In one of Italy's largest-ever mafia trials, a judge found 70 defendents guilty. The case involves Ndrangheta clan which is based in Calabria.

Prosecutors consider the clan to be most powerful mafia group in the country.

The fast-track trial, held over the weekend, involved 91 defendants and allowed those convicted to have their sentences reduced by a third.

Some of those shown by prosecutors to be key 'Ndrangheta members were handed jail sentences of up to 20 years.

Chief prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said the first sentencing provided a basis for the wider proceedings involving a further 300 suspects which started in January in the Calabrian city of Lamezia Terme.

The mobsters face charges including extortion, drug trafficking and theft.

"We continue our work with serenity and the firmness needed for such an important trial," said Gratteri, one of the country's most respected anti-mafia magistrates.

He added that most of the 19 people acquitted in the trial were marginal suspects.

The last time Italy tried hundreds of alleged mafiosi simultaneously was in 1986 in the Sicilian city of Palermo, a case which represented a turning-point in the fight against Cosa Nostra and marked the beginning of the group's sharp decline.

The Calabrian trial involves a large number of white-collar workers and does not target the top hierarchies of the 'Ndrangheta clans in the way the Palermo case did.

(With inputs from agencies)

In one of Italy's largest-ever mafia trials, a judge found 70 defendents guilty. The case involves Ndrangheta clan which is based in Calabria. Prosecutors consider the clan to be most powerful mafia group in the country.

In one of Italy's largest-ever mafia trials, a judge found 70 defendents guilty. The case involves Ndrangheta clan which is based in Calabria. Prosecutors consider the clan to be most powerful mafia group in the country. The fast-track trial, held over the weekend, involved 91 defendants and allowed those convicted to have their sentences reduced by a third. Some of those shown by prosecutors to be key 'Ndrangheta members were handed jail sentences of up to 20 years. Chief prosecutor Nicola Gratteri said the first sentencing provided a basis for the wider proceedings involving a further 300 suspects which started in January in the Calabrian city of Lamezia Terme. The mobsters face charges including extortion, drug trafficking and theft. "We continue our work with serenity and the firmness needed for such an important trial," said Gratteri, one of the country's most respected anti-mafia magistrates. He added that most of the 19 people acquitted in the trial were marginal suspects. The last time Italy tried hundreds of alleged mafiosi simultaneously was in 1986 in the Sicilian city of Palermo, a case which represented a turning-point in the fight against Cosa Nostra and marked the beginning of the group's sharp decline. The Calabrian trial involves a large number of white-collar workers and does not target the top hierarchies of the 'Ndrangheta clans in the way the Palermo case did. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy mafia trial: Judge holds 70 people guilty

Although ivermectin has not yet proven effective against the coronavirus, a judge in Ohio has ordered a hospital to treat a COVID-19 patient with the anti-parasitic drug. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The experts have given warnings that the ivermectin is yet to be proven effective against the deadly virus. It can also be dangerous in large doses. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Japan's COVID vaccine drive suffers blow

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In a judgement, Butler County judge Gregory Howard ordered doctors at West Chester hospital to administer ivermectin to 51-year-old Jeffrey Smith. Smith had contracted COVID-19 in July and was transferred to intensive care. &nbsp;

Butler County falls outside Cincinnati in the United States. &nbsp; &nbsp;

In court documents, Julie Smith said, “My husband is on death’s doorstep. He has no other options.” &nbsp;

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Outside the hospital, a doctor was willing to prescribe the drug but the hospital had refused to administer it. The judge ordered the hospital to give 30mg of the medicine to Smith for three weeks. &nbsp;

The Ivermectin drug is generally used against parasites in livestock animals, which includes horses and cows. In humans, it is also used against some parasitic worms and external parasites like head lice. &nbsp;

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has also warned that “taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm”.&nbsp;

Although ivermectin has not yet proven effective against the coronavirus, a judge in Ohio has ordered a hospital to treat a COVID-19 patient with the anti-parasitic drug.

Although ivermectin has not yet proven effective against the coronavirus, a judge in Ohio has ordered a hospital to treat a COVID-19 patient with the anti-parasitic drug. The experts have given warnings that the ivermectin is yet to be proven effective against the deadly virus. It can also be dangerous in large doses. Watch: Japan's COVID vaccine drive suffers blow × In a judgement, Butler County judge Gregory Howard ordered doctors at West Chester hospital to administer ivermectin to 51-year-old Jeffrey Smith. Smith had contracted COVID-19 in July and was transferred to intensive care. Butler County falls outside Cincinnati in the United States. In court documents, Julie Smith said, “My husband is on death’s doorstep. He has no other options.” Also Read: WHO warns against a new Covid variant that may be resistant to vaccines Outside the hospital, a doctor was willing to prescribe the drug but the hospital had refused to administer it. The judge ordered the hospital to give 30mg of the medicine to Smith for three weeks. The Ivermectin drug is generally used against parasites in livestock animals, which includes horses and cows. In humans, it is also used against some parasitic worms and external parasites like head lice. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has also warned that “taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm”.

US Judge orders hospital to treat COVID-19 patient with ‘not yet proven effective’ ivermectin drug  

In what is being described as an unprecedented ruling, a county judge in US’ Illinois state has prohibited a mother from visiting her 11-year-old son, who lives with her estranged husband, because she refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cook County judge James Shapiro said Rebecca Firlit, 39, could not see the boy again until she had taken the jab.

“I’ve had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past and was advised not to get vaccinated by my doctor. It poses a risk,” Firlit told ta local media about the virtual court hearing, which took place earlier this month.

“I was confused because it was just supposed to be about expenses and child support. One of the first things he asked me when I got on the Zoom call was whether or not I was vaccinated, which threw me off because I asked him what it had to do with the hearing.”

“He said: I am the judge, and I make the decisions for your case.”

Firlit’s lawyer Annette Fernholz said she and her ex-husband have been divorced for seven years and that her former husband did not seek a ruling on the vaccination issue.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-throwing-porn-collection-judge-orders-couple-to-pay-30441-to-son-in-us-408965">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-throwing-porn-collection-judge-orders-couple-to-pay-30441-to-son-in-us-408965">For throwing porn collection, judge orders couple to pay $30,441 to son in US</a>

“The trial court clearly exceeded its authority in suspending the mother’s parenting time when the issue before the court was child support,” Fernholz said in a statement.

“The mother did not know her parenting time was being discussed when she went to Zoom court. The judge deprived her of notice and a full hearing on the issue,” he added

The father’s attorney, Jeffery M&nbsp;Leving, said he supported the judge’s decision. “There are children who have died because of COVID,” he told The Washington Post

Meanwhile, Filirt’s lawyer said they have filed a legal challenge to the state appellate court.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what is being described as an unprecedented ruling, a county judge in US’ Illinois state has prohibited a mother from visiting her 11-year-old son, who lives with her estranged husband, because she refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In what is being described as an unprecedented ruling, a county judge in US’ Illinois state has prohibited a mother from visiting her 11-year-old son, who lives with her estranged husband, because she refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Cook County judge James Shapiro said Rebecca Firlit, 39, could not see the boy again until she had taken the jab. “I’ve had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past and was advised not to get vaccinated by my doctor. It poses a risk,” Firlit told ta local media about the virtual court hearing, which took place earlier this month. “I was confused because it was just supposed to be about expenses and child support. One of the first things he asked me when I got on the Zoom call was whether or not I was vaccinated, which threw me off because I asked him what it had to do with the hearing.” “He said: I am the judge, and I make the decisions for your case.” Firlit’s lawyer Annette Fernholz said she and her ex-husband have been divorced for seven years and that her former husband did not seek a ruling on the vaccination issue. Also read | For throwing porn collection, judge orders couple to pay $30,441 to son in US “The trial court clearly exceeded its authority in suspending the mother’s parenting time when the issue before the court was child support,” Fernholz said in a statement. “The mother did not know her parenting time was being discussed when she went to Zoom court. The judge deprived her of notice and a full hearing on the issue,” he added The father’s attorney, Jeffery M Leving, said he supported the judge’s decision. “There are children who have died because of COVID,” he told The Washington Post Meanwhile, Filirt’s lawyer said they have filed a legal challenge to the state appellate court. (With inputs from agencies)

US judge revokes mother’s custody of son after she refused to take Covid vaccine

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. &nbsp;

The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;The Afghan minister who became a bicycle courier in Germany

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The 43-year-old son said they had no right to throw out the collection of films, magazines and other items, which he said was worth $29,000 (£21,500). &nbsp;

In the ruling, the judge followed a value set by an expert, a report by MLive.com said. The court ordered Werking’s parents to pay $14,500 (£10,500) to their son’s attorney. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/female-hummingbirds-that-look-like-males-face-less-social-harassment-study-408873" hreflang="en">Female hummingbirds that look like males face less social harassment: Study</a>

After a divorce, Werking lived at his parents’ Grand Haven home for about 10 months, before eventually moving to Muncie, Indiana. After he moved, he learned that his boxes of films and magazines were missing. &nbsp;

In an email, Werking’s father wrote, “Frankly, David, I did you a big favour getting rid of all this stuff.” &nbsp;

In the ruling in December last year, Judge Maloney said, “There is no question that the destroyed property belonged to David. Defendants repeatedly admitted that they destroyed the property.”&nbsp;

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents.

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents. Watch: The Afghan minister who became a bicycle courier in Germany × The 43-year-old son said they had no right to throw out the collection of films, magazines and other items, which he said was worth $29,000 (£21,500). In the ruling, the judge followed a value set by an expert, a report by MLive.com said. The court ordered Werking’s parents to pay $14,500 (£10,500) to their son’s attorney. Also Read | Female hummingbirds that look like males face less social harassment: Study After a divorce, Werking lived at his parents’ Grand Haven home for about 10 months, before eventually moving to Muncie, Indiana. After he moved, he learned that his boxes of films and magazines were missing. In an email, Werking’s father wrote, “Frankly, David, I did you a big favour getting rid of all this stuff.” In the ruling in December last year, Judge Maloney said, “There is no question that the destroyed property belonged to David. Defendants repeatedly admitted that they destroyed the property.”

For throwing porn collection, judge orders couple to pay $30,441 to son in US

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday revoked the passport of former Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, who stepped down earlier this week amid an investigation into his alleged role in allowing illegal exports of timber from the Amazon rainforest. 
 
Justice Carmen Lucia said in a ruling that Salles was barred from leaving the country after federal prosecutors entered a motion that he be considered a flight risk. The former minister was given 24 hours to hand over his passport to police, according to court documents. 
 
Salles could not immediately be reached for comment. The former minister has denied any wrongdoing. 
 
In May, federal police disclosed that Salles and several other government officials were under investigation for allegations of possible corruption and other crimes in allowing illegal logged Amazon rainforest wood to be exported to the United States and Europe. 
 
Earlier this month, Lucia also launched an investigation into whether Salles had obstructed the police logging probe. 
 
Salles resigned on Wednesday, saying he wanted to allow for Brazil's international and domestic agenda to be carried out as smoothly as possible. 
 
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon surged during Salles' tenure, hitting a 12-year high in 2020 with an area seven times the size of London destroyed. 
 
(With the inputs from agencies)

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday revoked the passport of former Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, who stepped down earlier this week amid an investigation into his alleged role in allowing illegal exports of timber from the Amazon rainforest.

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday revoked the passport of former Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, who stepped down earlier this week amid an investigation into his alleged role in allowing illegal exports of timber from the Amazon rainforest. Justice Carmen Lucia said in a ruling that Salles was barred from leaving the country after federal prosecutors entered a motion that he be considered a flight risk. The former minister was given 24 hours to hand over his passport to police, according to court documents. Salles could not immediately be reached for comment. The former minister has denied any wrongdoing. In May, federal police disclosed that Salles and several other government officials were under investigation for allegations of possible corruption and other crimes in allowing illegal logged Amazon rainforest wood to be exported to the United States and Europe. Earlier this month, Lucia also launched an investigation into whether Salles had obstructed the police logging probe. Salles resigned on Wednesday, saying he wanted to allow for Brazil's international and domestic agenda to be carried out as smoothly as possible. Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon surged during Salles' tenure, hitting a 12-year high in 2020 with an area seven times the size of London destroyed. (With the inputs from agencies)

Brazil judge revokes passport of ex-environment minister under probe

Millions of Iranians voted on Friday in a contest set to hand the presidency to a hardline judge, who is subject to US&nbsp;sanctions, though anger over economic hardship and curbs on freedoms mean many will heed calls for a boycott. 
 
Senior officials appealed for a large turnout in an election widely seen as a referendum on their handling of the economy, including rising prices and unemployment and a collapse in the value of its currency. 
 
"I urge everyone with any political view to vote," judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi, the front-runner in the contest, said after casting his ballot. 
 
"Our people's grievances over shortcomings are real, but if it is the reason for not participating, then it is wrong." 
 
While state television showed long queues at polling stations in several cities, the semi-official Fars news agency reported 22 million or 37% of voters had cast ballots by 7:30 pm&nbsp;(1500 GMT), citing its own reporter. The interior ministry said it could not confirm turnout figures. 
 
State television said voting officially ended at 1930 GMT. However, the interior ministry said voting had been extended for two hours in some polling stations across the country to allow latecomers to cast ballots. 
 
The final results are expected to be announced by mid-day on Saturday. 
 
After voting in the capital Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians follow suit, saying 'each vote counts ... come and vote and choose your president'. 
 
Raisi, 60, is backed by security hawks in his bid to succeed Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist prevented under the constitution from serving a third four-year term in the post, which runs the government day-to-day and reports to Khamenei. 
 
Supported by the powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps, Raisi, a close Khamenei ally, who vows to fight corruption, is under US&nbsp;sanctions for alleged involvement in executions of political prisoners decades ago. 
 
Voters expressed mixed views. 
 
Maryam, 52, a hairdresser in Karaj near Tehran, said she would not vote because "I have lost confidence in the system." 
 
"Every time I voted in the past, I had hope that my living standard would improve. But I lost hope when I saw the highest official in the country wasn't brave enough to resign when he couldn't make things better," she said, referring to Rouhani. 
 
Asked which candidate he preferred, Mohammad, 32, at a polling station in a hamlet in southern Iran, replied: "To be honest none of them, but our representative in parliament says we should vote for Raisi so that everything will improve."

(With inputs from agencies)

Millions of Iranians voted on Friday in a contest set to hand the presidency to a hardline judge, who is subject to US sanctions, though anger over economic hardship and curbs on freedoms mean many will heed calls for a boycott.

Millions of Iranians voted on Friday in a contest set to hand the presidency to a hardline judge, who is subject to US sanctions, though anger over economic hardship and curbs on freedoms mean many will heed calls for a boycott. Senior officials appealed for a large turnout in an election widely seen as a referendum on their handling of the economy, including rising prices and unemployment and a collapse in the value of its currency. "I urge everyone with any political view to vote," judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi, the front-runner in the contest, said after casting his ballot. "Our people's grievances over shortcomings are real, but if it is the reason for not participating, then it is wrong." While state television showed long queues at polling stations in several cities, the semi-official Fars news agency reported 22 million or 37% of voters had cast ballots by 7:30 pm (1500 GMT), citing its own reporter. The interior ministry said it could not confirm turnout figures. State television said voting officially ended at 1930 GMT. However, the interior ministry said voting had been extended for two hours in some polling stations across the country to allow latecomers to cast ballots. The final results are expected to be announced by mid-day on Saturday. After voting in the capital Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians follow suit, saying 'each vote counts ... come and vote and choose your president'. Raisi, 60, is backed by security hawks in his bid to succeed Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist prevented under the constitution from serving a third four-year term in the post, which runs the government day-to-day and reports to Khamenei. Supported by the powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps, Raisi, a close Khamenei ally, who vows to fight corruption, is under US sanctions for alleged involvement in executions of political prisoners decades ago. Voters expressed mixed views. Maryam, 52, a hairdresser in Karaj near Tehran, said she would not vote because "I have lost confidence in the system." "Every time I voted in the past, I had hope that my living standard would improve. But I lost hope when I saw the highest official in the country wasn't brave enough to resign when he couldn't make things better," she said, referring to Rouhani. Asked which candidate he preferred, Mohammad, 32, at a polling station in a hamlet in southern Iran, replied: "To be honest none of them, but our representative in parliament says we should vote for Raisi so that everything will improve." (With inputs from agencies)

Judge under US sanctions set to take over Iran presidency

Hong Kong police raided the office of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, known for its critical coverage of China and Hong Kong, on Thursday morning.

Five people have been arrested, including Ryan Law, the editor-in-chief in the raid that involved dozens of policemen.&nbsp;

The arrests are the latest in a series of police raids on the popular tabloid and its imprisoned owner, democracy activist and tycoon Jimmy Lai.

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BREAKING: Hong Kong police raided the HQ of local pro-democracy newspaper <a href="https://twitter.com/appledaily_hk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@appledaily_hk</a> again on Thurs morn &amp; arrested five senior executives under the security law. Among those arrested was Editor-in-Chief Ryan Law &amp; Next Digital CEO Cheung Kim-hung. <a href="https://t.co/ECOk3rfSKp">https://t.co/ECOk3rfSKp</a> <a href="https://t.co/uWdxaZMQbc">pic.twitter.com/uWdxaZMQbc</a>
— Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomgrundy/status/1405327302452383745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The newspaper has long been a thorn in China's side, openly supporting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. 
 
The newspaper broadcast live footage of the police raid on its Facebook account. Officers could be seen cordoning off the complex and walking through the building. 
 
"They arrived around 7 am this morning, our building is besieged," an unnamed reporter said in a live commentary with the broadcast. "Now we can see those moving boxes of materials onto their truck."

"Police are restricting us from using quite a lot of our equipment. But we can still keep this live camera on and our website will keep updating," the voice added.

The National Security Department of Hong Kong arrested five directors of the media organisation on suspicion of cooperation with a foreign country, according to a statement released by the Hong Kong government on Thursday.

Four men and a woman, ages 47 to 63, were arrested, according to the statement. There were no more details offered.&nbsp;

Jimmy Lai, the publisher of Apple Daily, was jailed under the same law last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police raided the office of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, known for its critical coverage of China and Hong Kong, on Thursday morning. Five people have been arrested, including Ryan Law, the editor-in-chief in the raid that involved dozens of policemen.

Hong Kong police raided the office of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, known for its critical coverage of China and Hong Kong, on Thursday morning. Five people have been arrested, including Ryan Law, the editor-in-chief in the raid that involved dozens of policemen. The arrests are the latest in a series of police raids on the popular tabloid and its imprisoned owner, democracy activist and tycoon Jimmy Lai. BREAKING: Hong Kong police raided the HQ of local pro-democracy newspaper @appledaily_hk again on Thurs morn & arrested five senior executives under the security law. Among those arrested was Editor-in-Chief Ryan Law & Next Digital CEO Cheung Kim-hung. https://t.co/ECOk3rfSKp pic.twitter.com/uWdxaZMQbc — Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) June 17, 2021 × The newspaper has long been a thorn in China's side, openly supporting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The newspaper broadcast live footage of the police raid on its Facebook account. Officers could be seen cordoning off the complex and walking through the building. "They arrived around 7 am this morning, our building is besieged," an unnamed reporter said in a live commentary with the broadcast. "Now we can see those moving boxes of materials onto their truck." "Police are restricting us from using quite a lot of our equipment. But we can still keep this live camera on and our website will keep updating," the voice added. The National Security Department of Hong Kong arrested five directors of the media organisation on suspicion of cooperation with a foreign country, according to a statement released by the Hong Kong government on Thursday. Four men and a woman, ages 47 to 63, were arrested, according to the statement. There were no more details offered. Jimmy Lai, the publisher of Apple Daily, was jailed under the same law last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, arrest editor and four other executives

Beijing's office that oversees matters in Hong Kong has warned of threats made to a judge, who sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other democracy activists for their roles in an unauthorised assembly on October&nbsp;1, 2019. 
 
A representative for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said the presiding judge had received threatening phone calls, which the office said would not be tolerated. 
 
"This is a serious threat to the personal safety of judges, a flagrant challenge to the judicial system in Hong Kong and a gross violation of the rule of law and order in Hong Kong," Xinhua quoted a statement by HKMAO as saying late on Sunday. 
 
The statement followed one by Hong Kong's Department of Justice late on Friday that said a judge had been intimidated, without providing details. 
 
On Friday, judge Amanda Woodcock sentenced Lai, an ardent critic of Beijing, to 14 months in jail, and nine others to up to 18 months for their roles in the rally. 
 
Hong Kong arrested more than 10,000 people over anti-government protests in 2019, and some of those cases are now making their way through the court system. 
 
The unrest led Beijing to impose a contentious national security law on its freest city in June 2020, and more than 100 people have been arrested under the law so far, including Lai. 
 
The law punishes what Beijing broadly defines as secession, sedition, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in jail. 
 
Forty-seven democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion are set to appear in court on Monday, in a case that has drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups. 
 
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee of a high degree of autonomy until 2047. Critics say authorities are chipping away at those freedoms, an assertion officials in Hong Kong and Beijing reject. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Beijing's office that oversees matters in Hong Kong has warned of threats made to a judge, who sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other democracy activists for their roles in an unauthorised assembly on October 1, 2019.

Beijing's office that oversees matters in Hong Kong has warned of threats made to a judge, who sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other democracy activists for their roles in an unauthorised assembly on October 1, 2019. A representative for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said the presiding judge had received threatening phone calls, which the office said would not be tolerated. "This is a serious threat to the personal safety of judges, a flagrant challenge to the judicial system in Hong Kong and a gross violation of the rule of law and order in Hong Kong," Xinhua quoted a statement by HKMAO as saying late on Sunday. The statement followed one by Hong Kong's Department of Justice late on Friday that said a judge had been intimidated, without providing details. On Friday, judge Amanda Woodcock sentenced Lai, an ardent critic of Beijing, to 14 months in jail, and nine others to up to 18 months for their roles in the rally. Hong Kong arrested more than 10,000 people over anti-government protests in 2019, and some of those cases are now making their way through the court system. The unrest led Beijing to impose a contentious national security law on its freest city in June 2020, and more than 100 people have been arrested under the law so far, including Lai. The law punishes what Beijing broadly defines as secession, sedition, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in jail. Forty-seven democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion are set to appear in court on Monday, in a case that has drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee of a high degree of autonomy until 2047. Critics say authorities are chipping away at those freedoms, an assertion officials in Hong Kong and Beijing reject. (With inputs from agencies)

Beijing's Hong Kong office slams intimidation of judge in tycoon Jimmy Lai's case

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business.&nbsp;

The judge was tasked with deciding whether the NRA should be allowed to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, where the state is suing in an effort to disband the group. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a non-profit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state.&nbsp;

Judge Harlin Hale said in a written order that he was dismissing the case because he found the bankruptcy was not filed in good faith.&nbsp;

"The Court believes the NRA's purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme," Hale wrote.&nbsp;

His decision followed 11 days of testimony and arguments. Lawyers for New York and the NRA's former advertising agency grilled the group's embattled top executive, Wayne LaPierre, who acknowledged putting the NRA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy without the knowledge or assent of most of its board and other top officers.&nbsp;

"Excluding so many people from the process of deciding to file for bankruptcy, including the vast majority of the board of directors, the chief financial officer, and the general counsel, is nothing less than shocking," the judge added.&nbsp;

Phillip Journey, an NRA board member and Kansas judge, who had sought to have an examiner appointed to investigate the group's leadership, was concise about Hale's judgment: “1 word, disappointed," he wrote in a text message.&nbsp;

LaPierre pledged in a statement to continue to fight for gun rights.&nbsp;

“Although we are disappointed in some aspects of the decision, there is no change in the overall direction of our Association, its programmes, or its Second Amendment advocacy," LaPierre said via the NRA's Twitter account. "Today is ultimately about our members, those who stand courageously with the NRA in defence of constitutional freedom. We remain an independent organisation that can chart its own course, even as we remain in New York to confront our adversaries."&nbsp;

Lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the case was an attempt by NRA leadership to escape accountability for using the group's coffers as their personal piggybank. But the NRA's attorneys said it was a legitimate effort to avoid a political attack by James, who is a Democrat.&nbsp;

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business.

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business. The judge was tasked with deciding whether the NRA should be allowed to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, where the state is suing in an effort to disband the group. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a non-profit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state. Judge Harlin Hale said in a written order that he was dismissing the case because he found the bankruptcy was not filed in good faith. "The Court believes the NRA's purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme," Hale wrote. His decision followed 11 days of testimony and arguments. Lawyers for New York and the NRA's former advertising agency grilled the group's embattled top executive, Wayne LaPierre, who acknowledged putting the NRA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy without the knowledge or assent of most of its board and other top officers. "Excluding so many people from the process of deciding to file for bankruptcy, including the vast majority of the board of directors, the chief financial officer, and the general counsel, is nothing less than shocking," the judge added. Phillip Journey, an NRA board member and Kansas judge, who had sought to have an examiner appointed to investigate the group's leadership, was concise about Hale's judgment: “1 word, disappointed," he wrote in a text message. LaPierre pledged in a statement to continue to fight for gun rights. “Although we are disappointed in some aspects of the decision, there is no change in the overall direction of our Association, its programmes, or its Second Amendment advocacy," LaPierre said via the NRA's Twitter account. "Today is ultimately about our members, those who stand courageously with the NRA in defence of constitutional freedom. We remain an independent organisation that can chart its own course, even as we remain in New York to confront our adversaries." Lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the case was an attempt by NRA leadership to escape accountability for using the group's coffers as their personal piggybank. But the NRA's attorneys said it was a legitimate effort to avoid a political attack by James, who is a Democrat.

Judge dismisses NRA bankruptcy case in blow to gun lobby group  

A judge in Cambodia has shut the investigation against opposition leader Kem Sokha for treason. According to his daughter, this implies that he could now be brought to trial or have the charges dropped.

Cambodia has recently faced pressure over human rights amid the European Union threatening trade benefits. Kem Sokha was freed from house arrest last weekend and authoritarian leader Hun Sen ordered the release of more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambodian-prime-minister-orders-to-free-more-than-70-opposition-activists-on-bail-262041">70 opposition activists</a> on Thursday.

Investigating judge Ky Rithy's lawyer on Friday said in a letter, "we decide to close the investigation from this time onward".

Kem Sokha's daughter Monovithya Kem said on Twitter: "Next step is either the prosecutor drops the charges or takes the case to trial. We demand that all charges be dropped."

A spokesman for the court said he was not aware of the decision to close the investigation so could not comment.

Kem Sokha faced arrest in 2017, with this Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) facing a ban in the run-up to an election last year. The election was swept by the ruling party and was referred by Western countries as a farce.

Kem Sokha has dismissed the charges against him as ''nonsense''.

On Tuesday, the European Union gave the government a one-month deadline to respond to a preliminary report on the suspension of trade preferences over the crackdown on the opposition, non-governmental groups and the media.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, has ruled the country of 16 million for more than 34 years.

(With inputs from Reuters)

A judge in Cambodia has shut the investigation against opposition leader Kem Sokha for treason. According to his daughter, this implies that he could now be brought to trial or have the charges dropped.

A judge in Cambodia has shut the investigation against opposition leader Kem Sokha for treason. According to his daughter, this implies that he could now be brought to trial or have the charges dropped. Cambodia has recently faced pressure over human rights amid the European Union threatening trade benefits. Kem Sokha was freed from house arrest last weekend and authoritarian leader Hun Sen ordered the release of more than 70 opposition activists on Thursday. Investigating judge Ky Rithy's lawyer on Friday said in a letter, "we decide to close the investigation from this time onward". Kem Sokha's daughter Monovithya Kem said on Twitter: "Next step is either the prosecutor drops the charges or takes the case to trial. We demand that all charges be dropped." A spokesman for the court said he was not aware of the decision to close the investigation so could not comment. Kem Sokha faced arrest in 2017, with this Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) facing a ban in the run-up to an election last year. The election was swept by the ruling party and was referred by Western countries as a farce. Kem Sokha has dismissed the charges against him as ''nonsense''. On Tuesday, the European Union gave the government a one-month deadline to respond to a preliminary report on the suspension of trade preferences over the crackdown on the opposition, non-governmental groups and the media. Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, has ruled the country of 16 million for more than 34 years. (With inputs from Reuters)

Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha could be brought to trial as judge ends investigation

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law.

The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy.

Recently, the Parliament had increased the number of judges in the top court from 31, including the Chief Justice of India to 34, highest ever.

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament and President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent soon, thereafter, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended judges names to the government on August 28.

The Centre on September 18 cleared the appointments on Collegium`s recommendation.&nbsp;

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law. The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy.

Four new judges on Monday took oath as the Supreme Court Judges, increasing the total strength from 31 to 34 as sanctioned under the amended law. The four new judges who sworn in are Chief Justice Krishna Murari of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court S Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice V Ramasubramanian of Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala High Court Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy. Recently, the Parliament had increased the number of judges in the top court from 31, including the Chief Justice of India to 34, highest ever. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament and President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent soon, thereafter, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended judges names to the government on August 28. The Centre on September 18 cleared the appointments on Collegium`s recommendation.

Four new judges take oath in Supreme Court

An April Fools' Day resignation prank? One Texas civil court judge wishes it were so.

A newly elected judge in Houston accidentally resigned on Monday, according to local media and a county official, after he shared plans online to run for the state supreme court, apparently unaware that the Texas constitution considers such an announcement an automatic resignation.

The Harris County Civil Court judge, Bill McLeod, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Local TV station KHOU 11 News on Monday reported that McLeod declined to comment on the move.

Article 16, Section 65, of the state's constitution says that a judge's announcement of candidacy for another office "shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held."

The county attorney's office will present the matter to county commissioners next Tuesday, First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard said in a phone interview on Tuesday. County commissioners, who can appoint replacements, may decide to keep McLeod in office until there is a special election, KHOU 11 reported.

The judge's supporters have organized on social media using the hashtag #IStandWithMcLeod. They plan to attend the commissioners' Tuesday meeting and express their wish that the judge retain his office despite his blunder.

McLeod, a Democrat, was sworn in last November after winning the County's Civil Court No. 4 race with 55 percent of the vote.

An April Fools' Day resignation prank? One Texas civil court judge wishes it were so. A newly elected judge in Houston accidentally resigned on Monday, according to local media and a county official, after he shared plans online to run for the state supreme court, apparently unaware that the Texas constitution considers such an announcement an automatic resignation.

An April Fools' Day resignation prank? One Texas civil court judge wishes it were so. A newly elected judge in Houston accidentally resigned on Monday, according to local media and a county official, after he shared plans online to run for the state supreme court, apparently unaware that the Texas constitution considers such an announcement an automatic resignation. The Harris County Civil Court judge, Bill McLeod, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. Local TV station KHOU 11 News on Monday reported that McLeod declined to comment on the move. Article 16, Section 65, of the state's constitution says that a judge's announcement of candidacy for another office "shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held." The county attorney's office will present the matter to county commissioners next Tuesday, First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard said in a phone interview on Tuesday. County commissioners, who can appoint replacements, may decide to keep McLeod in office until there is a special election, KHOU 11 reported. The judge's supporters have organized on social media using the hashtag #IStandWithMcLeod. They plan to attend the commissioners' Tuesday meeting and express their wish that the judge retain his office despite his blunder. McLeod, a Democrat, was sworn in last November after winning the County's Civil Court No. 4 race with 55 percent of the vote.

Texas civil court judge resigns, accidentally 

A former Pakistan judge named Sikandar Hayat was on Saturday found to have 2,200 cars registered under his name, news agency DAWN reported.&nbsp;

The 82-year-old former judge received a chalaan a few days back for a car he did not own. According to his legal counsel, Hayat only owns one car.&nbsp;

2,224 cars were registered in the name of my client," the counsel said, as quoted by ANI.&nbsp;

Upon contacting the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department, it emerged that an eye-watering 2,224 vehicles had been registered in Hayat's name.

After hearing the lawyer, the top court sought a reply from the secretary and director of the Punjab excise department within a week.

A former Pakistan judge named Sikandar Hayat was on Saturday found to have 2,200 cars registered under his name, news agency DAWN reported. The 82-year-old former judge received a chalaan a few days back for a car he did not own.

A former Pakistan judge named Sikandar Hayat was on Saturday found to have 2,200 cars registered under his name, news agency DAWN reported. The 82-year-old former judge received a chalaan a few days back for a car he did not own. According to his legal counsel, Hayat only owns one car. 2,224 cars were registered in the name of my client," the counsel said, as quoted by ANI. Upon contacting the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department, it emerged that an eye-watering 2,224 vehicles had been registered in Hayat's name. After hearing the lawyer, the top court sought a reply from the secretary and director of the Punjab excise department within a week.

Over 2,200 cars registered in name of former Pak judge

The wife of the Gurgaon judge shot by his personal security officer (PSO) has died.&nbsp;

The PSO shot the judge's wife and 18-year-old son in a crowded market area in Gurgaon Sector 49 on Saturday afternoon. News reports said Mahipal first shot the wife and then the son.

In video footage of the incident recorded by a witness, the guard Mahipal is seen trying to push the judge's son Dhruv into the car they were in. Mahipal leaves after he fails to do so.

The judge's wife and son were rushed to hospital. While the wife died from her injuries, Dhruv is still in the hospital.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gurugram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gurugram</a>: Wife of additional sessions judge, who was shot at by his gunman yesterday, has succumed to her injuries. Gunman Mahipal was arrested after he shot at wife &amp; son of additional sessions judge in Sector 49, yesterday. He had been working as the Judge's gunman for 1.5 yrs
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051305390984626176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Wife and son of an additional sessions judge shot at by the judge's gunman in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gurugram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gurugram</a>'s Sector-49. Both the injured have been admitted to the hospital and the gunman has been arrested. <a href="https://t.co/rMqXdYHrxR">pic.twitter.com/rMqXdYHrxR</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051087682615595009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Media reports citing doctors that Dhruv who was shot twice in the head, may suffer some disability after the recovery.&nbsp;

Police said the incident occurred around 3.30 pm when Additional Sessions Judge Krishan Kant's wife Ritu and son Dhruv had gone for shopping in the Arcadia market. They were accompanied by the judge's guard, Mahipal Singh.

PTI report says locals informed the police about gunshots being fired outside the market and found both lying in a pool of blood when a police team reached the spot.

The police later arrested Mahipal&nbsp;from Faridabad and&nbsp;launched an investigation into the matter.

"Interrogation is underway and it is too early to comment on the reason behind the incident," Sulochana Gajraj, DCP East Gurugram was quoted as saying by ANI.

So far no confirmed motive has been revealed behind the shooting. However,&nbsp;reports suggested that he was mistreated&nbsp;by the family.

Mahipal reportedly was head constable of Haryana police and serving judge for over a year now as his personal security guard.

PTI reported quoting officials,&nbsp; that he had been demanding leave to go home for the past few days but&nbsp;was&nbsp;denied. This might have led to him suffering from depression.&nbsp;

"The judge also used to scold him often," PTI reported quoting one of the interrogating officers.

On Saturday also, the judge's wife scolded him inside the car when they were going to the market, the officer also said adding that, "He had a grudge against the judge".

The wife of the Gurgaon judge shot by his personal security officer (PSO) has died. The PSO shot the judge's wife and 18-year-old son in a crowded market area in Gurgaon Sector 49 on Saturday afternoon.

The wife of the Gurgaon judge shot by his personal security officer (PSO) has died. The PSO shot the judge's wife and 18-year-old son in a crowded market area in Gurgaon Sector 49 on Saturday afternoon. News reports said Mahipal first shot the wife and then the son. In video footage of the incident recorded by a witness, the guard Mahipal is seen trying to push the judge's son Dhruv into the car they were in. Mahipal leaves after he fails to do so. The judge's wife and son were rushed to hospital. While the wife died from her injuries, Dhruv is still in the hospital. #Gurugram: Wife of additional sessions judge, who was shot at by his gunman yesterday, has succumed to her injuries. Gunman Mahipal was arrested after he shot at wife & son of additional sessions judge in Sector 49, yesterday. He had been working as the Judge's gunman for 1.5 yrs — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × #WATCH: Wife and son of an additional sessions judge shot at by the judge's gunman in #Gurugram's Sector-49. Both the injured have been admitted to the hospital and the gunman has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/rMqXdYHrxR — ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2018 × Media reports citing doctors that Dhruv who was shot twice in the head, may suffer some disability after the recovery. Police said the incident occurred around 3.30 pm when Additional Sessions Judge Krishan Kant's wife Ritu and son Dhruv had gone for shopping in the Arcadia market. They were accompanied by the judge's guard, Mahipal Singh. PTI report says locals informed the police about gunshots being fired outside the market and found both lying in a pool of blood when a police team reached the spot. The police later arrested Mahipal from Faridabad and launched an investigation into the matter. "Interrogation is underway and it is too early to comment on the reason behind the incident," Sulochana Gajraj, DCP East Gurugram was quoted as saying by ANI. So far no confirmed motive has been revealed behind the shooting. However, reports suggested that he was mistreated by the family. Mahipal reportedly was head constable of Haryana police and serving judge for over a year now as his personal security guard. PTI reported quoting officials, that he had been demanding leave to go home for the past few days but was denied. This might have led to him suffering from depression. "The judge also used to scold him often," PTI reported quoting one of the interrogating officers. On Saturday also, the judge's wife scolded him inside the car when they were going to the market, the officer also said adding that, "He had a grudge against the judge".

Gurgaon: Judge's wife shot by personal security officer dies

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/minister-mj-akbar-to-return-today-pm-modi-to-take-final-call-on-his-continuance-sources-171362">MJ Akbar returns, party sources say Modi to take </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/minister-mj-akbar-to-return-today-pm-modi-to-take-final-call-on-his-continuance-sources-171362">final</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/minister-mj-akbar-to-return-today-pm-modi-to-take-final-call-on-his-continuance-sources-171362"> call on his continuance as </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/minister-mj-akbar-to-return-today-pm-modi-to-take-final-call-on-his-continuance-sources-171362">minister</a>

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar returned to India Sunday morning.&nbsp;

There has been a growing clamour for his sacking after at least eight women have accused him of sexual assault and harassment from when he was a newspaper editor.&nbsp;

PTI quoted party sources as saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take the final call on Akbar's continuance as junior foreign minister.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/launch-surgical-strike-and-we-will-retaliate-with-10-pakistan-tells-india-171357">Launch surgical strike and we will retaliate with 10, Pakistan warns India</a>

Pakistan on Saturday warned of "10 surgical strikes" against India in response to a single such attack, in the latest war of words between the two estranged nuclear-armed neighbours.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the military's Inter-Services Public Relations, issued the warning while talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit.

"If India dares to launch a surgical strike inside Pakistan, it will face 10 surgical strikes in response," Ghafoor was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/haryana-judges-wife-son-shot-at-by-security-guard-171361">Gurgaon: Judge's wife shot by security guard dies, son out of danger</a>

The wife of the Gurgaon judge shot by his personal security officer (PSO) has died.&nbsp;

The PSO shot the judge's wife and 18-year-old son in a crowded market area in Gurgaon Sector 49 on Saturday afternoon. News reports said Mahipal first shot the wife and then the son.

In video footage of the incident recorded by a witness, the guard Mahipal is seen trying to push the judge's son Dhruv into the car they were in. Mahipal leaves after he fails to do so.

The judge's wife and son were rushed to hospital. While the wife died from her injuries, Dhruv is said to be out of danger.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-people-to-come-to-us-legally-on-merit-trump-171359">Want people to come to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-people-to-come-to-us-legally-on-merit-trump-171359">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-people-to-come-to-us-legally-on-merit-trump-171359"> legally, on merit: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump has said that he wants people with merit, who can help, to enter the country and not sneak inside the border illegally.

"I'm very tough at the borders. We've been very tough at the borders. People have to come into our country legally, not illegally. Legally. And I want them to come in on merit," Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday.

Responding to a series of question on illegal immigration, the president reiterated that he wants people based on merit, a move that can help technology professionals from countries such as India.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/messi-goes-to-bathroom-20-times-before-a-game-says-maradona-171360">Messi 'is not a leader', says Maradona</a>

Lionel Messi "is not a leader", said Diego Maradona of the current Argentina talisman in an interview in Mexico.

"It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona said on Fox Sports.

"Before speaking to the coach and players he will be on the PlayStation. Then, on the field, he wants to be the leader," Maradona said as he answered questions in a stumbling voice, sometimes seeming to contradict himself.

 
&nbsp;

MJ Akbar returns, party sources say Modi to take final call on his continuance as minister Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar returned to India Sunday morning.

MJ Akbar returns, party sources say Modi to take final call on his continuance as minister Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar returned to India Sunday morning. There has been a growing clamour for his sacking after at least eight women have accused him of sexual assault and harassment from when he was a newspaper editor. PTI quoted party sources as saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take the final call on Akbar's continuance as junior foreign minister. Launch surgical strike and we will retaliate with 10, Pakistan warns India Pakistan on Saturday warned of "10 surgical strikes" against India in response to a single such attack, in the latest war of words between the two estranged nuclear-armed neighbours. Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the military's Inter-Services Public Relations, issued the warning while talking to the media in London, where he is accompanying Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on a visit. "If India dares to launch a surgical strike inside Pakistan, it will face 10 surgical strikes in response," Ghafoor was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. Gurgaon: Judge's wife shot by security guard dies, son out of danger The wife of the Gurgaon judge shot by his personal security officer (PSO) has died. The PSO shot the judge's wife and 18-year-old son in a crowded market area in Gurgaon Sector 49 on Saturday afternoon. News reports said Mahipal first shot the wife and then the son. In video footage of the incident recorded by a witness, the guard Mahipal is seen trying to push the judge's son Dhruv into the car they were in. Mahipal leaves after he fails to do so. The judge's wife and son were rushed to hospital. While the wife died from her injuries, Dhruv is said to be out of danger. Want people to come to US legally, on merit: Trump US President Donald Trump has said that he wants people with merit, who can help, to enter the country and not sneak inside the border illegally. "I'm very tough at the borders. We've been very tough at the borders. People have to come into our country legally, not illegally. Legally. And I want them to come in on merit," Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday. Responding to a series of question on illegal immigration, the president reiterated that he wants people based on merit, a move that can help technology professionals from countries such as India. Messi 'is not a leader', says Maradona Lionel Messi "is not a leader", said Diego Maradona of the current Argentina talisman in an interview in Mexico. "It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona said on Fox Sports. "Before speaking to the coach and players he will be on the PlayStation. Then, on the field, he wants to be the leader," Maradona said as he answered questions in a stumbling voice, sometimes seeming to contradict himself.

New brief: Big stories of the day

Supreme Court judge, Justice DY Chandrachud, the son of late Chief Justice of India YV Chandrachud, on Wednesday recalled a personal experience during the hearing on the Aadhaar issue that his mother, who was suffering for Alzheimer's disease, had faced difficulty in authentication to get pension.

Justice Chandrachud is part of the 5-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme and its enabling law of 2016.

During the hearing, the bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar and Ashok Bhushan, said Aadhaar authentication failures could create problems for those in need and some solution has to be found to address the issue.

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<h5>So it (authentication) is a serious issue. It's not largesse. It is not charity...we have to find answers for these problems,' Justice Chandrachud said, adding that there was a class of needy people who may not get benefits due to authentication failures</h5>
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Recalling his experience, Justice Chandrachud said "my mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was entitled to family pension being the wife of a former Chief Justice of India (late Justice Y V Chandrachud).

"She had to give a thumb impression for authentication. I recall, every month the bank manager or his representative would come home and affix her thumb print on certain documents and only then could she get the pension", Justice Chandrachud said.

"So it (authentication) is a serious issue. It's not largesse. It is not charity...we have to find answers for these problems," he said, adding that there was a class of needy people who may not get the benefits due to authentication failures.

The top court judge was responding to the arguments of senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for former High Court judge Justice (Retd) K S Puttaswamy, who said a 90-year-old woman suffering from various ailments is being threatened that her bank account could be closed for non-authentication by Aadhaar.

Divan said that through that bank account, she was getting her pension and she uses that money for her treatment as she has no one else to look after her.

"There are numerous cases where the Aadhaar authentication failures of the elderly, people suffering from any disease or physical disability, leads to denial of benefits to those otherwise entitled to it," Diwan said.

He said in many villages, young people have now migrated to cities or nearby towns and only the elderly residing there were dependent on their pension or other grants. But due to Aadhaar authentication failure, they were not getting the benefits.

Divan sought to assail a World Bank report which had praised the Aadhaar project and which was relied upon by the government to bolster its case for the 12-digit unique identification number. He said the World Bank had partnered with a private entity for preparing the report titled 'Identification for Development'.

Divan claimed that the same private entity was also the company with which UIDAI had partnered to facilitate Aadhaar.

He said there were 144 notifications issued by various ministries and departments of the government which covered 252 schemes.

The senior lawyer concluded his rejoinder arguments saying that essential government schemes that apply to children or relate to citizen's rehabilitation, food, health and nutrition, should be excluded from the requirement of Aadhaar authentication.

The hearing remained inconclusive on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday.

On May 3, the centre had strongly defended its decision to seed Aadhaar numbers with mobile phones, telling the top court that it could have been hauled up for contempt if the verification of mobile users was not undertaken by it.

However, the court had said that the government had misinterpreted its order and used it as a "tool" to make Aadhaar mandatory for mobile users.

The petitioners had referred to the technical experts' views on the technical aspect of the Aadhaar architecture and said that a real time surveillance of citizens was possible.

For the first time in a democracy, something like CIDR has been implemented and the apex court has to balance the human rights and new technologies that is capable of being misused, they had said.

Earlier, the court also did not agree with the government's contention that the Aadhaar law was correctly termed as a Money Bill by the Lok Sabha Speaker as it dealt with "targeted delivery of subsidies" for which funds come from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Justice DY Chandrachud is part of the 5-judge constitution bench hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar programme's constitutional validity

Supreme Court judge, Justice DY Chandrachud, the son of late Chief Justice of India YV Chandrachud, on Wednesday recalled a personal experience during the hearing on the Aadhaar issue that his mother, who was suffering for Alzheimer's disease, had faced difficulty in authentication to get pension. Justice Chandrachud is part of the 5-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, which is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar scheme and its enabling law of 2016. During the hearing, the bench, also comprising Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar and Ashok Bhushan, said Aadhaar authentication failures could create problems for those in need and some solution has to be found to address the issue. So it (authentication) is a serious issue. It's not largesse. It is not charity...we have to find answers for these problems,' Justice Chandrachud said, adding that there was a class of needy people who may not get benefits due to authentication failures × Recalling his experience, Justice Chandrachud said "my mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was entitled to family pension being the wife of a former Chief Justice of India (late Justice Y V Chandrachud). "She had to give a thumb impression for authentication. I recall, every month the bank manager or his representative would come home and affix her thumb print on certain documents and only then could she get the pension", Justice Chandrachud said. "So it (authentication) is a serious issue. It's not largesse. It is not charity...we have to find answers for these problems," he said, adding that there was a class of needy people who may not get the benefits due to authentication failures. The top court judge was responding to the arguments of senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for former High Court judge Justice (Retd) K S Puttaswamy, who said a 90-year-old woman suffering from various ailments is being threatened that her bank account could be closed for non-authentication by Aadhaar. Divan said that through that bank account, she was getting her pension and she uses that money for her treatment as she has no one else to look after her. "There are numerous cases where the Aadhaar authentication failures of the elderly, people suffering from any disease or physical disability, leads to denial of benefits to those otherwise entitled to it," Diwan said. He said in many villages, young people have now migrated to cities or nearby towns and only the elderly residing there were dependent on their pension or other grants. But due to Aadhaar authentication failure, they were not getting the benefits. Divan sought to assail a World Bank report which had praised the Aadhaar project and which was relied upon by the government to bolster its case for the 12-digit unique identification number. He said the World Bank had partnered with a private entity for preparing the report titled 'Identification for Development'. Divan claimed that the same private entity was also the company with which UIDAI had partnered to facilitate Aadhaar. He said there were 144 notifications issued by various ministries and departments of the government which covered 252 schemes. The senior lawyer concluded his rejoinder arguments saying that essential government schemes that apply to children or relate to citizen's rehabilitation, food, health and nutrition, should be excluded from the requirement of Aadhaar authentication. The hearing remained inconclusive on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday. On May 3, the centre had strongly defended its decision to seed Aadhaar numbers with mobile phones, telling the top court that it could have been hauled up for contempt if the verification of mobile users was not undertaken by it. However, the court had said that the government had misinterpreted its order and used it as a "tool" to make Aadhaar mandatory for mobile users. The petitioners had referred to the technical experts' views on the technical aspect of the Aadhaar architecture and said that a real time surveillance of citizens was possible. For the first time in a democracy, something like CIDR has been implemented and the apex court has to balance the human rights and new technologies that is capable of being misused, they had said. Earlier, the court also did not agree with the government's contention that the Aadhaar law was correctly termed as a Money Bill by the Lok Sabha Speaker as it dealt with "targeted delivery of subsidies" for which funds come from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Citing mother's example, Supreme Court judge says Aadhaar 'serious issue'

Senior Advocate Indu Malhotra was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge today. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Supreme Court.

Malhotra becomes the first woman lawyer to be elevated directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's Collegium in January had recommended her name for the role which was later approved by the Centre this week on Wednesday.

Apart from Malhotra, Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph was also named for the elevation, the Centre had asked the collegium to reconsider his recommendation.&nbsp;

The government returned the Collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph seeking its reconsideration, saying the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was an adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails.

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The Supreme Court's Collegium in January had recommended her name for the role

Senior Advocate Indu Malhotra was sworn-in as a Supreme Court judge today. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Supreme Court. Malhotra becomes the first woman lawyer to be elevated directly from the Bar to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's Collegium in January had recommended her name for the role which was later approved by the Centre this week on Wednesday. Apart from Malhotra, Uttarakhand Chief Justice KM Joseph was also named for the elevation, the Centre had asked the collegium to reconsider his recommendation. The government returned the Collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph seeking its reconsideration, saying the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was an adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails. (With inputs from ANI)

Indu Malhotra sworn in as Supreme Court judge

Justice J Chelameswar, who courted controversy by virtually revolting against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, today said that impeachment cannot be an answer to every question and problem and there was need to correct the system.

Justice Chelameswar, the senior-most judge after the CJI, said the January 12 press conference he held along with justices Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, was the result of "anguish" and "concern" as their deliberations with the CJI did not achieve the desired results on the issues raised by them regarding the functioning of the top court.

The judge, who was holding a talk on the topic 'Role of judiciary in democracy', also answered questions on the priority of the CJI in constituting benches and allocating cases to different judges as the 'master of roster'.

"The CJI is the 'master of roster'. Undoubtedly, the CJI has this power. The CJI has the authority to constitute the benches but under constitutional system every power is coupled with certain responsibilities. The power is required to be exercised not because it exists but for the purpose of achieving public good. You don't exercise the power merely because you have it," he said.

He replied in affirmative when asked whether the power of setting up of benches and allocation of cases should be exercised arbitrarily.

Asked by eminent journalist Karan Thapar, who was in conversation with the judge, if there is "sufficient ground for seeking impeachment of the Chief Justice of India", Justice Chelameswar said: "Why this question is asked?"

"The other day, someone was asking for my impeachment. I don't know why this nation is worried about impeachment so much. In fact we (along with Justice Gogoi) wrote in the judgement of Justice C S Karnan that apart from that there must be mechanisms to put the system in order."

"Impeachment can't be the answer for every question or every problem. A few days ago I heard somebody asking for my impeachment. Like the saying goes, I don't agree with you but I shall protect your right to say so," he said.

His response came in the backdrop of moves by opposition parties to initiate impeachment proceedings against the CJI. No CJI has ever faced impeachment in the country.

On being asked whether he was apprehensive or feared that Justice Gogoi, who was part of the November 2017 letter written to the CJI and the presser, will not be elevated as the next CJI, Justice Chelameswar said he hoped it does not happen and if it happened, it will be proved that what they said in the January 12 press conference was "true".

"I am not an astrologer... I am not (worried). I hope that does not happen (Justice Gogoi being denied CJI's position). If it happens, it will only prove what we said in the press conference was true," he said.

Regarding the current status of the collegium, whether it's divided 4:1 or dismantled after the discord between the four seniormost judges and the CJI, Justice Chelameswar said the five judges who are part of collegium met last evening as well as last week and even if they have differences, this does not mean they don't see eye to eye.

"None of us are fighting for private property. Differences are on institutional issues, that does not mean that we do not see eye to eye," he said.

In the programme organised by Harvard Club of India, which consist of people who have studied from the American university and are residing here, the judge made it clear that after his retirement on June 22, he would "not seek any employment from the government".

"I am saying it on record that after my retirement on June 22, I will not seek any appointment from the government," he said.

Thapar's conversation with Justice Chelameswar which lasted for 70 minutes was focused on all the recent controversies ranging from appointment of judges to higher judiciary to setting up of benches and allocation of cases on preferential basis, hearing on sensitive cases like judge B H Loya's death, turf war between judiciary and executive over the Memorandum of Procedure.

When asked his view on the criticism being made for going public with the presser on the functioning of the institution, he said anybody who enters public office cannot avoid criticism and there was no such principle barring judges interacting with the media.

"Anybody who enters a public office can never avoid criticism. And I was wondering where this principle come from? What was the context that this principle came from? Judges were not expected to debate in the press about the judgements.

"I go somewhere, press would be there, they report something and if I interact with them, is it prohibited? Similarly we were talking about the administrative problems. We were not breaching any of the time-honoured principles that we should not address the press," he said.

Justice Chelameswar refused to answer whether preferential benches were chosen to benefit the government?

"I am not answering this question," he replied.

He also avoided answer to a question that the preferential benches are constituted to get an order or judgement which the chief justice desired.

When asked whether the selective allocation of cases is undermining the faith in the institution, he said "I believe so" and "if the process is not transparent, it will lead to suspicion".&nbsp

Gogoi was one of the four Supreme Court judges who held the January 12 press conference. The conference was seen as being an indictment of CJI Dipak Misra

Justice J Chelameswar, who courted controversy by virtually revolting against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, today said that impeachment cannot be an answer to every question and problem and there was need to correct the system. Justice Chelameswar, the senior-most judge after the CJI, said the January 12 press conference he held along with justices Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, was the result of "anguish" and "concern" as their deliberations with the CJI did not achieve the desired results on the issues raised by them regarding the functioning of the top court. The judge, who was holding a talk on the topic 'Role of judiciary in democracy', also answered questions on the priority of the CJI in constituting benches and allocating cases to different judges as the 'master of roster'. "The CJI is the 'master of roster'. Undoubtedly, the CJI has this power. The CJI has the authority to constitute the benches but under constitutional system every power is coupled with certain responsibilities. The power is required to be exercised not because it exists but for the purpose of achieving public good. You don't exercise the power merely because you have it," he said. He replied in affirmative when asked whether the power of setting up of benches and allocation of cases should be exercised arbitrarily. Asked by eminent journalist Karan Thapar, who was in conversation with the judge, if there is "sufficient ground for seeking impeachment of the Chief Justice of India", Justice Chelameswar said: "Why this question is asked?" "The other day, someone was asking for my impeachment. I don't know why this nation is worried about impeachment so much. In fact we (along with Justice Gogoi) wrote in the judgement of Justice C S Karnan that apart from that there must be mechanisms to put the system in order." "Impeachment can't be the answer for every question or every problem. A few days ago I heard somebody asking for my impeachment. Like the saying goes, I don't agree with you but I shall protect your right to say so," he said. His response came in the backdrop of moves by opposition parties to initiate impeachment proceedings against the CJI. No CJI has ever faced impeachment in the country. On being asked whether he was apprehensive or feared that Justice Gogoi, who was part of the November 2017 letter written to the CJI and the presser, will not be elevated as the next CJI, Justice Chelameswar said he hoped it does not happen and if it happened, it will be proved that what they said in the January 12 press conference was "true". "I am not an astrologer... I am not (worried). I hope that does not happen (Justice Gogoi being denied CJI's position). If it happens, it will only prove what we said in the press conference was true," he said. Regarding the current status of the collegium, whether it's divided 4:1 or dismantled after the discord between the four seniormost judges and the CJI, Justice Chelameswar said the five judges who are part of collegium met last evening as well as last week and even if they have differences, this does not mean they don't see eye to eye. "None of us are fighting for private property. Differences are on institutional issues, that does not mean that we do not see eye to eye," he said. In the programme organised by Harvard Club of India, which consist of people who have studied from the American university and are residing here, the judge made it clear that after his retirement on June 22, he would "not seek any employment from the government". "I am saying it on record that after my retirement on June 22, I will not seek any appointment from the government," he said. Thapar's conversation with Justice Chelameswar which lasted for 70 minutes was focused on all the recent controversies ranging from appointment of judges to higher judiciary to setting up of benches and allocation of cases on preferential basis, hearing on sensitive cases like judge B H Loya's death, turf war between judiciary and executive over the Memorandum of Procedure. When asked his view on the criticism being made for going public with the presser on the functioning of the institution, he said anybody who enters public office cannot avoid criticism and there was no such principle barring judges interacting with the media. "Anybody who enters a public office can never avoid criticism. And I was wondering where this principle come from? What was the context that this principle came from? Judges were not expected to debate in the press about the judgements. "I go somewhere, press would be there, they report something and if I interact with them, is it prohibited? Similarly we were talking about the administrative problems. We were not breaching any of the time-honoured principles that we should not address the press," he said. Justice Chelameswar refused to answer whether preferential benches were chosen to benefit the government? "I am not answering this question," he replied. He also avoided answer to a question that the preferential benches are constituted to get an order or judgement which the chief justice desired. When asked whether the selective allocation of cases is undermining the faith in the institution, he said "I believe so" and "if the process is not transparent, it will lead to suspicion".

If Ranjan Gogoi not made next CJI, will prove what we said was true: Chelameswar

While <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-jodhpur-court-convicts-salman-khan-he-gets-a-5-year-jail-term-128523">sentencing Salman Khan</a> to five years in jail, the judge pointed out the fan following of the superstar, saying he is a "popular actor whose deeds are followed by people".

Chief judicial magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri sentenced the actor to five years in prison for killing two blackbucks, capping a 20-year case that began with a late night safari outside the tourist city of Jodhpur on the sidelines of a film shoot in 1998.

"The accused is a popular actor whose deeds are followed by people. Despite this, the accused hunted two blackbucks," Khatri said in his written judgment.

The defence had argued that Salman has not been convicted in any case earlier and that he has always appeared before the court on the given date.

The defence counsel also said Salman was under the custody of forest department for five days and he should be given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act.

But the court refused to give Salman the benefit citing the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, according to a copy of the judgement.

"...considering the rising number of cases of illegal hunting of wildlife animals, looking at the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, giving the benefit of Probation of Offender Act does not appear justified," the judge said.

The defence also said the accused is an actor and his sentencing will affect the livelihood of several families. Opposing this, the prosecution said the actor has committed an offence of serious nature.

The prosecution also mentioned the hit-and-run case against him in Mumbai and other cases while requesting for the maximum punishment.

The verdict triggered a deluge of sympathy from colleagues for the "bad boy" of Hindi filmdom, whose career and personal life have been peppered with controversies, including a manslaughter charge in a hit-and-run case that is still pending.

"I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work," actor-politician Jaya Bachchan told reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, adding that the punishment was harsh.

Since morning, media crews, hundreds of stargazers and security personnel swarmed the court premises waiting for Salman and the other accused to show up. Large crowds armed with phone cameras lined up along the 2-kilometre route from the

court as the 52-year-old was whisked away in a Bolero police jeep to spend a night in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Within hours, social media was awash with photographs of Salman, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, entering the jail.

Animal rights activists welcomed the sentencing, and some said Salman should have been given the maximum punishment under the Wildlife Act.

"We are happy that justice has prevailed and a serial offender is behind bars. The judiciary has once again proved that the popularity of the accused has no bearing on the case before the court," said Gauri Maulekhi of People For Animals.

All the others charged in the case — actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, and Dushyant Singh, a local — were acquitted.

While sentencing Salman Khan to five years in jail, the judge pointed out the fan following of the superstar, saying he is a "popular actor whose deeds are followed by people". Chief judicial magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri sentenced the actor to five years in prison for killing two blackbucks, capping a 20-year case that began with a late night safari outside the tourist city of Jodhpur on the sidelines of a film shoot in 1998. "The accused is a popular actor whose deeds are followed by people. Despite this, the accused hunted two blackbucks," Khatri said in his written judgment. The defence had argued that Salman has not been convicted in any case earlier and that he has always appeared before the court on the given date. The defence counsel also said Salman was under the custody of forest department for five days and he should be given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act. But the court refused to give Salman the benefit citing the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, according to a copy of the judgement. "...considering the rising number of cases of illegal hunting of wildlife animals, looking at the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, giving the benefit of Probation of Offender Act does not appear justified," the judge said. The defence also said the accused is an actor and his sentencing will affect the livelihood of several families. Opposing this, the prosecution said the actor has committed an offence of serious nature. The prosecution also mentioned the hit-and-run case against him in Mumbai and other cases while requesting for the maximum punishment. The verdict triggered a deluge of sympathy from colleagues for the "bad boy" of Hindi filmdom, whose career and personal life have been peppered with controversies, including a manslaughter charge in a hit-and-run case that is still pending. "I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work," actor-politician Jaya Bachchan told reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, adding that the punishment was harsh. Since morning, media crews, hundreds of stargazers and security personnel swarmed the court premises waiting for Salman and the other accused to show up. Large crowds armed with phone cameras lined up along the 2-kilometre route from the court as the 52-year-old was whisked away in a Bolero police jeep to spend a night in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Within hours, social media was awash with photographs of Salman, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, entering the jail. Animal rights activists welcomed the sentencing, and some said Salman should have been given the maximum punishment under the Wildlife Act. "We are happy that justice has prevailed and a serial offender is behind bars. The judiciary has once again proved that the popularity of the accused has no bearing on the case before the court," said Gauri Maulekhi of People For Animals.

'Popular actor whose deeds are followed by people,' judge said

Assamese singer Angarag Papon Mahanta or Papon as he is popularly known has come under the radar after a case was registered against him for &quot;inappropriately kissing&quot; a contestant in a children&#39;s reality show.&nbsp;

Papon, who had earlier said that he was being &quot;victimised&quot; for no fault of his as he would &quot;never commit an indecent act&quot;,&nbsp;took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show.

&quot;Since I am in no mental state to fulfill most of my professional obligations, I have decided to step down as a judge on the show till the matter in which I have been falsely implicated is fully resolved and the investigations are over.

&quot;I have full faith in the judicial system and eventually the truth will prevail. In the interim I would appreciate that my privacy is respected,&quot; Papon tweeted.

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<a href="https://t.co/EWGgg775ZH">pic.twitter.com/EWGgg775ZH</a>
&mdash; papon angaraag (@paponmusic) <a href="https://twitter.com/paponmusic/status/967354981673250816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

In a detailed Facebook post yesterday, Papon apologised and said that it was &quot;just a case of faulty camera angles and an accidental move. And now finally, the minor girl in question and other contestants along with their parents are defending the whole act.

On Friday, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) alleging &quot;sexual assault&quot; after the singer uploaded a video on his Facebook page where he is seen kissing the minor contestant of the show, &quot;Voice of India Kids&quot;.

Also, Minister of State Women and Child Welfare Vidya Thakur on Saturday directed the Mumbai police to investigate the matter. The Maharashtra government took cognizance of the Papon issue, where Thakur talked to Mumbai&#39;s Commissioner of Police (CP) about the incident, directing him to investigate the incident.

The channel, and&nbsp;TV, which airs the show, also released a statement saying that Papon will not be shooting for any further episodes &quot;till the issue is resolved&quot;.

In a video, the minor girl says that Papon didn&#39;t do anything with wrong with her, reports said.&nbsp;

The girl&#39;s father issued a statement which said that Papon is a father figure to his daughter and that there was nothing objectionable in the video that has come under the scanner.

Papon was one of the judges on the show along with fellow singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya.

On Friday, the Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Right (NCPCR) alleging 'sexual assault' after the singer uploaded a video on his Facebook page where he is seen kissing the minor contestant of the show, "Voice of India Kids".

Assamese singer Angarag Papon Mahanta or Papon as he is popularly known has come under the radar after a case was registered against him for "inappropriately kissing" a contestant in a children's reality show. Papon, who had earlier said that he was being "victimised" for no fault of his as he would "never commit an indecent act", took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show. "Since I am in no mental state to fulfill most of my professional obligations, I have decided to step down as a judge on the show till the matter in which I have been falsely implicated is fully resolved and the investigations are over. "I have full faith in the judicial system and eventually the truth will prevail. In the interim I would appreciate that my privacy is respected," Papon tweeted. pic.twitter.com/EWGgg775ZH — papon angaraag (@paponmusic) February 24, 2018 × In a detailed Facebook post yesterday, Papon apologised and said that it was "just a case of faulty camera angles and an accidental move. And now finally, the minor girl in question and other contestants along with their parents are defending the whole act. On Friday, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) alleging "sexual assault" after the singer uploaded a video on his Facebook page where he is seen kissing the minor contestant of the show, "Voice of India Kids". Also, Minister of State Women and Child Welfare Vidya Thakur on Saturday directed the Mumbai police to investigate the matter. The Maharashtra government took cognizance of the Papon issue, where Thakur talked to Mumbai's Commissioner of Police (CP) about the incident, directing him to investigate the incident. The channel, and TV, which airs the show, also released a statement saying that Papon will not be shooting for any further episodes "till the issue is resolved". In a video, the minor girl says that Papon didn't do anything with wrong with her, reports said. The girl's father issued a statement which said that Papon is a father figure to his daughter and that there was nothing objectionable in the video that has come under the scanner. Papon was one of the judges on the show along with fellow singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya.

Singer Papon walks out as reality show judge following sexual assault complaint

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/singer-papon-walks-out-as-reality-show-judge-following-sexual-assault-complaint-33943">Singer Papon</a> has landed in trouble after a complaint was filed against him for allegedly harassing a minor contestant of a reality TV show.

A video has gone viral in which Papon is seen celebrating Holi with the contestants of &ldquo;Voice India Kids&rdquo; and planting a kiss on the girl&rsquo;s face. Papon is one of the judges on the show along with fellow singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya.

Calling himself an &ldquo;extremely affectionate and expressive&rdquo; person, Papon claimed that &ldquo;both of our families are being destroyed forever&rdquo; because of the controversy surrounding the matter.

Papon, who had earlier said that he was being &quot;victimised&quot; for no fault of his as he would &quot;never commit an indecent act&quot;,&nbsp;took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show.

Reacting to the incident, many prominent Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to condemn the singer&rsquo;s behaviour.

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Disgusting! Shameful!Perverse! This man Papon should be arrested ! The girls parents succumbing to pressure ! The explanations given are ridiculous! Haven&rsquo;t felt such anger and shame to see this happen and some on tv debates actually defending the act !
&mdash; Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) <a href="https://twitter.com/TandonRaveena/status/967098132059316224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Whatever the situation,accidental,unintentional,affection,love, though it is sad the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/papon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#papon</a> controversy happened. But will be an eye opener and lesson for all to not getting carried away,and not crossing a line which can be seen as inappropriate.
&mdash; Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) <a href="https://twitter.com/TandonRaveena/status/967321106398023680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Wasn&#39;t smothering a child&#39;s face with your palm rubbing color all over it for 4 secs enough as fatherly love, that u had to pull the child&#39;s face then to strategically peck her on the lip??? There was no wrong camera angle or the child moving her face mistakenly BTW ????????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/papon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#papon</a>????
&mdash; Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GAUAHAR_KHAN/status/967102673878245376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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If a father doesn&rsquo;t stand against his daughter&rsquo;s abuse by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Papon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Papon</a> in d name of &ldquo;fatherly love&rdquo;, then the father also should be tried for being an accomplice to wrong touch.
&mdash; Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashokepandit/status/967072233544978432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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While talking to the media Farha Khan said &quot;I know Papon he is good guy. But there is no doubt that when I saw the video it made me feel uncomfortable. I think he didn&#39;t mean to do it but if it was my daughter I would not like it. I think people should not touch other people&#39;s children, just to show affection.&quot;

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I know <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Papon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Papon</a> he is good guy. But there is no doubt that when I saw the video it made me feel uncomfortable. I think he didn&#39;t mean to do it but if it was my daughter I would not like it. I think people should not touch other people&#39;s children, just to show affection: Farah Khan <a href="https://t.co/dKGzPWRrpC">pic.twitter.com/dKGzPWRrpC</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/967297200052092930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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You&#39;re a celebrity. 
The child is a contestant who&#39;s looking to get a toehold in your industry. 
You CAN&#39;T grab and kiss her. 
EVEN if that&#39;s your idea of affection <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Papon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Papon</a>
&mdash; Padmaja joshi (@PadmajaJoshi) <a href="https://twitter.com/PadmajaJoshi/status/967002623944679429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Papon, who had earlier said that he was being 'victimised' for no fault of his as he would 'never commit an indecent act', took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show

Singer Papon has landed in trouble after a complaint was filed against him for allegedly harassing a minor contestant of a reality TV show. A video has gone viral in which Papon is seen celebrating Holi with the contestants of “Voice India Kids” and planting a kiss on the girl’s face. Papon is one of the judges on the show along with fellow singers Shaan and Himmesh Reshammiya. Calling himself an “extremely affectionate and expressive” person, Papon claimed that “both of our families are being destroyed forever” because of the controversy surrounding the matter. Papon, who had earlier said that he was being "victimised" for no fault of his as he would "never commit an indecent act", took to Twitter to make the announcement that he is stepping down as judge from the show. Reacting to the incident, many prominent Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to condemn the singer’s behaviour. Disgusting! Shameful!Perverse! This man Papon should be arrested ! The girls parents succumbing to pressure ! The explanations given are ridiculous! Haven’t felt such anger and shame to see this happen and some on tv debates actually defending the act ! — Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) February 23, 2018 × Whatever the situation,accidental,unintentional,affection,love, though it is sad the #papon controversy happened. But will be an eye opener and lesson for all to not getting carried away,and not crossing a line which can be seen as inappropriate. — Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) February 24, 2018 × Wasn't smothering a child's face with your palm rubbing color all over it for 4 secs enough as fatherly love, that u had to pull the child's face then to strategically peck her on the lip??? There was no wrong camera angle or the child moving her face mistakenly BTW ????????#papon???? — Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) February 23, 2018 × If a father doesn’t stand against his daughter’s abuse by #Papon in d name of “fatherly love”, then the father also should be tried for being an accomplice to wrong touch. — Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) February 23, 2018 × While talking to the media Farha Khan said "I know Papon he is good guy. But there is no doubt that when I saw the video it made me feel uncomfortable. I think he didn't mean to do it but if it was my daughter I would not like it. I think people should not touch other people's children, just to show affection." I know #Papon he is good guy. But there is no doubt that when I saw the video it made me feel uncomfortable. I think he didn't mean to do it but if it was my daughter I would not like it. I think people should not touch other people's children, just to show affection: Farah Khan pic.twitter.com/dKGzPWRrpC — ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2018 × You're a celebrity. The child is a contestant who's looking to get a toehold in your industry. You CAN'T grab and kiss her. EVEN if that's your idea of affection #Papon — Padmaja joshi (@PadmajaJoshi) February 23, 2018 ×

Bollywood celebrities react to Papon controversy, express fury

A day after the shocking incident of alleged rape of a four-year-old girl by her classmate on the premises of Delhi&#39;s Maxfort School in Dwarka came to light, the little girl repeated the whole story to police and a city judge in the same sequence. &nbsp;

According to the FIR filed by the girl&#39;s parents, the four-year-old had complained of pain in her private parts after coming back from school on Friday, last week, but the mother thought it was just &quot;one of her tantrums.&quot;

Hours after the girl continued to complain of the constant pain, she started crying, she broke her silence on the assault.

According to the parents, she narrated the whole incident that took place during the school hours, saying a boy of her class opened her pants and put his finger inside her private parts. The girl tried pushing him away but to no avail, and could not ask for help as no staff member was around.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/4-year-old-boy-booked-for-raping-fellow-classmate-reports-24899" target="_blank">Also read: 4-year-old boy booked for raping classmate</a>

As per reports, the girl&#39;s mother claimed that she had sent a message to the schoolteacher informing the incident the same night and again on Saturday, however, the school representatives allegedly did not respond.&nbsp;

In the FIR, the child&rsquo;s mother stated that she complained to the schoolteacher through a text message that night and informed the school again on Saturday, but the authorities reportedly did not help and asked the mother to file a written complaint on Monday.

After the doctors at Rockland Hospital examined the victim and confirmed it to be a case of sexual assault, the parents lodged a complaint at the Dwarka Police Station.

&quot;My daughter showed the scene of the crime, pointed that there was no teacher around in the classroom and took the policemen to how it happened,&quot; a media report said quoting the mother.&nbsp;

Her account, however, was disputed by the school, which said it was &quot;impossible&quot; that this incident can take place. The girl&#39;s parents say the school&#39;s negligence was alarming.

'My daughter showed the scene of the crime, pointed that there was no teacher around in the classroom and took the policemen to how it happened,' a media report quoted the mother as saying

A day after the shocking incident of alleged rape of a four-year-old girl by her classmate on the premises of Delhi's Maxfort School in Dwarka came to light, the little girl repeated the whole story to police and a city judge in the same sequence. According to the FIR filed by the girl's parents, the four-year-old had complained of pain in her private parts after coming back from school on Friday, last week, but the mother thought it was just "one of her tantrums." Hours after the girl continued to complain of the constant pain, she started crying, she broke her silence on the assault. According to the parents, she narrated the whole incident that took place during the school hours, saying a boy of her class opened her pants and put his finger inside her private parts. The girl tried pushing him away but to no avail, and could not ask for help as no staff member was around. Also read: 4-year-old boy booked for raping classmate As per reports, the girl's mother claimed that she had sent a message to the schoolteacher informing the incident the same night and again on Saturday, however, the school representatives allegedly did not respond. In the FIR, the child’s mother stated that she complained to the schoolteacher through a text message that night and informed the school again on Saturday, but the authorities reportedly did not help and asked the mother to file a written complaint on Monday. After the doctors at Rockland Hospital examined the victim and confirmed it to be a case of sexual assault, the parents lodged a complaint at the Dwarka Police Station. "My daughter showed the scene of the crime, pointed that there was no teacher around in the classroom and took the policemen to how it happened," a media report said quoting the mother. Her account, however, was disputed by the school, which said it was "impossible" that this incident can take place. The girl's parents say the school's negligence was alarming.

Rape by 4-year-old: Girl repeats story to judge, cops; school says 'impossible'

A federal court judge in California on Monday blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump to deny some federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, undermining the administration&#39;s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The judge, who blocked the order provisionally in April, issued a permanent injunction in the suit brought by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County, which said the order was unconstitutional.

&quot;The Counties have demonstrated that the Executive Order has caused and will cause them constitutional injuries by violating the separation of powers doctrine and depriving them of their Tenth and Fifth Amendment rights,&quot; US&nbsp;District Judge William Orrick for the Northern District of California wrote in his order.

Trump issued the order in January, shortly after he was inaugurated, slashing funding to jurisdictions that refuse to comply with a statute that requires local governments to share information with US&nbsp;immigration authorities.

As part of that policy, the Justice Department has sought to punish cities and other local jurisdictions that have joined a growing &quot;sanctuary&quot; movement aimed at shielding illegal immigrants from stepped-up deportation efforts.

&quot;The district court exceeded its authority today when it barred the president from instructing his cabinet members to enforce existing law,&quot; Department of Justice spokesman Devin O&rsquo;Malley said in a statement. &quot;The Justice Department will vindicate the president&rsquo;s lawful authority to direct the executive branch.&quot;

The department has already appealed the judge&#39;s prior ruling from April.

The Trump administration contends local authorities endanger public safety when they decline to hand over for deportation illegal immigrants arrested for crimes.

Dozens of local governments and cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have joined the growing &quot;sanctuary&quot; movement.

Supporters of the sanctuary policy argue enlisting police cooperation in rounding up immigrants for removal undermines communities&#39; trust in local police, particularly among Latinos.

The Justice Department is concerned about localities&#39; compliance with US&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to detain people up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time so that immigration officials can pick them up.

Some cities say they will only honor such requests when accompanied by criminal warrants, and that compliance is voluntary and not required under the statute.

Chicago also sued the federal government in August over the threats of funding cuts by the Justice Department. A federal judge sided with the city in September and issued a preliminary injunction barring the US&nbsp;government from denying the public-safety grants.

A federal court judge in California on Monday blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump to deny some federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, undermining the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration

A federal court judge in California on Monday blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump to deny some federal grants to so-called sanctuary cities, undermining the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. The judge, who blocked the order provisionally in April, issued a permanent injunction in the suit brought by the city and county of San Francisco and Santa Clara County, which said the order was unconstitutional. "The Counties have demonstrated that the Executive Order has caused and will cause them constitutional injuries by violating the separation of powers doctrine and depriving them of their Tenth and Fifth Amendment rights," US District Judge William Orrick for the Northern District of California wrote in his order. Trump issued the order in January, shortly after he was inaugurated, slashing funding to jurisdictions that refuse to comply with a statute that requires local governments to share information with US immigration authorities. As part of that policy, the Justice Department has sought to punish cities and other local jurisdictions that have joined a growing "sanctuary" movement aimed at shielding illegal immigrants from stepped-up deportation efforts. "The district court exceeded its authority today when it barred the president from instructing his cabinet members to enforce existing law," Department of Justice spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement. "The Justice Department will vindicate the president’s lawful authority to direct the executive branch." The department has already appealed the judge's prior ruling from April. The Trump administration contends local authorities endanger public safety when they decline to hand over for deportation illegal immigrants arrested for crimes. Dozens of local governments and cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have joined the growing "sanctuary" movement. Supporters of the sanctuary policy argue enlisting police cooperation in rounding up immigrants for removal undermines communities' trust in local police, particularly among Latinos. The Justice Department is concerned about localities' compliance with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to detain people up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time so that immigration officials can pick them up. Some cities say they will only honor such requests when accompanied by criminal warrants, and that compliance is voluntary and not required under the statute. Chicago also sued the federal government in August over the threats of funding cuts by the Justice Department. A federal judge sided with the city in September and issued a preliminary injunction barring the US government from denying the public-safety grants.

US judge in California blocks Trump's order on sanctuary cities

A research scholar on Tuesday went to Madras High Court with a plea&nbsp;to remove the word &#39;Mahatma&#39; as a prefix from&nbsp;Gandhi&#39;s name, reports said. The court rejected his plea and&nbsp;slapped a fine of&nbsp;Rs 10,000.&nbsp;

The scholar, S Muruganantham, from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, filed his&nbsp;petition as a&nbsp;public interest litigation (PIL) but was rejected by&nbsp;Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar.

According to reports, they stated that this kind of petitions only lead to wastage of time and trapped the courts business.&nbsp;

Muruganantham argued that the act of the government violates Article 14 and 18 of the constitution and further questioned the gravity of adding &#39;Mahatma&#39;&nbsp;before the name of M K Gandhi in Indian currency notes, says&nbsp;reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Moreover, the scholar further said that when RBI uses &#39;Mahatma&#39;, it violates the principle of equality which constitutes a basic foundation of the constitution, reports said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A research scholar asked the Madras HC to direct the Centre to refrain from using the prefix 'Mahatma' before Gandhi?s name on notes.

A research scholar on Tuesday went to Madras High Court with a plea to remove the word 'Mahatma' as a prefix from Gandhi's name, reports said. The court rejected his plea and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000. The scholar, S Muruganantham, from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, filed his petition as a public interest litigation (PIL) but was rejected by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar. According to reports, they stated that this kind of petitions only lead to wastage of time and trapped the courts business. Muruganantham argued that the act of the government violates Article 14 and 18 of the constitution and further questioned the gravity of adding 'Mahatma' before the name of M K Gandhi in Indian currency notes, says reports. Moreover, the scholar further said that when RBI uses 'Mahatma', it violates the principle of equality which constitutes a basic foundation of the constitution, reports said.

'Waste of time': Court slams man who wanted 'Mahatma' removed from before Gandhi's name

A research scholar on Tuesday went to Madras High Court with the aim to remove the word &#39;Mahatma&#39; as a prefix to Gandhi&#39;s name, got slammed with a cost of Rs.10,000, reports said.&nbsp;

The scholar, S Muruganantham, at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, whose petition was declined as public interest litigation (PIL) by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar.

According to reports, they stated that this kind of petitions only lead to wastage of time and trapped the courts business.&nbsp;

Muruganantham argued that the act of the government violates Article 14 and 18 of the constitution and further questioned the gravity of adding &#39;Mahatma&#39;&nbsp;before the name of M K Gandhi in Indian currency notes, says&nbsp;reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Moreover, the scholar further said that when RBI uses &#39;Mahatma&#39;, it violates the principle of equality which constitutes a basic foundation of the constitution, reports said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A research scholar on Tuesday went to Madras High Court with the aim to remove the word 'Mahatma' as a prefix to Gandhi's name, got slammed with a cost of Rs.10,000, reports said. The scholar, S Muruganantham, at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, whose petition was declined as public interest litigation (PIL) by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar. According to reports, they stated that this kind of petitions only lead to wastage of time and trapped the courts business. Muruganantham argued that the act of the government violates Article 14 and 18 of the constitution and further questioned the gravity of adding 'Mahatma' before the name of M K Gandhi in Indian currency notes, says reports. Moreover, the scholar further said that when RBI uses 'Mahatma', it violates the principle of equality which constitutes a basic foundation of the constitution, reports said.

'Waste of time': Court slams man who wanted Mahatma removed before Gandhi's name

A Minnesota judge has excluded nearly 30 would-be heirs from the estate of the late pop star Prince, bolstering the inheritance claims of the performer&#39;s sister and surviving half-siblings, probate court records released yesterday showed. 
 
The court order, issued on Thursday, came in response to a flood of individuals seeking a piece of an estate some have valued at more than $500 million, left by Prince when he died unexpectedly in April at the age of 57, apparently without a will. 
 
Claims have poured into the probate court since Prince&#39;s younger sister, Tyka Nelson, filed a petition seeking appointment of a special administrator for the estate and naming herself and five half-siblings as the only known heirs. 
 
In his 19-page order, Carver County judge Kevin Eide appeared to accept those six claims, stating, &quot;The court is not aware of any objection or dispute with the statement that these persons are the siblings or half-siblings&quot; of Prince. 
 
Under the ruling, Tyka Nelson and three half-siblings by Prince&#39;s father will undergo genetic testing - John, Norrine and Sharon Nelson - along with two more individuals claiming to be Prince&#39;s niece and grandniece. 
 
No provision for genetic testing was made for two other half-brothers - Alfred Jackson and Omar Baker - who shared a common mother with the singer. 
 
The judge dismissed claims of heirship from a total of 29 other people purported to have some degree of kinship with Prince, including a professed secret wife who said the CIA had classified their marriage records as top secret. 
 
Among other would-be heirs he denied were five people who came forward claiming Prince was their biological or adoptive father, and several others claiming their dad was also Prince&#39;s genetic parent by way of an extramarital affair with his mother. 
 
Also dismissed were a batch of claims by several people who described themselves as descendants of a sister of Prince&#39;s great-grandfather. 
 
The musician, born as Prince Rogers Nelson, has long been identified in public records as the only surviving son from the marriage between Mattie Della Shaw and John L. Nelson, both of whom are now dead. And Judge Eide ruled there was no &quot;credible, documented claim&quot; of a surviving Prince spouse. 
 
If Prince also left no will and no surviving offspring of his own, as appears to be the case, his estate under Minnesota law would be apportioned in equal shares to his siblings and the nearest surviving descendants of any siblings now dead. Siblings and half-siblings are treated the same. 
 
The special administrator of the estate, Bremer Trust, has said it was in the process of determining the fair-market value of Prince&#39;s estate. 
 
(Reuters)

The court order came in response to a scores of people seeking a piece of Prince's estate after the singer died unexpectedly without a will

A Minnesota judge has excluded nearly 30 would-be heirs from the estate of the late pop star Prince, bolstering the inheritance claims of the performer's sister and surviving half-siblings, probate court records released yesterday showed. The court order, issued on Thursday, came in response to a flood of individuals seeking a piece of an estate some have valued at more than $500 million, left by Prince when he died unexpectedly in April at the age of 57, apparently without a will. Claims have poured into the probate court since Prince's younger sister, Tyka Nelson, filed a petition seeking appointment of a special administrator for the estate and naming herself and five half-siblings as the only known heirs. In his 19-page order, Carver County judge Kevin Eide appeared to accept those six claims, stating, "The court is not aware of any objection or dispute with the statement that these persons are the siblings or half-siblings" of Prince. Under the ruling, Tyka Nelson and three half-siblings by Prince's father will undergo genetic testing - John, Norrine and Sharon Nelson - along with two more individuals claiming to be Prince's niece and grandniece. No provision for genetic testing was made for two other half-brothers - Alfred Jackson and Omar Baker - who shared a common mother with the singer. The judge dismissed claims of heirship from a total of 29 other people purported to have some degree of kinship with Prince, including a professed secret wife who said the CIA had classified their marriage records as top secret. Among other would-be heirs he denied were five people who came forward claiming Prince was their biological or adoptive father, and several others claiming their dad was also Prince's genetic parent by way of an extramarital affair with his mother. Also dismissed were a batch of claims by several people who described themselves as descendants of a sister of Prince's great-grandfather. The musician, born as Prince Rogers Nelson, has long been identified in public records as the only surviving son from the marriage between Mattie Della Shaw and John L. Nelson, both of whom are now dead. And Judge Eide ruled there was no "credible, documented claim" of a surviving Prince spouse. If Prince also left no will and no surviving offspring of his own, as appears to be the case, his estate under Minnesota law would be apportioned in equal shares to his siblings and the nearest surviving descendants of any siblings now dead. Siblings and half-siblings are treated the same. The special administrator of the estate, Bremer Trust, has said it was in the process of determining the fair-market value of Prince's estate. (Reuters)

Minnesota judge denies claims of 29 would-be heirs to Prince estate

Motorcycle-borne gunmen shot dead an acclaimed Pakistani singer on Wednesday in the busy port city of Karachi, police said. This comes two days after masked men kidnapped the son of a top provincial judge. &nbsp; 
 
Karachi, a metropolis of about 20 million, is home to Pakistan&#39;s stock exchange and central bank and is plagued by political, ethnic and sectarian violence. &nbsp; 
 
Amjad Sabri, 45, was one of South Asia&#39;s most popular singers of the &#39;qawwali&#39;, Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years.&nbsp; 
 
Officers said two gunmen shot at the windscreen of Sabri&#39;s car as it drove off a bridge in the congested Liaquatabad area of the southern city, and a relative travelling with him was also injured.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Two attackers riding a motorcycle intercepted his car and targetted Amjad Sabri who was driving,&quot; Sindh police chief Allah Dino Khawaja told Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Amjad Sabri died on the way to the hospital,&quot; police surgeon Rohina Hasan said. &quot;He was shot three times.&quot; Police gave no further details.&nbsp; 
 
Violence is common in Karachi despite a sharp decline in murders since the Pakistani military launched a crackdown two years ago against suspected militants and violent criminals.&nbsp; 
 
On Monday, a lawyer, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted outside a city supermarket. The motive for the kidnapping was not immediately clear, authorities said.&nbsp; 
 
In May, gunmen shot dead prominent Pakistani rights activist Khurram Zaki, known for his outspoken stance against the Taliban and other radical Islamist groups, in the central part of the city.&nbsp; 
 
In April last year prominent activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot and killed while travelling in her car.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Sabri's murder comes close on the heels of the abduction of a provincial judge's son two days ago

Motorcycle-borne gunmen shot dead an acclaimed Pakistani singer on Wednesday in the busy port city of Karachi, police said. This comes two days after masked men kidnapped the son of a top provincial judge. Karachi, a metropolis of about 20 million, is home to Pakistan's stock exchange and central bank and is plagued by political, ethnic and sectarian violence. Amjad Sabri, 45, was one of South Asia's most popular singers of the 'qawwali', Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years. Officers said two gunmen shot at the windscreen of Sabri's car as it drove off a bridge in the congested Liaquatabad area of the southern city, and a relative travelling with him was also injured. "Two attackers riding a motorcycle intercepted his car and targetted Amjad Sabri who was driving," Sindh police chief Allah Dino Khawaja told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. "Amjad Sabri died on the way to the hospital," police surgeon Rohina Hasan said. "He was shot three times." Police gave no further details. Violence is common in Karachi despite a sharp decline in murders since the Pakistani military launched a crackdown two years ago against suspected militants and violent criminals. On Monday, a lawyer, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was abducted outside a city supermarket. The motive for the kidnapping was not immediately clear, authorities said. In May, gunmen shot dead prominent Pakistani rights activist Khurram Zaki, known for his outspoken stance against the Taliban and other radical Islamist groups, in the central part of the city. In April last year prominent activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot and killed while travelling in her car. (Reuters)

Karachi: Pakistani Sufi singer Amjad Sabri shot dead

Authorities in China&#39;s violence-prone western region of Xinjiang will prosecute a former judge who reduced penalties and let off people suspected of terrorism, a regional government said.

Hundreds have died in recent years in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people, in unrest blamed by Beijing on Islamist militants and separatists, though rights groups say the violence is more a reaction to repressive Chinese policies.

Fulati Qiuwaer was a senior judge in Aksu, in heavily Uighur southwestern Xinjiang, but had been sacked and expelled from the ruling Communist Party for his leniency in dealing with terror suspects, the Aksu branch of the party&#39;s anti-graft watchdog said.

&quot;Fulati Qiuwaer seriously contravened the party&#39;s political discipline, and exonerated crimes and reduced penalties for those suspected of endangering security and violent terror,&quot; it said in a short statement issued today.

The agency also accused Fulati Qiuwaer of siphoning off confiscated funds and seeking payments from people involved in court cases.

His case had been handed over to judicial authorities, it added, meaning he will face prosecution.

It was not possible to reach him for comment and unclear if he has been allowed to retain a lawyer.

Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, the main Uighur exile group, said Fulati Qiuwaer was being punished for trying to ensure Uighur suspects&#39; legal rights were protected while in custody.

Calls to the Aksu branch of the party&#39;s anti-graft watchdog seeking comment were not answered.

The government strongly denies committing any abuses in Xinjiang and insists the legal, cultural and religious rights of the Uighur people are fully protected.

Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in China's resource-rich Xinjiang province, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in violence between the Muslim Uighur people, who call the region home, and ethnic majority Han Chinese

Authorities in China's violence-prone western region of Xinjiang will prosecute a former judge who reduced penalties and let off people suspected of terrorism, a regional government said. Hundreds have died in recent years in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people, in unrest blamed by Beijing on Islamist militants and separatists, though rights groups say the violence is more a reaction to repressive Chinese policies. Fulati Qiuwaer was a senior judge in Aksu, in heavily Uighur southwestern Xinjiang, but had been sacked and expelled from the ruling Communist Party for his leniency in dealing with terror suspects, the Aksu branch of the party's anti-graft watchdog said. "Fulati Qiuwaer seriously contravened the party's political discipline, and exonerated crimes and reduced penalties for those suspected of endangering security and violent terror," it said in a short statement issued today. The agency also accused Fulati Qiuwaer of siphoning off confiscated funds and seeking payments from people involved in court cases. His case had been handed over to judicial authorities, it added, meaning he will face prosecution. It was not possible to reach him for comment and unclear if he has been allowed to retain a lawyer. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, the main Uighur exile group, said Fulati Qiuwaer was being punished for trying to ensure Uighur suspects' legal rights were protected while in custody. Calls to the Aksu branch of the party's anti-graft watchdog seeking comment were not answered. The government strongly denies committing any abuses in Xinjiang and insists the legal, cultural and religious rights of the Uighur people are fully protected.

China to prosecute Xinjiang judge for letting off terror suspects

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