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Shariah Court in Indonesia Sentences Two Men to Public Caning for Homosexuality 

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An Islamic Shariah court in Indonesia’s Aceh province sentenced two men to public caning on Monday after convicting them of engaging in gay sex. 

The men, aged 24 and 18, were arrested on November 7 after neighborhood vigilantes in Banda Aceh suspected them of being in a same-sex relationship. The group broke into their rented room and discovered them naked and embracing. 

A three-judge panel ruled that the two students were “legally and convincingly” proven to have engaged in same-sex relations and sentenced them to 85 and 80 lashes, respectively. 

“During the trial, it was proven that the defendants committed illicit acts, including kissing and having sex,” said Judge Sakwanah, who, like many Indonesians, uses a single name. She stated that, as Muslims, the men were expected to uphold Aceh’s Shariah law. 

The court imposed a sentence lower than the maximum of 100 lashes, citing the defendants’ cooperation with authorities, good behavior in court, and lack of prior convictions. 

Prosecutors initially recommended 80 lashes for both, but the judges increased the penalty for the older man, believing he had encouraged and facilitated the act. 

Both the prosecution and defense accepted the verdict and confirmed they would not appeal. 

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia authorized to enforce Shariah law, distinguishing it from the rest of the Muslim-majority country. The national government granted Aceh the right to implement Islamic law in 2006 as part of a peace agreement to end a decades-long separatist conflict. Since then, the province has established a religious police force and court system, with public caning becoming a routine form of punishment. 

In 2015, Aceh expanded its Islamic criminal code to include non-Muslims, who make up about 1% of the province’s population. Under the law, moral offenses—including same-sex relations and extramarital sex—are punishable by up to 100 lashes. This case marks the third instance of public caning for homosexuality in Aceh. 

Other punishable offenses under Aceh’s Shariah law include gambling, alcohol consumption, women wearing tight clothing, and men failing to attend Friday prayers. 

Human rights organizations have strongly condemned the law, arguing that it violates Indonesia’s commitments to international treaties protecting minority rights. 

Indonesia’s national criminal code does not criminalize homosexuality, and the central government lacks the authority to repeal Aceh’s Islamic-based regulations. However, a prior provision allowing stoning as a punishment for adultery was removed following pressure from national authorities.

French Surgeon on Trial for Rape and Abuse of 299 Victims, Mostly Children

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A former surgeon is set to stand trial in France on Monday, accused of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims, most of them children who were his patients. Investigators and his own notebooks describe a pattern of abuse spanning more than three decades. 

Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, faces a four-month trial in Vannes, Brittany. Photo: rfi.fr

Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, faces a four-month trial in Vannes, Brittany, where he will confront hundreds of victims. If convicted, he could receive up to 20 years in prison, in addition to the 15-year sentence he has been serving since 2020 after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting children. 

While he does not deny the allegations, Le Scouarnec claims he does not remember all of the incidents. Some victims also have no memory of the assaults, as they were unconscious at the time. 

The trial is taking place amid growing efforts by activists to expose and challenge long-standing taboos surrounding sexual abuse in France. The case follows the high-profile conviction of Gisèle Pélicot’s ex-husband and dozens of other men, who were sentenced in December to prison terms ranging from three to 20 years for drugging and raping her. 

Child protection groups, women’s rights organizations, and medical associations have called for a demonstration outside the courthouse as the trial begins. 

Le Scouarnec was first investigated in 2017 after a six-year-old neighbor accused him of inappropriate touching over the fence of their properties. A subsequent search of his home led to the discovery of over 300,000 photos, 650 pedophilic, zoophilic, and scatological video files, and detailed notebooks where he described himself as a pedophile and documented his crimes, according to investigators. 

In 2020, he was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting four children, including two of his nieces, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. While he admitted to abuse dating back to 1985-1986, some cases could not be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations. 

The current trial will examine allegations of rape and sexual abuse committed between 1989 and 2014 against 158 men and 141 women, who were on average 11 years old at the time. Investigators say the surgeon assaulted both boys and girls while they were alone in their hospital rooms. 

One of the victims, Amélie Lévêque, recalled being hospitalized at age 9 in 1991, describing Le Scouarnec as a cruel surgeon. “I didn’t really remember the operation. I remembered the post-operation, a surgeon who was quite mean. I cried a lot,” she said. 

Years later, she was shocked to find her name in his notebooks. “That was the beginning of the answers to a lifetime of questions, and then it was the beginning of the descent into hell,” she told public broadcaster France 3. “I felt like I had lost control of everything. I wasn’t crazy, but now I had to face the truth of what had happened.” 

She described falling into a deep depression, feeling completely alone despite support from her family. 

Le Scouarnec’s lawyer, Thibaut Kurzawa, told *Sud-Ouest* newspaper that his client will “answer the judges’ questions” and has decided “to face up to reality.” 

Despite a 2005 conviction for possessing and importing child sexual abuse material—resulting in a suspended four-month prison sentence—Le Scouarnec was appointed as a hospital practitioner the following year. 

Several child protection organizations have joined the case as civil parties, seeking stronger legal safeguards to prevent future abuse. 

Georgia Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Bombing Woman’s Home and Plotting Python Attack on Daughter

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A Georgia man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bombing a woman’s home and conspiring to release a python into her house to harm her daughter, federal prosecutors announced. 

Stephen Glosser, 38, of Savannah, admitted to charges of stalking and using an explosive to commit another felony offense, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. In addition to his prison term, he was ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution to the victims and serve three years of supervised release. 

The bombing occurred on January 13, 2023, in Richmond Hill, a city just south of Savannah. Authorities said the explosion caused extensive damage to the home, blowing bricks off the exterior and leaving a large crater in the driveway.

A woman and her child were inside the residence at the time but were not injured. Bryan County Sheriff Mark Crowe described the devastation as unlike anything he had seen in his 26 years in law enforcement, comparing the destruction inside the home to the aftermath of a tornado. 

Glosser and his co-defendant, 34-year-old Caleb Kinsey, were arrested the following month. Kinsey, who remains in custody, is awaiting prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia. 

According to investigators, Glosser and Kinsey conspired for months to terrorize the woman, using electronic surveillance to track her movements. Prosecutors said their plans included releasing a large python into her home to attack her daughter, shooting arrows into her front door, mailing dog feces and dead rats to her address, and scalping her. Additional evidence uncovered in the case revealed that the two men also discussed bombing a courthouse and targeting a former coworker. 

Authorities said Glosser met the woman through a dating app and used online tools and cellphone data to locate her home after their casual relationship ended. Kinsey, described as a friend and roommate of Glosser, allegedly purchased explosive targets online, which the pair used to construct the homemade bomb. After mapping a route to the victim’s residence, they planted the device, detonating it with enough force to cause significant structural damage. 

Investigators discovered that Glosser attempted to conceal evidence by hiring a cleaning service to remove bomb-making residue from his residence. A black SUV linked to Kinsey was seen speeding away from the crime scene. Search warrants executed on their home and mobile devices revealed further details of their plans. 

Glosser was arrested in Georgia, while Kinsey was taken into custody in Louisiana. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey emphasized the severity of the case, stating that those who use terror and threats to intimidate others will face the full force of the law. 

Kinsey remains in custody as he awaits prosecution. 

British Couple in Their 70s Detained by Taliban in Afghanistan

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A British couple in their 70s who have lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades and run education programs have been detained by the Taliban, their family confirmed. 

Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were arrested earlier this month, though the reason for their detention remains unclear, according to their four adult children. 

The couple, who were married in Kabul in 1970, have lived in Afghanistan for the past 18 years. They remained in the country even after the Taliban seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of Western forces. 

Peter and Barbie Reynolds run Rebuild, an organization providing education and training programs for businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. The group’s website features images of men and women participating in teacher training and management courses. 

Since retaking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights, banning most female education and employment, making the country one of the most repressive places for women. 

In an open letter to the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, the couple’s children emphasized their parents’ commitment to Afghanistan. 

“They have always been open about their presence and work, diligently respecting and obeying the laws as they change. They do not represent another religion, and they love Muslims dearly,” the letter, shared with Sky News, read. 

The couple, who also hold Afghan citizenship, reportedly messaged their children after their arrests, stating that they did not want Western authorities to intervene. 

In the letter, their children acknowledged past cases where foreign detainees were exchanged in negotiations between the Taliban and Western governments but urged that their parents not be used for such purposes. 

“Our parents have consistently expressed their commitment to Afghanistan, stating that they would rather sacrifice their lives than become part of ransom negotiations or be traded. We trust that this is not your intention, as we are instructed to respect their wishes to remain with you,” they wrote. 

They further added, “They have chosen Afghanistan as their home, rather than living with family in England, and they wish to spend the rest of their lives in Afghanistan.” 

The UK Foreign Office declined to comment but is aware of the arrests. The United Kingdom does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government and does not have an embassy in Kabul. 

bbc.com

Russia and U.S. Set for Another High-Level Talks Amid Ukraine Conflict

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Russian and U.S. officials are preparing to hold a high-level meeting this week to discuss strained diplomatic relations, as tensions stemming from the war in Ukraine continue to impact global stability, a senior Russian diplomat said Sunday. 

The conflict in Ukraine has driven U.S.-Russia relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. With Russian forces making territorial advances over the past year, U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to broker a peace deal if re-elected, arguing the war has caused significant loss of life. 

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on February 12 about improving bilateral relations and ending the war, while U.S. and Russian representatives met in Riyadh on February 18 for preliminary discussions. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s lead negotiator on U.S. relations, confirmed that departmental-level meetings are scheduled to take place by the end of the week. 

“We are open to contacts with the American side, particularly on resolving bilateral disputes,” Ryabkov told Russian state news agency TASS. “We are awaiting tangible progress at the upcoming meeting.” 

Trump has repeatedly expressed confidence that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are open to reaching a deal. On February 12, Trump said Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership was impractical, echoing statements from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who asserted that Ukraine would not realistically reclaim its pre-2014 borders. 

As the war enters its fourth year, Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukraine, an area comparable to the U.S. state of Ohio. This includes Crimea, annexed in 2014, along with roughly 75% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, and nearly all of Luhansk. 

Moscow maintains that these territories are now legally part of Russia and under its nuclear umbrella, a stance rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. 

In June 2023, Putin outlined his conditions for ending the war, demanding Ukraine formally abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from Russian-occupied regions. Ukraine and its European allies have firmly opposed these terms, vowing not to recognize Russian territorial claims. 

American Airlines Flight Diverted to Rome Over Security Concern 

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An American Airlines flight traveling from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome on Sunday due to a security concern later determined to be non-credible, the airline said. The aircraft landed safely at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport and is scheduled to depart for Delhi on Monday following mandatory crew rest. 

The flight, American Airlines 292, departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport and was en route to Indira Gandhi International Airport before being rerouted. 

American Airlines said in a statement that flight 292 diverted to Rome due to a possible security concern. Law enforcement in Rome inspected and cleared the aircraft, allowing it to proceed with its scheduled journey. 

A flight-tracking account, Flight Emergency, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the flight was diverted due to a bomb threat. 

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, carrying approximately 200 passengers, landed in Rome at 16:20 GMT, according to airport officials. 

The plane was flying over the Caspian Sea when the airline alerted the crew of a potential bomb threat, sources said. 

A senior official cited by ABC News stated that the threat was received via email but was later deemed unfounded. 

The aircraft and its passengers are expected to resume their journey after the required crew rest period, with the flight scheduled to depart for New Delhi on Monday. 

Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition, Shows Signs of Kidney Insufficiency

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Pope Francis remains in critical condition as he battles double pneumonia, with doctors reporting a “slight insufficiency” in his kidney function, the Vatican said Sunday. 

The 88-year-old pontiff, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14, has been receiving treatment for a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” that required a blood transfusion on Saturday. While his condition remains serious, Vatican officials noted that he has not suffered further respiratory crises since the previous night. 

According to the latest medical bulletin, blood tests revealed an early-stage renal insufficiency, though it is currently under control. 

“The Holy Father remains critical; however, his respiratory condition has stabilized, and treatment is ongoing,” the Vatican said. 

Doctors have placed the pope on high-flow oxygen therapy to aid his breathing as he continues his fight against the infection, which has been described as “complex” due to the presence of multiple microorganisms. 

The Vatican confirmed that Francis’ blood transfusion had improved his hemoglobin levels, aiding oxygen transport in his body. His platelet count—previously flagged as dangerously low—has also remained stable. 

The pontiff has a history of lung issues, having had part of one lung removed due to pleurisy in his youth. His age and frailty increase the risk of complications, with doctors warning that his condition could lead to sepsis if the infection spreads to his bloodstream. 

As news of his health struggles spreads, faithful pilgrims have gathered near the Vatican and outside Gemelli hospital to pray for Francis. 

“I am very, very sad,” said Elvira Romana, a visitor from Italy. “I don’t know how you can continue normally at this moment.” 

At St. Peter’s Basilica, Archbishop Rino Fisichella called for “stronger and more intense” prayers for the pontiff’s recovery. The Diocese of Rome held a special Mass on Sunday evening to “give Francis the strength to overcome this moment of trial.” 

In a written message for the Sunday Angelus prayer, which he was unable to lead for the second consecutive week, Francis expressed gratitude for his medical team and the countless well-wishes he has received from around the world. 

Germany’s CDU Wins Election as Far-Right AfD Makes Historic Gains

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Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has won a commanding victory in parliamentary elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a historic second place, according to projections from public broadcaster ARD.

The CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, is projected to capture 211 seats in the 630-seat parliament, though coalition formation remains uncertain. The outcome may hinge on whether the Free Democratic Party (FDP) reaches the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation.

The AfD doubled its support from four years ago, rising from 10.4% to approximately 20%, marking its strongest-ever showing in national politics. The party’s success spans both eastern and western Germany, indicating broader appeal for its anti-immigration platform.

“We were united, our campaign was targeted and we were disciplined,” AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla said, appearing with co-chair Alice Weidel. “We can really bring about an epochal change.” However, other major parties have ruled out forming coalitions with the AfD.

The Social Democrats (SPD) performed poorly but could potentially join a coalition with the CDU, depending on final results and whether additional partners are needed.

Dr. Jana Puglierin from the European Council on Foreign Relations characterized the AfD’s rise as part of a larger European trend. “Germany has become a bit more normal, we have been an outlier in Europe with relatively small numbers of the far-right,” she told the BBC.

The election results are based on exit polls from hundreds of polling stations, with official projections confirming initial findings.

3 Killed in Shooting Outside Kentucky Driver’s License Office

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A deadly shooting outside a Kentucky driver’s license office left three people dead Friday in a chaotic scene that witnesses described as resembling a movie. 

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 18-year-old Leslye M. Harbin Jr., who died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, and two women, 33-year-old Antwanette Chillers and 29-year-old Raysa Pacios Valdes, who succumbed to gunshot wounds after being transported to a hospital. 

Louisville Metro Police responded around noon to reports of gunfire outside the state Driver Licensing Office in the city’s southern outskirts. Witnesses said masked assailants ambushed Harbin, shooting him multiple times, even after he fell to the ground, before fleeing. It was unclear if the victims were connected or if the shooters targeted them specifically. 

Jalen Eddings, who was waiting in his car due to long lines at the office, described the harrowing moment. 

“I was just in shock, I couldn’t believe it. It was like something out of a movie,” Eddings told WHAS-TV. 

Louisville Metro Police placed evidence markers near the crime scene, just 20 feet from the building’s entrance. 

Major Donald Boeckman confirmed that the suspects fled in a vehicle but did not provide a description. 

“It’s absolutely a tragedy, and I’m surprised more people weren’t injured,” Boeckman said. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage for leads. 

Police spokesperson Aaron Ellis said Saturday there were no updates on potential suspects. 

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the shooting “a senseless act of violence” in a statement on social media. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which operates the office, confirmed that security personnel swiftly locked down the building and that no employees were harmed. 

Ali Raza, another witness inside the office, said panic erupted as gunfire rang out. 

“Suddenly, we heard a lot of shots, and people were screaming,” Raza said. He credited a security guard with saving lives by instructing people to get down and move away from the entrance. 

Connecticut Man Who Killed Victim, Ate Body Parts Granted Supervised Release

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A Connecticut man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing a man with a hatchet and consuming parts of his body has been granted conditional release from a state psychiatric hospital, despite strong opposition from lawmakers and the victim’s family. 

Tyree Smith was committed to Whiting Forensic Hospital in 2013 for 60 years following the brutal killing of Angel Gonzalez. Authorities discovered Gonzalez’s mutilated body in a vacant Bridgeport apartment in January 2012, a month after he was murdered. Smith’s cousin testified that he had confessed to eating parts of Gonzalez’s brain and an eyeball while drinking sake. 

On Friday, the Connecticut Psychiatric Security Review Board approved Smith’s conditional release after a psychiatrist testified that his schizophrenia, as well as alcohol and drug disorders, were in full remission due to medication and ongoing treatment. 

Under the terms of his release, Smith will remain under strict supervision in a community setting and must continue treatment. Hospital officials revealed that Smith has already spent the past nine months in a community facility with 24/7 supervision. The board’s decision formally discharges him from Whiting Forensic Hospital. 

During a hearing ahead of the ruling, Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, voiced concerns that Smith may be concealing his mental illness. 

“How do we really know he’s not going to do this again?” Frazier asked. 

The decision has drawn backlash from state lawmakers, who called Smith’s release a dangerous mistake. 

“This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to Connecticut violent crime victims and their families,” Republican State Senators Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin, and Stephen Harding said in a joint statement. “This person should never be out.” 

Smith attended Friday’s hearing virtually alongside his attorney but was not visible on video screens. His lawyer cited security concerns due to media coverage. 

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