1. India court summons ex-PM in probe

    Indian court summoned* former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 11 over accusations of criminal conspiracy* and corruption over the award of a coal field during his term.

    A special court under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned the former prime minister along with billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla and another official to appear on April 8, a source at the agency said.

    2. Former Thai princess’ parents jailed

    The parents of a former Thai princess were jailed for two and a half years on March 11 for defaming* the monarchy following investigations into the actions of several family members accused of corruption and misusing their royal connection.

    Srirasmi Suwadee, formerly known as Princess Srirasmi, is divorced from Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

    Her parents, Apiruj and Wanthanee Suwadee, were found guilty of violating Article 112 of Thailand’s criminal code, which says anyone who “defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent” will be punished with up to 15 years in prison.

    3. Hillary: Private e-mail was ‘for convenience’

    Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she opted for* convenience as she held a press conference on March 11 to address concerns that she used a private e-mail account and server for her official work while she was in office.

    “Looking back, it would have been better if I had simply used a second e-mail account and carried a second phone” for private correspondence, Clinton said at the conference. But at the time, she said, “I thought it would be easier to carry one device.”

    The press conference came a week after news about Clinton’s private e-mail use broke, during which Clinton has been under increased pressure to answer questions about it.

    4. Ferguson cops shot amid new protest

    Two officers were shot during a protest in front of the Ferguson Police Department, in Missouri, the United States, on March 12, authorities said, as demonstrators* gathered following the resignation of the embattled police chief of the St. Louis suburb.

    A 32-year-old officer from nearby Webster Groves was shot in the face and a 41-year-old officer from St. Louis County was shot in the shoulder, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said at a news conference. Both were taken to a local hospital.

    The shots were fired as protesters gathered following the resignation of Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson on Wednesday.

    5. Elderly Indian nun gang-raped in school

    Police in eastern India said on Saturday they were investigating the gang-rape* of a 75-year-old nun by burglars* who broke into the convent* school where she lived.

    Two people have been arrested in connection with the alleged attack on March 13, when 12 men broke into the convent at night in West Bengal state.

    “A preliminary investigation has revealed that a nun at the school was gagged and gang-raped,” police inspector general Anuj Sharma said. “Two people have so far been arrested.” Local residents took to the streets in anger, shouting slogans demanding action and blocking off the main highway.

    6. Hacker leaks nuclear data from S. Korea

    A hacker* believed to be behind cyberattacks on South Korea’s sole nuclear power plant operator released more files on March 12.

    Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, part of state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp., said in December its computer systems had been hacked but only non-critical data had been stolen and operations were not at risk.

    More files were posted on Twitter on March 12 with a demand for money and an email address where the hacker said he could be contacted, claiming there have been offers from other countries to buy data related to nuclear power plants.(SD-Agencies)

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