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A US court has sentenced Indian-origin Sital Singh to four years in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims across the country. on Thursday also ordered Singh, 43, to pay $6.6 million in restitution. Prosecutors said the scheme, operated in coordination with overseas scammers, defrauded victims of nearly $9.3 million, according to the US attorney office.Singh, Dariona Lambert, 24, Zhamoniq Stevens, 24, Chintankumar Parekh, 52, and Mehulkumar Darji, 42, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.He acted as a “handler,” coordinating the collection of gold bars and coins that victims were tricked into purchasing. The fraud involved callers posing as officials who falsely claimed victims’ financial accounts had been compromised, pressuring them to convert savings into gold for “security.”Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US pounds Iranian missile sites near key Strait of Hormuz; Iran rains down clu..

A small French town has suddenly shot to internet fame, and not for its politics, but for the sheer coincidence of the names on its mayoral ballot.One of the candidates, who goes by the name Charles Hittler. He ran for re-election in Sunday’s municipal elections in Arcis-sur-Aube. And the shocking part is that the opponent is called Zielinski.“It has gone completely crazy,” lamented Hittler, mayor of Arcis-sur-Aube (population 2,785), when contacted by the BBC.“All my life I've had the occasional joke made about my name. Sometimes people drew moustaches on my election posters. It was never a big deal.“But now it's out of control. I've seen online articles saying '37% of the people of Arcis are Hitlerites!'. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US pounds Iranian missile sites near key Strait of Hormuz; Iran rains down cluster bombs on Tel AvivUAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain announces official start date of Eid Al Fitr 2026‘Trust comp..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaUS rapper Afroman celebrates after court protects his right to mock policeThe rapper had used home security footage in his music videos to take aim at their raid of his house in 2022
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenAssociated PressPublished: 8:04pm, 19 Mar 2026Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him over music videos in which he used home security footage to mock their raid of his home.
“We did it, America! Yeah, we did it! Freedom of speech! Right on! Right on!” the 51-year-old rapper, born Joseph Foreman, shouted outside the courthouse after the Wednesday evening verdict. He later posted the clip to social media.
The case tested the limits of parody and the license artists can take in social commentary directed at public figures. The deputies, collectively, sought nearly US$4 million in damages.
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AdvertisementChina-Japan relationsChinaDiplomacy‘Uncompromising’: Takaichi’s meeting with Trump seen as key to China-Japan tiesNeither Tokyo nor Beijing has enough incentive to compromise, observers say, signalling a new reality between Asian giants
5-MIN READ5-MIN ListenLaura ZhouPublished: 8:00pm, 19 Mar 2026China and Japan’s long-standing rivalry has deep historic roots, and relations between the two have taken a significant turn for the worse in recent months. This article, the third in a three-part series, looks at how US President Donald Trump, Taiwan and war in the Middle East factor into their relationship. Read the second part here.As Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host regional leaders for the Apec summit later this year, observers are closely watching whether the summit could instigate a thaw in relations between China and Japan.Or will it simply clarify how protracted this cold spell between the Asian giants is likely to be?
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Sharjah Public Parking/Representative Image Sharjah Municipality has announced free public parking for the first three days of Eid Al Fitr 2026, easing movement across the emirate as authorities roll out a wider transport plan to manage increased travel during the holiday. Public parking users in Sharjah will be exempt from fees on the first, second and third day of Eid Al Fitr, allowing residents and visitors to move around without worrying about parking charges during the festive period. The exemption, however, does not apply to smart parking lots and public parking zones that remain chargeable throughout the week and on official holidays. These areas are marked with blue informational signs, and motorists are advised to follow the signage to avoid fines.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US pounds Iranian missile sites near key Strait of Hormuz; Iran rains down cluster bombs on Tel AvivIran confirms death of national security chief Ali Larijani, president Pezeshkia..

AdvertisementHong Kong courtsHong KongLaw and CrimeFormer Hong Kong lawmaker denies abetting criminal activity in mainland ChinaEx-lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan says people his alliance had been supporting should not have been considered as violating mainland law in first place
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenBrian WongPublished: 8:00pm, 18 Mar 2026A former Hong Kong lawmaker on trial for allegedly inciting subversion has denied abetting criminal activity by supporting mainland Chinese dissidents, accusing Beijing of levelling false charges against them.
Prosecutors on Wednesday challenged Lee Cheuk-yan’s claim that he had no intention to incite others to overthrow the mainland’s communist rule when he called for an end to “one-party dictatorship” as former chairman of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
Lee, 69, and former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung, 41, are contesting the charge under the Beijing-imposed national security law for allegedly i..