Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will prepare his defence against an International Criminal Court probe into his deadly drug war, after previously insisting he would not cooperate.

ICC judges authorised in September a full-blown investigation into Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign, which rights groups estimate has killed tens of thousands of people, saying it resembled an illegitimate and systematic attack on civilians.

"I will prepare for my defence in the ICC," Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech released Monday, in his first public comments on the probe.

"Just stick to the facts because there are records of it. I am not threatening you -- just don't cheat me on the evidence," Duterte said in the speech, which came two days after he declared he would retire from politics.

Duterte has repeatedly attacked the world's only permanent war crimes court and insisted it has no jurisdiction in the Philippines.

The authoritarian firebrand pulled Manila out of the ICC after it launched a preliminary probe, but the Hague-based court says it has jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.

Duterte has repeatedly said there is no official campaign to illegally kill addicts and dealers, but his speeches have included incitements to violence and he previously told police to kill drug suspects if their lives were in danger.

- 'It's on me' -

Duterte said in the Monday speech he would protect officers carrying out the war on drugs "as long as you obey the law".

"It's on me, not on you," Duterte said.

"I will answer for it and if someone should go to prison, I will be the one to go to prison."

Three Philippine policemen were sentenced in 2018 to decades in prison for murdering a teenager during an anti-narcotics sweep, the first and only conviction so far against officers carrying out Duterte's war on drugs.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sunday a review of 52 anti-drug operations carried out by police had identified around 154 officers for "possible criminal liability".

The cases will be further investigated and criminal charges filed "if warranted by the evidence", Guevarra said.

Carlos Conde, Human Rights Watch senior researcher for the Philippines, said Duterte sounded like "a really scared man".

"He knows he will be held accountable and the ICC presents the best opportunity for that to happen," Conde told AFP.

"He's scared of an ICC conviction and, perhaps worse, losing... face (with) police officers who followed his murderous orders but are now realising that they, too, are accountable."

- Upcoming election -

Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term as president, declared in August he would run for the vice-presidency.

But in a surprise announcement Saturday, he said he would retire -- which was met with deep scepticism among analysts.

Duterte made a similar announcement in September 2015, saying he "will retire from public life for good", only to declare his presidential bid two months later.

Duterte has not named a successor, but indicated his daughter Sara would run alongside his longtime aide Senator Christopher Go.

Analysts say she would likely protect Duterte from criminal charges in the Philippines, and ICC prosecutors.

So far, she has denied plans to run for president.

Surveys have shown Sara Duterte, boxing great Manny Pacquiao and celebrity mayor Francisco Domagoso are the front runners, along with the son and namesake of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will prepare his defence against an International Criminal Court probe into his deadly drug war, after previously insisting he would not cooperate.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has said he will prepare his defence against an International Criminal Court probe into his deadly drug war, after previously insisting he would not cooperate. ICC judges authorised in September a full-blown investigation into Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign, which rights groups estimate has killed tens of thousands of people, saying it resembled an illegitimate and systematic attack on civilians. "I will prepare for my defence in the ICC," Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech released Monday, in his first public comments on the probe. "Just stick to the facts because there are records of it. I am not threatening you -- just don't cheat me on the evidence," Duterte said in the speech, which came two days after he declared he would retire from politics. Duterte has repeatedly attacked the world's only permanent war crimes court and insisted it has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. The authoritarian firebrand pulled Manila out of the ICC after it launched a preliminary probe, but the Hague-based court says it has jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member. Duterte has repeatedly said there is no official campaign to illegally kill addicts and dealers, but his speeches have included incitements to violence and he previously told police to kill drug suspects if their lives were in danger. - 'It's on me' - Duterte said in the Monday speech he would protect officers carrying out the war on drugs "as long as you obey the law". "It's on me, not on you," Duterte said. "I will answer for it and if someone should go to prison, I will be the one to go to prison." Three Philippine policemen were sentenced in 2018 to decades in prison for murdering a teenager during an anti-narcotics sweep, the first and only conviction so far against officers carrying out Duterte's war on drugs. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Sunday a review of 52 anti-drug operations carried out by police had identified around 154 officers for "possible criminal liability". The cases will be further investigated and criminal charges filed "if warranted by the evidence", Guevarra said. Carlos Conde, Human Rights Watch senior researcher for the Philippines, said Duterte sounded like "a really scared man". "He knows he will be held accountable and the ICC presents the best opportunity for that to happen," Conde told AFP. "He's scared of an ICC conviction and, perhaps worse, losing... face (with) police officers who followed his murderous orders but are now realising that they, too, are accountable." - Upcoming election - Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term as president, declared in August he would run for the vice-presidency. But in a surprise announcement Saturday, he said he would retire -- which was met with deep scepticism among analysts. Duterte made a similar announcement in September 2015, saying he "will retire from public life for good", only to declare his presidential bid two months later. Duterte has not named a successor, but indicated his daughter Sara would run alongside his longtime aide Senator Christopher Go. Analysts say she would likely protect Duterte from criminal charges in the Philippines, and ICC prosecutors. So far, she has denied plans to run for president. Surveys have shown Sara Duterte, boxing great Manny Pacquiao and celebrity mayor Francisco Domagoso are the front runners, along with the son and namesake of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Philippines' Duterte to prepare defence against ICC probe

In 2020, hate crimes in the United States rose to the highest level in more than a decade, largely driven by a spike in assaults against people of Asian and African heritage, an FBI report has stated.

According to the annual report released on Monday, more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the country identified 7,759 hate crimes in 2020, a 6 per cent rise than 2019—the highest tally since 2008.

In a year that saw huge Black Lives Matter protests highlighting problems of racism in the country, reports of hate crimes against Black Americans rose 40 per cent, from 1,972 in the year 2019 to 2,755 in the year 2020, the data showed.

Meanwhile, attacks against Asian Americans surged 70 per cent with 274 incidents in 2020 against 161 in 2019—a trend that has been linked to the rhetoric that blames Asian people for the spread of Covid-19.

Of the 7,426 hate crime offences classified as crimes against people, as opposed to crimes against property, 53.4 per cent were for intimidation, 27.6 per cent were for simple assault and 18.1 per cent were for aggravated assault. Twenty-two murders and 19 rapes were reported as hate crimes.

While crimes against black Americans did not see as large a spike from 2019, there were 2,755 reported incidents, making African Americans the largest victim category.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-men-executed-in-1951-rape-granted-posthumous-pardons-409967">Black men executed in 1951 rape granted posthumous pardons</a>

The FBI said nearly 62 per cent of victims were attacked due to race or ethnicity biases. Offences based on religion and sexual orientation were the next most common, at around 13 per cent and 20 per cent.

The offences were often were classified as intimidation. Of the over 6,400 known offenders, 55% were white.&nbsp;

The US Justice Department has warned that white supremacist groups represent a rising security threat after the deadly January 6 assault on the US Capitol.

In May this year, United States President Joe Biden signed a law that aims to address a rising number of anti-Asian attacks.

The legislation made the reporting of hate crimes more accessible at the local and state levels by boosting public outreach and ensuring reporting resources are available online in multiple languages.

It also directs the Department of Justice to designate a point person to expedite the review of hate crimes related to COVID-19 and authorizes grants to state and local governments to conduct crime-reduction programs to prevent and respond to hate crimes.

(With inputs from agencies)

In 2020, hate crimes in the United States rose to the highest level in more than a decade, largely driven by a spike in assaults against people of Asian and African heritage, an FBI report has stated.

In 2020, hate crimes in the United States rose to the highest level in more than a decade, largely driven by a spike in assaults against people of Asian and African heritage, an FBI report has stated. According to the annual report released on Monday, more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the country identified 7,759 hate crimes in 2020, a 6 per cent rise than 2019—the highest tally since 2008. In a year that saw huge Black Lives Matter protests highlighting problems of racism in the country, reports of hate crimes against Black Americans rose 40 per cent, from 1,972 in the year 2019 to 2,755 in the year 2020, the data showed. Meanwhile, attacks against Asian Americans surged 70 per cent with 274 incidents in 2020 against 161 in 2019—a trend that has been linked to the rhetoric that blames Asian people for the spread of Covid-19. Of the 7,426 hate crime offences classified as crimes against people, as opposed to crimes against property, 53.4 per cent were for intimidation, 27.6 per cent were for simple assault and 18.1 per cent were for aggravated assault. Twenty-two murders and 19 rapes were reported as hate crimes. While crimes against black Americans did not see as large a spike from 2019, there were 2,755 reported incidents, making African Americans the largest victim category. Also read | Black men executed in 1951 rape granted posthumous pardons The FBI said nearly 62 per cent of victims were attacked due to race or ethnicity biases. Offences based on religion and sexual orientation were the next most common, at around 13 per cent and 20 per cent. The offences were often were classified as intimidation. Of the over 6,400 known offenders, 55% were white. The US Justice Department has warned that white supremacist groups represent a rising security threat after the deadly January 6 assault on the US Capitol. In May this year, United States President Joe Biden signed a law that aims to address a rising number of anti-Asian attacks. The legislation made the reporting of hate crimes more accessible at the local and state levels by boosting public outreach and ensuring reporting resources are available online in multiple languages. It also directs the Department of Justice to designate a point person to expedite the review of hate crimes related to COVID-19 and authorizes grants to state and local governments to conduct crime-reduction programs to prevent and respond to hate crimes. (With inputs from agencies)

Hate crimes in US spiked 6% in 2020, highest in 12 years: FBI report

French&nbsp;serial&nbsp;killer&nbsp;Michel Fourniret, the 'Ogre of the Ardennes', who confessed to killing 11 people, died on Monday aged&nbsp;79, taking his final secrets to the grave and denying&nbsp;families&nbsp;of victims long-awaited&nbsp;justice.

Fourniret, whose victims were mostly girls and young women, died at the La Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris where he was admitted on April 28 from the nearby Fresnes prison where he serving two life sentences, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="Protests in France over no trial for Jewish woman's killer">Protests in France over no trial for Jewish woman's killer</a>

An investigation has been opened into his death, Heitz said. This always happens when any person&nbsp;dies&nbsp;in custody in France.

He confessed to 11 murders, including British student Joanna Parrish, who was killed in May 1990 while she was in France as part of her university course.

But he has been linked to other disappearances, most of them in the Ardennes region that straddles the&nbsp;French-Belgian border.

The death of Fourniret, who was reportedly suffering from heart problems and Alzheimer's, dashed the hopes of those&nbsp;families&nbsp;still awaiting&nbsp;justice&nbsp;for murders he may have committed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="France charges three over neo-Nazi attack plot">France charges three over neo-Nazi attack plot</a>

His lawyers said they now expected the&nbsp;judiciary&nbsp;to end all investigations against him, adding that they had recently asked for his term to be suspended due to his ill health.

Fourniret's victims included nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin, who he raped and killed just months before he was caught in Belgium in 2003.

Fourniret finally admitted to the girl's murder in March 2020 but her body has yet to be found despite intensive searches, including over the last few weeks.

'There is a feeling of anger after so many years of inaction,'&nbsp;said Didier Seban, the lawyer for several&nbsp;families&nbsp;of girls who disappeared including the relatives of Estelle Mouzin.

"There will be no&nbsp;trial&nbsp;and no possibility to have the responses that are expected."

As well as the killing of Parrish, Fourniret had also been charged over the murders of Marie-Angele Domece, who vanished in 1988 and Lydie Loge, a 29-year-old who disappeared in 1993.

His former wife Monique Olivier, who married Fourniret while he was still serving a previous jail term, has also been charged over several of the outstanding cases.

By the time of his arrest, the former forest warden was one of Europe's most notorious&nbsp;serial&nbsp;killers. He even boasted of being a 'far better'&nbsp;killer&nbsp;than the sadistic Belgian paedophile Marc Dutroux.

'Michel Fourniret is taking his secrets with him,'&nbsp;said Richard Delgene, the lawyer of Monique Olivier.

"As we still have a lot of cases in progress, Monique Olivier will remain the only one in the defendants' box to be held accountable."

Fourniret confessed to Estelle Mouzin's murder in March last year only after Olivier gave key testimony that shattered his defence.

Detectives first considered Fourniret a suspect in the girl's disappearance in 2006, after they found a photo of Mouzin on his computer.

Olivier, now 72, is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 28 years, for her role in some of the abductions and killings.

The Parisien newspaper reported on Monday morning that Fourniret was taken to hospital suffering from a heart condition and Alzheimer's, and that doctors had placed him in an artificial coma.

French serial killer Michel Fourniret, the 'Ogre of the Ardennes', who confessed to killing 11 people, died on Monday aged 79, taking his final secrets to the grave and denying families of victims long-awaited justice.

French serial killer Michel Fourniret, the 'Ogre of the Ardennes', who confessed to killing 11 people, died on Monday aged 79, taking his final secrets to the grave and denying families of victims long-awaited justice. Fourniret, whose victims were mostly girls and young women, died at the La Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris where he was admitted on April 28 from the nearby Fresnes prison where he serving two life sentences, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said. Also read | Protests in France over no trial for Jewish woman's killer An investigation has been opened into his death, Heitz said. This always happens when any person dies in custody in France. He confessed to 11 murders, including British student Joanna Parrish, who was killed in May 1990 while she was in France as part of her university course. But he has been linked to other disappearances, most of them in the Ardennes region that straddles the French-Belgian border. The death of Fourniret, who was reportedly suffering from heart problems and Alzheimer's, dashed the hopes of those families still awaiting justice for murders he may have committed. Also read | France charges three over neo-Nazi attack plot His lawyers said they now expected the judiciary to end all investigations against him, adding that they had recently asked for his term to be suspended due to his ill health. Fourniret's victims included nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin, who he raped and killed just months before he was caught in Belgium in 2003. Fourniret finally admitted to the girl's murder in March 2020 but her body has yet to be found despite intensive searches, including over the last few weeks. 'There is a feeling of anger after so many years of inaction,' said Didier Seban, the lawyer for several families of girls who disappeared including the relatives of Estelle Mouzin. "There will be no trial and no possibility to have the responses that are expected." As well as the killing of Parrish, Fourniret had also been charged over the murders of Marie-Angele Domece, who vanished in 1988 and Lydie Loge, a 29-year-old who disappeared in 1993. His former wife Monique Olivier, who married Fourniret while he was still serving a previous jail term, has also been charged over several of the outstanding cases. By the time of his arrest, the former forest warden was one of Europe's most notorious serial killers. He even boasted of being a 'far better' killer than the sadistic Belgian paedophile Marc Dutroux. 'Michel Fourniret is taking his secrets with him,' said Richard Delgene, the lawyer of Monique Olivier. "As we still have a lot of cases in progress, Monique Olivier will remain the only one in the defendants' box to be held accountable." Fourniret confessed to Estelle Mouzin's murder in March last year only after Olivier gave key testimony that shattered his defence. Detectives first considered Fourniret a suspect in the girl's disappearance in 2006, after they found a photo of Mouzin on his computer. Olivier, now 72, is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for 28 years, for her role in some of the abductions and killings. The Parisien newspaper reported on Monday morning that Fourniret was taken to hospital suffering from a heart condition and Alzheimer's, and that doctors had placed him in an artificial coma.

Families denied justice as French serial killer dies at 79

Justice is officially Justin Bieber'ss&nbsp;eighth number one album, earning 154,000 equivalent album units in the United States, and reaching the top of the Billboard 200. 
 
Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), as it’s titled, delivered fans six new songs, including collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, DaBaby, Quavo, Tori Kelly, and Jaden Smith, bringing the album’s tracklist up to a whopping 22 songs.&nbsp;

Bieber is reportedly the youngest solo artist with eight number one albums, besting Elvis Presley once again after snagging the title of the youngest solo artist with seven number one albums from the “Hound Dog” singer. 
 
According to Vulture, while Justice is Bieber’s sixth studio album, he also hit number one with 2013’s Believe: Acoustic, which arrived seven months after 2012’s Believe, and Never Say Never: The Remixes in 2011.

The arrival of Justice knocked Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album out of the top Billboard album slot to number three on the chart after it spent ten weeks at number one.

Justice is officially Justin Bieber'ss eighth number one album, earning 154,000 equivalent album units in the United States, and reaching the top of the Billboard 200.

Justice is officially Justin Bieber'ss eighth number one album, earning 154,000 equivalent album units in the United States, and reaching the top of the Billboard 200. Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), as it’s titled, delivered fans six new songs, including collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, DaBaby, Quavo, Tori Kelly, and Jaden Smith, bringing the album’s tracklist up to a whopping 22 songs. Bieber is reportedly the youngest solo artist with eight number one albums, besting Elvis Presley once again after snagging the title of the youngest solo artist with seven number one albums from the “Hound Dog” singer. According to Vulture, while Justice is Bieber’s sixth studio album, he also hit number one with 2013’s Believe: Acoustic, which arrived seven months after 2012’s Believe, and Never Say Never: The Remixes in 2011. The arrival of Justice knocked Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album out of the top Billboard album slot to number three on the chart after it spent ten weeks at number one.

Justin Bieber's 'Justice' becomes his eighth number one album on Billboard 200

Justin Bieber's latest album 'Justice' has divided the internet.&nbsp;The album is receiving mixed reviews for featuring the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Released Friday, Bieber's sixth studio album, 'Justice', begins with one of the late civil rights icon's most famous quotes: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," words from his April 1963 "Letter From Birmingham Jail."&nbsp;&nbsp;King is even credited as a songwriter on Bieber's album.

Six tracks later is "MLK Interlude," a 1-minute, 44-second snippet of King's sermon "But If Not," which he delivered at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church in November 1967. "I say to you, this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for it, then you aren't fit to live," King said as he urged his audience to do what is right, regardless of consequences.

Some people lashed out at the singer for using&nbsp;King's words, finding a disconnect between their origins and their placement on Justice.

One of the critics pointed out&nbsp; "Now if you're wondering why anyone thought it was a good idea to conflate civil-right martyrdom with the thought of succumbing to a hot woman, keep wondering: It, like the other MLK bit, or the socially conscious-sounding rationale for the album title, for that matter, doesn't make a lick of sense," 
 
&nbsp;

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Justin Bieber has an “MLK Interlude” on his album. Then, an 80’s inspired pop song about dying for love comes on next. <a href="https://t.co/11uBfJVGb3">pic.twitter.com/11uBfJVGb3</a>
— RacismSummitBookingAgent (@KirkWrites79) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirkWrites79/status/1372789837330194432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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im confused why this justin bieber album is called justice and has a whole mlk skit if it’s just about how in love he is with hailey bieber💀
— bri🤪 (@iamabriannaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamabriannaa/status/1372767000712286217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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justin bieber profiting off of the civil rights movement as a white man is weird. his album is called ‘justice’ and has an MLK interlude but speaks nowhere of social justice, and is focused on love &amp; relationships... huh?
— aly (@herestokesha) <a href="https://twitter.com/herestokesha/status/1372766270777565184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

However, Justin has got the support of MLK Jr.'s kins and organisation. Notably King's daughter Bernice and the staff at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. They pointed out that the performer called on fans to support the King Center and other organizations dedicated to social justice on the eve of his latest collection's release. 
 
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Each of us, including artists and entertainers, can do something. 
 
Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbieber?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@justinbieber</a>, for your support, in honor of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Justice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Justice</a>, of <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheKingCenter</a>’s work and of our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeLove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeLove</a> campaign, which is a part of our global movement for justice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EndRacism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EndRacism</a> <a href="https://t.co/nTkR1XdcvW">https://t.co/nTkR1XdcvW</a>
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BerniceKing/status/1372626331972866056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbieber?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@justinbieber</a>, for your support, in honor of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Justice?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Justice</a>, of our work and our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeLove?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeLove</a> campaign, which is a part of our global movement for justice. Help by donating or taking action at <a href="https://t.co/gI7VPeOZ3i">https://t.co/gI7VPeOZ3i</a> and <a href="https://t.co/hs8yGjlzr3">https://t.co/hs8yGjlzr3</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLK</a> <a href="https://t.co/8yP9TX8E8Z">https://t.co/8yP9TX8E8Z</a>
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter/status/1372625235229425667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

'Justice'&nbsp;is&nbsp;the best-selling album in the iTunes Store on Friday. His latest single, "Peaches," from the album, was the fifth best-selling song.

Justin Bieber's latest album 'Justice' has divided the internet. The album is receiving mixed reviews for featuring the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Released Friday, Bieber's sixth studio album, 'Justice', begins with one of the late civil rights icon's most famous quotes: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," words from his April 1963 "Letter From Birmingham Jail.

Justin Bieber's latest album 'Justice' has divided the internet. The album is receiving mixed reviews for featuring the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Released Friday, Bieber's sixth studio album, 'Justice', begins with one of the late civil rights icon's most famous quotes: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," words from his April 1963 "Letter From Birmingham Jail." King is even credited as a songwriter on Bieber's album. Six tracks later is "MLK Interlude," a 1-minute, 44-second snippet of King's sermon "But If Not," which he delivered at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church in November 1967. "I say to you, this morning, that if you have never found something so dear and precious to you that you will die for it, then you aren't fit to live," King said as he urged his audience to do what is right, regardless of consequences. Some people lashed out at the singer for using King's words, finding a disconnect between their origins and their placement on Justice. One of the critics pointed out "Now if you're wondering why anyone thought it was a good idea to conflate civil-right martyrdom with the thought of succumbing to a hot woman, keep wondering: It, like the other MLK bit, or the socially conscious-sounding rationale for the album title, for that matter, doesn't make a lick of sense," Justin Bieber has an “MLK Interlude” on his album. Then, an 80’s inspired pop song about dying for love comes on next. pic.twitter.com/11uBfJVGb3 — RacismSummitBookingAgent (@KirkWrites79) March 19, 2021 × im confused why this justin bieber album is called justice and has a whole mlk skit if it’s just about how in love he is with hailey bieber💀 — bri🤪 (@iamabriannaa) March 19, 2021 × justin bieber profiting off of the civil rights movement as a white man is weird. his album is called ‘justice’ and has an MLK interlude but speaks nowhere of social justice, and is focused on love & relationships... huh? — aly (@herestokesha) March 19, 2021 × However, Justin has got the support of MLK Jr.'s kins and organisation. Notably King's daughter Bernice and the staff at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. They pointed out that the performer called on fans to support the King Center and other organizations dedicated to social justice on the eve of his latest collection's release. Each of us, including artists and entertainers, can do something. Thank you, @justinbieber, for your support, in honor of #Justice, of @TheKingCenter’s work and of our #BeLove campaign, which is a part of our global movement for justice. #MLK #EndRacism https://t.co/nTkR1XdcvW — Be A King (@BerniceKing) March 18, 2021 × Thank you, @justinbieber, for your support, in honor of #Justice, of our work and our #BeLove campaign, which is a part of our global movement for justice. Help by donating or taking action at https://t.co/gI7VPeOZ3i and https://t.co/hs8yGjlzr3. #MLK https://t.co/8yP9TX8E8Z — The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) March 18, 2021 × 'Justice' is the best-selling album in the iTunes Store on Friday. His latest single, "Peaches," from the album, was the fifth best-selling song.

Justin Bieber faces backlash for using words of Martin Luther King Jr in new album 'Justice'

Will Dante finally get justice after 700 years? In 1301 A.D. the Italian poet was sent into exile. In 2021, his descendant says the verdict was biased & wants to undo the 'miscarriage of justice'. WION's Palki Sharma gets you this report.

Gravitas: Will Dante get justice after 700 years?

Director Zack Snyder released a 10 seconds short clip from the ' Justice League', In the clip, &nbsp;Henry Cavill as Superman is seen wearing a black suit.&nbsp; 
 
The clip shows Superman in a meeting with Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) after coming back from the dead, a scene not included in the 2017 movie 'Justice League', ''I'm assuming you’re Alfred,'' he says.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/gal-gadot-refused-to-film-a-sexualised-scene-in-justice-league-director-joss-whedon-insisted-and-used-a-body-double-instead-311826" hreflang="en">Gal Gadot refused to film a sexualised scene in 'Justice League'; director Joss Whedon insisted and used a body double instead</a>

Snyder said, ''that the film was shot while Cavil was wearing the red and blue Superman suit but it was turned black during post-production''.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6GYrsXAKKBc" width="560"></iframe>

Snyder was set to helm 2017’s 'Justice League', but he had to leave the project in the middle of production due to a family emergency. Joss Whedon replaced Synder and stepped in to finish the film, and largely changed Snyder’s original vision, and that led to an outcry among fans and demand for Snyder to release his version of the movie.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/zack-snyder-unveils-first-teaser-for-justice-league-cut-306957" hreflang="en">Zack Snyder unveils first teaser for 'Justice League' cut</a> 
 
Snyder confirmed that he will only use the scenes that he had shot before leaving the film in the cut. 
''There will be no chance on earth that I will use a shot prior or after I left the movie,'' Snyder said.

''I would destroy the movie, I would set it on fire before I would use a single frame that I did not photograph. That is an f—ing hard fact.'' 
 
Snyder has directed two DC movies earlier, including, 'Man of Steel' in 2013 and 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' in 2016.&nbsp;The Snyder Cut is expected to release next year on HBO Max.

Director Zack Snyder released a 10 seconds short clip from the ' Justice League', In the clip, Henry Cavill as Superman is seen wearing a black suit. The clip shows Superman in a meeting with Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) after coming back from the dead, a scene not included in the 2017 movie 'Justice League', ''I'm assuming you’re Alfred,'' he says.

Director Zack Snyder released a 10 seconds short clip from the ' Justice League', In the clip, Henry Cavill as Superman is seen wearing a black suit. The clip shows Superman in a meeting with Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) after coming back from the dead, a scene not included in the 2017 movie 'Justice League', ''I'm assuming you’re Alfred,'' he says. Also read: Gal Gadot refused to film a sexualised scene in 'Justice League'; director Joss Whedon insisted and used a body double instead Snyder said, ''that the film was shot while Cavil was wearing the red and blue Superman suit but it was turned black during post-production''. Snyder was set to helm 2017’s 'Justice League', but he had to leave the project in the middle of production due to a family emergency. Joss Whedon replaced Synder and stepped in to finish the film, and largely changed Snyder’s original vision, and that led to an outcry among fans and demand for Snyder to release his version of the movie. Also read: Zack Snyder unveils first teaser for 'Justice League' cut Snyder confirmed that he will only use the scenes that he had shot before leaving the film in the cut. ''There will be no chance on earth that I will use a shot prior or after I left the movie,'' Snyder said. ''I would destroy the movie, I would set it on fire before I would use a single frame that I did not photograph. That is an f—ing hard fact.'' Snyder has directed two DC movies earlier, including, 'Man of Steel' in 2013 and 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' in 2016. The Snyder Cut is expected to release next year on HBO Max.

Watch: Superman's black suit in Snyder cut clip from ‘Justice League’

A French court on Wednesday ordered Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga be handed over to a United Nations tribunal for trial.

UN&nbsp;prosecutors accuse Kabuga of bankrolling and arming ethnic Hutu militias that killed 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda during a 100-day period in 1994. He is indicted for genocide and incitement to commit genocide, among other charges.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/rwanda-genocide-suspect-kabuga-arrested-by-french-police-299069" hreflang="en">Rwanda genocide suspect Kabuga arrested by French police</a>

Kabuga, whose arrest in Paris in May ended a manhunt that lasted more than two decades, has called the charges lies.&nbsp;

His lawyers say he would not receive a fair trial at the tribunal, which is based in The Hague and in Arusha, Tanzania. They also argue his health is too frail for him to be transferred to the African country, particularly during a dangerous pandemic.&nbsp;

But the court said his health was "not incompatible" with a transfer. The 87-year-old is currently being held in a Paris prison.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/belgian-court-convicts-rwandan-official-for-genocide-269281" hreflang="en">Belgian court convicts Rwandan official for genocide</a>

In a letter to the UN&nbsp;tribunal's chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, ahead of Wednesday's ruling, Kabuga's lawyers urged him to leave the case with France's judiciary.&nbsp;

"If you were to decide to assert the primacy of your jurisdiction over French jurisdiction, thus endangering the life of Felicien Kabuga, we would take the risk of renouncing on discovering the truth forever," Laurent Bayon wrote, citing Kabuga's medical history.

A French court on Wednesday ordered Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga be handed over to a United Nations tribunal for trial. UN prosecutors accuse Kabuga of bankrolling and arming ethnic Hutu militias that killed 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda during a 100-day period in 1994.

A French court on Wednesday ordered Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga be handed over to a United Nations tribunal for trial. UN prosecutors accuse Kabuga of bankrolling and arming ethnic Hutu militias that killed 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda during a 100-day period in 1994. He is indicted for genocide and incitement to commit genocide, among other charges. Also read: Rwanda genocide suspect Kabuga arrested by French police Kabuga, whose arrest in Paris in May ended a manhunt that lasted more than two decades, has called the charges lies. His lawyers say he would not receive a fair trial at the tribunal, which is based in The Hague and in Arusha, Tanzania. They also argue his health is too frail for him to be transferred to the African country, particularly during a dangerous pandemic. But the court said his health was "not incompatible" with a transfer. The 87-year-old is currently being held in a Paris prison. Also read: Belgian court convicts Rwandan official for genocide In a letter to the UN tribunal's chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, ahead of Wednesday's ruling, Kabuga's lawyers urged him to leave the case with France's judiciary. "If you were to decide to assert the primacy of your jurisdiction over French jurisdiction, thus endangering the life of Felicien Kabuga, we would take the risk of renouncing on discovering the truth forever," Laurent Bayon wrote, citing Kabuga's medical history.

French court orders Rwanda genocide suspect be tried at UN tribunal

Mexican demonstrators splash presidential palace red in protest over murder of women

Three out of four death-row convicts in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirbhaya-case-delhi-hc-reserves-order-on-plea-seeking-fir-against-sole-witness-269306">Nirbhaya</a> rape case on Tuesday stated they want to use their remaining legal remedies and file for both curative and mercy petition.

Their reply came after the court directed the Tihar Jail authorities to issue a fresh notice to them on whether or not they want to file the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/very-important-to-teach-such-people-a-lesson-nirbhayas-mother-welcomes-delhi-hcs-dismissal-of-convicts-plea-269236">mercy</a> petition.

Based on the directions, the jail authorities had issued a notice to all four convicts stating that they have seven days' time to file a mercy petition.

The case pertains to rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student by six men on a moving bus on the night of December 16, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-rejects-review-petition-of-akshay-kumar-singh-in-2012-delhi-gang-rape-case-268900">2012</a>. Pawan, Akshay, Vinay, and Mukesh are facing the gallows in the case.

The main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial.

Another accused was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime and was sent to a reform facility and released after three years.

One of the convicts Akshay's review petition was rejected by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirbhaya-s-mother-breaks-down-after-court-postpones-death-warrants-of-convicts-268942">Supreme Court</a> last week. Besides him, other convicts Mukesh, Pawan and Vinay had filed the review petition last year but it was rejected by the apex court.

A curative petition is the last legal recourse available to a person following which mercy for computation of death penalty to life imprisonment could be sought from the President of India.

Three out of four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case on Tuesday stated they want to use their remaining legal remedies and file for both curative and mercy petition.

Three out of four death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case on Tuesday stated they want to use their remaining legal remedies and file for both curative and mercy petition. Their reply came after the court directed the Tihar Jail authorities to issue a fresh notice to them on whether or not they want to file the mercy petition. Based on the directions, the jail authorities had issued a notice to all four convicts stating that they have seven days' time to file a mercy petition. The case pertains to rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student by six men on a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012. Pawan, Akshay, Vinay, and Mukesh are facing the gallows in the case. The main accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial. Another accused was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime and was sent to a reform facility and released after three years. One of the convicts Akshay's review petition was rejected by the Supreme Court last week. Besides him, other convicts Mukesh, Pawan and Vinay had filed the review petition last year but it was rejected by the apex court. A curative petition is the last legal recourse available to a person following which mercy for computation of death penalty to life imprisonment could be sought from the President of India.

Three Nirbhaya convicts want to use their remaining legal remedies

After the verdict over the 2018 murder of journalist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggi-murder-saudi-arabia-court-hands-death-penalty-to-five-24-years-imprisonment-to-three-269717">Jamal Khashoggi</a> was announced, Turkey criticised it for falling short of being able to decrypt the killing and motive of the crime. For Turkey, the Saudi court failed to deliver justice.

The decision announced by the Saudi court "is far from meeting the expectations of both our country and the international community to shed light on the murder with all its dimensions and deliver justice," the foreign ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

A Saudi Arabian court&nbsp;on Monday sentenced five people to death for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018.

The criminal court of Riyadh has sentenced five people to death for committing and directly participating in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

The court sentenced 24 years of imprisonment to three individuals for their role in covering up the crime and violating the law.

And charges against three individuals have been dismissed.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and US resident, was killed in October 2018 by Saudi agents while at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork ahead of his wedding to Hatice Cengiz.

For decades, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggis-killers-will-pay-the-price-says-turkish-president-228875">Khashoggi was close to the Saudi royal family</a> and also served as an adviser to the government.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the verdict over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was announced, Turkey criticised it for falling short of being able to decrypt the killing and motive of the crime.

After the verdict over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was announced, Turkey criticised it for falling short of being able to decrypt the killing and motive of the crime. For Turkey, the Saudi court failed to deliver justice. The decision announced by the Saudi court "is far from meeting the expectations of both our country and the international community to shed light on the murder with all its dimensions and deliver justice," the foreign ministry said in a statement. A Saudi Arabian court on Monday sentenced five people to death for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. The criminal court of Riyadh has sentenced five people to death for committing and directly participating in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The court sentenced 24 years of imprisonment to three individuals for their role in covering up the crime and violating the law. And charges against three individuals have been dismissed. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and US resident, was killed in October 2018 by Saudi agents while at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork ahead of his wedding to Hatice Cengiz. For decades, Khashoggi was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government. (With inputs from agencies)

Khashoggi verdict 'far from justice': Turkey

The United States on Thursday sanctioned two Iranian judges for punishing "Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly."

"Today, the Department of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-secretary-mnuchin-says-trade-deal-with-china-to-boost-global-economy-268327">Treasury</a>'s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two judges presiding over branches of the Iranian regime`s Revolutionary Court who, for years, have punished Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly. In many cases, these judges sentenced political prisoners to death," the US Treasury said in a statement.

"Through their respective branches of the Revolutionary Courts, Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh, both designated today, oversaw the Iranian regime's miscarriage of justice in show trials in which journalists, attorneys, political activists, and members of Iran`s ethnic and religious minority groups were penalised for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, lashes, and even execution," it added.

Under the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-rouhani-to-visit-japan-amid-heightened-tensions-with-united-states-268703">sanctions</a>, all property and interests in property of the persons designated subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them."In addition, foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support to, the individuals designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the US financial system or block their property and interests in property under US jurisdiction," US Treasury Department said.

Earlier, US Secretary of State, Mike <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/22-dialogue-india-us-call-on-pakistan-to-arrest-and-prosecute-perpetrators-of-cross-border-terror-attacks-269230">Pompeo</a> said, "Today I am announcing several new actions in support of the Iranian people. First, I have re-designated Iran as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. The world should know Iran is among the worst violators of basic fundamental religious freedoms. Second, today the United States Department of Treasury will sanction two Iranian judges: Mohammad Moghisseh, and Abolghassem Salavati.

"The US Secretary of State further announced that under the Immigration and Nationality <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/san-francisco-sues-trump-administration-over-rule-to-limit-legal-immigration-242914">Act</a>, visas for current or former Iranian officials and individuals responsible for or complicit in the abuse, detention, or killing of peaceful protesters, or for inhibiting their rights to freedom of expression or assembly, will be restricted.

"Our action will also restrict visas for these individuals` family members. The materials that are being provided to us by citizens from all across Iran will be invaluable in us using this new authority to put true pressure and to hold accountable those who are denying freedom and justice to the people of Iran," he said.

Pompeo said if the regime in Iran respects the rights of all Iranians and abides by its commitments, it can win back respect from its own citizens.&nbsp;

The United States on Thursday sanctioned two Iranian judges for punishing "Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly.

The United States on Thursday sanctioned two Iranian judges for punishing "Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly." "Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two judges presiding over branches of the Iranian regime`s Revolutionary Court who, for years, have punished Iranian citizens and dual-nationals for exercising their freedoms of expression or assembly. In many cases, these judges sentenced political prisoners to death," the US Treasury said in a statement. "Through their respective branches of the Revolutionary Courts, Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh, both designated today, oversaw the Iranian regime's miscarriage of justice in show trials in which journalists, attorneys, political activists, and members of Iran`s ethnic and religious minority groups were penalised for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, lashes, and even execution," it added. Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the persons designated subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them."In addition, foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support to, the individuals designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the US financial system or block their property and interests in property under US jurisdiction," US Treasury Department said. Earlier, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said, "Today I am announcing several new actions in support of the Iranian people. First, I have re-designated Iran as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. The world should know Iran is among the worst violators of basic fundamental religious freedoms. Second, today the United States Department of Treasury will sanction two Iranian judges: Mohammad Moghisseh, and Abolghassem Salavati. "The US Secretary of State further announced that under the Immigration and Nationality Act, visas for current or former Iranian officials and individuals responsible for or complicit in the abuse, detention, or killing of peaceful protesters, or for inhibiting their rights to freedom of expression or assembly, will be restricted. "Our action will also restrict visas for these individuals` family members. The materials that are being provided to us by citizens from all across Iran will be invaluable in us using this new authority to put true pressure and to hold accountable those who are denying freedom and justice to the people of Iran," he said. Pompeo said if the regime in Iran respects the rights of all Iranians and abides by its commitments, it can win back respect from its own citizens.

US sanctions two Iranian judges for overseeing 'Iranian regimes miscarriage of justice'

United States dictionary Merriam-Webster has named the non-binary pronoun "They" its Word of The Year for 2019.

The dictionary had recently added the non-binary pronoun "They" as an entry in its dictionary.

The word "They" can be used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary and can also be used to refer to a single person whose gender is intentionally not revealed.

This is along with three other separate definitions present in the dictionary.

According to Meriam Webster, since its addition, the word 'they' was looked up 313 per cent more this year than the previous one. 
&nbsp; 
The word had a new sense added to it in September and is increasingly common in both public and personal communication.

Merriam-Webster's runners-up were influenced by the news, with words like "Impeach" and "Quid pro quo" making the list, based on the ongoing impeachment hearings into United States President Donald Trump and "Camp", which was the theme of this year's Met Gala.

Throughout the years, Merriam-Webster words of the year have been affected by growing trends.

Its Word of The Year in 2018 was "Justice," while in 2017 it was "Feminism". &nbsp;

The non-binary 'They' is becoming increasingly popular with its usage in current times, the pronoun has also seen increased representation on television and in pop culture.

United States dictionary Merriam-Webster has named the non-binary pronoun "They" its Word of The Year for 2019. The dictionary had recently added the non-binary pronoun "They" as an entry in its dictionary.

United States dictionary Merriam-Webster has named the non-binary pronoun "They" its Word of The Year for 2019. The dictionary had recently added the non-binary pronoun "They" as an entry in its dictionary. The word "They" can be used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary and can also be used to refer to a single person whose gender is intentionally not revealed. This is along with three other separate definitions present in the dictionary. According to Meriam Webster, since its addition, the word 'they' was looked up 313 per cent more this year than the previous one. The word had a new sense added to it in September and is increasingly common in both public and personal communication. Merriam-Webster's runners-up were influenced by the news, with words like "Impeach" and "Quid pro quo" making the list, based on the ongoing impeachment hearings into United States President Donald Trump and "Camp", which was the theme of this year's Met Gala. Throughout the years, Merriam-Webster words of the year have been affected by growing trends. Its Word of The Year in 2018 was "Justice," while in 2017 it was "Feminism". The non-binary 'They' is becoming increasingly popular with its usage in current times, the pronoun has also seen increased representation on television and in pop culture.

Non-binary "They" becomes 2019 Word of The Year: Merriam-Webster

In the backdrop of the police encounter of the 4 accused of gang-rape and murder of Hyderabad veterinarian, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that justice must never take the form of revenge.

He was speaking at an event here on Saturday.

"Recent events in the country have sparked off the old debate with new vigour. There is no doubt that the criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards laxity and eventual time it takes to dispose-off criminal matters," said Bobde.

"But I don't think justice can ever be or ought to be instant and justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes revenge," he added.

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According to the Telangana police, all the four accused were killed in an encounter at Chatanpally, Shadnagar, early morning on Friday.

The veterinarian was brutally raped, killed and burnt by the accused in Shamshabad area on November 27. Her charred body was recovered on November 28.&nbsp;

In the backdrop of the police encounter of the 4 accused of gang-rape and murder of Hyderabad veterinarian, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that justice must never take the form of revenge.

In the backdrop of the police encounter of the 4 accused of gang-rape and murder of Hyderabad veterinarian, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that justice must never take the form of revenge. He was speaking at an event here on Saturday. "Recent events in the country have sparked off the old debate with new vigour. There is no doubt that the criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards laxity and eventual time it takes to dispose-off criminal matters," said Bobde. "But I don't think justice can ever be or ought to be instant and justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes revenge," he added. #WATCH: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde: I don't think justice can ever be or ought to be instant. And justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes a revenge. pic.twitter.com/oKIHKecHqt — ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2019 × According to the Telangana police, all the four accused were killed in an encounter at Chatanpally, Shadnagar, early morning on Friday. The veterinarian was brutally raped, killed and burnt by the accused in Shamshabad area on November 27. Her charred body was recovered on November 28.

Justice must never take the form of revenge : CJI SA Bobde

Slow road to justice for women in India, survivors subjected to character assassination.

Slow road to justice for women in India

Three Baltimore men who spent 36 years in prison were exonerated on Monday of the 1983 murder of a teenage boy who was shot dead over a jacket.

Alfred Chestnut, Andrew Stewart, and Ransom Watkins were serving life sentences for the shooting of DeWitt Duckett, a 14-year-old student at Harlem Park Junior High School in West Baltimore.

Duckett was shot in the neck inside his school and had his Georgetown University jacket stolen. It was the first fatal shooting of a student in a Baltimore public school and drew widespread press attention at the time.

"These three men were convicted, as children, because of police and prosecutorial misconduct," Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby said after the three were formally exonerated by a city circuit court judge and released from prison.

"What the state, my office, did to them is wrong," Mosby said. "They deserve so much more than an apology. We owe them real compensation and I plan to fight for it."

In a statement, the state's attorney office said "detectives targeted the three men, all 16-year-old Black boys, using coaching and coercion of other teenage witnesses to make their case."

According to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP), which worked to secure the release of the "Harlem Park Three," four teenage witnesses identified Chestnut, Stewart and Watkins at their trial but later recanted their testimony.

The witnesses initially said one person committed the shooting but identified the three as the assailants under pressure from police, the MAIP said in a statement.

Chestnut was later seen wearing a Georgetown jacket but his mother produced a receipt for the jacket of the university made popular by its basketball team.

At a press conference following the release of the three, Watkins said "this should have never happened."

"Somebody's got to pay for this," he said. "You can't just leave this like this.

"This fight is not over," Watkins said. "You all will hear from us again."

The exoneration of the three men followed a joint investigation by the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit, MAIP and other groups.

"Everyone involved in this case -- school officials, police, prosecutors, jurors, the media, and the community -- rushed to judgment and allowed their tunnel vision to obscure obvious problems with the evidence,” MAIP executive director Shawn Armbrust said.

According to the state's attorney's office, six wrongfully convicted men have previously been released following investigations involving the Conviction Integrity Unit.

Three Baltimore men who spent 36 years in prison were exonerated on Monday of the 1983 murder of a teenage boy who was shot dead over a jacket. Alfred Chestnut, Andrew Stewart, and Ransom Watkins were serving life sentences for the shooting of DeWitt Duckett, a 14-year-old student at Harlem Park Junior High School in West Baltimore.

Three Baltimore men who spent 36 years in prison were exonerated on Monday of the 1983 murder of a teenage boy who was shot dead over a jacket. Alfred Chestnut, Andrew Stewart, and Ransom Watkins were serving life sentences for the shooting of DeWitt Duckett, a 14-year-old student at Harlem Park Junior High School in West Baltimore. Duckett was shot in the neck inside his school and had his Georgetown University jacket stolen. It was the first fatal shooting of a student in a Baltimore public school and drew widespread press attention at the time. "These three men were convicted, as children, because of police and prosecutorial misconduct," Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby said after the three were formally exonerated by a city circuit court judge and released from prison. "What the state, my office, did to them is wrong," Mosby said. "They deserve so much more than an apology. We owe them real compensation and I plan to fight for it." In a statement, the state's attorney office said "detectives targeted the three men, all 16-year-old Black boys, using coaching and coercion of other teenage witnesses to make their case." According to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP), which worked to secure the release of the "Harlem Park Three," four teenage witnesses identified Chestnut, Stewart and Watkins at their trial but later recanted their testimony. The witnesses initially said one person committed the shooting but identified the three as the assailants under pressure from police, the MAIP said in a statement. Chestnut was later seen wearing a Georgetown jacket but his mother produced a receipt for the jacket of the university made popular by its basketball team. At a press conference following the release of the three, Watkins said "this should have never happened." "Somebody's got to pay for this," he said. "You can't just leave this like this. "This fight is not over," Watkins said. "You all will hear from us again." The exoneration of the three men followed a joint investigation by the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit, MAIP and other groups. "Everyone involved in this case -- school officials, police, prosecutors, jurors, the media, and the community -- rushed to judgment and allowed their tunnel vision to obscure obvious problems with the evidence,” MAIP executive director Shawn Armbrust said. According to the state's attorney's office, six wrongfully convicted men have previously been released following investigations involving the Conviction Integrity Unit.

Three Baltimore men exonerated after 36 years in prison

Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde took oath as the 47th Chief Justice of India

Your Story: Justice Sharad Bobde is new CJI

A prominent human rights organisation warned in a statement on Monday that whoever wins Sri Lanka's presidential election this Saturday would face significant challenges in terms of ensuring justice for past and future crimes. 
 
"Whoever is elected president will be under domestic and international scrutiny to ensure that Sri Lanka meets its human rights obligations," Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), said. 
 
The watchdog emphasised Sri Lanka's commitments under Resolution 40/L.1 of the UN Human Rights Council to set a time-bound implementation strategy of the pursuit of justice for the victims of alleged war crimes during the decades-long internal conflict. 
 
While there have been certain positive proceedings in this regard,&nbsp;such as the return of land seized by the military during the conflict to its rightful owners,&nbsp;the government has failed to make progress on other pledges, the HRW said. As an example, HRW mentioned how the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations were established but never put to work. 
 
The most crucial setbacks, however, have been in the judicial realm, according to the HRW. There exists a so-called Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka that has long been linked to arbitrary detention and torture and it is still not replaced. There also has not been any progress in establishing a transitional justice mechanism to promote "reconciliation, accountability and human rights" in the country. 
 
Sri Lanka was marred in an armed conflict between its government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from 1983-2009 during which war crimes were allegedly committed by both sides.

A prominent human rights organisation warned in a statement on Monday that whoever wins Sri Lanka's presidential election this Saturday would face significant challenges in terms of ensuring justice for past and future crimes.

A prominent human rights organisation warned in a statement on Monday that whoever wins Sri Lanka's presidential election this Saturday would face significant challenges in terms of ensuring justice for past and future crimes. "Whoever is elected president will be under domestic and international scrutiny to ensure that Sri Lanka meets its human rights obligations," Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), said. The watchdog emphasised Sri Lanka's commitments under Resolution 40/L.1 of the UN Human Rights Council to set a time-bound implementation strategy of the pursuit of justice for the victims of alleged war crimes during the decades-long internal conflict. While there have been certain positive proceedings in this regard, such as the return of land seized by the military during the conflict to its rightful owners, the government has failed to make progress on other pledges, the HRW said. As an example, HRW mentioned how the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations were established but never put to work. The most crucial setbacks, however, have been in the judicial realm, according to the HRW. There exists a so-called Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka that has long been linked to arbitrary detention and torture and it is still not replaced. There also has not been any progress in establishing a transitional justice mechanism to promote "reconciliation, accountability and human rights" in the country. Sri Lanka was marred in an armed conflict between its government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from 1983-2009 during which war crimes were allegedly committed by both sides.

Future Sri Lankan president to face challenges in ensuring justice: Human Rights Watch

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live.

Critics say <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-troops-from-india-thailand-participate-in-annual-joint-military-exercise-maitree-252506">Thailand's</a> courts often work in favour of the rich and powerful while delivering swift and harsh sentences on ordinary people for minor offences.&nbsp;

But it is virtually unheard of for judges to criticise the system.

Kanakorn Pianchana, a judge at Yala court in the heart of the insurgency-battered Thai south, was delivering the verdict for five Muslim suspects in a gun murder case on Friday afternoon.

He acquitted the group, delivered a courtroom plea for a cleaner justice system, before pulling out a handgun and shooting himself in the chest.&nbsp;

"You need clear and credible evidence to punish someone. So if you're not sure, don't punish them," the judge said addressing the court and broadcasting his words on his phone on Facebook live.

"I'm not saying that the five defendants didn't commit the crimes, they might have done so... But the judicial process needs to be transparent and credible... punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats."

The Facebook feed then cut, but witnesses said Kanakorn recited a legal oath in front of the former Thai king's portrait, before shooting himself in the chest.

"He is being treated by the doctors and is out of danger," Suriyan Hongvilai, the spokesman of the Office of the Judiciary, told AFP on Saturday.

"He shot himself because of 'personal stress'. But the cause behind the stress is not clear and will be investigated," he said.

''No Thai judge has ever breached protocol by making similar statements on the wider justice system'', he added.

A lawyer working with the suspects said Judge Kanakorn had ruled the prosecutor's evidence was insufficient to convict.&nbsp;

"Right now the five are still being detained and are waiting to see if the state prosecutor appeals their acquittal," Abdulloh Hayee-abu, of the Muslim Attorney Centre in Yala told AFP.&nbsp;

Over 7,000 people have died in 15 years of conflict in the Malay-Muslim majority southern region.&nbsp;

Thousands of suspects have been jailed for acts linked to the insurgency, many under emergency laws imposed on the restive region.

Advocacy groups in the Thai south have long accused security forces of trumping up charges against Muslim suspects and using emergency laws to drive cases through the courts.

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live.

A Thai judge shot himself in the chest in front of a packed court after acquitting several murder suspects and decrying the kingdom's judicial system in an impassioned speech broadcast on Facebook Live. Critics say Thailand's courts often work in favour of the rich and powerful while delivering swift and harsh sentences on ordinary people for minor offences. But it is virtually unheard of for judges to criticise the system. Kanakorn Pianchana, a judge at Yala court in the heart of the insurgency-battered Thai south, was delivering the verdict for five Muslim suspects in a gun murder case on Friday afternoon. He acquitted the group, delivered a courtroom plea for a cleaner justice system, before pulling out a handgun and shooting himself in the chest. "You need clear and credible evidence to punish someone. So if you're not sure, don't punish them," the judge said addressing the court and broadcasting his words on his phone on Facebook live. "I'm not saying that the five defendants didn't commit the crimes, they might have done so... But the judicial process needs to be transparent and credible... punishing wrong people makes them scapegoats." The Facebook feed then cut, but witnesses said Kanakorn recited a legal oath in front of the former Thai king's portrait, before shooting himself in the chest. "He is being treated by the doctors and is out of danger," Suriyan Hongvilai, the spokesman of the Office of the Judiciary, told AFP on Saturday. "He shot himself because of 'personal stress'. But the cause behind the stress is not clear and will be investigated," he said. ''No Thai judge has ever breached protocol by making similar statements on the wider justice system'', he added. A lawyer working with the suspects said Judge Kanakorn had ruled the prosecutor's evidence was insufficient to convict. "Right now the five are still being detained and are waiting to see if the state prosecutor appeals their acquittal," Abdulloh Hayee-abu, of the Muslim Attorney Centre in Yala told AFP. Over 7,000 people have died in 15 years of conflict in the Malay-Muslim majority southern region. Thousands of suspects have been jailed for acts linked to the insurgency, many under emergency laws imposed on the restive region. Advocacy groups in the Thai south have long accused security forces of trumping up charges against Muslim suspects and using emergency laws to drive cases through the courts.

Thai judge shoots himself in court after railing at justice system

Bahrain executed two Shiite citizens on terror charges on Saturday, officials said, despite appeals for clemency from international human rights groups.

The pair, identified by rights groups as Ali al-Arab, 25, and Ahmad al-Malali, 24, was put to death by firing squad, the prosecutor said.

Both defendants were Shiite, judicial sources said, without confirming their names.

The small Gulf state, a key US ally located between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been gripped by bouts of unrest since 2011 when authorities cracked down on Shiite-led protests demanding political reform.

The two men, arrested separately in February 2017, were both sentenced to death in January last year after a mass trial with 58 other defendants that was marred by allegations of torture.

The pair were convicted of "forming a terror group" which went on to carry out a series of armed attacks in the kingdom.

They included the storming of the kingdom's Jaw prison in January 2017 that killed a guard and led to the escape of 10 detainees, the prosecutor said.

That attack was followed by two separate fatal attacks on police officers later the same month, the prosecutor added.

The convicts were put to death along with a third death row prisoner found guilty of murder.

Their families had been called to the prison on Friday for a final visit, Human Rights Watch said.

In an 11th hour appeal for clemency, HRW's acting Middle East director Lama Fakih warned that King Hamad was committing a "grave injustice by ratifying the death sentences of the two men despite the allegations of torture and other serious due process concerns".

Ruled for more than two centuries by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, Bahrain is mostly Shiite Muslim, according to unofficial estimates contested by the government.

Hundreds of protesters have been jailed since 2011, with Bahrain claiming Iran trained and backed demonstrators in order to topple the Manama government -- an accusation Tehran denies.

All opposition groups have been outlawed and disbanded.

Bahrain executed two Shiite citizens on terror charges on Saturday, officials said, despite appeals for clemency from international human rights groups. The pair, identified by rights groups as Ali al-Arab, 25, and Ahmad al-Malali, 24, was put to death by firing squad, the prosecutor said.

Bahrain executed two Shiite citizens on terror charges on Saturday, officials said, despite appeals for clemency from international human rights groups. The pair, identified by rights groups as Ali al-Arab, 25, and Ahmad al-Malali, 24, was put to death by firing squad, the prosecutor said. Both defendants were Shiite, judicial sources said, without confirming their names. The small Gulf state, a key US ally located between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been gripped by bouts of unrest since 2011 when authorities cracked down on Shiite-led protests demanding political reform. The two men, arrested separately in February 2017, were both sentenced to death in January last year after a mass trial with 58 other defendants that was marred by allegations of torture. The pair were convicted of "forming a terror group" which went on to carry out a series of armed attacks in the kingdom. They included the storming of the kingdom's Jaw prison in January 2017 that killed a guard and led to the escape of 10 detainees, the prosecutor said. That attack was followed by two separate fatal attacks on police officers later the same month, the prosecutor added. The convicts were put to death along with a third death row prisoner found guilty of murder. Their families had been called to the prison on Friday for a final visit, Human Rights Watch said. In an 11th hour appeal for clemency, HRW's acting Middle East director Lama Fakih warned that King Hamad was committing a "grave injustice by ratifying the death sentences of the two men despite the allegations of torture and other serious due process concerns". Ruled for more than two centuries by the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, Bahrain is mostly Shiite Muslim, according to unofficial estimates contested by the government. Hundreds of protesters have been jailed since 2011, with Bahrain claiming Iran trained and backed demonstrators in order to topple the Manama government -- an accusation Tehran denies. All opposition groups have been outlawed and disbanded.

Bahrain executes two Shiites on terror charges

Trade unionist-turned-businessman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-african-president-cyril-ramaphosa-vows-to-speed-reforms-after-election-win-219008">Cyril Ramaphosa</a> was sworn in as South Africa's president on Saturday, vowing to create jobs and tackle deep-rooted corruption that has strangled economic growth.

Ramaphosa, who becomes the country's fourth democratically elected president since the end of apartheid, took the presidential oath before a crowd of about 32,000 people in a rugby stadium in the capital, Pretoria.

"Today our nation enters a new era of hope and renewal," said Ramaphosa, 66, wearing a dark suit and flanked by foreign leaders including Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

"Let us forge a compact for growth and economic opportunities, for productive land and wider opportunities ... A compact of an efficient, capable and ethical state. A state that is free from corruption," said Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader who has wide-ranging business interests.

Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) clinched a 57.5% majority in a general election earlier in May, down from 62% in 2014 as voters turned against the ruling party due to revelations about government corruption and record unemployment.

Ramaphosa narrowly won the ANC leadership race in late 2017 and replaced scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma as state president in February 2018, a year before the latter's term was due to expire.

Since then he has struggled to mend factions in the party opposed to his reform plans, especially at cash-strapped state power supplier Eskom. His promises to punish party members accused of corruption have also stuttered.

The challenges facing Ramaphosa were highlighted on Friday by the resignation of Eskom's chief executive, who quit only a year since he was appointed to stabilise the utility and keep the lights on after nationwide blackouts.

Also on Friday, S&amp;P Global Ratings kept South Africa's credit rating unchanged one notch below investment grade.

The economy is set for a first-quarter contraction after mining and manufacturing weakened, prompting the central bank to cut its 2019 growth forecast to 1%, well below the rate of at least 3% needed to bring down debt, budget deficits and joblessness.

"The challenges our country faces are huge and are real but they are not insurmountable. They can be solved and I stand here to say they are going to be solved," Ramaphosa said in his speech on Saturday.

Many in the crowd at Pretoria's packed Loftus stadium were optimistic.

"I love my president Cyril Ramaphosa. I know that as long as we have him here he is going to give us jobs and change many things," said Patience Shabangu, 45, a volunteer at a local clinic.

Political analysts say a key test of Ramaphosa's ability to deliver reforms will be his announcement of the new cabinet, which is expected to take place next week.

"The speech was an honest and brutal reflection of South Africa's recent problems. But it was also optimistic," said Daniel Silke, director of the Political Futures Consultancy.

"He will be judged on a very high bar and the next step is the cabinet. If it contains any semblance of the dead wood from the past he will be severely critiqued," Silke added.

Trade unionist-turned-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa's president on Saturday, vowing to create jobs and tackle deep-rooted corruption that has strangled economic growth.

Trade unionist-turned-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa's president on Saturday, vowing to create jobs and tackle deep-rooted corruption that has strangled economic growth. Ramaphosa, who becomes the country's fourth democratically elected president since the end of apartheid, took the presidential oath before a crowd of about 32,000 people in a rugby stadium in the capital, Pretoria. "Today our nation enters a new era of hope and renewal," said Ramaphosa, 66, wearing a dark suit and flanked by foreign leaders including Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. "Let us forge a compact for growth and economic opportunities, for productive land and wider opportunities ... A compact of an efficient, capable and ethical state. A state that is free from corruption," said Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader who has wide-ranging business interests. Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) clinched a 57.5% majority in a general election earlier in May, down from 62% in 2014 as voters turned against the ruling party due to revelations about government corruption and record unemployment. Ramaphosa narrowly won the ANC leadership race in late 2017 and replaced scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma as state president in February 2018, a year before the latter's term was due to expire. Since then he has struggled to mend factions in the party opposed to his reform plans, especially at cash-strapped state power supplier Eskom. His promises to punish party members accused of corruption have also stuttered. The challenges facing Ramaphosa were highlighted on Friday by the resignation of Eskom's chief executive, who quit only a year since he was appointed to stabilise the utility and keep the lights on after nationwide blackouts. Also on Friday, S&P Global Ratings kept South Africa's credit rating unchanged one notch below investment grade. The economy is set for a first-quarter contraction after mining and manufacturing weakened, prompting the central bank to cut its 2019 growth forecast to 1%, well below the rate of at least 3% needed to bring down debt, budget deficits and joblessness. "The challenges our country faces are huge and are real but they are not insurmountable. They can be solved and I stand here to say they are going to be solved," Ramaphosa said in his speech on Saturday. Many in the crowd at Pretoria's packed Loftus stadium were optimistic. "I love my president Cyril Ramaphosa. I know that as long as we have him here he is going to give us jobs and change many things," said Patience Shabangu, 45, a volunteer at a local clinic. Political analysts say a key test of Ramaphosa's ability to deliver reforms will be his announcement of the new cabinet, which is expected to take place next week. "The speech was an honest and brutal reflection of South Africa's recent problems. But it was also optimistic," said Daniel Silke, director of the Political Futures Consultancy. "He will be judged on a very high bar and the next step is the cabinet. If it contains any semblance of the dead wood from the past he will be severely critiqued," Silke added.

Promising jobs and justice, Ramaphosa sworn in as South Africa's president

Malaysia's disgraced former leader Najib Razak will go on trial Wednesday over a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal that contributed to his long-ruling coalition's downfall last year and sent shockwaves around the world.&nbsp;

The 65-year-old will face the first of several trials over his alleged involvement in the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, a state investment vehicle established to develop the economy of the Southeast Asian nation.

The former premier and his cronies are accused of plundering billions of dollars from the fund and spending it on everything from high-end real estate to artworks in a fraud that stretched around the world.&nbsp;

He had been tipped to win another term in office easily last year and extend his coalition's six-decade stranglehold on power, only to be soundly defeated by his former boss, Mahathir Mohamad, who rode a wave of public anger to the premiership.

In the months that followed, once-dormant investigations into 1MDB were relaunched and Najib was hit with dozens of corruption charges linked to the scandal.

In Wednesday's trial, due to start at 2:00 pm, Najib will face seven charges of corruption and money laundering over the alleged theft of some $10.3 million&nbsp;from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit.

It is only a fraction of the money allegedly stolen from 1MDB, and hundreds of millions of dollars are believed to have ended up in Najib's accounts alone.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

Najib was initially due to stand trial in February, but appeals by his defence team over procedural matters saw his case put on hold until a judge last week ruled the trial should finally proceed.

Time to 'face justice'&nbsp;

While many of his cohorts have been caught and charged in Malaysian courts, the alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal, playboy financier Jho Low, is still at large.

Local media reported the former premier made a bid on Monday to delay his trial yet again, although this failed.

Cynthia Gabriel, head of the non-profit group The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, told AFP that Malaysians had been waiting "too long" for the trial to begin.

"The multiple delays are so obvious and deliberate, it's a way of pushing the trials further," she said.

"It's apparent that the former ousted PM isn't quite ready to sit in the dock and face trial, be cross-examined, and get embarrassed."

Fahmi Reza, a graphic artist who was slapped with a jail term and fined for depicting Najib in a caricature as a sinister clown, said it was the ex-premier's turn to "face justice".&nbsp;

"Today, it is your turn to be dragged here to face justice for the crime of corruption and abuse of power during your reign," he said in a tweet.

Najib's former mentor turned nemesis Mahathir, now 93 and in his second stint in office, has pledged to bring him to justice and bring back the huge sums of cash stolen from 1MDB.

The US Department of Justice, which is investigating the controversy as money was allegedly laundered through the US financial system, believes $4.5 billion in total was looted from 1MDB.

Malaysia has also charged Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs over the scandal, alleging the bank and its former employees stole billions of dollars from 1MDB.

Goldman units and two ex-bankers are accused of misappropriating $2.7 billion, bribing officials and giving false statements in relation to bond issues they arranged for the fund. The bank has vowed to fight the charges.

Malaysia's disgraced former leader Najib Razak will go on trial Wednesday over a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal that contributed to his long-ruling coalition's downfall last year and sent shockwaves around the world.

Malaysia's disgraced former leader Najib Razak will go on trial Wednesday over a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal that contributed to his long-ruling coalition's downfall last year and sent shockwaves around the world. The 65-year-old will face the first of several trials over his alleged involvement in the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, a state investment vehicle established to develop the economy of the Southeast Asian nation. The former premier and his cronies are accused of plundering billions of dollars from the fund and spending it on everything from high-end real estate to artworks in a fraud that stretched around the world. He had been tipped to win another term in office easily last year and extend his coalition's six-decade stranglehold on power, only to be soundly defeated by his former boss, Mahathir Mohamad, who rode a wave of public anger to the premiership. In the months that followed, once-dormant investigations into 1MDB were relaunched and Najib was hit with dozens of corruption charges linked to the scandal. In Wednesday's trial, due to start at 2:00 pm, Najib will face seven charges of corruption and money laundering over the alleged theft of some $10.3 million from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit. It is only a fraction of the money allegedly stolen from 1MDB, and hundreds of millions of dollars are believed to have ended up in Najib's accounts alone. He has denied any wrongdoing. Najib was initially due to stand trial in February, but appeals by his defence team over procedural matters saw his case put on hold until a judge last week ruled the trial should finally proceed. Time to 'face justice' While many of his cohorts have been caught and charged in Malaysian courts, the alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal, playboy financier Jho Low, is still at large. Local media reported the former premier made a bid on Monday to delay his trial yet again, although this failed. Cynthia Gabriel, head of the non-profit group The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, told AFP that Malaysians had been waiting "too long" for the trial to begin. "The multiple delays are so obvious and deliberate, it's a way of pushing the trials further," she said. "It's apparent that the former ousted PM isn't quite ready to sit in the dock and face trial, be cross-examined, and get embarrassed." Fahmi Reza, a graphic artist who was slapped with a jail term and fined for depicting Najib in a caricature as a sinister clown, said it was the ex-premier's turn to "face justice". "Today, it is your turn to be dragged here to face justice for the crime of corruption and abuse of power during your reign," he said in a tweet. Najib's former mentor turned nemesis Mahathir, now 93 and in his second stint in office, has pledged to bring him to justice and bring back the huge sums of cash stolen from 1MDB. The US Department of Justice, which is investigating the controversy as money was allegedly laundered through the US financial system, believes $4.5 billion in total was looted from 1MDB. Malaysia has also charged Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs over the scandal, alleging the bank and its former employees stole billions of dollars from 1MDB. Goldman units and two ex-bankers are accused of misappropriating $2.7 billion, bribing officials and giving false statements in relation to bond issues they arranged for the fund. The bank has vowed to fight the charges.

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak to go on trial for corruption

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna were sworn-in as Supreme Court judges on Friday.&nbsp;

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi administered the oath of office to justices Maheshwari and Khanna during the swearing-in ceremony held in court number 1 of the apex court.

The sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court is 31. With the swearing-in of justices Maheshwari and Khanna, the strength has now gone up to 28.

While Justice Maheshwari was the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Khanna was a judge in the Delhi High Court.

The government had on Wednesday notified the appointment of justices Maheshwari and Khanna as judges of the apex court.

The five-member Supreme Court Collegium, comprising CJI Gogoi and justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde, N V Ramana and Arun Mishra, had on January 10 recommended the names of justices Maheshwari and Khanna for elevation as apex court judges.

The names of the chief justices of the Rajasthan and Delhi high courts, justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Rajendra Menon respectively, were considered by the collegium on December 12, 2018, for elevation, but the deliberation remained inconclusive and one of the members of the collegium, Justice M B Lokur, retired on December 30, 2018.

His place in the collegium was taken by Justice Arun Mishra.

The new collegium had, on January 10, ignored the prospect of elevation of justices Nandrajog and Menon as apex court judges.&nbsp;

The Bar Council of India (BCI) had, on Wednesday, protested the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Khanna by superseding several other judges and termed the decision as "whimsical and arbitrary".

Before the BCI made a statement protesting the collegium's decision, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul of the Supreme Court also wrote a note to the CJI and other members of the Collegium for ignoring the seniority of justices Nandrajog and Menon.

Sources said Justice Kaul was of the view that a wrong signal would go out if the two chief justices, who were above Justice Khanna in the seniority list, were not elevated as apex court judges.&nbsp;

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna were sworn-in as Supreme Court judges on Friday. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi administered the oath of office to justices Maheshwari and Khanna during the swearing-in ceremony held in court number 1 of the apex court.

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna were sworn-in as Supreme Court judges on Friday. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi administered the oath of office to justices Maheshwari and Khanna during the swearing-in ceremony held in court number 1 of the apex court. The sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court is 31. With the swearing-in of justices Maheshwari and Khanna, the strength has now gone up to 28. While Justice Maheshwari was the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Khanna was a judge in the Delhi High Court. The government had on Wednesday notified the appointment of justices Maheshwari and Khanna as judges of the apex court. The five-member Supreme Court Collegium, comprising CJI Gogoi and justices A K Sikri, S A Bobde, N V Ramana and Arun Mishra, had on January 10 recommended the names of justices Maheshwari and Khanna for elevation as apex court judges. The names of the chief justices of the Rajasthan and Delhi high courts, justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Rajendra Menon respectively, were considered by the collegium on December 12, 2018, for elevation, but the deliberation remained inconclusive and one of the members of the collegium, Justice M B Lokur, retired on December 30, 2018. His place in the collegium was taken by Justice Arun Mishra. The new collegium had, on January 10, ignored the prospect of elevation of justices Nandrajog and Menon as apex court judges. The Bar Council of India (BCI) had, on Wednesday, protested the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to elevate Justice Khanna by superseding several other judges and termed the decision as "whimsical and arbitrary". Before the BCI made a statement protesting the collegium's decision, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul of the Supreme Court also wrote a note to the CJI and other members of the Collegium for ignoring the seniority of justices Nandrajog and Menon. Sources said Justice Kaul was of the view that a wrong signal would go out if the two chief justices, who were above Justice Khanna in the seniority list, were not elevated as apex court judges.

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, Sanjiv Khanna sworn-in as Supreme Court judges

Not so long ago the collegium's decision to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court had met with various obstacles from the law ministry. After a constant back and forth between the ministry and the collegium recommendations, his elevation was finally a success. &nbsp;

In August last year, the ministry while returning Justice Joseph's recommendation back to the collegium categorically reasoned that he "lacked" seniority among other chief justices of the High Courts and that his elevation gave more representation to the state of Kerala. In 2019, Supreme Court Collegium is back in the spotlight for elevating Justice Sanjiv Khanna (Delhi High Court judge) and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari (Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court) superseding 32 other judges.&nbsp;

In a significant turn of events, there were strong indications that the collegium on December 12&nbsp;had decided to elevate the current Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice Menon and Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog but those resolutions didn't see the light of day.&nbsp;

On January 10&nbsp;when the collegium recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari's elevation to the Supreme Court, objections poured in against the collegium's decision from all corners, raising questions on the issue of transparency and outlining the randomness of the turn of events.&nbsp;

First to hit out at the collegium was former Delhi High Court Judge Kailash Gambhir, who wrote a letter to the President highlighting the issue with the current recommendation and called the decision "Appalling, outrageous and earth-shattering".

"This is appalling and outrageous that such an earth-shattering decision has been taken to supersede as many as 32 judges which include many Chief Justices, casting aspersions on their intellect, merit and integrity," Gambhir said.

While Justice Sanjiv Khanna is 33rd in the combined seniority of High Court judges in the country, Justice Gambhir wrote that his elevation would not only be a "black day in the Indian judiciary" but it would confirm court corridor gossip about paying respect to Justice H R Khanna's legacy (who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna's uncle).&nbsp;

Controversy erupted when Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Kishan Kaul wrote a letter to CJI Ranjan Gogoi raising objections against the elevation of Justice Khanna and Justice Maheshwari. Reports suggest he highlighted the issue of bypassing Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog's elevation and urged the CJI to reconsider his recommendation. According to Justice SK Kaul, Justice Nandrajog is the senior-most judge and not elevating him would send out a wrong signal. Sources have indicated that other judges in the Supreme Court have also raised objections to the current recommendations.&nbsp;

This brings us back to the issue of opaqueness in collegium's decisions, which have come under scrutiny in the past as well. While collegium resolutions and minutes of the meeting are shared on the Supreme Court's website, the transparency level has not gone up. It was in October 2017 when a resolution was passed by five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court - then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice J Chelameswar, Justice R Gogoi, Justice M Lokur, and Justice K Joseph to make collegium's decision public.&nbsp;

Supreme Court collegium - the body of SC judges that decides the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts made an effort to be more transparent and sent out the message that the collegium has nothing to hide from its citizens.&nbsp;

However, now with the recent controversy brewing in Supreme Court corridors, many are reiterating what Justice Chelameshwar had said in that unprecedented press conference, "Many things that are less than desirable have happened in the last few months".&nbsp;

Not so long ago the collegium's decision to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court had met with various obstacles from the law ministry. After a constant back and forth between the ministry and the collegium recommendations, his elevation was finally a success.

Not so long ago the collegium's decision to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court had met with various obstacles from the law ministry. After a constant back and forth between the ministry and the collegium recommendations, his elevation was finally a success. In August last year, the ministry while returning Justice Joseph's recommendation back to the collegium categorically reasoned that he "lacked" seniority among other chief justices of the High Courts and that his elevation gave more representation to the state of Kerala. In 2019, Supreme Court Collegium is back in the spotlight for elevating Justice Sanjiv Khanna (Delhi High Court judge) and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari (Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court) superseding 32 other judges. In a significant turn of events, there were strong indications that the collegium on December 12 had decided to elevate the current Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice Menon and Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog but those resolutions didn't see the light of day. On January 10 when the collegium recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dinesh Maheshwari's elevation to the Supreme Court, objections poured in against the collegium's decision from all corners, raising questions on the issue of transparency and outlining the randomness of the turn of events. First to hit out at the collegium was former Delhi High Court Judge Kailash Gambhir, who wrote a letter to the President highlighting the issue with the current recommendation and called the decision "Appalling, outrageous and earth-shattering". "This is appalling and outrageous that such an earth-shattering decision has been taken to supersede as many as 32 judges which include many Chief Justices, casting aspersions on their intellect, merit and integrity," Gambhir said. While Justice Sanjiv Khanna is 33rd in the combined seniority of High Court judges in the country, Justice Gambhir wrote that his elevation would not only be a "black day in the Indian judiciary" but it would confirm court corridor gossip about paying respect to Justice H R Khanna's legacy (who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna's uncle). Controversy erupted when Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Kishan Kaul wrote a letter to CJI Ranjan Gogoi raising objections against the elevation of Justice Khanna and Justice Maheshwari. Reports suggest he highlighted the issue of bypassing Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog's elevation and urged the CJI to reconsider his recommendation. According to Justice SK Kaul, Justice Nandrajog is the senior-most judge and not elevating him would send out a wrong signal. Sources have indicated that other judges in the Supreme Court have also raised objections to the current recommendations. This brings us back to the issue of opaqueness in collegium's decisions, which have come under scrutiny in the past as well. While collegium resolutions and minutes of the meeting are shared on the Supreme Court's website, the transparency level has not gone up. It was in October 2017 when a resolution was passed by five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court - then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice J Chelameswar, Justice R Gogoi, Justice M Lokur, and Justice K Joseph to make collegium's decision public. Supreme Court collegium - the body of SC judges that decides the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts made an effort to be more transparent and sent out the message that the collegium has nothing to hide from its citizens. However, now with the recent controversy brewing in Supreme Court corridors, many are reiterating what Justice Chelameshwar had said in that unprecedented press conference, "Many things that are less than desirable have happened in the last few months".

Supreme Court collegium in spotlight

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

Users looked up the word 74 per cent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be "America's most trusted dictionary."

The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as "obstruction of justice," after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-central-bank-expected-to-raise-rates-tuesday-trump-lashes-out-at-it-184903">US President Donald Trump</a> tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement.

"It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement.

"When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide."

"Justice" joined Dictionary.com's "misinformation" and the Oxford English Dictionary's "toxic" as top words of the year.

Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were "nationalism," "pansexual," "lodestar," "epiphany," "feckless," "laurel," "pissant," "respect," "maverick" and "excelsior."

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

"Justice" is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018. Users looked up the word 74 per cent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be "America's most trusted dictionary." The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as "obstruction of justice," after US President Donald Trump tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement. "It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement. "When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide." "Justice" joined Dictionary.com's "misinformation" and the Oxford English Dictionary's "toxic" as top words of the year. Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were "nationalism," "pansexual," "lodestar," "epiphany," "feckless," "laurel," "pissant," "respect," "maverick" and "excelsior."

Webster names 'Justice' Word of the Year for 2018

'Justice'&nbsp;is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US&nbsp;publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

Users looked up the word 74 percent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be 'America's most trusted dictionary.'

The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as 'obstruction of justice,'&nbsp;after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement.

"It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement. "When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide."

'Justice'&nbsp;joined Dictionary.com's 'misinformation'&nbsp;and the Oxford English Dictionary's 'toxic'&nbsp;as top words of the year.&nbsp;

Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were 'nationalism,' 'pansexual,' 'lodestar,' 'epiphany,' 'feckless,' 'laurel,' 'pissant,' 'respect,' 'maverick'&nbsp;and 'excelsior.'

'Justice' is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018.

'Justice' is what most people sought on Merriam-Webster, among the world's most popular dictionaries, as the US publisher named that principle of being fair as the Word of the Year for 2018. Users looked up the word 74 percent more often than in 2017, said spokeswoman Meghan Lunghi for the website, which claims to be 'America's most trusted dictionary.' The surge was prompted by specific uses of the word such as 'obstruction of justice,' after US President Donald Trump tweeted in August that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, the company said in a statement. "It's often familiar words for abstract concepts that are among the most looked up words," said Emily Brewster, associate editor for Merriam-Webster, in the statement. "When common words like justice are used in contexts that are very specific, technical, or legal, people look them up in the dictionary for the detail and nuance that a definition can provide." 'Justice' joined Dictionary.com's 'misinformation' and the Oxford English Dictionary's 'toxic' as top words of the year. Other frontrunners for Merriam-Webster's distinction, based on frequency of searches, were 'nationalism,' 'pansexual,' 'lodestar,' 'epiphany,' 'feckless,' 'laurel,' 'pissant,' 'respect,' 'maverick' and 'excelsior.'

'Justice' named Merriam-Webster's 2018 Word of the Year

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'

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed three times in his Bengaluru office Wednesday while hearing a case.

The attacker, identified by police as Tejharaj Sharma, has been taken into custody by Bengaluru Police.

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Bengaluru: Visual of the person who stabbed the Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty at his office in Bengaluru. He has been taken into custody by the police. <a href="https://t.co/QeaVd9QL6y">pic.twitter.com/QeaVd9QL6y</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971313803114762240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from the Karnataka Lokayukta office in Bengaluru: Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed. The accused has been taken into custody by the police. <a href="https://t.co/C7KkXCtSZs">pic.twitter.com/C7KkXCtSZs</a>
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Shetty is now out of danger/ Earlier reports had said the Shetty was in critical condition.&nbsp;

&quot;He (Sharma) was a contractor from Tumakuru. He complained to the Lokayukta about some tenders. He assaulted the judge and he was alone. The judge is out of danger now,&quot; Karnataka&nbsp;Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said. (Earlier reports had said the judge was critically wounded.)&nbsp;

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited Bengaluru&#39;s Mallya Hospital&nbsp;to meet with Shetty. 
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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited Bengaluru's Mallya Hospital to meet with Shetty

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed three times in his Bengaluru office Wednesday while hearing a case. The attacker, identified by police as Tejharaj Sharma, has been taken into custody by Bengaluru Police. Bengaluru: Visual of the person who stabbed the Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty at his office in Bengaluru. He has been taken into custody by the police. pic.twitter.com/QeaVd9QL6y — ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018 × #Visuals from the Karnataka Lokayukta office in Bengaluru: Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed. The accused has been taken into custody by the police. pic.twitter.com/C7KkXCtSZs — ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018 × Shetty is now out of danger/ Earlier reports had said the Shetty was in critical condition. "He (Sharma) was a contractor from Tumakuru. He complained to the Lokayukta about some tenders. He assaulted the judge and he was alone. The judge is out of danger now," Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said. (Earlier reports had said the judge was critically wounded.) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited Bengaluru's Mallya Hospital to meet with Shetty.

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty stabbed thrice in his office, attacker arrested

The four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court who went public with their issues against the chief justice, today attended court and took up routine work.

Yesterday, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh and had assured them that the crisis would be sorted out soon and congeniality would prevail.&nbsp;

On January 12, the four judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- had held an unprecedented press conference and raised many concerns including the assignment of cases by the chief justice.&nbsp; 
 
Also Read - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-crisis-met-cji-in-congenial-atmosphere-everything-will-be-sorted-out-says-bar-council-29503">Supreme Court crisis: &#39;Met Chief Justice in congenial atmosphere, everything will be sorted out,&#39; says Bar Council&nbsp;</a>

On Friday, in an unprecedented development, the top court&#39;s four next highest-ranking judges, Justices Kurian Joseph, Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur, had criticised the distribution of cases by the chief justice to judges and raised concerns about judicial appointments. They said all top judges should be involved in setting the procedures used to hire and promote judges in all the country&#39;s courts.

The judges said the issues involving its administration were serious enough to prompt them to go public.

&quot;The four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country,&quot; Justice Jasti Chelameswar told a news conference.

The justices released a letter they had written to Misra in which they mentioned cases of &quot;far-reaching consequences for the nation and the institution&quot; that were selectively assigned by the chief justice without rational &quot;basis for such assignment&quot;. 
&nbsp;

The four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court who went public with their issues against the chief justice, today attended court and took up routine work

The four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court who went public with their issues against the chief justice, today attended court and took up routine work. Yesterday, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had met a seven-member delegation of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh and had assured them that the crisis would be sorted out soon and congeniality would prevail. On January 12, the four judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- had held an unprecedented press conference and raised many concerns including the assignment of cases by the chief justice. Also Read - Supreme Court crisis: 'Met Chief Justice in congenial atmosphere, everything will be sorted out,' says Bar Council On Friday, in an unprecedented development, the top court's four next highest-ranking judges, Justices Kurian Joseph, Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur, had criticised the distribution of cases by the chief justice to judges and raised concerns about judicial appointments. They said all top judges should be involved in setting the procedures used to hire and promote judges in all the country's courts. The judges said the issues involving its administration were serious enough to prompt them to go public. "The four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country," Justice Jasti Chelameswar told a news conference. The justices released a letter they had written to Misra in which they mentioned cases of "far-reaching consequences for the nation and the institution" that were selectively assigned by the chief justice without rational "basis for such assignment".

Judges who rebelled against CJI resume work in Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Bar Association will today&nbsp;hold a meeting over<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/four-supreme-court-judges-take-on-chief-justice-of-india-say-democracy-at-risk-29371"> allegations made by judges of the Supreme Court</a> against the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.&nbsp;

The bar association will also address the press later in the day.

The bar association&nbsp;today expressed his disapproval over the manner in which the press conference was conducted, stating that &quot;just creating doubts in the minds of people will not serve the interest of the judiciary.&quot;

&quot;If they had to come for a press conference then they should have said something substantial. Just creating doubts in the minds of people will not serve the interest of the judiciary. This was not properly planned. They didn&#39;t say anything about justice Loya,&quot; Vikas Singh, Supreme Court Bar Association president said.

The Bar Council of India also threw its weight behind the chief justice.

The chairman of the Bar Council of India said the judges should not have held a press conference on a &quot;minor issue of roster&quot;. He said a delegation from the council would meet the senior judges and the chief justice of India tomorrow and request them not to bring such issues before the public.

&quot;Holding a press conference on a minor issue of the roster is saddening. We have a meeting at 5pm today and tomorrow our delegation will meet those senior judges, CJI and other judges and request them to not bring issues like these in front of public,&quot; Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India said.

On Friday, in an unprecedented development, the top court&#39;s four next highest-ranking judges,&nbsp;Justices Kurian Joseph,&nbsp;Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur, had criticised the distribution of cases by the chief justice to judges and raised concerns about judicial appointments.&nbsp;They said all top judges should be involved in setting the procedures used to hire and promote judges in all the country&#39;s courts, they added.&nbsp; 
 
Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-first-4-supreme-court-judges-speak-on-corruption-29314"> &#39;We failed to convince the Chief Justice of India,&#39; say 4 senior judges in first ever open meet</a>

The judges said the issues involving its administration were serious enough to prompt them to go public.

&quot;The four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country,&quot; Justice Jasti Chelameswar told a news conference.

The judges did not give specific details of their concerns during the press conference, but said &quot;it is an issue of assignment of a case&quot;.&nbsp;

When reporters asked whether it was related to the case of a lower court judge B Loya, who died in December 2014 while hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh &#39;fake encounter&#39; case, one of the four judges said &quot;yes&quot;. BJP President Amit Shah is also an accused in the case.

The justices <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-7-page-letter-4-senior-supreme-court-judges-wrote-to-chief-justice-of-india-29321">released a letter </a>they had written to Misra in which they mentioned cases of &quot;far-reaching consequences for the nation and the institution&quot; that were selectively assigned by the chief justice without rational &quot;basis for such assignment&quot;. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The bar association will also address the press later in the day

The Supreme Court Bar Association will today hold a meeting over allegations made by judges of the Supreme Court against the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. The bar association will also address the press later in the day. The bar association today expressed his disapproval over the manner in which the press conference was conducted, stating that "just creating doubts in the minds of people will not serve the interest of the judiciary." "If they had to come for a press conference then they should have said something substantial. Just creating doubts in the minds of people will not serve the interest of the judiciary. This was not properly planned. They didn't say anything about justice Loya," Vikas Singh, Supreme Court Bar Association president said. The Bar Council of India also threw its weight behind the chief justice. The chairman of the Bar Council of India said the judges should not have held a press conference on a "minor issue of roster". He said a delegation from the council would meet the senior judges and the chief justice of India tomorrow and request them not to bring such issues before the public. "Holding a press conference on a minor issue of the roster is saddening. We have a meeting at 5pm today and tomorrow our delegation will meet those senior judges, CJI and other judges and request them to not bring issues like these in front of public," Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India said. On Friday, in an unprecedented development, the top court's four next highest-ranking judges, Justices Kurian Joseph, Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi and Madan Lokur, had criticised the distribution of cases by the chief justice to judges and raised concerns about judicial appointments. They said all top judges should be involved in setting the procedures used to hire and promote judges in all the country's courts, they added. Also read: 'We failed to convince the Chief Justice of India,' say 4 senior judges in first ever open meet The judges said the issues involving its administration were serious enough to prompt them to go public. "The four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country," Justice Jasti Chelameswar told a news conference. The judges did not give specific details of their concerns during the press conference, but said "it is an issue of assignment of a case". When reporters asked whether it was related to the case of a lower court judge B Loya, who died in December 2014 while hearing the sensitive Sohrabuddin Sheikh 'fake encounter' case, one of the four judges said "yes". BJP President Amit Shah is also an accused in the case. The justices released a letter they had written to Misra in which they mentioned cases of "far-reaching consequences for the nation and the institution" that were selectively assigned by the chief justice without rational "basis for such assignment". (With inputs from agencies)

Supreme Court bar association to hold meeting over allegations of judges against chief justice

When Alexander Vinnik was arrested on money-laundering charges at a Greek hotel in late July, the status of his Jabber secure online messaging account was set to &quot;away&quot;.

&quot;He often takes some time to reply, so at first I didn&#39;t think anything of it,&quot; said one person who knew the&nbsp;Russian as an administrator of a digital currency exchange which US prosecutors say was used to launder criminal funds.

&quot;Then when I saw his picture on the news, I knew he would be &#39;away&#39; for a long time,&quot; said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The US Justice Department says Vinnik facilitated crimes including computer hacking, fraud, and drug trafficking by laundering at least $4 billion through BTC-e, an exchange used to trade Bitcoin and other digital currencies, since 2011.

The 37-year-old faces up to 55 years in prison if extradited to the United States. He denies the allegations against him, according to Greek media reports, and BTC-e has said he never worked for the exchange. Reuters was unable to reach BTC-e or a lawyer representing Vinnik for comment.

Vinnik is now one of seven&nbsp;Russians arrested or indicted on US cyber crime charges this year. On average, just two&nbsp;Russian cyber criminals were extradited to the United States each year between 2010 and the start of this year, according to a Reuters review of US Justice Department filings,&nbsp;Russian government statements and sources briefed on the matter.

The increase to a record level shows that although President Donald Trump is trying to improve relations with Moscow, the United States has not shied away from pursuing&nbsp;Russians suspected of a cyber crime.

The prosecutions coincide with the intensified scrutiny of&nbsp;Russian hackers since US intelligence officials determined that&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;interfered in the 2016 US. presidential election using cyber warfare methods to help Trump.

The Kremlin has denied accusations it interfered in elections in the United States or elsewhere.

But US&nbsp;opposition lawmakers have questioned whether Trump is willing to respond forcefully to Moscow over its actions in cyberspace, and the White House has avoided publicly accusing Russia&nbsp;of recent politically-motivated hacking attacks.

Alarmed by Trump&#39;s proposal to create a joint US, Russia&nbsp;cyber security unit, US lawmakers have also drawn up a draft bill that would require him to notify lawmakers before he does so.

Four US federal law enforcement officials, who discussed the recent arrests with Reuters on condition of anonymity, said there had been no centralized effort to step up action against&nbsp;Russian cyber criminals under Trump.

The increase in the number of arrests stemmed from breakthroughs made in investigations before last year&#39;s election, two of them said.

The FBI referred all questions to the US Justice Department. The Justice Department said it did not track arrests or indictments by nationality and declined further comment.

Some US&nbsp;officials, however, acknowledged that individual agents may now be more motivated to move against&nbsp;Russian cyber criminals following the election hacking scandal.

Russian hackers are active at all levels of cyber crime, from small-time thefts of online banking details, to taking down the computer networks of multi-national companies and government departments.

John Carlin, who until last October ran the national security division of the US Justice Department as assistant attorney general, said resources had already been moving towards pursuing&nbsp;Russian nationals before the 2016 election.

But he added: &quot;Their outrageous activity to undermine the integrity of our election like they did in western Europe before and have done since can only have added fuel to the fire.&quot;

According to interviews with five people who knew the men arrested this year -- all of whom declined to be named for fear of prosecution -- the arrests have shaken the&nbsp;Russian cyber crime community.

&quot;Now they are arresting even those who had a super indirect, not even direct connection to what they call influencing their election,&quot; said one who knew Vinnik by his online moniker WME.

Used to operating across borders with relative impunity,&nbsp;Russian cyber criminals are now worried the prosecutions will lead to further arrests or harm their operations.

They are cutting back on trips abroad that were once seen as a calculated risk because of the risk of arrest and extradition, but are now viewed as increasingly foolhardy.

&quot;We have monitored criminals discussing the aftermath (of the arrests) ... and it is clear they are concerned about two things,&quot; said Ilya Sachkov, head of cyber security firm Group-IB, whose Threat Intelligence unit specializes in monitoring and tracking the&nbsp;Russian-speaking cyber crime community.

&quot;First, what the arrested members potentially know about them, but second and more importantly, a disruption in their ability to make money.&quot;

One of those arrested this year was Peter Levashov, charged by US prosecutors with operating one of the world&#39;s largest botnets, or networks, of infected computers used by cyber criminals. He denies the charges.

Levashov allegedly used the botnet to pump out spam emails for a multitude of criminal schemes, such as stock fraud, online credential phishing attempts and the distribution of malware, including ransomware.

A person who knew Levashov by his online identity Severa said his arrest, in particular, had rattled underground cyber criminal circles because he was so well known.

&quot;People read the news of course and see guys they know getting busted,&quot; the person said. &quot;Once is bad, this many times is scary.&quot;

The status of Alexandre Vinnik Jabber secure online messaging account was set to "away"

When Alexander Vinnik was arrested on money-laundering charges at a Greek hotel in late July, the status of his Jabber secure online messaging account was set to "away". "He often takes some time to reply, so at first I didn't think anything of it," said one person who knew the Russian as an administrator of a digital currency exchange which US prosecutors say was used to launder criminal funds. "Then when I saw his picture on the news, I knew he would be 'away' for a long time," said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The US Justice Department says Vinnik facilitated crimes including computer hacking, fraud, and drug trafficking by laundering at least $4 billion through BTC-e, an exchange used to trade Bitcoin and other digital currencies, since 2011. The 37-year-old faces up to 55 years in prison if extradited to the United States. He denies the allegations against him, according to Greek media reports, and BTC-e has said he never worked for the exchange. Reuters was unable to reach BTC-e or a lawyer representing Vinnik for comment. Vinnik is now one of seven Russians arrested or indicted on US cyber crime charges this year. On average, just two Russian cyber criminals were extradited to the United States each year between 2010 and the start of this year, according to a Reuters review of US Justice Department filings, Russian government statements and sources briefed on the matter. The increase to a record level shows that although President Donald Trump is trying to improve relations with Moscow, the United States has not shied away from pursuing Russians suspected of a cyber crime. The prosecutions coincide with the intensified scrutiny of Russian hackers since US intelligence officials determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 US. presidential election using cyber warfare methods to help Trump. The Kremlin has denied accusations it interfered in elections in the United States or elsewhere. But US opposition lawmakers have questioned whether Trump is willing to respond forcefully to Moscow over its actions in cyberspace, and the White House has avoided publicly accusing Russia of recent politically-motivated hacking attacks. Alarmed by Trump's proposal to create a joint US, Russia cyber security unit, US lawmakers have also drawn up a draft bill that would require him to notify lawmakers before he does so. Four US federal law enforcement officials, who discussed the recent arrests with Reuters on condition of anonymity, said there had been no centralized effort to step up action against Russian cyber criminals under Trump. The increase in the number of arrests stemmed from breakthroughs made in investigations before last year's election, two of them said. The FBI referred all questions to the US Justice Department. The Justice Department said it did not track arrests or indictments by nationality and declined further comment. Some US officials, however, acknowledged that individual agents may now be more motivated to move against Russian cyber criminals following the election hacking scandal. Russian hackers are active at all levels of cyber crime, from small-time thefts of online banking details, to taking down the computer networks of multi-national companies and government departments. John Carlin, who until last October ran the national security division of the US Justice Department as assistant attorney general, said resources had already been moving towards pursuing Russian nationals before the 2016 election. But he added: "Their outrageous activity to undermine the integrity of our election like they did in western Europe before and have done since can only have added fuel to the fire." According to interviews with five people who knew the men arrested this year -- all of whom declined to be named for fear of prosecution -- the arrests have shaken the Russian cyber crime community. "Now they are arresting even those who had a super indirect, not even direct connection to what they call influencing their election," said one who knew Vinnik by his online moniker WME. Used to operating across borders with relative impunity, Russian cyber criminals are now worried the prosecutions will lead to further arrests or harm their operations. They are cutting back on trips abroad that were once seen as a calculated risk because of the risk of arrest and extradition, but are now viewed as increasingly foolhardy. "We have monitored criminals discussing the aftermath (of the arrests) ... and it is clear they are concerned about two things," said Ilya Sachkov, head of cyber security firm Group-IB, whose Threat Intelligence unit specializes in monitoring and tracking the Russian-speaking cyber crime community. "First, what the arrested members potentially know about them, but second and more importantly, a disruption in their ability to make money." One of those arrested this year was Peter Levashov, charged by US prosecutors with operating one of the world's largest botnets, or networks, of infected computers used by cyber criminals. He denies the charges. Levashov allegedly used the botnet to pump out spam emails for a multitude of criminal schemes, such as stock fraud, online credential phishing attempts and the distribution of malware, including ransomware. A person who knew Levashov by his online identity Severa said his arrest, in particular, had rattled underground cyber criminal circles because he was so well known. "People read the news of course and see guys they know getting busted," the person said. "Once is bad, this many times is scary."

Trump seeks warmer ties with Russia, hackers rattled

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