French FM: al-Qaida’s North Africa offshoot may be behind Niger kidnappings of 7 in Sahara

France suspects al-Qaida link in Niger kidnapping

PARIS – France’s foreign minister says authorities believe al-Qaida’s North Africa branch could be behind the kidnapping of five French nationals and two Africans in Niger.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. But he told French radio Europe-1 on Friday that “we imagine … Read more »»».

Chechen separatist arrested in Warsaw on international warrant

Chechen separatist arrested in Poland
WARSAW, Poland – Police in Poland say senior Chechen separatist Akhmed Zakayev who is wanted by Russia has been arrested on an international warrant.

Zakayev was arrested early Friday as he was leaving a house in Warsaw. National police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski also said he is now being questioned by prosecutors.
Zakayev, who …. Original article  : Chechen separatist arrested in Warsaw on international warrant.

Dynamite store explodes inside police station in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO – A stock of dynamite exploded inside a police station in eastern Sri Lanka Friday, injuring at least seven people, police said, adding that foul play was not suspected.

The explosives were intended for road construction in the area and were being stored at the Karadiyanaru police station, 260 km east of Colombo.
Deputy Inspector …. Source  : Dynamite store explodes inside police station in Sri Lanka.

Appeals court hears arguments on release of detainee accused of recruiting Sept. 11 hijackers

US fights order to release Guantanamo detainee

WASHINGTON – The government is asking an appeals court to throw out a judge’s order to release a Guantanamo Bay prisoner accused of recruiting Sept. 11 hijackers.
The 9/11 commission report described Mohamedou Ould Salahi as a significant al-Qaida operative who instructed hijackers how to reach Afghanistan to train for … Read more »».

Jury sees police interview of defendant accused of DUI crash that killed Angels pitcher

Police interview of defendant played in court

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The man charged with murder in the drunken driving crash that killed a promising Los Angeles Angels pitcher and two others told investigators he must have “blanked out” while trying to find his way home and woke up only when the cars hit, according to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Jury sees police interview of defendant accused of DUI crash that killed Angels pitcher.

Distraught son shoots elderly mother’s surgeon at Johns Hopkins, then kills her, himself

Mother, son dead at Johns Hopkins, doctor shot

BALTIMORE – Paul Warren Pardus listened as a Johns Hopkins Hospital surgeon updated him on the condition of his elderly mother who likely would never walk again. Overwhelmed, he pulled a gun from his waistband, wounded the doctor, then barricaded himself in his 84-year-old mother’s hospital room before …. Original article  : Distraught son shoots elderly mother’s surgeon at Johns Hopkins, then kills her, himself.

Video shows Indiana teen calmly demonstrating how he strangled 10-year-old brother

Ind. teen showed police how he killed brother

RISING SUN, Ind. – Prosecutors seeking life in prison for an Indiana teenager who pleaded guilty to murder have presented him calmly describing to police how he strangled his 10-year-old brother and telling authorities he later stood over his sleeping father with a knife and fought the urge … Original article on : Video shows Indiana teen calmly demonstrating how he strangled 10-year-old brother.

Pakistan’s largest city Karachi gripped by fear, mourning after politician killed in London

Fears of violence in Pakistan after London slaying

KARACHI, Pakistan – The largest city in Pakistan came to a near-halt Friday amid fears of violence following the slaying in London of a senior politician from the city’s ruling party.
Gas stations, schools and markets in Karachi were all closed and no public transport was running as news …. Read the original article  : Pakistan’s largest city Karachi gripped by fear, mourning after politician killed in London.

Johns Hopkins Hospital Shooting

BALTIMORE (GaeaTimes.com)- A 50 year old man by the name of Paul Warren Pardus went hysterical on Thursday morning at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore when the doctor briefed him on his mothers condition after which he shot the doctor in the abdomen. The shooting did not end there, He rushed into his mothers … Read more >>.

Jurors watch videotape of police interview with man accused of DUI crash that killed pitcher

Jurors watch videotape of Gallo police interview

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The man accused of causing the crash that killed a promising Los Angeles Angels pitcher and two others told investigators he was so drunk he couldn’t remember getting in the car, according to a videotaped police interview played in court Thursday.
Andrew Thomas Gallo told investigators …. Original source  : Jurors watch videotape of police interview with man accused of DUI crash that killed pitcher.

Jurors watch videotape of police interview with man accused of DUI crash that killed pitcher

Jurors watch videotape of Gallo police interview

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The man accused of causing the crash that killed a promising Los Angeles Angels pitcher and two others told investigators he was so drunk he couldn’t remember getting in the car, according to a videotaped police interview played in court Thursday.
Andrew Thomas Gallo told investigators …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Jurors watch videotape of police interview with man accused of DUI crash that killed pitcher.

26/11 victim’s wife fights for survival

MUMBAI – Two years ago, she would relax after her children left for school. But now she has to take her husband – a victim of the 26/11 attack – to hospital, run around to get compensation and look for a job.Her most immediate worry is which friend will lend her money.

Thirty-one-year-old Baby Chowdhary’s husband …. Original article  : 26/11 victim’s wife fights for survival.

Air India bomber’s jury trial over

VANCOUVER – The crucial jury trial of Air India bomber Inderjit Singh Reyat for lying under oath during the Kanishka case ended here Thursday.

With arguments by lawyers from both sides over, the jurors have now begun deliberating the evidence against the only man convicted in the bombing of the Air India Kanishka flight 182 from … Read more >>.

Guarded praise for Dallas police chief’s response to officers taped beating suspect

Guarded praise for chief’s response to cop beating

DALLAS – The Dallas police chief won guarded praise Thursday for his handling of the release of dashboard camera video that showed white officers hitting a black suspect, but some people disputed his claims that the beating was an isolated incident and not racially motivated.
Chief David Brown released … Original source on Gaea Times at : Guarded praise for Dallas police chief’s response to officers taped beating suspect.

President Chavez discusses anti-Semitism concerns with Jewish leaders in Venezuela

Chavez meets with Venezuela’s Jewish leaders

CARACAS, Venezuela – Leaders of Venezuela’s Jewish community met with President Hugo Chavez on Thursday to discuss their concerns about possible anti-Semitism in state media and to ask the socialist leader to re-establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Venezuelan Confederation of Israelite Associations said its representatives gave the president a dossier …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : President Chavez discusses anti-Semitism concerns with Jewish leaders in Venezuela.

Blast in shopping mall in Argentina

Buenos Aires, Sep 17 (IANS/EFE) A bomb went off Thursday at a shopping mall here in the Argentine capital, causing extensive damage to two airlines’ ticket offices, police said.

Leaflets found at the blast scene near the American Airlines and Alitalia offices bore the name of a Chilean group and included demands for the release of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Blast in shopping mall in Argentina.

Brother: Johns Hopkins gunman couldn’t bear seeing mom suffer; police say he killed her, self

Brother: Mother killed at Johns Hopkins suffering

BALTIMORE – The brother of a man who authorities say fatally shot their mother in her bed at Johns Hopkins Hospital, then himself, says his sibling probably thought the 84-year-old woman was suffering.
Police say 50-year-old Paul Warren Pardus on Thursday first shot a surgeon who was treating his mother. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

22 suspected drug gang members killed in battle with Mexican soldiers near US border

22 gunmen killed in battle with Mexican soldiers

MONTERREY, Mexico – A gunbattle between Mexican soldiers and suspected drug cartel members left 22 dead at ranch near the U.S. border, the Defense Department said Thursday.
All the dead were suspected gang members, the department said in a statement. One soldier was injured.
The military said the drug suspects …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 22 suspected drug gang members killed in battle with Mexican soldiers near US border.

‘40-Year-Old Virgin’ actor found guilty of attempted murder in stabbing of ex-girlfriend

Jury finds LA actor guilty of attempted murder

VISTA, Calif. – An actor who appeared in the film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” was convicted Thursday of the attempted premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend in a knife attack.
San Diego County jurors also found Shelley Malil guilty of assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing Kendra Beebe more than … Read more »».

Judge hearing Anna Nicole drug case says prosecution case appears to contradict state law

Anna Nicole judge sees flaws in prosecution case

LOS ANGELES – The judge overseeing the drug conspiracy trial of Anna Nicole Smith’s two doctors and lawyer-boyfriend said Thursday he believes part of the prosecution’s case conflicts with state law and could be targeted in a dismissal motion.
Superior Court Judge Robert Perry said outside the presence of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.