World

Prospect Wednesday morning news roundup

Bradley Manning convicted, UK companies hiring illegal investigators and army summit–our pick of the morning's headlines

July 31, 2013
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Pt Bradley Manning has been found not-guilty of "aiding the enemy" (© US Army)

A US Military court has found Wikileaks source Private Bradley Manning guilty. He faces a possible maximum of 136 years in prison. However, the soldier, 25, was found not guilty of the most serious charge of knowingly "aiding the enemy".



Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, called the verdict a "dangerous precedent". Pte Manning's leak is considered in US government history.

In the UK, MPs have revealed that 22 law firms, eight financial services companies, ten insurers and even some celebrities used private investigators convicted of illegally obtaining information. The Home Affairs Select Committee identified these individuals and organisations after the Serious and Organised Crime Agency handed over the details on the condition that they would not be named.

Cambodia's main opposition party has claimed victory in a general election held in the country on Sunday. Tensions could intensify as the authoritarian prime minister Hun Sen, has also claimed victory, Reuters reports.



The Labour Party will host a summit with military charities to examine discrimination against the armed forces. A recent poll suggests that one in five military personnel had been refused service in a bar or hotel over fears that they would cause trouble. Labour is calling on the government to make this practice a criminal offence.