4 suspects in exiled Rwandan general shooting appear in South Africa court; new court date set

4 suspects in Rwandan general shooting in court

JOHANNESBURG – Four men accused of attempting to murder a Rwandan general living in exile in South Africa made brief court appearances Tuesday.
Prosecutors say none of the suspects are South African, but refuse to say where they are from or how long they have been in the country. …. Source article  : 4 suspects in exiled Rwandan general shooting appear in South Africa court; new court date set.

American doctor found guilty of manslaughter in deaths of 3 former patients in Australia

US doctor convicted of manslaughter in Australia

SYDNEY – An American doctor accused of botching a string of operations while he was the chief surgeon at an Australian hospital was found guilty Tuesday of killing three of his patients and grievously harming another.
Jayant Patel, 60, was ordered into police custody until he is sentenced on Thursday …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : American doctor found guilty of manslaughter in deaths of 3 former patients in Australia.

Eyewitnesses say UN vehicle was shot up in Afghanistan’s capital, at least 1 hurt

Witnesses say UN vehicle shot up in Afghan capital

KABUL, Afghanistan – Witnesses say a U.N. vehicle has been shot up in Afghanistan’s capital and at least one person was hurt.
An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw a white U.N. pickup truck with the windows shattered and blood spattered on the car and the ground …. Original article  : Eyewitnesses say UN vehicle was shot up in Afghanistan’s capital, at least 1 hurt.

NY prosecutors: 10 Russian secret agents infiltrated US society for inside policymaking info

NY case alleges Russian snooping by 10 agents
NEW YORK – Behind the scenes, they were known as “illegals” – short for illegal Russian agents – and were believed to have fake back stories known as “legends.”
U.S. authorities say they sometimes worked in pairs and pretended to be married so they could blend into … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NY prosecutors: 10 Russian secret agents infiltrated US society for inside policymaking info.

Russian Spies Arrested By FBI

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com)- Russian Spies who had been carrying out their operation on the American soil has been arrested by FBI (Federal Bureau Of Investigation) in an undercover investigation. The Federal Bureau Of Investigation took a total of 10 Russian Spies under custody from Arlington and New York.
The FBI officers said that they have been following [..] Read the original article: here.

Ex-Chicago police lt.’s perjury conviction in torture case brings some closure, others hope

Ex-Chicago officer’s torture case may not be last

CHICAGO – For some, the perjury conviction of a former Chicago police lieutenant accused of lying for years about the torture of suspects marks the end of a tragic chapter in the city’s history. Others, including federal prosecutors, suggest it could be just a start.
A federal jury found … Read more : Ex-Chicago police lt.’s perjury conviction in torture case brings some closure, others hope.

Supreme Court nominee Kagan pledges modest approach to judging, echoing other nominees

Kagan pledges modest approach as justice
WASHINGTON – Elena Kagan is following the path of every recent Supreme Court nominee in pledging “a fair shake for every American” who comes before the court and stressing her ordinary roots.

The 50-year-old solicitor general is promising “evenhandedness and impartiality” and insisting she will be properly deferential to Congress while … Read more >>.

Defense at corruption trial portrays Blagojevich as hotheaded but well-meaning

Defense portrays Blago as hotheaded, well-meaning
CHICAGO – The defense at Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial is trying to portray the then-governor as someone who, albeit prone to outbursts, always had the interests of Illinois at heart.
During cross-examination Monday of prosecution witness John Harris, Blagojevich’s one-time chief of staff, defense attorney Sam Adam Sr. several [..] Read the original article: here.

2 Afghans sentenced to 17 years prison for heroin smuggling; 2 Afghans died in roadside bomb

2 Afghan men convicted for heroin trafficking

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A roadside bomb killed two Afghan civilians in the volatile south Tuesday, and a court in the region sentenced two men to 17 years in prison for trafficking large amounts of heroin.
A civilian vehicle struck the bomb in Kandahar province’s Khakrez district early Tuesday. Two men [..] Read the original article: here.

Candidate’s killing by suspected cartel gunmen shrouds Mexican vote in fear

Mexico to press ahead with vote despite slaying

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico – Mexican politicians vowed to press on with elections despite the assassination of the leading candidate for governor of a border state, urging frightened citizens to vote and show they are not intimidated by drug cartels threatening the country’s democracy.
Gunmen ambushed Rodolfo Torre’s campaign caravan …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Taliban extend sphere of influence, says expert

KABUL – Afghanistan’s Taliban militants are expanding their influence further into regions outside their traditional power base, the Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) said.

“Their intake from non-Pashtun ethnic groups is growing, from where the Taliban hardly recruited in the past,” AAN co-director Thomas Ruttig said.
That trend was particularly obvious in Kunduz province in …. Read the original article  : Taliban extend sphere of influence, says expert.

Assam’s terror victims demand justice

GUWAHATI – Daisy Kalita is seething with anger and wants the harshest punishment for militants and leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), almost begging that her husband’s killers should not go scot free.

“I don’t think they (ULFA) could be pardoned and should face severe punishment. Let the government not hurt our …. Original article  : Assam’s terror victims demand justice.

NYC man accused of beating Ecuadorean immigrant convicted of murder as a hate crime at retrial

Guilty verdict in NYC beating death of immigrant

NEW YORK – A man was convicted Monday of murder as a hate crime during his retrial on charges that he beat an Ecuadorean immigrant with an aluminum baseball bat after mistaking him and his brother for a gay couple.
Jurors deliberated for about seven hours before convicting Keith … Read more »»».

Guilty verdict in retrial of NY man accused of fatally beating Ecuadorean immigrant

Guilty verdict in NY beating death of immigrant

NEW YORK – A New York City jury has convicted a man of murder as a hate crime in the beating death of an Ecuadorean immigrant.
Jurors deliberated for about seven hours Monday before convicting Keith Phoenix in the December 2008 death of Jose Sucuzhanay (Soo-koo-suh-NEYE’).
Phoenix also was convicted …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mexico mourns death of yet another singer of norteno music killed by gunmen

Mexico mourns yet another slain Norteno singer

MEXICO CITY – Norteno singer Sergio Vega was shot dead in a northern state that has produced many of Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpins, joining a recent string of murdered musicians – some of them famous for crooning about the cartel lifestyle.
Unknown assailants intercepted Vega’s red Cadillac on Saturday …. Source article  : Mexico mourns death of yet another singer of norteno music killed by gunmen.

Judge gives 60-year sentence to man who used Craigslist to arrange rape of Casper woman

Judge gives man 60 years in Craigslist rape case

CASPER, Wyo. – A judge has sentenced a man to serve 60 years in prison for using Craigslist to arrange the rape of a Casper woman.
District Judge David Park on Monday sentenced 28-year-old Jebidiah James Stipe, of Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Stipe pleaded guilty last month to sexual assault, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Judge gives 60-year sentence to man who used Craigslist to arrange rape of Casper woman.

Witness says Blagojevich was serious in considering ‘kingmaker’ Oprah Winfrey for Senate seat

Witness: Blago was serious about Winfrey in Senate
CHICAGO – Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich seriously considered Oprah Winfrey as a candidate to fill President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, calling the talk show host a kingmaker who could influence voters, according to an FBI tape played Monday at his corruption trial.
“She made Obama, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Witness says Blagojevich was serious in considering ‘kingmaker’ Oprah Winfrey for Senate seat.

Police: Black Bloc anarchists unleashed mayhem at summits, leading to 900 arrests

Police say anarchists unleashed mayhem at summits

TORONTO – Despite a whopping $900 million security budget for the G-summits in Canada over the weekend, the streets of Toronto were swarmed by an angry mass of black-clad anarchists who wreaked havoc, leaving a trail of destruction.
A protest organized mainly by labor groups Saturday began as an upbeat … Read more : Police: Black Bloc anarchists unleashed mayhem at summits, leading to 900 arrests.

US regulators act against Virgin Islands-based investment firm in alleged $105M Ponzi scheme

US alleges $105M Ponzi scheme in Virgin Islands

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands – A Virgin Islands-based financial manager ran a $105 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded 400 investors by falsely claiming to invest in foreign currencies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Monday.
Daniel Spitzer, 51, invested only a fraction of the money he received … Read more »»».

Harkins Theatres owner cited by Scottsdale police for animal neglect; left dog in hot car

Harkins Theatres owner cited for animal neglect

PHOENIX – The owner of an Arizona-based movie theater chain has been cited for animal neglect after he allegedly left his dog in a car for more than three hours.
Scottsdale police said Dan Harkins, 57, will appear in a city court at a later date.
An officer was flagged down … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Harkins Theatres owner cited by Scottsdale police for animal neglect; left dog in hot car.