A blind, self-taught activist lawyer who documented forced abortions and other abuses was released from a Chinese prison Thursday and promptly locked down in his rural village with no access to communication, a relative said.

Chen Guangcheng, 39, is a charismatic, inspirational figure for civil liberties lawyers who have fought to enforce the rights enshrined in China's Constitution but often breached by the authoritarian government and police. Chen was imprisoned in 2006, marking the start of a government crackdown on activist attorneys.

Chen was escorted to his village Thursday morning as family members were preparing to leave to meet him at the Linyi city prison, relative Yin Dongjiang said. The family has been under heavy surveillance in recent days and authorities cut off the mobile and landline phone service for several relatives, he said.

"There's a lot of people in the village right now and the family isn't allowed to leave their home," said Yin, whose sister is married to Chen's older brother.

Chen's brother used Yin's phone, which still worked, to send a message to lawyer Teng Biao saying Chen was at home and that all telephones had been cut. Yin said he had not seen Chen and did not know what his physical condition was after the four-year prison term.

Five men in plain clothes blocked the road into Chen's village with a van and six more came running after Associated Press journalists who tried to enter the community surrounded by cornfields. After a brief scuffle with the journalists, the men jumped into their van and chased the journalists' car at high speed as they left the area.

A Garner man has pleaded guilty Tuesday to transmitting child pornography over the internet.

Gary Wayne Robinson, 28, entered the plea in federal court before Judge James C. Fox.

Garner Police were alerted to Robinson after they say he engaged in an online chat with an undercover officer in New Hampshire in October of 2009. During the chat the two discussed trading child pornography and Robinson sent several pictures of children to the undercover cop.

An investigation revealed over 700 photographs and 59 videos of child pornography were found on Robinson's computer.

Robinson faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a life-term of supervised release. Robinson also faces a fine of up to $250,000.

In a landmark ruling Wednesday, an Indian court said Vodafone Group Plc is liable for an estimated $2.6 billion in taxes for its 2007 acquisition of one of India's largest mobile phone companies.

The decision sets a precedent that could impact hundreds of foreign transactions and have a chilling effect on foreign investment, tax experts say.

"We will very seriously consider an appeal," a Vodafone executive said Wednesday after the verdict.

The Bombay High Court said Vodafone won't have to pay any tax for at least eight weeks, while it considers an appeal to the Supreme Court, the nation's highest court. The tax amount due is also up for negotiation.

"We expect them to pay the tax unless the Supreme Court stays it," Tax Department attorney B.M. Chatterjee told The Associated Press after the verdict.

In May 2007, Vodafone International Holdings BV — a Dutch subsidiary of the British telecom giant — acquired a 67 percent stake in CGP Investments Ltd., a Cayman Islands company, which held the India telecom assets of Hong Kong's Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd.

Vodafone maintains that it did not owe tax on the $11 billion transaction because it took place between two foreign entities.

A former Army soldier accused of taking workers hostage at a Georgia military hospital is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court in Savannah.

Federal prosecutors charged Robert Anthony Quinones on Tuesday with assault and kidnapping in connection with the Labor Day hostage standoff at Fort Stewart. The 29-year-old suspect surrendered and no one was injured.

Quinones' initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Quinones is also charged with threatening to kill President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. Court documents say he told investigators of his assassination plans after his arrest Monday.

A former Mason City Mayor is facing a lawsuit over a business deal.

A Michigan company that creates what they call "laser printed focused collection letters" is seeking a $105,000 judgment against Thomas Jolas and Associates.

Focus 1 of Dearborn claims the defense attorney did not pay for services they provided during 2009 and 2010.

Jolas said it is a dispute over a printing bill.

He said he hadn't seen the court filing, but confirmed he and Focus 1 had been negotiating back and forth.

"We’re resolving it," said Jolas, "they're just trying to get my attention.”

Jolas said he has been dealing with personal issues over the past year.

The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed that eBay was liable for a counterfeiting conviction for selling on its website imitation Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey (LVMH) products between 2001 and 2006.

EBay’s actions were in violation of the authorized selective distribution networks of LVMH. Other brand names mentioned by the decision included Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, and Kenzo perfume.

The current ruling verifies the decision by the Paris Commercial Court on June 30, 2008, which established the principles of eBay’s liability for engaging in the sale of counterfeit products as well as products reserved for selective distribution. This decision also dismissed eBay’s claim for exemption on the grounds that it was acting merely as a provider of hosting services.

Moreover, the court concluded that eBay was guilty from direct or indirect violation of selective distribution networks in the future.

The court’s decision ordered eBay Inc. and eBay AG to pay penalties amounting to $7 million. This amount falls short of the original $49 million in damages sought by LVMH.