World/nation briefs

Suspect in torching charged with murderA Brooklyn man accused of spraying gasoline on a 73-year-old woman and setting her ablaze in an elevator was charged with murder and arson, appearing in court with the left side of his face blistered and burned, his upper lip swollen. Jerome Isaac, 47, was ordered held without bail in the death of Deloris Gillespie. Isaac told police he set her on fire because she owed him $2,000, authorities said.

Accused White House shooter held for trialA man accused of trying to kill President Obama by firing several shots at the White House from long range must remain in custody to protect the public and the president, a federal judge said. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Facciola's order that Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez be detained without bond followed a two-hour hearing in which Ortega's public defender aggressively questioned an FBI agent about the strength of the government's case and apparent contradictions in witness statements.

U.S. doesn't like militants' Twitter useThe U.S. government is increasingly concerned about the Twitter account of Somalia's Al-Shabab militant group, which it is using to publicize its attacks and taunt the Kenyan military. U.S. officials said they are "looking closely" at possible measures to take in response, including exploring legal options to get Al-Shabab's new account shut it down.

Teen sentenced for killing gay studentA Southern California teenager was sentenced to 21 years in state prison for killing a gay student during a computer lab class, capping a case that drew widespread attention and raised questions about how schools should deal with sexual identity issues. The judge sentenced Brandon McInerney, 17, based on a plea agreement reached with prosecutors that will send him to prison starting next month after he becomes an adult. McInerney pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, as well as one count of voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm, averting a retrial. A mistrial was declared in September when jurors couldn't reach a unanimous decision on the degree of guilt.