North Korea arrests American student

An American college student has been arrested in North Korea. Otto Warmbier was detained in Pyongyang on January 2. North Korean state media said Warmbier, who reportedly entered North Korea on a tourist visa, is accused of carrying out a hostile act against the DPRK (the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea). According to North Korean reports, Warmbier entered North Korea “for the purpose of bringing down the foundation of its government.” The North Korean government has arrested and accused other U.S. citizens of similar charges in the past.

In Other News A federal judge in Pennsylvania sided with comedian Bill Cosby and granted his motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit. Renita Hill, one of the more than 50 women who have publicly accused Cosby of assault, filed the civil suit in October alleging that the actor and his lawyer defamed Hill in the media. Judge Arthur J. Schwab dismissed the three claims against Cosby, ruling that the statements "do not support a claim for defamation as defined by Pennsylvania law." In November 2014, following Hill's public accusation of rape, Cosby and his lawyer told The Washington Post that the women coming forward had "unsubstantiated, fantastical stories.” Other things were mentioned as well, however, “none of the facts alleged by [Hill] supported her claims for defamation, false light, or intentional infliction of emotional distress under Pennsylvania law.” Cosby is in the middle of a litany of lawsuits, ranging from defamation to sexual assault, with several women who have publicly accused the actor of drugging and sexual assault. Daniel Holtzclaw, the ex-Oklahoma City officer convicted of rape and other charges after he preyed on African-American women over six months, was sentenced Thursday to 263 years in prison, as recommended by the jury. Prosecutors said Holtzclaw selected victims in one of Oklahoma City's poorest neighborhoods based on their criminal histories, assuming their drug or prostitution records would undermine any claims they might make against him.

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