Indonesian court says retired Saudi Arabian school teacher did not finance terrorist attacks

Saudi acquitted of terrorism charges in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – An Indonesian court says a retired Saudi Arabian teacher did not finance last year’s attacks on two luxury hotels.
A panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court, however, sentenced Al Khelaiw Ali Abdullah to 18 months in prison for violating immigration laws.
The July 17, 2009, …. Original source  : Indonesian court says retired Saudi Arabian school teacher did not finance terrorist attacks.

China says Singaporean ship hijacked in Gulf of Aden, 19 Chinese sailors on board

China: Singaporean ship hijacked in Gulf of Aden

BEIJING – China says a Singaporean ship with 19 Chinese sailors has been seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
A statement posted on the Ministry of Communication’s website said the Golden Blessing ship was on its way to India from Saudi Arabia when an unknown number of …. Original article  : China says Singaporean ship hijacked in Gulf of Aden, 19 Chinese sailors on board.

Pro-Maoist group member killed in West Bengal

KOLKATA – The body of a pro-Maoist militant wing activist was found in West Bengal’s Bankura district Monday, with the police claiming that he was murdered by the guerrillas. However, locals said the killing could be the handiwork of the anti-Maoist People’s Resistance Committee.

The body of Kiriti Duley, 40, was found in Sarenga area, Bankura … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pro-Maoist group member killed in West Bengal.

Colleges to come up in Maoist strongholds

RAIPUR – The Chhattisgarh government has approved setting up of polytechnic colleges, or technical institutes, in Dantewada and Bijapur districts of the state that are known to be the nerve centres of Maoist rebels.

The government will set up a 240-seat college at Dantewada town to teach mechanical, electrical, and electronics engineering and computer science subjects, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Colleges to come up in Maoist strongholds.

Panama’s ex-dictator Noriega goes on trial in France for money laundering

Ex-Panama dictator Noriega goes to trial in France

PARIS – Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega embarks on a new legal battle Monday when he goes to trial in Paris, accused of using French bank accounts to launder kickbacks from a Colombian cocaine cartel in the late 1980s.
After finishing up a 20-year sentence in the United States … Read more »»».

Pakistan must take Headley’s disclosures seriously, Obama told

TORONTO – Raising the terror issue with US President Barack Obama, India Sunday said Pakistan must rein in terror groups and act on disclosures made by David Coleman Headley on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The issue was raised during bilateral talks with the US on the sidelines of the G20 Summit here, during which the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pakistan must take Headley’s disclosures seriously, Obama told.

Maoist shutdown hits life in tribal districts of Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Normal life was disrupted in tribal-dominated districts of Orissa as a 24-hours shutdown called by Maoists against government policies began in the state Monday, police said.

The shutdown affected many places in southern Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts. Shops remained closed in the interior areas.
“Government buses have gone off the roads. …. Source article  : Maoist shutdown hits life in tribal districts of Orissa.

Defense gets to question key prosecution witness at former Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption trial

Blagojevich defense gets to question key witness
CHICAGO – The defense finally gets its chance Monday to question a key prosecution witness in Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial who claims the ousted Illinois governor wanted to parlay his power to fill Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat into a high-paying job.
Blagojevich’s one-time chief of … Original article on : Defense gets to question key prosecution witness at former Gov. Blagojevich’s corruption trial.

Airlines to have spy system to thwart terror threat

LONDON – Every move of airline passengers, including conversations, would be monitored through a new security system which is being developed to tackle terror threats on flights.

Experts at Reading University are working on to develop a software to detect suspicious behaviour of passengers on board aircraft with the help of a combination of cameras, microphones, …. Source article  : Airlines to have spy system to thwart terror threat.

What is a 6-year-old Indian American girl doing on US terror list?

WASHINGTON – Santhosh Thomas, an Indian-American doctor, is at a loss to understand how his 6-year-old daughter Alyssa turned up on the US government’s terror watch list or how to get her off it.

The worst thing Alyssa has ever done is probably threatening her sister and that the doctor from Westlake, Ohio, says he’s sure …. Source article  : What is a 6-year-old Indian American girl doing on US terror list?.

Ex-NY college basketball player accused of beating NYC student goes on trial in Serbia

Serb goes on trial for attack on NY student

BELGRADE, Serbia – A former college basketball player goes on trial Monday in Serbia for allegedly beating a fellow American student into a coma, two years after jumping bail in the U.S. and triggering a diplomatic conflict between Belgrade and Washington.
Miladin Kovacevic is accused of inflicting severe … Original article on : Ex-NY college basketball player accused of beating NYC student goes on trial in Serbia.

Chris Brown offers an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson; Prince feted at BET Awards

Chris Brown performs Jackson tribute at BET Awards

LOS ANGELES – It was a night of comebacks at the BET Awards, and none more unexpected than Chris Brown performing an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson.
The embattled pop star has mostly kept a low profile since pleading guilty to felony assault for beating up Rihanna in February …. Source  : Chris Brown offers an emotional tribute to Michael Jackson; Prince feted at BET Awards.

India asks Canada to check Sikh extremists

TORONTO – Raising India’s concern over Sikh extremism in this country with his host Stephen Harper Sunday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped Canada will not allow use of its soil for anti-India activities.

Answering a question at a media conference after inking the nuclear deal with Harper, Manmohan Singh said, “I have discussed with …. Original source  : India asks Canada to check Sikh extremists.

Osama hiding in Pakistan; Iran working on n-bomb: CIA chief

WASHINGTON – The top US spy chief believes Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan and Iran and is working on a nuclear capability but is still at least a year from making a bomb.

Osama bin Laden remains in “very deep hiding” in the tribal areas of Pakistan near the Afghanistan border, Central Intelligence Agency … Read more : Osama hiding in Pakistan; Iran working on n-bomb: CIA chief.

Gay pride parade in NYC debuts rainbow of floats; events marred by shooting in San Francisco

Gay pride marchers celebrate with parades, parties

NEW YORK – Thousands of marchers and a rainbow of floats filled the streets of New York and other U.S. cities on Sunday as people celebrated gay pride, part of a weekend of events marred by a shooting death Saturday at a street party in San Francisco.
Participants in New … Read : Gay pride parade in NYC debuts rainbow of floats; events marred by shooting in San Francisco.

Police say 3 incoming UCLA football players facing felony theft charges stole student’s purse

Police: UCLA players arrested for stealing purse

LOS ANGELES – University police say three incoming UCLA football players arrested last week face felony theft charges for allegedly stealing a student’s purse.
Sgt. Paul Stewart said Sunday the victim called police to the dining area of the Hendrick Hall dormitory, where she found her bag missing from a … Read more >>.

Police arrest more than 600 after vandalism at Toronto economic summit

Police arrest more than 600 at Toronto summit
TORONTO – Police raided a university building and rounded up hundreds of protesters Sunday in an effort to quell further violence near the G-20 global economic summit site a day after black-clad youths rampaged through the city, smashing windows and torching police cars.
The violence … Read : Police arrest more than 600 after vandalism at Toronto economic summit.

Police arrest more than 560 after vandalism at Toronto economic summit

Police arrest more than 560 at Toronto summit
TORONTO – Police raided a university building and rounded up more protesters Sunday in an effort to quell further violence at the global economic summit after black-clad youths rampaged through the city, smashing windows and torching police cruisers.
Police said they have arrested more than 560 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4; confidantes say man briefly dated victim

Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4

NORTHAMPTON, Pa. – A man who served prison time for a 1992 murder was charged Sunday with fatally stabbing four people, including a woman described as the suspect’s former girlfriend and her 87-year-old grandfather.
Police charged Michael Eric Ballard, 36, with four counts of homicide for Saturday’s rampage … Original article on : Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4; confidantes say man briefly dated victim.

Weeks after ethnic purge, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz alike flock to polls to OK Kyrgyzstan constitution

Weeks after violence, Kyrgyzstan constitution OK’d

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – Election officials in Kyrgyzstan say the Central Asian nation’s public has overwhelmingly backed a new constitution.
More than 90 percent voted “yes” in Sunday’s referendum, and a small fraction of votes remain to be counted.
Barely two weeks after ethnic purges left many minority Uzbek communities in smoldering ruin, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Weeks after ethnic purge, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz alike flock to polls to OK Kyrgyzstan constitution.