Sorry, says Canada 25 years after Air India bombing (Lead)

TORONTO – Accepting “institutional failings of 25 years ago”, Canada Wednesday formally accepted blame for the Air India bombing tragedy and said sorry to the families of the victims for the treatment meted out to them by successive governments.

“We are sorry… your pain is our pain… as you grieve so we grieve,” Prime Minister … Read more »».

Police sneak into forests after Maoist killings

RAIPUR – Dozens of policemen sneaked into a thick forest in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district to avenge the deaths of their three colleagues killed by Maoist guerrillas a day earlier, officials said.

Head constable Ramesh Kujur and constables Santosh Yadav and Ashok Markam were killed Wednesday when Maoists triggered a blast and opened fire as they came …. Source  : Police sneak into forests after Maoist killings.

Pakistani court sentences 5 Americans to 10 years in prison for terror crimes, prosecutor says

Pakistan court convicts 5 Americans in terror case

SARGODHA, Pakistan – A prosecutor says a Pakistani court has convicted five Americans on terror charges and sentenced each to at least 10 years in prison.
Rana Bakhtiar made the announcement Thursday in the Punjab town of Sargodha. He says the men have the right to appeal.
The five young …. Source  : Pakistani court sentences 5 Americans to 10 years in prison for terror crimes, prosecutor says.

Video expert’s testimony contradicts what witnesses saw in Calif. train shooting

Video expert testifies at CA train shooting trial

LOS ANGELES – A forensic image analyst called by a defense attorney in the trial of an ex-Bay Area transit police officer accused of killing an unarmed black man dissected videos taken by bystanders of the shooting that contradict what some witnesses recall seeing.
Although Michael Schott couldn’t be … Read : Video expert’s testimony contradicts what witnesses saw in Calif. train shooting.

Another arrest in Gyaneshwari Express derailment case

KOLKATA – A pro-Maoist activist has been arrested in West Midnapore district for his alleged involvement in the sabotage that led to the Gyaneshwari Express train derailment in West Bengal last month killing 148 people, police said Thursday.

“Amiya Mahato was nabbed last (Wednesday) night for his involvement in the sabotage,” Jhargram Superintendent of Police … Read more »»».

Oregon police investigated 2006 sexual misconduct allegation against Al Gore; no charges filed

No charges following sex allegation against Gore

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland police say they investigated allegations that former Vice President Al Gore had “unwanted sexual contact” with a massage therapist during an October 2006 visit, but they found insufficient evidence to support the woman’s claims.
Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Wednesday an attorney representing the … Read more : Oregon police investigated 2006 sexual misconduct allegation against Al Gore; no charges filed.

Israeli police to reinvestigate its shooting of pro-Palestinian US activist last year

Israel to reexamine its shooting of US activist

JERUSALEM – Israeli police will reopen the investigation into their shooting of a pro-Palestinian U.S. activist last year.
Tristan Anderson of Oakland, California, was critically injured in March 2009 when police hit him with a tear gas canister during a protest against Israel’s West Bank separation barrier.
The Justice Ministry [..] Read the original article: here.

New medical weapons against anthrax attacks

LONDON – The 2001 anthrax attacks in the US are fostering development of a new generation of vaccines and antibiotics to protect people against deadly bacteria in future bio-terrorist incidents.

Dimitrios Bouzianas, molecular endocrinologist, AHEPA University Hospital in Macedonia, Greece, notes that several existing antibiotics are available to combat an anthrax infection.
However, the …. Original source  : New medical weapons against anthrax attacks.

Ten Bangladeshi-trained militants surrender in Tripura

AGARTALA – Ten more Bangladeshi-trained Tripura terrorists have surrendered to the Indian troopers after the security forces of that country continued their crackdown against militants from northeast India, officials said here Thursday.

The 10 National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants escaped from their camps in different places of Bangladesh and crossed over to India before …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ten Bangladeshi-trained militants surrender in Tripura.

Ex-Detroit mayor’s lavish lifestyle an issue again as he faces federal fraud and tax charges

Ex-Detroit mayor accused of more reckless spending

DETROIT – A taste for premium steaks, shopping at Gucci and a five-bedroom mansion helped send former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to state prison. His latest legal hardship is a federal indictment with allegations of even more reckless spending.
Kilpatrick was charged Wednesday with fraud and tax crimes as the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ex-Detroit mayor’s lavish lifestyle an issue again as he faces federal fraud and tax charges.

Feds say imprisoned ex-Detroit mayor used charity as a personal piggybank in and out of office

Ex-Detroit mayor indicted on fraud, tax charges

DETROIT – A prominent Detroit pastor says the indictment of former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is another chapter in a “sad saga” that has gone on too long.
Kilpatrick was charged Wednesday with fraud and tax crimes. Federal prosecutors accuse him of enriching himself and others by milking $640,000 from a …. Original article  : Feds say imprisoned ex-Detroit mayor used charity as a personal piggybank in and out of office.

Complicated portrait of Blagojevich emerges from FBI tapes played at corruption trial

Shades of Blagojevich come through in FBI tapes
CHICAGO – One phone recording has Rod Blagojevich talking of demons and fsormer President Richard Nixon. In another, he engages in a foul-mouthed spat with his wife. Other times, he talks like an excited child who is sure he’s about to be showered with gifts.
A complicated … Read more >>>.

Security tight as Pakistani court expected to deliver verdict against American terror suspects

Verdict expected in US terror case in Pakistan

SARGODHA, Pakistan – Police deployed extra patrols and barriers around a Pakistani court Thursday ahead of an expected verdict in the trial of five Americans accused of plotting terrorist attacks.
The five young Muslims from the Washington, D.C. area, were arrested in Pakistan in December after their families reported …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Security tight as Pakistani court expected to deliver verdict against American terror suspects.

Pivotal ruling focuses on YouTube’s actions, tunes out words in Viacom copyright suit

Judge rebuffs Viacom in YouTube copyright case

SAN FRANCISCO – YouTube’s actions spoke louder than its founders’ words when it came down to deciding whether the Internet’s most watched video site illegally exploited copyrighted clips owned by media company Viacom Inc.
That was the rationale driving a pivotal ruling in a high-stakes legal battle pitting Viacom against … Read more >>.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez shuffles Cabinet ahead of September’s key congressional elections

Chavez shuffles Cabinet ahead of elections

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez shuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday as his government grapples with numerous domestic ills and his governing party prepares for crucial congressional elections.
Nine top ranking officials were appointed. Most of the outgoing Cabinet members have been selected as ruling party candidates for September’s vote and …. Original source  : Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez shuffles Cabinet ahead of September’s key congressional elections.

Indonesia’s most-wanted terrorist suspect arrested in raid; weapons seized

Indonesia’s most-wanted terror suspect arrested

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s elite anti-terror squad arrested the country’s most-wanted man and two of his aides in a series of coordinated raids on Java island, police said. Another suspected militant was killed the shootout.
Abdullah Sunata is accused of helping set up a network that was reportedly plotting a Mumbai-style attack …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Indonesia’s most-wanted terrorist suspect arrested in raid; weapons seized.

China says terrorist group broken up in western Xinjiang region after unrest last year

China says terrorist group broken up in Xinjiang

BEIJING – China said Thursday it had broken up a gang of “hardcore terrorists” who plotted attacks in the western region of Xinjiang, where scores were killed in ethnic violence last year.
Public Security Ministry spokesman Wu Heping said the attacks were planned for last year, after long-simmering tensions …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Lawyers for ousted Ill. Gov. Blagojevich seek FBI’s summaries of interviews with Obama

Blago lawyers seek summaries of Obama interviews
CHICAGO – Days after the November 2008 election, Rod Blagojevich sent word to Barack Obama that he would name one of the president-elect’s close friends to the Senate in exchange for a position in the Cabinet, the ousted governor’s former chief of staff testified Wednesday.
After court … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lawyers for ousted Ill. Gov. Blagojevich seek FBI’s summaries of interviews with Obama.

Illinois State Police dismiss Muslim chaplain following criticism from terrorism think tank

Ill. police revoke 1st Muslim chaplain’s post

CHICAGO – The Illinois State Police has revoked the appointment of the agency’s first Muslim chaplain, citing only information revealed during a background check. A national Muslim advocacy group Wednesday blamed the move on Islamophobia.
Kifah Mustapha, a Chicago-area imam, was appointed the agency’s first Muslim chaplain in December. Community … Read more »».

Terrorist sentenced to death in Egypt

CAIRO – An Egyptian court Wednesday sentenced a man to death after convicting him of carrying out terrorist attacks in the country.

Abdel Hamid Osman Abu Akrab was found guilty of killing a number of security personnel in the 1990s and joining an outlawed terrorist group called Al-Jamaa Al- Islamiya, Xinhua reported quoting state-run MENA news … Read more >>.