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi, acted a bridge between the NGO, Karma Foundation, and the jail authorities in shaping up this innovative project of providing some meaningful work to the women inmates. The work to manufacture sanitary pads at the unit in the Sabarmati jail premises was formally launched on May 11. The Karma Foundation’s managing trustee, Priyanshi Patel, said the idea of starting the project struck her when she visited the jail six months back and saw women inmates spending their time without doing any work. “The Navjivan Trust then suggested me to install a sanitary napkins manufacturing unit. This will provide income to these inmates,” Patel said. The sanitary pads made in the Sabarmati jail will be given free of cost to all women prisoners across the state, she said. In future, the NGO would also take up the task of selling these napkins at subsidized rates through government agencies, Patel said. “The women inmates can also start a small business of making sanitary pads after they come out of the jail,” she suggested. At present, one manufacturing unit has been installed where about 12 women prisoners can work at a time. “We will gradually increase the number of manufacturing units,” Patel said. The in-charge superintendent of Sabarmati jail, V H Dindor, expressed happiness that the women prisoners have now got some work to do. The Navjivan Trust’s managing trustee, Vivek Desai, said they would encourage more NGOs to come forward and bring up such projects for the benefit of the Sabarmati jail inmates.

Sabarmati Jail’s ‘padwomen’ take a step towards empowerment

In an unlikely incident, a woman applying for a job at a New Hampshire county jail was actually arrested on account of her&nbsp;having a 'wanted' charge in Maine, reports said.&nbsp;

Reports further said that Kristina Hoefs, of Manchester, applied for the job on Friday at the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections but it was soon found that she had been charged for theft-related charges in Maine.&nbsp;

Hoefs was later taken into custody and was scheduled for arraignment Monday.&nbsp;

Reports said that Kristina Hoefs, of Manchester, applied for the job on Friday at the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections

In an unlikely incident, a woman applying for a job at a New Hampshire county jail was actually arrested on account of her having a 'wanted' charge in Maine, reports said. Reports further said that Kristina Hoefs, of Manchester, applied for the job on Friday at the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections but it was soon found that she had been charged for theft-related charges in Maine. Hoefs was later taken into custody and was scheduled for arraignment Monday.

Woman applies for job in jail, get arrested instead

Bollywood actor <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jodhpur-court-rejects-salman-khans-bail-plea-in-blackbuck-poaching-case-128692">Salman Khan </a>may have to spend a few more nights in jail as the District and Sessions Judge, who was scheduled to hear the actor's bail plea in blackbuck poaching case has been transferred by the Rajasthan High Court.

The Rajasthan High Court transferred Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi along with other 87 district judges.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joshi was scheduled to take the decision on the bail plea, filed by the actor in Jodhpur Sessions Court on Saturday.&nbsp;The judge had, on Friday, put off the hearing by a day as he wanted to see the entire case record before deciding whether&nbsp;Salman Khan should be granted bail.&nbsp;

Judge Joshi has been transferred from Jodhpur to Siroh in Rajasthan. He will be replaced by Chandra Kumar Songara, district and sessions judge of Bhilwara.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Mahesh Bora, Salman Khan's lawyer told reporters that he was receiving threatening SMSes and internet calls warning him not to appear for the Bollywood star's bail hearing.

Salman Khan was handed out a 5-year prison sentence by the court, however, the other stars in the case - Saif Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre - were acquitted.

Salman was sentenced under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. The Bollywood superstar was also slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000.

Meanwhile, the nurse, who helped deliver&nbsp;Salman Khan&nbsp;visited a temple in&nbsp;Indore&nbsp;and prayed for his release in&nbsp;the case.

Rukmani Bai, who is also known as Salman's third mother, was working at&nbsp;Indore&nbsp;nursing home when the actor was born there on December 27, 1965.

Soon after the news of Salman's conviction came in, Bai visited a&nbsp;Hanuman temple&nbsp;in&nbsp;Indore&nbsp;and wished for his early release.

The Rajasthan High Court transferred Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi along with other 87 district judges

Bollywood actor Salman Khan may have to spend a few more nights in jail as the District and Sessions Judge, who was scheduled to hear the actor's bail plea in blackbuck poaching case has been transferred by the Rajasthan High Court. The Rajasthan High Court transferred Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi along with other 87 district judges. Joshi was scheduled to take the decision on the bail plea, filed by the actor in Jodhpur Sessions Court on Saturday. The judge had, on Friday, put off the hearing by a day as he wanted to see the entire case record before deciding whether Salman Khan should be granted bail. Judge Joshi has been transferred from Jodhpur to Siroh in Rajasthan. He will be replaced by Chandra Kumar Songara, district and sessions judge of Bhilwara. Meanwhile, Mahesh Bora, Salman Khan's lawyer told reporters that he was receiving threatening SMSes and internet calls warning him not to appear for the Bollywood star's bail hearing. Salman Khan was handed out a 5-year prison sentence by the court, however, the other stars in the case - Saif Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre - were acquitted. Salman was sentenced under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. The Bollywood superstar was also slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000. Meanwhile, the nurse, who helped deliver Salman Khan visited a temple in Indore and prayed for his release in the case. Rukmani Bai, who is also known as Salman's third mother, was working at Indore nursing home when the actor was born there on December 27, 1965. Soon after the news of Salman's conviction came in, Bai visited a Hanuman temple in Indore and wished for his early release.

Blackbuck poaching case: Salman's bail hearing likely to get delayed

Former chief minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad was on Monday held guilty in the fourth fodder scam case that also involves 30 others.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here in its judgment said the RJD chief was guilty of fraudulently withdrawing Rs. 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury between December 1995 and January 1996, when he was the chief minister of undivided Bihar.

Former chief minister Jagannath Mishra from the Bhartiya Jan Congress (Rashtriya) was acquitted by the court in the case. At least 14 others were also convicted.

Lalu, who has been admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after falling sick in the jail on Saturday, was not present for the hearing.

Lalu Prasad is already serving a jail term of 13.5 years in three fodder cases and has been lodged in the Birsa Munda jail.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Koi comment nahi karna hai (I do not want to make any comment),&rdquo; Lalu Prasad said when asked for a reaction by reporters post the verdict.

His wife, Rabri Devi said: &quot;We will follow Court&#39;s order &amp; won&#39;t leave Bihar &amp; go anywhere else however we are also going to appeal in the Court. He wasn&#39;t keeping well. He shouldn&#39;t have been called before Court in such condition.&quot;

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We will follow Court&#39;s order &amp; won&#39;t leave Bihar &amp; go anywhere else however we are also going to appeal in the Court. He wasn&#39;t keeping well. He shouldn&#39;t have been called before Court in such condition: Rabri Devi on Lalu Yadav convicted in Fodder scam (Dumka Treasury) case <a href="https://t.co/kPityE1xcX">pic.twitter.com/kPityE1xcX</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975677204209328128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

While, RJD vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was quoted saying: &quot;Ajab hai Narendra Modi aur Nitish ka mel, ajab hai khel, dubara se ho gaya Jagannath Mishra riha, aur Lalu Yadav ko jail. Ek aadmi ko jail, ek aadmi ko bail, ye hai Narendra Modi ka khel.&quot;

The nation soon took to Twitter and left no mercy in mocking Lalu.&nbsp;

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With so many convictions, Lalu Prasad Yadav still remains the shining light of social justice for all our liberals. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FodderScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FodderScam</a>
&mdash; tichkule &amp; tichkule (@dharmesh2b) <a href="https://twitter.com/dharmesh2b/status/975672670124568576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FodderScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FodderScam</a> 
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav found guilty in fourth case <a href="https://t.co/SIGcYtrsEa">pic.twitter.com/SIGcYtrsEa</a>
&mdash; Rahul verma (@Rahul9798Verma) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rahul9798Verma/status/975673359395622912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Is Lalu Prasad YADAV tweeting from prison? And if not, then who&rsquo;s the wise guy handling his Twitter account? Either way, it&rsquo;s a disaster!
&mdash; SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/suhelseth/status/973861344633131010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Lalu prasad yadav life story is real case to understand KARMA OF LIFE<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FodderScam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FodderScam</a>
&mdash; crime master gogo (@vipul2777) <a href="https://twitter.com/vipul2777/status/975681454230315008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A special CBI court here in its judgment said the RJD chief was guilty of fraudulently withdrawing Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury between December 1995 and January 1996, when he was the chief minister of undivided Bihar

Former chief minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad was on Monday held guilty in the fourth fodder scam case that also involves 30 others. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here in its judgment said the RJD chief was guilty of fraudulently withdrawing Rs. 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury between December 1995 and January 1996, when he was the chief minister of undivided Bihar. Former chief minister Jagannath Mishra from the Bhartiya Jan Congress (Rashtriya) was acquitted by the court in the case. At least 14 others were also convicted. Lalu, who has been admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after falling sick in the jail on Saturday, was not present for the hearing. Lalu Prasad is already serving a jail term of 13.5 years in three fodder cases and has been lodged in the Birsa Munda jail. “Koi comment nahi karna hai (I do not want to make any comment),” Lalu Prasad said when asked for a reaction by reporters post the verdict. His wife, Rabri Devi said: "We will follow Court's order & won't leave Bihar & go anywhere else however we are also going to appeal in the Court. He wasn't keeping well. He shouldn't have been called before Court in such condition." We will follow Court's order & won't leave Bihar & go anywhere else however we are also going to appeal in the Court. He wasn't keeping well. He shouldn't have been called before Court in such condition: Rabri Devi on Lalu Yadav convicted in Fodder scam (Dumka Treasury) case pic.twitter.com/kPityE1xcX — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 × While, RJD vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh was quoted saying: "Ajab hai Narendra Modi aur Nitish ka mel, ajab hai khel, dubara se ho gaya Jagannath Mishra riha, aur Lalu Yadav ko jail. Ek aadmi ko jail, ek aadmi ko bail, ye hai Narendra Modi ka khel." The nation soon took to Twitter and left no mercy in mocking Lalu. With so many convictions, Lalu Prasad Yadav still remains the shining light of social justice for all our liberals. #FodderScam — tichkule & tichkule (@dharmesh2b) March 19, 2018 × #FodderScam RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav found guilty in fourth case pic.twitter.com/SIGcYtrsEa — Rahul verma (@Rahul9798Verma) March 19, 2018 × Is Lalu Prasad YADAV tweeting from prison? And if not, then who’s the wise guy handling his Twitter account? Either way, it’s a disaster! — SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) March 14, 2018 × Lalu prasad yadav life story is real case to understand KARMA OF LIFE#FodderScam — crime master gogo (@vipul2777) March 19, 2018 ×

'We will appeal court verdict,' Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi

Iranian security forces Sunday detained three more environmental activists on spying charges.

The detention came weeks after the first wave of arrests and the death in detention of an Iranian-Canadian head of a wildlife group took place.

&quot;Three people were recently arrested in (southern) Hormozgan province. I cannot legally give details now ... but there is no doubt that infiltration by the United States and Israel is a serious matter,&quot; said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency.

After the earlier arrests, Iranian officials said the activists were gathering sensitive information under the guise of scientific and environmental activities.

The latest arrests come after the death of Kavous Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian environmental activist and sociology professor, who was arrested on January 24 and died in prison two weeks later.&nbsp;

However, the judiciary said Seyed-Emami, 63, had committed suicide.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), said at least nine other staff members and executives of Seyed-Emami&#39;s organisation had been arrested on the same day as him.

President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatic cleric who defeated anti-Western hardliners to win re-election last year, has called for improving Iran&#39;s international ties and reforming the economy.

Human rights activists have reported that at least six detainees have died in prisons in the last two months in Iran but the judiciary, however, confirmed that three deaths took place in custody and all three were suicides.

The detention came weeks after the first wave of arrests

Iranian security forces Sunday detained three more environmental activists on spying charges. The detention came weeks after the first wave of arrests and the death in detention of an Iranian-Canadian head of a wildlife group took place. "Three people were recently arrested in (southern) Hormozgan province. I cannot legally give details now ... but there is no doubt that infiltration by the United States and Israel is a serious matter," said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency. After the earlier arrests, Iranian officials said the activists were gathering sensitive information under the guise of scientific and environmental activities. The latest arrests come after the death of Kavous Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian environmental activist and sociology professor, who was arrested on January 24 and died in prison two weeks later. However, the judiciary said Seyed-Emami, 63, had committed suicide. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), said at least nine other staff members and executives of Seyed-Emami's organisation had been arrested on the same day as him. President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatic cleric who defeated anti-Western hardliners to win re-election last year, has called for improving Iran's international ties and reforming the economy. Human rights activists have reported that at least six detainees have died in prisons in the last two months in Iran but the judiciary, however, confirmed that three deaths took place in custody and all three were suicides.

Iran detains three more activists after Iranian-Canadian dies in jail

After government warning did not deter people from using machines around Taj Mahal, the Agra Police have now decided to arrest the person using drones near the historic monument.

The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday.

As per the new rule, Police have decided to invoke criminal charges that carry jail time against tourists using drones around the Taj Mahal.&nbsp;

According to officials, drones were seen in and around the world heritage monument nearly 20 times in 2017, but despite the provision of initiating criminal action against the users, no action has been taken by police to date.

The police said the use of drones was strictly prohibited in and around the Taj due to security reasons and will also start an awareness campaign to ensure people are aware of the new rule.

A person caught using a drone around the Taj would be booked under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 
&nbsp;

The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday

After government warning did not deter people from using machines around Taj Mahal, the Agra Police have now decided to arrest the person using drones near the historic monument. The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday. As per the new rule, Police have decided to invoke criminal charges that carry jail time against tourists using drones around the Taj Mahal. According to officials, drones were seen in and around the world heritage monument nearly 20 times in 2017, but despite the provision of initiating criminal action against the users, no action has been taken by police to date. The police said the use of drones was strictly prohibited in and around the Taj due to security reasons and will also start an awareness campaign to ensure people are aware of the new rule. A person caught using a drone around the Taj would be booked under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Flying drones near Taj Mahal will now land you in jail

Around 25 people, including security forces, civilians as well as six protestors, were killed in Iran on Sunday after unrest in several towns and cities following the recent anti-government protests.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Twenty-five people, ordinary citizens and our own forces, were killed during the recent troubles,&rdquo; said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie, according to the Mizanonline news agency.

&ldquo;None were killed by shots from the security forces because they were ordered not to use their weapons,&rdquo; he added.

On Sunday, Iranian officials announced that hundreds of people detained in the protests had been released.&nbsp;

Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said 440 &ldquo;arrested rioters&rdquo; have been released in Tehran alone.&nbsp;

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi as saying that just 55 people remain in detention in the capital in connection with the protests.

Last week, an Iranian reformist lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, said some 3,700 people were arrested across the country.

The protests, which began three weeks ago, were initially sparked by anger at the weak economy and official corruption, but escalated rapidly, with some protesters calling for the overthrow of the government and clashing with security forces.

The unrest began over economic issues but quickly grew into protests against the Islamic regime as a whole, with attacks on government and police buildings.

The government has said a total of 42,000 people participated in the unrest -- a figure that is hard to verify due to limited information from the provinces where most of the unrest took place.

On Sunday, Iranian officials announced that hundreds of people detained in the protests had been released

Around 25 people, including security forces, civilians as well as six protestors, were killed in Iran on Sunday after unrest in several towns and cities following the recent anti-government protests. “Twenty-five people, ordinary citizens and our own forces, were killed during the recent troubles,” said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie, according to the Mizanonline news agency. “None were killed by shots from the security forces because they were ordered not to use their weapons,” he added. On Sunday, Iranian officials announced that hundreds of people detained in the protests had been released. Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said 440 “arrested rioters” have been released in Tehran alone. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholamhosein Mohseni Ejehi as saying that just 55 people remain in detention in the capital in connection with the protests. Last week, an Iranian reformist lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, said some 3,700 people were arrested across the country. The protests, which began three weeks ago, were initially sparked by anger at the weak economy and official corruption, but escalated rapidly, with some protesters calling for the overthrow of the government and clashing with security forces. The unrest began over economic issues but quickly grew into protests against the Islamic regime as a whole, with attacks on government and police buildings. The government has said a total of 42,000 people participated in the unrest -- a figure that is hard to verify due to limited information from the provinces where most of the unrest took place.

25 dead in Iran protests

AIADMK leader VK Sasikala who has been imprisoned in a Bengaluru jail for a period of four years is now learning Kannada, reports said on Saturday.&nbsp;

Reports said that Sasikala has been attending classes conducted under the Adult Literacy Programme at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara.&nbsp;

She has been learning alphabets, basic reading ability and pronunciation of Kannada and is also accompanied by sister-in-law and fellow convict J Ilavarasi who has been outperforming Sasikala.&nbsp;

Apart from the language, Sasikala has also been taking classes for basic computer science.&nbsp;

However, since Sasikala has taken a vow to remain silent, she could not appear for the oral examination but did well in writing, reports said.&nbsp;

The pair will receive participation certificates for having attended the course.

Additionally, women inmates will now be granted access to the jail library after Sasikala played a massive role in bringing the issue forward to the officials and also taking personal interest in sorting out the library.&nbsp;

Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court in February in a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-supreme-court-finds-sasikala-guilty-she-will-not-be-chief-minister-12382" target="_blank">disproportionate assets case</a>.

She was granted five days of parole to visit her <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sasikala-granted-5-day-parole-to-visit-her-ailing-husband-21079" target="_blank">ailing husband</a> last year.&nbsp;

She has been learning alphabets, basic reading ability and pronunciation of Kannada. She is also accompanied by sister-in-law and fellow convict J Ilavarasi who has outperformed Sasikala

AIADMK leader VK Sasikala who has been imprisoned in a Bengaluru jail for a period of four years is now learning Kannada, reports said on Saturday. Reports said that Sasikala has been attending classes conducted under the Adult Literacy Programme at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara. She has been learning alphabets, basic reading ability and pronunciation of Kannada and is also accompanied by sister-in-law and fellow convict J Ilavarasi who has been outperforming Sasikala. Apart from the language, Sasikala has also been taking classes for basic computer science. However, since Sasikala has taken a vow to remain silent, she could not appear for the oral examination but did well in writing, reports said. The pair will receive participation certificates for having attended the course. Additionally, women inmates will now be granted access to the jail library after Sasikala played a massive role in bringing the issue forward to the officials and also taking personal interest in sorting out the library. Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court in February in a disproportionate assets case. She was granted five days of parole to visit her ailing husband last year.

Sasikala learning Kannada, computer science in jail

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who was sentenced to 3.5 years of jail time and fined Rs 5 lakh for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fodder-scam-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-35-years-in-jail-28721">fodder scam</a> has filed a complaint to special CBI judge of being treated like a common prisoner.&nbsp;

Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that&nbsp;&quot;law was equal for all, including mass leaders.&quot;

The 69-year-old also pleaded Singh to award him 2.5 years of imprisonment for the Dumka treasury case, whose judgment is set to be pronounced soon.&nbsp;

Also, as Makar Sankranti nears, Lalu persisted that he does not want to eat &#39;dahi chura&#39; on the occasion.&nbsp;

However, Singh ordered that the dish will be served regardless.

&quot;No sir, this is a thing of the Yadavs. If I eat dahi-chura with you, I might end up in a problem like Syed Shahabuddin of Siwan,&quot; he said while breaking into laughter.&nbsp;

He also complained earlier that the authorities were not letting him meet his party leaders and other visitors.&nbsp;Singh ruled that visitors will only be allowed following the jail manual.&nbsp;

Others convicted in the fodder scam case, Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram sentenced to three-and-a-half&nbsp;years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each.

Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that "law was equal for all, including mass leaders."

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who was sentenced to 3.5 years of jail time and fined Rs 5 lakh for fodder scam has filed a complaint to special CBI judge of being treated like a common prisoner. Judge Shivpal Singh, who also announced the fodder scam verdict, informed that "law was equal for all, including mass leaders." The 69-year-old also pleaded Singh to award him 2.5 years of imprisonment for the Dumka treasury case, whose judgment is set to be pronounced soon. Also, as Makar Sankranti nears, Lalu persisted that he does not want to eat 'dahi chura' on the occasion. However, Singh ordered that the dish will be served regardless. "No sir, this is a thing of the Yadavs. If I eat dahi-chura with you, I might end up in a problem like Syed Shahabuddin of Siwan," he said while breaking into laughter. He also complained earlier that the authorities were not letting him meet his party leaders and other visitors. Singh ruled that visitors will only be allowed following the jail manual. Others convicted in the fodder scam case, Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each.

Treated like 'common prisoner', complains Lalu Prasad Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case might seek parol to attend the funeral rites of his elder sister Gangotri Devi, who died on Sunday.&nbsp;

As per reports, Devi had passed away due to severe aortic stenosis (constriction of the heart valve, which led to frequent breathlessness), acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and left ventricle dysfunction.

The cremation will reportedly be&nbsp;held on Monday at her husband&#39;s native village Chakrapan in Gopalganj district, media reports said.&nbsp;

Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu&#39;s son, said the family had tried to communicate the news of Gangotri Devi&#39;s death to Prasad through the prison authorities in Ranchi.

He, however, expressed apprehension that his father might not be able to get parole in time, due to the legal procedure involved and the day being a Sunday.

&quot;As of now, we are making arrangements to take the body to her village home, where the last rites will be performed,&quot; Yadav, who had accompanied his mother Rabri Devi and elder brother Tej Pratap to his deceased aunt&#39;s house, said.

75-year-old Gangotri Devi, who was four years elder to Lalu, had not been keeping very well for a while now.&nbsp;

Lalu Prasad&#39;s wife Rabri Devi said his sister had been fasting and praying for her brother which is when she fell ill.

&quot;Yesterday, she spent the entire day praying for the release of her brother. When she learnt that he was sentenced to jail for a long period, she was shattered,&quot; Rabri Devi said.

On Saturday, Lalu was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined Rs five lakhs by a special CBI court in a fodder scam case, related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar treasury 21 years ago.

The cremation is said to be held on Monday at her husband's native village Chakrapan in Gopalganj district, media reports said

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case might seek parol to attend the funeral rites of his elder sister Gangotri Devi, who died on Sunday. As per reports, Devi had passed away due to severe aortic stenosis (constriction of the heart valve, which led to frequent breathlessness), acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and left ventricle dysfunction. The cremation will reportedly be held on Monday at her husband's native village Chakrapan in Gopalganj district, media reports said. Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu's son, said the family had tried to communicate the news of Gangotri Devi's death to Prasad through the prison authorities in Ranchi. He, however, expressed apprehension that his father might not be able to get parole in time, due to the legal procedure involved and the day being a Sunday. "As of now, we are making arrangements to take the body to her village home, where the last rites will be performed," Yadav, who had accompanied his mother Rabri Devi and elder brother Tej Pratap to his deceased aunt's house, said. 75-year-old Gangotri Devi, who was four years elder to Lalu, had not been keeping very well for a while now. Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi said his sister had been fasting and praying for her brother which is when she fell ill. "Yesterday, she spent the entire day praying for the release of her brother. When she learnt that he was sentenced to jail for a long period, she was shattered," Rabri Devi said. On Saturday, Lalu was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined Rs five lakhs by a special CBI court in a fodder scam case, related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar treasury 21 years ago.

Lalu Prasad may seek parole to attend elder sister's last rites

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lalu-prasad-found-guilty-in-fodder-scam-case-27532">Fodder scam convict</a> and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has again been put it the upper division cell at the Birsa Munda&nbsp;jail where he had stayed after the 2013 conviction and has also got access to TV and newspaper among other things.&nbsp;

The upper division cell will comprise of one mosquito net, one newspaper to read every day, and a television set apart from the usual cell bed.&nbsp;

Moreover, media reports said that he is also entitled to get home food and is also allowed to cook for himself.&nbsp;

The former Bihar chief minister can meet guests between 8 am and 12 noon during weekdays in line with the jail manual, Birsa Munda Jail Superintendent Ashok Kumar Choudhary said.

Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday convicted by a special CBI court in the 1996 fodder scam case along with 14 others co-accused in the case.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fodder-scam-verdict-how-politicians-reacted-to-lalu-prasads-conviction-27541">Fodder scam verdict: How politicians reacted to Lalu Prasad&#39;s conviction</a>

Lalu along with 15 others was convicted by the special CBI court in the case which involved the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar treasury between 1991 and 1994.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on January 3.

(With inputs from PTI)

The former Bihar CM can meet guests between 8 am and 12 noon during weekdays in line with the jail manual, Birsa Munda Jail Superintendent Ashok Kumar Choudhary said

Fodder scam convict and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has again been put it the upper division cell at the Birsa Munda jail where he had stayed after the 2013 conviction and has also got access to TV and newspaper among other things. The upper division cell will comprise of one mosquito net, one newspaper to read every day, and a television set apart from the usual cell bed. Moreover, media reports said that he is also entitled to get home food and is also allowed to cook for himself. The former Bihar chief minister can meet guests between 8 am and 12 noon during weekdays in line with the jail manual, Birsa Munda Jail Superintendent Ashok Kumar Choudhary said. Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Saturday convicted by a special CBI court in the 1996 fodder scam case along with 14 others co-accused in the case. Also read: Fodder scam verdict: How politicians reacted to Lalu Prasad's conviction Lalu along with 15 others was convicted by the special CBI court in the case which involved the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar treasury between 1991 and 1994. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced by the court on January 3. (With inputs from PTI)

In jail, Lalu Prasad gets access to TV, newspaper: Report

An Egyptian court on Sunday sentenced 14 men convicted of being homosexuals to three years in jail each for &quot;abnormal&quot; sexual relations, a defence lawyer said.

Ishaq Wadie said the men were released on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($283, 230 euros) each until an appeals trial.

The trial of three other suspects was delayed over procedural reasons, the lawyer said.

Homosexuality is not expressly outlawed in Egypt, but gays have previously been charged with debauchery in the deeply conservative Muslim society.

In recent months, authorities have cracked down on people who practice so-called &quot;abnormal&quot; sexual relations, which in Egypt means homosexuality, or for inciting debauchery.

The stepped-up measures follow an outdoor concert in Cairo on September 22 by Lebanese band Mashrou&#39; Leila, when the flag representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community was raised.

Thirty-one people have been arrested since the show, 10 directly linked with the event, according to judicial and security officials.

London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International said the number was more than 70 people, some of whom had been subjected to anal examinations.

On November 9, Amnesty condemned a draft bill in the Egyptian parliament that would criminalise homosexuality.

The bill lays jail terms of between one and three years for first time offenders, whether the act takes place in public or a private place. Repeat offenders would receive five years.

&quot;This deeply discriminatory bill would be a huge setback for human rights and another nail in the coffin for sexual rights in Egypt,&quot; said Najia Bounaim, North Africa campaigns director at Amnesty.

Homosexuality is not expressly outlawed in Egypt, but gays have previously been charged with debauchery in the deeply conservative society

An Egyptian court on Sunday sentenced 14 men convicted of being homosexuals to three years in jail each for "abnormal" sexual relations, a defence lawyer said. Ishaq Wadie said the men were released on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($283, 230 euros) each until an appeals trial. The trial of three other suspects was delayed over procedural reasons, the lawyer said. Homosexuality is not expressly outlawed in Egypt, but gays have previously been charged with debauchery in the deeply conservative Muslim society. In recent months, authorities have cracked down on people who practice so-called "abnormal" sexual relations, which in Egypt means homosexuality, or for inciting debauchery. The stepped-up measures follow an outdoor concert in Cairo on September 22 by Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila, when the flag representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community was raised. Thirty-one people have been arrested since the show, 10 directly linked with the event, according to judicial and security officials. London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International said the number was more than 70 people, some of whom had been subjected to anal examinations. On November 9, Amnesty condemned a draft bill in the Egyptian parliament that would criminalise homosexuality. The bill lays jail terms of between one and three years for first time offenders, whether the act takes place in public or a private place. Repeat offenders would receive five years. "This deeply discriminatory bill would be a huge setback for human rights and another nail in the coffin for sexual rights in Egypt," said Najia Bounaim, North Africa campaigns director at Amnesty.

Egypt jails 14 for homosexuality

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that any criminal in the state will be jailed or killed in police encounters. &nbsp;

Reiterating that the law and order situation in the state is heading in the right direction since BJP came to power in March, the CM&nbsp;while addressing people at the Ramleela Groud Ghaziabad said that the primary task before him when he came to power was to decrease crime in the state and make sure that rule of law remained across the state, media report&nbsp;said quoting the UP CM.&nbsp;

&quot;Hum unka jeena haram kar denge. Uske liye do hi jagah hongi phir. Ya toh pradesh ke jail honge. Ya phir police ki mutbhed mein Yamraj ka ghar uski jagah hogi (We will make it tough for criminals, they will only have two places to go, either they will be sent to jail or killed in police encounters and sent to Yamraj&#39;s house).&quot;

The UP police have declared that a total of&nbsp;420 encounters have taken place in the state, the highest being in Meerut, reports said.&nbsp;

A few days ago, a BJP member and his two associates were shot dead by assailants in Gautam Budh Nagar.

&nbsp;

Adityanath said that the first challenge before him when he took charge as the CM was to control crime in the state

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that any criminal in the state will be jailed or killed in police encounters. Reiterating that the law and order situation in the state is heading in the right direction since BJP came to power in March, the CM while addressing people at the Ramleela Groud Ghaziabad said that the primary task before him when he came to power was to decrease crime in the state and make sure that rule of law remained across the state, media report said quoting the UP CM. "Hum unka jeena haram kar denge. Uske liye do hi jagah hongi phir. Ya toh pradesh ke jail honge. Ya phir police ki mutbhed mein Yamraj ka ghar uski jagah hogi (We will make it tough for criminals, they will only have two places to go, either they will be sent to jail or killed in police encounters and sent to Yamraj's house)." The UP police have declared that a total of 420 encounters have taken place in the state, the highest being in Meerut, reports said. A few days ago, a BJP member and his two associates were shot dead by assailants in Gautam Budh Nagar.

Criminals will be either jailed or killed: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/former-el-salvador-president-arrested-on-fraud-charges-8132">El Salvador should apply a moratorium on laws</a> that punish women with harsh jail terms for having an abortion while it reviews cases of those already incarcerated in the socially conservative Central American country, a top UN&nbsp;official said Friday.

Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement he spent part of his two-day trip meeting with women imprisoned for the crime of &quot;aggravated homicide&quot; due to what he described as obstetric emergencies.

&quot;I am appalled that as a result of El Salvador&#39;s absolute prohibition on abortion, women are being punished for apparent miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies, accused and convicted of having induced termination of pregnancy,&quot; he said in a statement.

He called on authorities to review all cases of women detained for offences related to abortion, which the local Citizen Group for the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/brazil-protest-against-abortion-ban-6701"> Decriminalization of Abortion</a> puts at 27 cases in which exclusively poor women have been sentenced to jail terms of six to 35 years.

Al Hussein proposed that the review is conducted by presidential decree and carried out by an expert committee that would include international members.

Calls to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/powerful-quake-rocks-el-salvador-nicaragua-tsunami-alert-put-off-9290"> El Salvador&#39;s</a> communications ministry seeking comment on Al Hussein&#39;s comments were not immediately returned.

Since 1997, the Central American country has had one of the most severe laws targeting women and people who assist with abortions.

Last year, the party of leftist President Salvador Sanchez Ceren proposed that Congress reform the country&#39;s abortion law to allow for exceptions to the blanket prohibition.

The exceptions would include instances when the life of the mother is at risk, when the pregnancy resulted from rape or human trafficking, or when the fetus suffers from a malformation that would render it inviable.

El Salvador should apply a moratorium on laws that punish women with harsh jail terms for having an abortion while it reviews cases of those already incarcerated in the socially conservative Central American country, said UN official

El Salvador should apply a moratorium on laws that punish women with harsh jail terms for having an abortion while it reviews cases of those already incarcerated in the socially conservative Central American country, a top UN official said Friday. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement he spent part of his two-day trip meeting with women imprisoned for the crime of "aggravated homicide" due to what he described as obstetric emergencies. "I am appalled that as a result of El Salvador's absolute prohibition on abortion, women are being punished for apparent miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies, accused and convicted of having induced termination of pregnancy," he said in a statement. He called on authorities to review all cases of women detained for offences related to abortion, which the local Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion puts at 27 cases in which exclusively poor women have been sentenced to jail terms of six to 35 years. Al Hussein proposed that the review is conducted by presidential decree and carried out by an expert committee that would include international members. Calls to El Salvador's communications ministry seeking comment on Al Hussein's comments were not immediately returned. Since 1997, the Central American country has had one of the most severe laws targeting women and people who assist with abortions. Last year, the party of leftist President Salvador Sanchez Ceren proposed that Congress reform the country's abortion law to allow for exceptions to the blanket prohibition. The exceptions would include instances when the life of the mother is at risk, when the pregnancy resulted from rape or human trafficking, or when the fetus suffers from a malformation that would render it inviable.

UN calls on El Salvador to stop jailing women for abortion

The Chinese legislature passed an amendment on Saturday which stated that anyone disrespecting Chinese national anthem will be taken to task.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The StanpassedCommittee of the National People&#39;s Congress informed the country&#39;s criminal law&nbsp;that any &#39;serious&#39; disregard would lead to upto three years in jail, after increased nationalist demands from&nbsp;the ruling Communist Party led by President Xi Jinping.

According to China&#39;s officials, the amendment was passed in Bejing on Saturday, stated further punishments such as detention and elimination of political rights.&nbsp;

These penalties have also been in practice with regards to any violation of the national flag and emblem in public, the officials further reported.&nbsp;

FIFA, the sports governing organisation, have previously fined soccer fans in Hong Kong after they were found mocking China&#39;s national anthem during games with home teams.&nbsp;

The National Anthem Law came into practice in October, declared that playing the anthem on occasions stated inappropriate, including funerals, using different words or paying disregard in any manner would lead to 15 days detention, according to reports.&nbsp;

Xinhua cited Zhang Rongshun, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the top parliamentary body, claimed that it was&nbsp;&#39;urgent and important&#39;&nbsp;to declare anthem law in Hong Kong to due to recent events.

&ldquo;In recent years, incidents of disrespecting the national anthem had occurred in Hong Kong, challenging the bottom line of the principle of `one country, two systems&rsquo; and social morality, and triggering rage among Chinese, including most Hong Kong residents,&rdquo; Zhang told sources.

China&rsquo;s legislature adopted a decision to include the law in Hong Kong&rsquo;s and Macau&rsquo;s mini-constitution, known in each territory as the Basic Law.

The National Anthem Law, came into practice in October, declared that playing the anthem on occasions stated inappropriate, including funerals, ussing different words or paying disregard in any manner would lead to 15 days detention, according to reports.?

The Chinese legislature passed an amendment on Saturday which stated that anyone disrespecting Chinese national anthem will be taken to task. The StanpassedCommittee of the National People's Congress informed the country's criminal law that any 'serious' disregard would lead to upto three years in jail, after increased nationalist demands from the ruling Communist Party led by President Xi Jinping. According to China's officials, the amendment was passed in Bejing on Saturday, stated further punishments such as detention and elimination of political rights. These penalties have also been in practice with regards to any violation of the national flag and emblem in public, the officials further reported. FIFA, the sports governing organisation, have previously fined soccer fans in Hong Kong after they were found mocking China's national anthem during games with home teams. The National Anthem Law came into practice in October, declared that playing the anthem on occasions stated inappropriate, including funerals, using different words or paying disregard in any manner would lead to 15 days detention, according to reports. Xinhua cited Zhang Rongshun, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the top parliamentary body, claimed that it was 'urgent and important' to declare anthem law in Hong Kong to due to recent events. “In recent years, incidents of disrespecting the national anthem had occurred in Hong Kong, challenging the bottom line of the principle of `one country, two systems’ and social morality, and triggering rage among Chinese, including most Hong Kong residents,” Zhang told sources. China’s legislature adopted a decision to include the law in Hong Kong’s and Macau’s mini-constitution, known in each territory as the Basic Law.

Upto 3-year imprisonment for disrespecting anthem: China

A special investigation team has unearthed 600 skeletons buried inside the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda compound in north India&#39;s Haryana just days after an intensive search.&nbsp;

Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the self-made&nbsp;godman, was convicted on rape charges last month, and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dera-sacha-sauda-chief-sentenced-to-20-years-in-jail-for-rape-19583">was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court. </a>&nbsp;

During investigations&nbsp;by the SIT, Dera managing committee members have reportedly insisted that the &quot;human bones and remains&quot; found in the Sirsa campus belonged to those followers who believed that they or their family members would achieve salvation by being buried inside the Dera.

However, it is also suspected that these remains may be of those who were aware of the malpractices taking place inside the campus, or those who were trying to raise their voice again the Dera. The possibility is being looked into that these people were attacked by Gurmeet Ram Rahim&#39;s followers and their bodies buried inside the campus.

These are preliminary, initial reports suggesting that 600 skeletons and bones have been recovered from the Dera campus, but more clarity in the matter is awaited as Haryana Police and the SIT probe the case further.

A special investigation team searched the Dera Sacha?Sauda's headquarters and unearthed 600 skeletons inside

A special investigation team has unearthed 600 skeletons buried inside the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda compound in north India's Haryana just days after an intensive search. Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the self-made godman, was convicted on rape charges last month, and was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court. During investigations by the SIT, Dera managing committee members have reportedly insisted that the "human bones and remains" found in the Sirsa campus belonged to those followers who believed that they or their family members would achieve salvation by being buried inside the Dera. However, it is also suspected that these remains may be of those who were aware of the malpractices taking place inside the campus, or those who were trying to raise their voice again the Dera. The possibility is being looked into that these people were attacked by Gurmeet Ram Rahim's followers and their bodies buried inside the campus. These are preliminary, initial reports suggesting that 600 skeletons and bones have been recovered from the Dera campus, but more clarity in the matter is awaited as Haryana Police and the SIT probe the case further.

WATCH: 600 skeletons found in Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim's headquarters

&nbsp;A court in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;jailed&nbsp;dissident&nbsp;Nguyen Van Oai for a further&nbsp;five&nbsp;years&nbsp;on Monday for violating the terms of his probation after a spell in prison, his lawyer said.

Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the Communist-ruled country&#39;s biggest crackdown&nbsp;on&nbsp;activists&nbsp;in&nbsp;years.

Oai, 36, was arrested in January while on probation after a 2013 sentence for activities aimed at overthrowing the government. He had been released in 2015.

On Monday, the people&#39;s court in Nghe An, central&nbsp;Vietnam, also found him guilty of resisting security personnel in performing their duty. He was given another four&nbsp;years&nbsp;on probation as well as the prison sentence.

&quot;Oai said he was innocent and he would appeal,&quot; his lawyer, Ha Huy Son, told Reuters.

The court made no immediate comment.

Despite sweeping economic reforms and growing openness to social change,&nbsp;Vietnam&#39;s Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.

Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the Communist-ruled country's biggest crackdown?on?activists?in?years.

A court in Vietnam jailed dissident Nguyen Van Oai for a further five years on Monday for violating the terms of his probation after a spell in prison, his lawyer said. Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the Communist-ruled country's biggest crackdown on activists in years. Oai, 36, was arrested in January while on probation after a 2013 sentence for activities aimed at overthrowing the government. He had been released in 2015. On Monday, the people's court in Nghe An, central Vietnam, also found him guilty of resisting security personnel in performing their duty. He was given another four years on probation as well as the prison sentence. "Oai said he was innocent and he would appeal," his lawyer, Ha Huy Son, told Reuters. The court made no immediate comment. Despite sweeping economic reforms and growing openness to social change, Vietnam's Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.

Vietnam jails dissident in crackdown on activists

A Thai man was jailed for 35 years on Friday for Facebook posts deemed insulting to the royal family, a watchdog said, in one of the harshest sentences handed down for a crime that insulates Thailand&#39;s ultra-rich monarchy from criticism.

A Bangkok military court convicted the 34-year-old of ten counts of lese majeste for posting photos and videos of the royal family on a Facebook account that purported to belong to a different user.

Wichai, whose last name was withheld to protect his relatives from ostracisation, was accused of using the account to slander a former friend, said iLaw, a group that tracks royal defamation cases.

&quot;The court punished him with seven years per count. Altogether he was given 70 years, but it was reduced in half because he confessed,&quot; said Yingcheep Atchanont from iLaw.&nbsp;

Lese majeste cases are routinely shrouded in secrecy, with media forced to heavily self-censor the details to avoid violating the broadly interpreted law.

Reporters were barred from entering the military court where Wichai&#39;s verdict was read.

Later on Friday, a criminal court sentenced another lese majeste suspect to 2.5 years in jail for uploading an audio clip from an underground political radio show that was deemed insulting to the monarchy.

Use of the draconian law has surged under a royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014, with more than 100 people charged since the coup.&nbsp;Prosecutions have continued under Thailand&#39;s new king Maha Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne in late 2016 after the death of his deeply revered father.&nbsp;

Observers have been closely watching how the new king approaches the controversial law, which effectively blocks scrutiny of Thailand&#39;s opaque and powerful monarchy.&nbsp;

According to iLaw, Wichai initially denied the charges but later confessed after waiting for more than a year in jail for the court proceedings to begin.&nbsp;

Lese majeste suspects are rarely acquitted or granted bail.&nbsp;The United Nations&#39; rights body has warned that Thailand&#39;s widespread use of the law &#39;may constitute crimes against humanity&#39;.

(AFP)

Wichai was punished with one of the harshest sentences - 35 year jail time - for posting photos and videos of the royal family on Facebook

A Thai man was jailed for 35 years on Friday for Facebook posts deemed insulting to the royal family, a watchdog said, in one of the harshest sentences handed down for a crime that insulates Thailand's ultra-rich monarchy from criticism. A Bangkok military court convicted the 34-year-old of ten counts of lese majeste for posting photos and videos of the royal family on a Facebook account that purported to belong to a different user. Wichai, whose last name was withheld to protect his relatives from ostracisation, was accused of using the account to slander a former friend, said iLaw, a group that tracks royal defamation cases. "The court punished him with seven years per count. Altogether he was given 70 years, but it was reduced in half because he confessed," said Yingcheep Atchanont from iLaw. Lese majeste cases are routinely shrouded in secrecy, with media forced to heavily self-censor the details to avoid violating the broadly interpreted law. Reporters were barred from entering the military court where Wichai's verdict was read. Later on Friday, a criminal court sentenced another lese majeste suspect to 2.5 years in jail for uploading an audio clip from an underground political radio show that was deemed insulting to the monarchy. Use of the draconian law has surged under a royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014, with more than 100 people charged since the coup. Prosecutions have continued under Thailand's new king Maha Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne in late 2016 after the death of his deeply revered father. Observers have been closely watching how the new king approaches the controversial law, which effectively blocks scrutiny of Thailand's opaque and powerful monarchy. According to iLaw, Wichai initially denied the charges but later confessed after waiting for more than a year in jail for the court proceedings to begin. Lese majeste suspects are rarely acquitted or granted bail. The United Nations' rights body has warned that Thailand's widespread use of the law 'may constitute crimes against humanity'. (AFP)

Thai man jailed for defaming royals on Facebook

Moroccan police have crushed an escape attempt by inmates at a juvenile detention centre in Casablanca, resulting in nine detainees being injured, the prison service said on Friday. 
 
&quot;The Ain Sebaa rehabilitation centre was the scene of rioting&quot; by prisoners on Thursday night, the General Directorate of Prisons and Re-integration said. 
 
Detainees at the centre in the Northeast of Morocco&#39;s biggest city set fire to beds in a bid to attract staff, attack them and try to escape, it said.&nbsp;The prisoners tried and failed to break into a weapons store, but managed to get out of the main building and set alight a prison bus, it said.&nbsp;They attacked and lightly wounded several staff. Police then intervened to put down the riot. 
 
An AFP photographer on the scene saw fire and smoke coming from the centre, which was surrounded by security forces.&nbsp;Videos posted online appeared to show a large explosion at the centre and a burning bus, with the sound of gunshots and police sirens. Local news websites said witnesses had heard the sound of gunfire coming from the facility. 
 
The prison service said nine detainees were hurt in the incident, although it was not clear whether from smoke inhalation or during clashes with the police. 
 
The prison service said it would open an enquiry to determine who was behind the incident. Moroccan prisons are chronically overcrowded, housing some 65,000 detainees in facilities with a capacity of just 30,000, according to the Ministry of Justice.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

The prisoners tried and failed to break into a weapons store, but managed to get out of the main building and set alight a prison bus

Moroccan police have crushed an escape attempt by inmates at a juvenile detention centre in Casablanca, resulting in nine detainees being injured, the prison service said on Friday. "The Ain Sebaa rehabilitation centre was the scene of rioting" by prisoners on Thursday night, the General Directorate of Prisons and Re-integration said. Detainees at the centre in the Northeast of Morocco's biggest city set fire to beds in a bid to attract staff, attack them and try to escape, it said. The prisoners tried and failed to break into a weapons store, but managed to get out of the main building and set alight a prison bus, it said. They attacked and lightly wounded several staff. Police then intervened to put down the riot. An AFP photographer on the scene saw fire and smoke coming from the centre, which was surrounded by security forces. Videos posted online appeared to show a large explosion at the centre and a burning bus, with the sound of gunshots and police sirens. Local news websites said witnesses had heard the sound of gunfire coming from the facility. The prison service said nine detainees were hurt in the incident, although it was not clear whether from smoke inhalation or during clashes with the police. The prison service said it would open an enquiry to determine who was behind the incident. Moroccan prisons are chronically overcrowded, housing some 65,000 detainees in facilities with a capacity of just 30,000, according to the Ministry of Justice. (AFP)

Mass jail-break attempt in Casablanca juvenile home leads to riot

A US army soldier who participated in a scheme to buy guns and send them to a security detail for the president and vice president of Indonesia plead guilty to several charges in federal court. 
 
Audi Sumilat pleaded guilty Tuesday and will be sentenced in October, the US attorney&#39;s office in New Hampshire said yesterday. 
The 36-year-old faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. 
 
One of Sumilat&#39;s co-conspirators also has been charged and is scheduled to be tried on July 19.&nbsp;Assistant US Attorney Bill Morse said there have been cases in New Hampshire and other states involving international firearms trafficking to countries including Ghana, Canada and Mexico.&nbsp;&quot;But this is the first case that I&#39;m aware of in which the intended beneficiaries of the trafficking were representatives of a foreign government,&quot; Morse said. 
 
Authorities said Sumilat joined a conspiracy to buy guns in Texas and New Hampshire for members of the Indonesian Presidential Guard, who are tasked with providing security to the president and vice president but could not lawfully buy the weapons themselves. 
Sumilat admitted he and three guard members came up with a plan in 2014, when they were stationed together for training in Fort Benning, Georgia. 
 
Sumilat said he bought guns in Texas and shipped them to a co-conspirator in New Hampshire, who delivered them to guard members on visits to Washington DC, and to the UN General Assembly in New York. The guns were to be smuggled out of the United States. 
Sumilat pleaded guilty to making false statements in records required to be kept by federal firearms dealers for telling gun dealers the weapons were for him and for smuggling firearms from the US. 
 
To have legally exported the guns, Sumilat was required to get an exporter&#39;s license and a license covering the specific guns exported. No licenses were issued. 
 
New Hampshire US Attorney Emily Gray Rice said the consequences of international gun trafficking can be grave.&nbsp;&quot;Firearms exported overseas illegally can easily end up in the wrong hands,&quot; she said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;International gun trafficking will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible to protect innocent individuals, both American and foreign, from the criminal use of US weapons abroad.&quot; 
 
(AP)

Sumilat pleaded guilty in federal court, and faces a sentence of five years in jail and a $250,000 fine

A US army soldier who participated in a scheme to buy guns and send them to a security detail for the president and vice president of Indonesia plead guilty to several charges in federal court. Audi Sumilat pleaded guilty Tuesday and will be sentenced in October, the US attorney's office in New Hampshire said yesterday. The 36-year-old faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. One of Sumilat's co-conspirators also has been charged and is scheduled to be tried on July 19. Assistant US Attorney Bill Morse said there have been cases in New Hampshire and other states involving international firearms trafficking to countries including Ghana, Canada and Mexico. "But this is the first case that I'm aware of in which the intended beneficiaries of the trafficking were representatives of a foreign government," Morse said. Authorities said Sumilat joined a conspiracy to buy guns in Texas and New Hampshire for members of the Indonesian Presidential Guard, who are tasked with providing security to the president and vice president but could not lawfully buy the weapons themselves. Sumilat admitted he and three guard members came up with a plan in 2014, when they were stationed together for training in Fort Benning, Georgia. Sumilat said he bought guns in Texas and shipped them to a co-conspirator in New Hampshire, who delivered them to guard members on visits to Washington DC, and to the UN General Assembly in New York. The guns were to be smuggled out of the United States. Sumilat pleaded guilty to making false statements in records required to be kept by federal firearms dealers for telling gun dealers the weapons were for him and for smuggling firearms from the US. To have legally exported the guns, Sumilat was required to get an exporter's license and a license covering the specific guns exported. No licenses were issued. New Hampshire US Attorney Emily Gray Rice said the consequences of international gun trafficking can be grave. "Firearms exported overseas illegally can easily end up in the wrong hands," she said in a statement. "International gun trafficking will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible to protect innocent individuals, both American and foreign, from the criminal use of US weapons abroad." (AP)

US soldier smuggles guns for Indonesian President's security detail

A New Zealand man was jailed on Thursday for spreading images of Islamic State (IS) violence, the first person sentenced to prison for circulating and possessing objectionable material linked to extreme violence, local media reported.&nbsp; 
 
Imran Patel, 26, was jailed for three years and nine months by an Auckland court after he admitted to making, distributing and possessing videos depicting cruel violence perpetuated by IS, according to news website stuff.co.nz.&nbsp; 
 
The prison sentence was the first for someone on an objectionable material charge related to violence. To date, all such charges in New Zealand had related to indecent images of children , said Auckland District Court Judge Russell Collins, according to the news site. 
 
Patel had sent text messages with a link to an IS beheading video to 52 people last year, after which police discovered a laptop containing 62 objectionable videos showing extreme violence or cruelty, stuff.co.nz reported. 
 
Patel told police he wanted to provide information on what was happening in the Middle East, because he believed western media wasn`t showing a balanced view, the news website said.&nbsp; 
 
A court official was not able to offer any information on the proceedings to Reuters and Patel`s lawyer did not return a call requesting comment.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

The 26-year-old was found sending text messages with links to an IS beheading video last year

A New Zealand man was jailed on Thursday for spreading images of Islamic State (IS) violence, the first person sentenced to prison for circulating and possessing objectionable material linked to extreme violence, local media reported. Imran Patel, 26, was jailed for three years and nine months by an Auckland court after he admitted to making, distributing and possessing videos depicting cruel violence perpetuated by IS, according to news website stuff.co.nz. The prison sentence was the first for someone on an objectionable material charge related to violence. To date, all such charges in New Zealand had related to indecent images of children , said Auckland District Court Judge Russell Collins, according to the news site. Patel had sent text messages with a link to an IS beheading video to 52 people last year, after which police discovered a laptop containing 62 objectionable videos showing extreme violence or cruelty, stuff.co.nz reported. Patel told police he wanted to provide information on what was happening in the Middle East, because he believed western media wasn`t showing a balanced view, the news website said. A court official was not able to offer any information on the proceedings to Reuters and Patel`s lawyer did not return a call requesting comment. (Reuters)

Man jailed in New Zealand for circulating images of IS violence

Egypt&#39;s ousted Islamist President Mohamad Morsi was today sentenced to life imprisonment by a Cairo court in an espionage trial in which six co-defendants were handed death penalties for leaking state secrets on military intelligence to Qatar and a Doha-based TV network. 
 
The Cairo Criminal Court upheld the death sentences of the six Muslim Brotherhood members and awarded life imprisonment to two others. 
 
Life in prison in Egypt is 25 years. But Morsi, who received life in prison for leading an unlawful group, was given an additional 15 years for stealing documents related to national security, increasing his jail term to 40 years. 
 
The six co-defendants were Ahmed Abdo Ali Afifi, a documentary film producer (who is in jail), Asmaa el-Khateeb, a reporter with Rasd News Network which is widely suspected of links to Morsi&#39;s Muslim Brotherhood (sentenced in absentia). 
 
Two more included Al-Jazeera employees - news producer Alaa Omar Mohammed and news editor Ibrahim Mohammed Hilal (both sentenced in absentia). 
 
Qatar, a wealthy Gulf state, was the main backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood during his term in power between 2012 and July 2013, when the military overthrew and detained him.&nbsp;Today&#39;s verdicts are not final and can be appealed. 
 
Last month, the court ordered that case documents of the six defendants, excluding Morsi, be referred to the Grand Mufti, who according to Egyptian law must review all death sentences. His decision, however, is not binding. 
 
The co-defendents have been convicted for leaking classified documents to Qatar and selling them to Doha-based Al-Jazeera channel. The documents allegedly include information on general and military intelligence, the armed forces, its armaments and state policy secrets. 
 
Other charges include leading and joining the outlawed Brotherhood, that aims at changing Egypt&#39;s regime by force, and attacking army and police posts and public properties. 
 
Muslim Brotherhood&#39;s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and 35 other members of the proscribed Islamist group were last month sentenced to life for committing violent acts after the ouster of country&#39;s first democratically-elected President in 2013. 
 
Badie and Morsi were also sentenced to life in prison in the espionage case. Their sentences are currently in appeal. 
 
Morsi, Badie and 100 other leaders were sentenced to death in June last year for escaping from prison in 2011. 
 
However, an Egyptian court later quashed the death sentence against Badie. Hundreds of other Muslim Brotherhood members were also sentenced for life in various cases. 
 
The Egyptian government has been cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters since Morsi&#39;s ouster. The Muslim Brotherhood was designated as a terrorist group in November 2013 by the government. 
(PTI)

Six other co-defendants, including three journalists, were handed death penalties for leaking military secrets to Qatar

Egypt's ousted Islamist President Mohamad Morsi was today sentenced to life imprisonment by a Cairo court in an espionage trial in which six co-defendants were handed death penalties for leaking state secrets on military intelligence to Qatar and a Doha-based TV network. The Cairo Criminal Court upheld the death sentences of the six Muslim Brotherhood members and awarded life imprisonment to two others. Life in prison in Egypt is 25 years. But Morsi, who received life in prison for leading an unlawful group, was given an additional 15 years for stealing documents related to national security, increasing his jail term to 40 years. The six co-defendants were Ahmed Abdo Ali Afifi, a documentary film producer (who is in jail), Asmaa el-Khateeb, a reporter with Rasd News Network which is widely suspected of links to Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood (sentenced in absentia). Two more included Al-Jazeera employees - news producer Alaa Omar Mohammed and news editor Ibrahim Mohammed Hilal (both sentenced in absentia). Qatar, a wealthy Gulf state, was the main backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood during his term in power between 2012 and July 2013, when the military overthrew and detained him. Today's verdicts are not final and can be appealed. Last month, the court ordered that case documents of the six defendants, excluding Morsi, be referred to the Grand Mufti, who according to Egyptian law must review all death sentences. His decision, however, is not binding. The co-defendents have been convicted for leaking classified documents to Qatar and selling them to Doha-based Al-Jazeera channel. The documents allegedly include information on general and military intelligence, the armed forces, its armaments and state policy secrets. Other charges include leading and joining the outlawed Brotherhood, that aims at changing Egypt's regime by force, and attacking army and police posts and public properties. Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and 35 other members of the proscribed Islamist group were last month sentenced to life for committing violent acts after the ouster of country's first democratically-elected President in 2013. Badie and Morsi were also sentenced to life in prison in the espionage case. Their sentences are currently in appeal. Morsi, Badie and 100 other leaders were sentenced to death in June last year for escaping from prison in 2011. However, an Egyptian court later quashed the death sentence against Badie. Hundreds of other Muslim Brotherhood members were also sentenced for life in various cases. The Egyptian government has been cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters since Morsi's ouster. The Muslim Brotherhood was designated as a terrorist group in November 2013 by the government. (PTI)

Egypt's ousted Islamist President Morsi sentenced to life in jail, plus 15 years

Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs on Wednesday to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. 
 
The 29-year-old faces a minimum 15-year jail term for the Valentine&#39;s Day killing in 2013 in a case that has attracted worldwide interest and divided South Africa. He will be sentenced on July 6. 
 
Pistorius has always said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home, killing her almost instantly. 
 
During his closing arguments, defense lawyer Barry Roux asked the gold medalist, known as the &quot;Blade Runner&quot; for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, to walk on his stumps to show the difficulty he faced dealing with the threat of an intruder. 
 
The lower part of his legs were amputated when he was a baby. 
 
His body shaking with emotion, Pistorius removed his prosthetics and stood on his stumps for about five minutes in front of the court television camera, wiping tears with a tissue. 
 
&quot;The accused was vulnerable because of his disability,&quot; Roux said. &quot;His failure to conduct a rational thought process does not negate his vulnerability.&quot; 
 
The defense says Pistorius did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp and was &quot;a broken man&quot;, calling for a non-custodial sentence that includes community service. 
 
A state prosecutor argued that Pistorius - who did not take the stand himself - had shown no remorse or told the court why he fired the shots, and asked the court jail the athlete for the prescribed minimum sentence of 15-years. 
 
Race debate 
 
The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal. 
 
The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, who presided at the hearings at the Pretoria High Court, on Wednesday set July 6 as the date for the sentencing. 
 
Roux asked the judge to consider that his client was vulnerable because of his disability and that the prescribed 15-year minimum sentence should give the court &quot;unease&quot;. 
 
&quot;The fact is that a disabled person in jail has a more difficult time,&quot; Roux said. 
 
The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women and still dealing with the legacy of decades of apartheid race-based rule. 
 
Some rights groups have said Pistorius, a wealthy white man, has received preferential treatment. 
 
Roux said the publicity surrounding the case led to it being portrayed as an incident of gender-based violence, despite the facts showing it was not. Pistorius had now &quot;become the face of gender violence&quot;, he said. 
 
Shortly after Roux asked Pistorius to walk without his prosthetics, prosecutor Gerrie Nel requested that the judge allow photos to be shown of Steenkamp&#39;s bloodied head and torso. Masipa later granted the request and ruled that the photos be made available to the public upon request. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a chasm between regret and remorse,&quot; Nel said. &quot;Real remorse would have been the accused taking the court into his confidence, telling the court why I fired that shot, why I did what I did. We don&#39;t have that.&quot; 
 
Earlier, Steenkamp&#39;s cousin Kim Martin, fought back tears saying she found it hard to cope with the killing and wondered why Pistorius had given a television interview rather than testify at the pre-sentencing hearings. 
 
&quot;I just think its very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you have the opportunity in court to do so, it&#39;s very hurtful, I can&#39;t understand why,&quot; she said. 
 
Pistorius&#39; hour-long interview with Britain&#39;s ITV is due to air next week. 
(Reuters)

The paralympian?stood on his stumps for five minutes and could be seen wiping his tears

Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs on Wednesday to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The 29-year-old faces a minimum 15-year jail term for the Valentine's Day killing in 2013 in a case that has attracted worldwide interest and divided South Africa. He will be sentenced on July 6. Pistorius has always said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home, killing her almost instantly. During his closing arguments, defense lawyer Barry Roux asked the gold medalist, known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, to walk on his stumps to show the difficulty he faced dealing with the threat of an intruder. The lower part of his legs were amputated when he was a baby. His body shaking with emotion, Pistorius removed his prosthetics and stood on his stumps for about five minutes in front of the court television camera, wiping tears with a tissue. "The accused was vulnerable because of his disability," Roux said. "His failure to conduct a rational thought process does not negate his vulnerability." The defense says Pistorius did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp and was "a broken man", calling for a non-custodial sentence that includes community service. A state prosecutor argued that Pistorius - who did not take the stand himself - had shown no remorse or told the court why he fired the shots, and asked the court jail the athlete for the prescribed minimum sentence of 15-years. Race debate The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal. The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, who presided at the hearings at the Pretoria High Court, on Wednesday set July 6 as the date for the sentencing. Roux asked the judge to consider that his client was vulnerable because of his disability and that the prescribed 15-year minimum sentence should give the court "unease". "The fact is that a disabled person in jail has a more difficult time," Roux said. The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women and still dealing with the legacy of decades of apartheid race-based rule. Some rights groups have said Pistorius, a wealthy white man, has received preferential treatment. Roux said the publicity surrounding the case led to it being portrayed as an incident of gender-based violence, despite the facts showing it was not. Pistorius had now "become the face of gender violence", he said. Shortly after Roux asked Pistorius to walk without his prosthetics, prosecutor Gerrie Nel requested that the judge allow photos to be shown of Steenkamp's bloodied head and torso. Masipa later granted the request and ruled that the photos be made available to the public upon request. "There's a chasm between regret and remorse," Nel said. "Real remorse would have been the accused taking the court into his confidence, telling the court why I fired that shot, why I did what I did. We don't have that." Earlier, Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin, fought back tears saying she found it hard to cope with the killing and wondered why Pistorius had given a television interview rather than testify at the pre-sentencing hearings. "I just think its very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you have the opportunity in court to do so, it's very hurtful, I can't understand why," she said. Pistorius' hour-long interview with Britain's ITV is due to air next week. (Reuters)

Pistorius walks on stumps in court, seeks to avoid prison sentence

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