China ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang gets life sentence

China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang, 72, has been sentenced to life in prison, Chinese media report.

He was found guilty of bribery, abuse of power and "intentionally disclosing national secrets", China's official Xinhua news agency reports.

Until his retirement in 2012, Mr Zhou was one of China's most powerful men.

He was put under investigation after Xi Jinping took over as president a year later, as part of a major anti-corruption campaign.

Mr Zhou pleaded guilty at a closed-door trial in the northern city of Tianjin. According to Xinhua, he said he would not launch an appeal.

Source: bbc