JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., — A former Missouri House speaker was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misusing federal COVID-19 relief funds for his personal benefit.. Former Missouri House speaker sentenced to prison for COVID relief fraud. Former Republican House Speaker John Diehl received about $380,000 in federal loans for his law firm between 2020 and 2022 through a program intended to help cover operating expenses for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.. But Diehl admitted in a September plea agreement that he instead used the money for personal expenses, including country club dues, swimming pool maintenance, his home mortgage and vehicle payments for a Tesla, Audi and Jeep. Prosecutors said he used more than half the money to fund his law firm’s defined benefit plan, of which he was the only participant, and also paid off a civil settlement related to his time as state House speaker.. Diehl resigned as House speaker in 2015 after The Kansas City Star reported that he had exchanged sexually suggestive text messages with a college student serving as a Capitol intern. At the time, Diehl acknowledged “making a serious error in judgment by sending the text messages.”. In 2023, the Missouri Ethics Commission imposed a roughly $47,000 fine on Diehl for campaign finance violations, including allegations that he used nearly $6,800 of campaign funds to pay for personal expenses.. Diehl had asked the federal court to spare him from prison, noting that he had already paid back all the pandemic relief funds to the Small Business Administration.. The U.S. attorney’s office had recommended a prison sentence of 21 to 27 months. In addition to prison time, the court on Monday ordered Diehl to pay a $50,000 fine.. “Through his education and public office, Defendant had every privilege and opportunity, and to put it bluntly, he knew better than to engage in the charged fraud scheme,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said of Diehl in a court filing.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and developing oil crisis, India has called for an increase in production for LPG for domestic use. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), oil refineries have been ordered to increase production.. Government sources told news agency ANI that refineries have been ordered by the government to increase LPG output (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo). “In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,” the statement issued on X read.. Also Read | Crude oil spike triggers LPG panic in India; rules tweaked, people gather at outlets as West Asia war has global effect. “The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions,” the union ministry added further.. MoPNG further added that a committee of three EDs of OMCs has been constituted to review the production of LPG supply to restuarants, hotels and other non-domestic sectors. 

 Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and developing oil crisis, India has called for an increase in production for LPG for domestic use. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), oil refineries have been ordered to increase production.. Government sources told news agency ANI that refineries have been ordered by the government to increase LPG output (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo). “In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,” the statement issued on X read.. Also Read | Crude oil spike triggers LPG panic in India; rules tweaked, people gather at outlets as West Asia war has global effect. “The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions,” the union ministry added further.. MoPNG further added that a committee of three EDs of OMCs has been constituted to review the production of LPG supply to restuarants, hotels and other non-domestic sectors. 

 Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and developing oil crisis, India has called for an increase in production for LPG for domestic use. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), oil refineries have been ordered to increase production.. Government sources told news agency ANI that refineries have been ordered by the government to increase LPG output (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo). “In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, Ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use,” the statement issued on X read.. Also Read | Crude oil spike triggers LPG panic in India; rules tweaked, people gather at outlets as West Asia war has global effect. “The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced 25 day inter- booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing. Non domestic supplies from imported LPG is being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as Hospitals and Educational institutions,” the union ministry added further.. MoPNG further added that a committee of three EDs of OMCs has been constituted to review the production of LPG supply to restuarants, hotels and other non-domestic sectors. 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a conversation with Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Balendra Shah, who is poised to lead the next government in the Himalayan nation.. PM Modi on Monday spoke with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Balendra Shah. (PTI). In a social media post, PM Modi said he congratulated both leaders on their electoral victories and RSP’s resounding success in the Nepal elections.. “Had warm telephone conversations with Mr. Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Mr. Balendra Shah, Senior Leader of the RSP,” Modi said in post on X.. He added that he conveyed India’s commitment to work with Nepal’s new government for the prosperity and well-being of both the nations.. “Congratulated both leaders on their electoral victories and RSP’s resounding success in the Nepal elections. Conveyed my best wishes for their forthcoming new Government and India’s commitment to work with them for mutual prosperity, progress and well-being of our two countries,” he wrote.. “I am confident that with our joint endeavours, India and Nepal relations will scale new heights in the years ahead,” he added.. Also read: What Balen Shah’s win in Nepal means for New Delhi. Modi’s conversation with the RSP leaders come days after Nepal held its general elections last week on Thursday, March 5 , after the country’s government was ousted as a result of widespread protests led by the youth of the country.. 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s RSP emerged as the biggest winner with a landslide victory, pointing to Nepal’s shift from the traditional “old guard” parties.. The results of Nepal’s elections were reflective of its population’s frustration with issues such as political instability, corruption and youth unemployment.. In regards to India, the RSP has maintained that it intends to have strong relations with both its neighbours but aims to remain independent of any direct influence.. Balendra Shah also has a personal connection with India as he hails from Madhesi community and did his Masters in structural engineering from Karnataka.