Vietnam frees blogger on condition she leave for US

Vietnam has freed a well-known blogger after two years in prison on the condition that she leave for the United States. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as “Mother Mushroom,” was arrested in October 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of defaming the Communist government. The conviction of the popular blogger, who wrote about human rights and industrial pollution, drew criticism from some Western governments and international human rights groups. Quynh’s release came as U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis visited Vietnam.

German hostage drama ‘likely a terrorist act’

German federal prosecutors took over the probe into an arson attack and hostage taking at Cologne’s train station saying there were enough indications to suggest a terrorist motive. A Syrian refugee, identified only as Mohammad A R, sparked panic at the busy station  after he started a fire in a McDonald’s restaurant that left a 14-year-old girl with burns. He then took a female employee hostage in a nearby pharmacy. Heavily armed police opened fire on the 55-year-old suspect, who underwent emergency surgery and remains in a coma. The accused made several demands by phone during the hostage negotiations,federal prosecutors said, including being allowed to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group

Intercepted at airport: A roasted pig!

A passenger travelling from Ecuador was relieved of leftovers when an intrepid beagle found a roasted pig’s head in baggage at Atlanta the world’s busiest airport. The US Customs and Border Protection said the agriculture detector dog named Hardy alerted to the baggage at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on October 11. CBP agriculture specialists then discovered a 2-pound (1-kilogram) cooked pig’s head, which was seized and destroyed. The agency said pork and pork products from other continents are not allowed into the United States in an effort to avoid introducing foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and other animal diseases.

Thai monk sentenced for raping teen

A Thai court has sentenced a former Buddhist monk to 16 years in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl who he also impregnated. Wirapol Sukphol became infamous when he appeared in a 2013 YouTube video in his monk’s robe aboard a private jet wearing aviator sunglasses with a Louis Vuitton carry-on by his side.The Ratchada Criminal Court in Bangkok handed Wirapol two 8-year prison terms – for violating a minor under 15 and another for rape.

Indian ­American taxi driver charged with kidnapping

Pan Indian -American driver of a ride-sharing cab, identified in media reporters as Uber, has been arrested and charged by New York federal authorities with kidnapping a woman passenger and wire fraud for allegedly overcharging her for the ride and other customers before. New York-based Harbir Parmar also “groped” the passenger but wasn’t charged. The court papers and announcement that detailed the crime did not say why. He faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty of the charges.