NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
_1 Activist imprisoned: A court in central Vietnam sentenced an activist to 20 years in prison Thursday after finding him guilty of attempting to overthrow the Communist government, his lawyer said, in a case decried by international rights groups. The court also sentenced Le Dinh Luong, 53, to five years of house arrest. Luong was convicted of encouraging others to join the Viet Tan group in exile in the United States. Vietnam brands the group a terrorist organization. Despite sweeping economic reforms over the past 30 years that opened Vietnam to international trade and investment, and made it one of the fasting growing economies in the world, Vietnam tolerates no challenge to its one-party rule. Luong’s sentence was the toughest in years for national security crimes.
_2 Death sentences: A Libyan court sentenced 45 people to death by firing squad over killings during the 2011 uprising that evolved into civil war. The conflict toppled and later killed the country’s longtime dictator Moammar Khadafy, according to the Justice Ministry. The case dates to August 2011 when Khadafy’s supporters and opponents clashed in the capital, Tripoli. The ministry’s media office says the defendants have been held in custody since 2011. Libya descended into chaos after 2011 and is now split between rival governments, each backed by militias.
“Fake news” law: Malaysia’s new government on Thursday repealed a widely criticized law prohibiting “fake news,” in a move hailed as a landmark moment for human rights by a group of Southeast Asian lawmakers. The bill was rushed through Parliament in April under former Prime Minister Najib Razak despite concerns that it would be used to silence dissent ahead of a May 9 general election. It carried a penalty of up to six years in jail and a fine of $128,000. Najib’s long-ruling coalition was ousted in the polls, ushering in the country’s first transition of power since independence from Britain in 1957. After an intense six-hour debate in Parliament, the law was repealed with a simple voice vote.
_4 Neo-Nazi sentenced: A Scottish man with far-right views has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to build a bomb that prosecutors say could have caused carnage. A search of Peter Morgan’s home found explosive substances, propellants, fireworks and a bottle with ball bearings and nail-gun cartridges attached, as well as neo-Nazi paraphernalia. Foster was convicted last month of terrorism and explosives offenses. Judge Colin Boyd said Thursday that jurors had rejected Morgan’s claim that he only planned to blow up a frozen turkey and post it on YouTube. The judge said that “however abhorrent some may find your views, you are entitled to hold them. What you are not entitled to do is to act on these views for the purpose of committing or preparing an act of terrorism.”
_5 Eating ban: Authorities in Vienna have decided to ban passengers from eating in the Austrian capital’s subway trains. But they don’t plan to punish offenders, at least to start with. The Austria Press Agency reported that city councilor Ulli Sima announced the blanket ban Thursday. Authorities initially considered banning only specific strong-smelling foods, such as pizza, kebabs and noodles. However, a majority of people who took part in a local transport authority survey backed a ban on all eating. Passengers will still be allowed to snack on the platforms.