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Islamabad — A Pakistani court has let stand the seven-year prison sentences given to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for what authorities say is the couple’s “illicit marriage.” The decision by a district and sessions court in the capital, Islamabad, Thursday deals a blow to Khan’s hopes of walking free as this is the only case now keeping the former leader behind bars. Khan has been in a high security prison near Islamabad since August 5 last year on a long list of charges. His wife has been serving her sentence in the same prison since May after initially being placed under house arrest. In a post on social media platform X, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, decried the decision as “absolutely ridiculous.” “Every single individual responsible for fabricating and carrying this case will go down in the dirtiest, darkest alleys of history,” a party said. In a statement to the media the party said it would challenge the verdict. Many legal experts have also called the “illicit marriage” case frivolous. Case history Just days before Pakistanis headed to the polls in early February, a court sentenced Khan and his wife to seven years in prison each for a marriage law violation in 2018, on a petition filed by Bibi’s ex-husband. The court also fined the 71-year-old former prime minister and his wife $1,800 each. Bibi was accused of not completing the waiting period mandated by Islam, called “iddat,” after divorcing her previous husband and marrying Khan in 2018. The former first lady rejected the charges as baseless and politically motivated to malign her husband. Prison history Since his removal from power in Aril 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence, Khan has faced a long list of charges which he has rejected as an attempt by the country's military to keep him out of the political arena - a charge the powerful institution denies.   Khan's first and brief arrest on May 9 of last year in a land bribery case led to widespread protests and rioting, including attacks by supporters on government and military installations. Khan was granted bail in that case. Khan was again arrested on August 5 on corruption charges. He was accused of illegally selling state gifts received while in office between August 2018 and April 2022. Although the three-year prison sentence handed down in that case was suspended weeks later, Khan remained under arrest as proceedings in other cases involving charges such as corruption, rioting, vandalism, and treason continued inside prison walls. On January 30 of this year, a special lower court established under the Official Secrets Act, sentenced Khan to a decade behind bars for leaking state secrets. The Islamabad High Court overturned that conviction earlier this month. On January 31, a federal anti-graft court sentenced Khan and Bibi to 14 years in prison on corruption charges, again related to illegally retaining and selling state gifts. The Islamabad High Court suspended that sentence in April. According to PTI, Khan has been acquitted or granted bail in 18 cases in the last several months. While the petitions to seek suspension of sentence in the “illicit marriage” case have been rejected, according to PTI, a hearing on petitions challenging the conviction is scheduled for July 2.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Beijing — Former Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party, state media said Thursday, after he was sacked abruptly last year in unexplained circumstances. "The Politburo... has decided to expel Li Shangfu from the party, terminate his credentials as a representative of the 20th National Congress, and transfer his suspected criminal issues to military procuratorial organs for review and prosecution," state broadcaster CCTV said. The Communist Party's powerful Politburo of senior leaders convened on Thursday to review a report on Li's status. There, they ruled Li had "betrayed his original mission and lost his party spirit and principles," according to CCTV. He "seriously polluted the political environment and industrial ethos in the field of military equipment, and caused great damage to the party's cause, national defense and the construction of the armed forces," CCTV said. Li is "suspected of bribery" having been accused of "taking advantage of his position and taking huge sums of money to seek benefits for others... and giving money to others to seek inappropriate benefits," it said. He also "illegally sought personnel benefits for himself and others," it added.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea claimed progress Thursday on testing a missile meant to contain multiple warheads, an advanced weapon aimed at penetrating U.S. missile defenses. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea “successfully conducted the separation and guidance control test of individual mobile warheads” during a Wednesday launch. KCNA said the first stage engine of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile carried the warheads, which “were guided correctly to the three coordinate targets.” The test, which also included decoy warheads, was aimed at securing the capability for multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, or MIRVs, KCNA added. If confirmed, analysts say the development would mark significant progress toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's goal of developing a long-range missile with multiple warheads that could overwhelm U.S. missile defenses, which have limited interceptors. An ‘exaggeration,’ says South South Korea’s military initially reported the launch as a failure, noting it ended in a mid-air explosion during the early stages of its flight. On Thursday, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stuck by that assessment, dismissing the North Korean claim as a “deception and exaggeration.” Whereas the warheads on such a missile typically separate in the descent stage, the JCS spokesperson said the North Korean missile exploded mid-air during an early stage of flight. “A number of videos and photos taken by the private sector yesterday show that the missile's flight was not normal,” he said. South Korean broadcasters on Wednesday aired multiple videos showing an object that appeared to spin out of control before exploding and plunging toward earth. The videos were taken by residents in South Korea's far northwestern islands. Decker Eveleth, who studies North Korea’s strategic forces for the Center for Naval Analyses, said it is hard to determine the success of the launch with certainty, given the available public evidence. “The stage was spinning at the end. Sometimes that's an intentional maneuver and sometimes it's not,” Eveleth told VOA. Missile defense woes North Korea has previously conducted tests of various MIRV components, including systems meant to aim multiple warheads. But the latest launch appears to have gone further, using multiple warheads as well as decoys, which aim to confuse missile defense shields. The United States is currently protected, in theory, by a missile defense shield with 44 interceptors designed for ICBM missiles. That figure is set to expand to 64. Those numbers allow little room for error, even before factoring in missiles with multiple warheads, according to analysts. With MIRVs, North Korea has a “much, much higher chance of overwhelming American missile defense,” Eveleth said. “Many nuclear experts spent about a decade arguing that missile defense was not cost effective and the DPRK would simply outbuild the shield when they got a program rolling. These concerns were dismissed, largely because people did not think the DPRK was capable of a program of that scale. And here we are,” Eveleth told VOA. By placing multiple warheads on a single missile, North Korea can also reduce the need for mobile missile launchers, or TELs, which it has had difficulty producing. What’s next North Korea’s launch represents the latest effort to work through a wish-list of strategic weapons laid out by Kim in 2021. The list also included hypersonic missiles, spy satellites, solid-fuel ICBMs, and submarine-launched missiles — all areas where North Korea has since made advances. Kim says his nuclear weapons program is necessary to deter attacks from the United States, which has tens of thousands of troops in the region. He has also warned he could preemptively use nuclear weapons to counter what he says are hostile forces in the region. Analysts are especially looking for any signs of Russian help with North Korean weapons. Earlier this month, Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense treaty. After the signing, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested the arrangement could help facilitate arms transfers. On Thursday, a South Korean military spokesperson said it was difficult to determine whether the latest launch included any help from Russia. Given that North Korea claimed only “fairly modest and technical” successes with its latest MIRV launch, more tests using such technology are likely, said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “If their claims are true, I'd expect to see further iteration,” Panda said. “Even if this wasn't a total success, I suspect the Missile Administration received useful data that'll contribute to advancing their missile capabilities, including a MIRV capability.” Lee Juhyun contributed to this report.

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Nairobi, Kenya   — Kenya braced for more protests in the capital, Nairobi, Thursday, despite an announcement by President William Ruto to put on hold an unpopular tax bill that sparked deadly riots. Witnesses in the capital reported police set up roadblocks on streets leading to the presidential palace. In an address to the nation Wednesday, Ruto defended the move to raise taxes on basic goods such bread and cooking oil, saying it was necessary to reduce the country’s massive debt of nearly $80 billion. But he admitted the public did not support the finance bill and decided not to sign it. He spoke one day after more than 20 people were killed during protests against the bill that led to clashes with police. "I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill. It shall subsequently be withdrawn and that shall be our collective position," Ruto said in a statement to lawmakers from the State House on Wednesday. The bill won approval in Parliament on Tuesday, but lawmakers fled the scene as clashes between police and protesters mounted and hundreds of demonstrators stormed the complex. Parts of the Parliament were set on fire and burned for hours. Late Tuesday evening, the Kenyan president condemned protesters' storming of the Parliament as treasonous and a threat to national security. On Wednesday, human rights defenders and good governance organizations gathered at Kenya Human Rights Commission to condemn the violence against the protesters and accused the president of being accountable for what had happened on Tuesday. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with Kenyans getting on the streets to voice themselves. This is a constitutional provision as part of the Kenyan constitution 2010," said Grace Wangechi, a human rights and social development expert and the executive director of Independent Medico Legal Unit, an organization created in 1993 to protest against torture in Kenya. Lorna Dias, a human rights defender and executive coordinator of Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, said, "There's nothing that justifies the use of live bullets on protesters. The destruction of property that happened on the streets was a security failure and this regime should take the blame," Dias said. Deputy President of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua, who also addressed the nation from the coastal city of Mombasa, said he sympathizes with the president but blamed the National Intelligence Service chief, Noordin Haji, for Tuesday’s violence. Gachagua said that had the National Intelligence Service "briefed the president that this bill was unpopular with the Kenyan people, there would not have been deaths and … mayhem," he said. There was no immediate response from the intelligence service. The deputy president asked the protesters to call off other planned protests tomorrow, saying that when that happens, "we can begin an honest conversation on how to work on our country."

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

TOKYO — Three bodies were found inside a crater at the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan's most famous mountain, with one of them already brought down from the slopes, police said Thursday. The identities of the people, including gender or age, were not confirmed. An effort to bring back the two other bodies will continue Friday or later, depending on weather conditions, they said. A search was called off for Thursday because of forecasts for heavy rainfall. It's unclear whether the three people were climbing the 3,776-meter mountain together, as the bodies were found several meters apart. The official climbing season had not yet started when the climbers entered the mountain from the Shizuoka Prefecture side. Japanese media reports showed a vehicle with one of the bodies driving into a police station in Shizuoka Prefecture. The rescue team had been searching for a 53-year-old man for whom a missing person report was filed. Separately, Kyodo News service said professional climber Keita Kurakami, 38, died in a hospital after being found by police while climbing Fuji from the Yamanashi Prefecture side of the mountain. Fuji can be climbed from both Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. The climbing season kicks in for Yamanashi starting July 1. Mount Fuji, made famous in ukiyoe, or woodblock prints, of 18th and 19th Century Edo Era masters Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, is a popular tourist destination. Experts warn it can get extremely cold, even in the summer, and proper gear, climbing boots and clothing are crucial. Trekkers are also at risk of altitude sickness if they ascend too quickly. The picturesque Fuji has long been an iconic symbol of Japan, with its gracefully sweeping slopes and white icy cap that stand out amid tranquil lakes and rice fields. As many as 300,000 people climb Fuji every year, and watching the sunrise from the mountaintop is coveted as a spiritual experience. But worries have been growing lately about overcrowding from the influx of tourists. The town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi erected a large black screen along a sidewalk to block the view of Mount Fuji to discourage photo-snapping crowds.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Nairobi, Kenya — In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Kenyan President William Ruto said that he’s decided not to sign a bill that included a series of tax increases. He spoke one day after more than 20 people were killed during protests against the bill that led to clashes with police. "I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill. It shall subsequently be withdrawn and that shall be our collective position," he said. Ruto made the statement from the State House on Wednesday in the presence of lawmakers and thanked those who voted yes for the bill. The bill won approval in parliament Tuesday but lawmakers fled the scene as clashes between police and protesters mounted and hundreds of demonstrators stormed the complex. Parts of the parliament were set on fire and burned for hours. Late Tuesday evening, the Kenyan president condemned protesters' storming of the parliament as treasonous and a threat to national security. On Wednesday, human rights defenders and good governance organizations gathered at Kenya Human Rights Commission to condemn the violence against the protesters and accused the president of being accountable for what had happened on Tuesday. Grace Wangechi is a human rights and social development expert and the executive director of Independent Medico Legal Unit, or IMLU, an organization created in 1993 to protest against torture in Kenya. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with Kenyans getting on the streets to voice themselves. This is a constitutional provision as part of the Kenyan constitution 2010," Wengechi said. Lorna Dias, human rights defender and executive coordinator of Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, said, "There's nothing that justifies the use of live bullets on protesters." "The destruction of property that happened on the streets was a security failure, and this regime should take the blame," Dias said. Deputy President of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua, who also addressed the nation after his boss from the coastal city of Mombasa, said he sympathized with the president but blamed the National Intelligence Service head, Noordin Haji, for Tuesday’s violence. Gachagua said that had the National Intelligence Service “briefed the president that this bill was unpopular with the Kenyan people, there would not have been deaths and …mayhem." There was no immediate response from the intelligence service. The deputy president asked the protesters to call off other planned protests tomorrow, saying that when that happens, “we can begin an honest conversation on how to work on our country."

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

SAN DIEGO — A pair of giant pandas are on their way from China to the U.S., where they will be cared for at the San Diego Zoo as part of an ongoing conservation partnership between the two nations, officials said Wednesday. Officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance were on hand in China for a farewell ceremony commemorating the departure of the giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao. The celebration included cultural performances, video salutations from Chinese and American students and a gift exchange among conservation partners, the zoo said in a statement. After the ceremony, the giant pandas began their trip to Southern California. "This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts," Paul Baribault, the wildlife alliance president, said in a statement. "Our long-standing partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species." It could be several weeks before the giant pandas will be viewable to the public in San Diego, officials said. Yun Chuan, a mild-mannered male who's nearly 5 years old, has connections to California, the wildlife alliance said previously. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao. Xin Bao is a nearly 4-year-old female described as "a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears." The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a nearly 30-year partnership with leading conservation institutions in China focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas and the bamboo forests they depend on.

Give us 5 minutes, and we'll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.