Romania's ruling party strongman Liviu Dragnea was jailed on Monday, Romanian media reported, hours after his appeal against a corruption conviction failed.
Dragnea, 56, was seen being driven in a police car into the Rahova prison on the outskirts of Bucharest, in images carried live on Romanian television late on Monday afternoon.
Just hours earlier a court had confirmed his original three-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
The verdict will almost certainly remove from public life a man who was widely seen as the puppet master behind the Social Democrats (PSD) and the government they lead.
Dragnea was also a key figure in his party's push for controversial judicial reforms which have led to clashes with Brussels and have overshadowed Romania's first-ever EU presidency.
But he was unsuccessful in his bid to overturn a conviction he received last year for using his influence to procure fake public jobs for two women who were actually working for the Social Democrats (PSD) at the ...

Romania's ruling party strongman begins jail sentence

PTI Automatic

A Moscow court on Monday upheld extending the arrest of 24 Ukrainian sailors seized by Russia off Crimea last year, defying an international tribunal that had urged their immediate release.
The Moscow City Court declined an appeal against the extension of the sailors' detention until July, filed by their lawyers.
Russia in November fired on and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels, capturing two dozen sailors near the Kerch Strait, as they tried to pass from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea.
It was the first open military clash between Kiev and Moscow since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and a pro-Russian insurgency erupted in eastern Ukraine.
On Saturday, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, based in the German port city of Hamburg, urged Russia to "immediately" release the sailors and return them to Ukraine.
The tribunal was established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday ...

Moscow court prolongs detention of Ukraine sailors

FIFA's appeals committee upheld Monday a lifetime ban issued to the former head of the Brazilian football federation (CBF), Marco Polo Del Nero, for bribery and corruption.
Del Nero, 78, was suspended from all football-related activities and fined one million Swiss francs ($1 million) in April last year by FIFA's disciplinary committee.
A years-long graft probe revealed he received bribes in exchange for awarding broadcast contracts at major tournaments, including the Copa America.
The original investigation found Del Nero had also violated rules governing conflicts of interest, loyalty, and general conduct.
He succeeded Jose Maria Marin as CBF boss in 2015. Marin was given a four-year prison sentence last August in the FIFA corruption scandal that disgraced the sport worldwide.
The Brazilian federation is now governed by Rogerio Caboclo, Del Nero's former right-hand man.

FIFA confirms life ban for ex-Brazil football chief

A major riot involving 500 prisoners broke out at a penitentiary in the Ukrainian city of Odessa on Monday with the inmates setting fire to buildings and wounding seven staff members, officials said.
Authorities deployed several hundred National Guard troops and police to help put down the riot, an AFP photographer at the scene said.
The violence broke out at the facility in the Black Sea port city as authorities planned to move several convicts to a different prison, officials said, adding that the situation was now under control.
Prisoners "attacked and wounded seven employees" and set alight a fire engine and several areas including the prison library, Ukraine's prison service said.
Ruslan Forostyak, a regional police spokesman, told AFP that the rioters barricaded themselves inside their living quarters.
The country's rights ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, said the rioters also took three medics and three guards hostage, but later said on Facebook,"they have been freed".
"The ...

Hundreds of prisoners start fires, wound staff in Ukraine riot

Malawian President Peter Mutharika was narrowly re-elected with 38.57 percent of the vote ahead of opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera with 35.41 per cent, official results from last week's election showed Monday.
The vote count was released after a court battle, with Chakwera's party obtaining a temporary injunction to bar the release of results over alleged vote-rigging.
The Malawi Electoral Commission said Mutharika, who heads the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), took nearly 159,000 more votes than Chakwera, of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
The result is likely to trigger criticism from Chakwera, who had warned of alleged attempts to rig the election and said his party's own count showed him ahead.
The electoral body stopped releasing results updates Friday after receiving 147 complaints from parties involved in Tuesday's vote.
Chakwera's MCP went to court over what it claimed were irregularities in results from 10 of the country's 28 districts.
Opposition parties have .

Mutharika narrowly re-elected Malawi president: commission

The tussle for top EU jobs got under way Monday after European Parliament elections delivered a fragmented result, with gains for eurosceptic and green parties as the traditional mainstream groups took a hit.
The main centre-right and centre-left groups lost their combined majority in the 751-seat parliament in the face of a challenge by eurosceptic and nationalist forces of Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini and Nigel Farage -- although the populist wave was less than some had predicted.
There were big wins for the Greens, who posted double digit scores across Europe's biggest countries, and the Liberals, with both parties likely to play a major role in any future parliamentary coalition.
Each previous EU election since the first in 1979 has seen turnout fall, but figures from across the 28-nation bloc were at a 20-year high of 51 per cent, suggesting this year's culture clash mobilised both populists and those who oppose them.
Boosted by French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance ...

Fight for top EU jobs begins after European elections

One year after her 'Black Panther' catsuit caused controversy, Serena Williams returned to Roland Garros on Monday, dressed in a zebra-striped cape emblazoned with the words 'mother, champion, queen, goddess'.
The 37-year-old American wore the Nike-backed black-and-white cape as she arrived on Court Philippe Chatrier for her opening match against Vitalia Diatchenko.
The legend of 'mother, champion, queen, goddess' was written in French in a nod to her hosts.
Once the cape was removed, Williams revealed a black and white zebra-stripe print dress.
Williams fell foul of Roland Garros last year with her one-piece black outfit which she said she needed to wear to boost her circulation.
She had suffered blood clots when she gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia.
"I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena's outfit, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place," said French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli.

'Mother, champion, queen, goddess': Serena unveils new Roland Garros outfit

Defending champion Rafael Nadal got his bid for a record-extending 12th French Open title off to the perfect start by brushing aside German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, while world number one Novak Djokovic was also a comfortable victor in the first round at Roland Garros on Monday.
Nadal, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, cruised to a 6-2 6-1 6-3 victory on the rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a clash with another German qualifier -- world number 114 Yannick Maden -- in round two.
Nadal had suffered three consecutive semi-final defeats earlier in the clay-court season, but appeared to find his best in an Italian Open title success sealed with victory over old rival Djokovic, while his French Open win-loss record now reads 87-2.
"It's always amazing to play here, the new Chatrier is very nice," the second seed said. "It's been an important place in my career.
"I played a good tournament in Rome which was very important for my confidence. Now we'll see."
The 32-year-old Nadal ...

Nadal, Djokovic cruise through at Roland Garros

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Monday lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, removing him and his cabinet from office over a corruption scandal that brought has down his coalition government.
"An application (by the opposition Social Democrats) has been accepted, so he has lost the confidence" of parliament, deputy speaker Doris Bures said.
The move comes just after Kurz celebrated a big win for his conservative People's Party (OeVP) in Sunday's European elections, which is projected to gain 34.9 percent of the vote and two extra European parliament seats.
It comes in the wake of the so-called "Ibiza-gate" scandal, which saw FPOe leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resign from both posts after he was caught appearing to offer public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer.
That led to Kurz ending his coalition with the FPOe and calling early elections for the autumn, but the opposition say the 32-year-old leader must also take ...

Austrian chancellor loses no-confidence showdown

Afghan politicians are set to attend a two-day meeting with the Taliban in Moscow this week, officials confirmed Monday, as fighting continues to rage in Afghanistan amid troubled peace talks between the US and the militants.
The meeting -- set to run the 28th and 29th of May -- will mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said a 14-member delegation was heading to Moscow, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the group's top political leader.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's chief negotiator and former deputy minister of foreign affairs, will also attend, Mujahid said in a statement.
From the Afghan political establishment, former president Hamid Karzai is set to make an appearance, with his spokesman Yousof Saha suggesting the Afghan and Taliban delegations might meet on the sidelines for informal talks, but he noted nothing was guaranteed.
And a spokesman for Afghanistan's high peace council -- 

Russia invites Taliban, Afghan officials to Moscow meet

Madagascar held parliamentary elections Monday in what is being seen as the latest round of a bitter feud between President Andry Rajoelina and his longstanding rival Marc Ravalomanana.
Beaten to the top job in December, Ravalomanana has been pushing hard in support of candidates of his TIM ("I Love Madagascar") party, determined to secure a victory in his rivalry with President Rajoelina.
The two men have dominated politics since the early 2000s, sometimes cooperating but mostly fighting for advantage and high office.
"These elections will define our future for the next five years," said Rajoelina after voting in the capital Antananarivo.
"The candidates who will be elected MPs have the duty not only to pass laws, but also to represent the aspirations of the people." Ravalomanana also voted in the capital, and he raised allegations of fraud in the presidential election last December.
"People are less enthusiastic to vote because of the fraud that has already been noted in previous ...

Madagascar votes in latest battle of political feud

Israel's energy minister said Monday his country had agreed to enter US-mediated talks with Lebanon on maritime borders that would have an impact on offshore oil and gas exploration.
Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a statement after meeting US State Department official David Satterfield that Israel agreed to move forward with the talks.
Lebanese officials said last week that Satterfield, the acting assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs, had informed them that Israel agreed to the negotiations. Israel had not commented at the time.
Last year, Lebanon signed its first contract to drill for oil and gas in its waters, including for a block disputed by its southern neighbour Israel, with which it has fought several wars.
A consortium composed of energy giants Total, Eni and Novatek was awarded two of Lebanon's 10 exploration blocks last year.
It is set to start drilling in block 4 in December, and later in the disputed block 9.  Last year, Total said it was aware of the ...

Israel says accepts US-mediated talks with Lebanon on sea border

Pope Francis warned Monday against a rise of intolerance and racism as far-right nationalists and eurosceptic parties made historic gains in European elections.
"The signs of meanness we see around us heighten our fear of 'the other', the unknown, the marginalised, the foreigner," he said in a message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
"It is not just about them, but about all of us, and about the present and future of the human family.
"Migrants, especially those who are most vulnerable, help us to read the 'signs of the times'," he said.
Nationalist forces from Marine Le Pen in France to Matteo Salvini in Italy and Nigel Farage in Britain boasted significant gains in the EU parliament elections which wound up on Sunday.
Salvini's far-right League party did particularly well in Italy in centres seen as migrant "hot spots", including a town held up by the left as a model of tolerance and integration.
Francis acknowledged the "fear" in many societies towards migrants and ...

Pope sounds racism alarm as EU nationalists win big

Israeli coalition negotiations remained deadlocked Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a right-wing party leader engaged in a standoff that could provoke new elections only months after April 9 polls.
Netanyahu has until Wednesday night to form a coalition government, but ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman has prevented a deal by refusing to budge from a key demand.
Holding elections so close to one another would be unprecedented in Israel, and there have been concerns over the cost and prolonged political paralysis that would result.
Israel's parliament could take the first step toward dissolving itself as early as later Monday. Further votes would be needed to move towards elections.
On Monday, Netanyahu's Likud party called on Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party to compromise and allow a coalition to be formed.
Lieberman said he had already made concessions and was not prepared to go further, adding he was ready for new elections if needed.
His party controls ...

Israeli political standoff risks provoking election rerun

Poland's governing right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) won European elections, complete official results showed on Monday, with its leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski urging a wider victory in the autumn general ballot.
The PiS took 45.38 percent of the vote to win 27 of Poland's 51 seats in the European Parliament compared with 38.47 percent and 22 seats for the liberal European Coalition, according to full official results published on Monday.
The progressive Spring party, led by openly gay former MP and mayor Robert Biedron, took 6.06 per cent for three seats while the far-right Confederation group failed to cross the five-percent threshold required to enter the European Parliament.  Poland will gain one extra seat for a total 52 MEPs after Brexit.
"We won but with a result that should push us to one thing: to work hard before the parliamentary elections this fall," Kaczynski said at PiS campaign headquarters in Warsaw as an exit poll handed his party victory.
This is the first time the .

Poland's ruling right-wing PiS party tops in EU polls

Defending champion Rafael Nadal got his bid for a record-extending 12th French Open title off to the perfect start by brushing aside German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the first round at Roland Garros on Monday.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion cruised to a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 victory on the rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a clash with another German qualifier -- world number 114 Yannick Maden -- in round two.
Nadal had suffered three consecutive semi-final defeats earlier in the clay-court season, but appeared to find his best in an Italian Open title success sealed with victory over old rival Novak Djokovic, while his French Open win-loss record now reads 87-2.
"It's always amazing to play here, the new Chatrier is very nice," the second seed said. "It's been an important place in my career.
"I played a good tournament in Rome which was very important for my confidence. Now we'll see." The 32-year-old Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set before a second break of serve 

Nadal cruises through at Roland Garros, Wozniacki out

Japan plans to buy 105 US-made stealth warplanes, Donald Trump said on Monday, which the US President said would give Tokyo the largest F35 fleet of any US ally.
Trump, in Tokyo for a state visit, said Japan "has just announced its intent to purchase 105 brand new F35 stealth aircraft. Stealth, because, the fact is you can't see them." "This purchase would give Japan the largest F35 fleet of any US ally," added the president.
Trump appeared to be referencing a deal first announced by the F35's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, in December.
Japan's government announced in its latest defence budget in December plans to buy 105 units of the F35A, which performs conventional take-off and landings.
Local media said at the time that the purchases could total more than one trillion yen (USD 9.1 billion).
The White House could not immediately comment on the timing of Trump's comments about the deal Monday.

Japan to buy 105 F-35 US stealth warplanes: Trump

A 16-year-old boy was one of at least four people shot dead by police during a riot triggered by dissatisfaction over the election result in the restive province of Papua, an official said.
More than 300 supporters of a legislative candidate who claimed he should have won the seat in the local council attacked a district office in Asmat district.
The candidate, who was not identified, claimed based on the votes he should have won a seat in the city council but his name was replaced with another candidate's name.
The protesters, armed with sharp weapons, damaged the district office, local military spokesman Muhammad Aidi said.
Four soldiers guarding a nearby military post tried to control the protesters but were outnumbered, and one of the officers tried to control the mob by opening fire into the air, Aidi said.
"The mob became even more brutal and attacked the officer, in a such threatening situation another officer was forced to open fire and retreat to the post to save themselves," 

Four dead in post-election riot in Indonesia's Papua

Britain may be dealing with a national threat level of "severe" but officials are confident they have the security measures in place for a Cricket World Cup in England and Wales rated a "moderate" security risk.
Recent terror attacks in cricket playing nations have heightened safety concerns regarding the World Cup, which features 48 one-day international matches in 46 days starting with tournament hosts England against South Africa on Thursday.
In March, 51 worshippers were shot dead in mosque attacks in the New Zealand city of Christchurch while more than 250 people died in Sri Lanka as a result of suicide bombings on Easter Sunday.
"When those incidents happened so close to the tournament, quite understandably that did cause some nervousness," Jill McCracken, the World Cup safety and security director, told reporters at the Oval on Monday.
Public events in Britain have not been immune from terror incidents in recent years, with 23 people killed in a suicide bomb attack after a ...

World Cup organisers happy with security amid 'moderate' threat

Villagers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo killed a health worker engaged in the fight against a major Ebola outbreak and looted a treatment centre, according to an official report seen Monday by AFP.
"Part of the population of Vusahiro village, in the health sector of Mabalako (North Kivu province), rose up and attacked the local team fighting back against Ebola," said the daily health ministry bulletin dated Sunday. It said the incident happened on Saturday.
"A hygiene agent in the team for the prevention and control of infections died of his injuries during his transfer to the hospital," health authorities said in the bulletin.
"The health centre in Vusahiro was trashed and looted and three village houses were burned down," the bulletin added.
In a separate incident, the triage centre at Valumba in the Butembo health sector, was vandalised overnight Saturday to Sunday, the report said.
The Ebola outbreak declared in eastern DR Congo last August has killed more than 1,200 ...

Villagers kill Ebola health worker in eastern DR Congo

A German court on Monday ordered seven Islamic fundamentalists to pay fines over a so-called "sharia police" patrol they launched in 2014 to mass media and political outrage.
The men aged between 27 and 37 must pay between 300 and 1,800 euros for infringing laws against wearing uniforms, the Wuppertal tribunal found.
Germany's laws against wearing uniforms originally aimed to prevent neo-Nazis staging rallies and parades.
Judges said the group's actions were aimed at achieving an "intimidating effect suggestive of militancy" by aping the sharia police that exist in some Middle Eastern countries as violent organisations.
In September 2014, the seven patrolled the streets of Wuppertal, a west German industrial town with a sizeable Muslim population, wearing orange high-visibility vests marked "Sharia Police".
When they encountered young Muslims, they told them not to drink alcohol or visit cafes, betting shops or brothels.
Monday's verdict comes at the end of a second trial for the ...

AFP

AFP

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