China Official Gets Life for Corruption

Former Chinese security chief Zhou Yongkang was sentenced Thursday to life in prison, after a court found him guilty of bribery, abuse of power, and “intentionally disclosing national secrets.” He is China’s highest-ranking official to be sentenced for corruption, and was one of the country’s most powerful men. “I’ve realized the harm I’ve caused to the party and the people. I plead guilty and I regret my crimes,” Zhou said. The trial was conducted in secret because it concerned state secrets, a Chinese news agency reports. He is said to have taken bribes totaling as much as $21.3 million.