Kabul TV station Shamshad stormed by gunmen

Gunmen have attacked a local television station in the Afghan capital Kabul, with reports that people have been killed and injured.
Witnesses say the attackers threw grenades and fired guns as they entered the Shamshad TV headquarters.
A reporter who managed to escape told the BBC the attackers were still inside the building with gunfire being heard.
More than 100 employees are thought to be inside the building. It is not clear who was behind the attack.
"Some of my colleagues were killed and injured. I managed to escape," Hashmat Istankzai, a reporter for Shamshad TV, told the BBC.
The Afghan capital has been targeted repeatedly in recent months by the Taliban and so-called Islamic State militants.

Rapper Meek Mill Sentenced to 2-4 Years in Prison for Violating Probation

A Pennsylvania judge sentenced rapper Meek Mill to two to four years in prison on Monday for violating his probation.

Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley cited a failed drug test and unapproved travel, stemming from a 2008 gun and drug case. He was immediately taken into custody.

Brinkley said she had given Mill multiple chances but he hasn't complied. According to evidence from probation officers, the musician tested positive for narcotics numerous times.

The sentence was unexpected as prosecutors recommended Mill not be imprisoned for the probation violations, mentioning he's been drug-free since January and has complied with most requirements of probation. Mill's lawyer, Brian McMonagle, has vowed to appeal the sentencing.

NYC strippers are striking to protest scantily clad 'startenders' with huge social-media followings — here's a look inside the battle

New York strippers are organizing a strike to protest discrimination in the industry.
One issue: A new wave of bartenders — known as "startenders" or "bottle girls" — have started taking away tips, sometimes even snatching money off the stage.
Startenders have risen to prominence in the last few years with the rise of Instagram, where they command huge followings.
New York City strippers are speaking out against what they say is unfair treatment at the hands of club promoters and managers.
With the rise of "bottle girl" bartenders in the city, dancers say they're dealing with unfair treatment, including insufficient pay and racial discrimination, The Washington Post reported. According to strippers, bottle girls — who often are just as scantily clad as strippers — are given preferential treatment and hurt strippers' profits, sometimes literally taking dancers' cash off of tables.
About a week ago, strippers organized under the hashtag #NYCStripperStrike to shine a light on these issues.

Saudi prince killed in helicopter crash

The Saudi officials gave no cause for the crash but said a search of the wreckage was underway
Saudi officials say a helicopter carrying government officials has crashed in the kingdom's south, reportedly killing a high-ranking prince and seven others.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said early Monday that the crash happened in Saudi Arabia's Asir province.

They gave no cause for the crash, but said a search of the wreckage was underway.

The Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya says the crash killed Prince Mansour bin Murquin and seven others. Prince Mansour is the deputy governor of Asir province.

US Senator Rand Paul's ribs broken in assault at home

The assault on US Senator Rand Paul is far worse than initially thought, reports say.
Mr Paul is recovering from five broken ribs and bruises to his lungs and is in "considerable" pain, a spokesman said.
He was assaulted at his gated community home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Friday, allegedly by a neighbour who has since been charged with assault.
It is unclear when the former 2016 presidential candidate will be able to return to work in Washington.
"Senator Paul has five rib fractures including three displaced fractures," Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to Mr Paul, said in a statement reported by US media.

American woman arrested in Zimbabwe for allegedly calling Mugabe 'a sick man' on Twitter

An American woman has been arrested in Zimbabwe for allegedly insulting President Robert Mugabe on Twitter.

Martha O’Donovan is charged with subversion and insulting the president for allegedly calling Mr Mugabe a “sick man” in a tweet, according to the Associated Press. The subversion charges carry up to 20 years in prison.

Ms O’Donovan is accused of tweeting “We are being led by a selfish man and sick man," and posting a photo suggesting Mr Mugabe is surviving on a catheter. The 25-year-old has called the allegations “baseless and malicious" in a statement.

The New York University graduate works for social media outlet Magamba TV, which describes itself as “Zimbabwe's leading producer of cutting edge, political satire and comedy shows”. The company is now using its Twitter account to post updates on Ms O’Donovan’s trial, along with the hashtag “#FreeMartha”.

Mexico police detain US 'sect leader' after triple murder

Police in Mexico have arrested a suspected US sect leader in the northern state of Chihuahua.
Police raided three houses and two ranches belonging to Orson William Black Jr, 56, who is wanted on charges of child abuse in the US.
Prosecutors say he is also a suspect in the killing of three US citizens in the area in September.
Twenty-six other people living on the properties were also detained.
The arrests come less than two months after 23-year-old Jesse Barlow and brothers Robert and Michael Black, aged 19 and 15 respectively, were shot dead at Rancho El Negro.
It is not clear if they were relatives or followers of Mr Black, or if they had been taken to the property against their will.
Self-declared prophet
The ranches are located in a colony set up by a Mennonite Christian group in 1922.