India among first countries Saudi will ink extradition pact with: Envoy
NEW DELHI – India will be among the first countries Saudi Arabia will sign an extradition treaty with when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits that country later this month, according to Saudi Ambassador to India Faisal Hassan Trad.

Manmohan Singh’s visit will be the first by an Indian prime minister to Saudi Arabia since Indira Gandhi’s …. Source  : India among first countries Saudi will ink extradition pact with: Envoy.

Two more succumb in Pune blast, toll 15 (Second Lead)
PUNE – Two students succumbed here Sunday morning to their injuries sustained in the Feb 13 Pune terror blast, taking the toll to 15, police said.

A 24-year-old student Vikas Suresh Tulsiani breathed his last at 11.45 a.m. at the Jehangir Hospital here, an official of the Pune police control room told IANS.
Tulsiani, from Delhi, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Two more succumb in Pune blast, toll 15 (Second Lead).

Two arrested with explosives, weapons in Punjab
PATIALA – Two men were arrested Sunday from this Punjab town for possessing explosives and weapons, police said.

Both the arrested men belonged to the Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF), a terrorist organisation that was active in the state during years of Sikh militancy from 1982 to 1995, a police official told IANS.
The police recovered …. Original article  : Two arrested with explosives, weapons in Punjab.

Kolkata youth succumbs, Pune blast toll 14
PUNE – A 23-year-old student from Kolkata, who was injured in the Feb 13 terror blast, died at a hospital here early Sunday, taking the toll to 14. Rajeev Agarwal was a final year law student of the Symbiosis Law College.

Six more patients continue to be critical in intensive care units of different city hospitals …. Source article  : Kolkata youth succumbs, Pune blast toll 14.

Court ruling on seizing deposed PM’s wealth unlikely to end unrest that has gripped Thailand

Thaksin ruling could further inflame Thai unrest

BANGKOK – A court ruling on whether Thailand’s deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra should lose his fortune for alleged corruption could become the latest flash point in four years of sometimes-violent political unrest that has exposed deep divisions in Thai society.
The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is hoping Friday’s …. Read the original article  : here.

Hallam scores 19, Rohnert 17 as Denver exploits cold first half by New Orleans to win 53-45

Denver defeats cold-shooting New Orleans 53-45

NEW ORLEANS – Chase Hallam scored 19 points, and Nate Rohnert had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead Denver to a 53-45 victory over New Orleans on Saturday night.
The Pioneers (16-11, 9-7 Sun Belt Conference) shot just 31.8 percent (7-for-22) in the first half but that was enough to … Original article on : Hallam scores 19, Rohnert 17 as Denver exploits cold first half by New Orleans to win 53-45.

Feds to ask for leniency for Madoff’s former chief aide, citing his cooperation in probe

Feds want leniency for Madoff’s former chief aide

NEW YORK – A man who helped Wall Street swindler Bernard Madoff steal billions of dollars has earned himself friends in the Justice Department.
In a letter made public Friday, federal prosecutors said Madoff’s former chief aide Frank DiPascali had provided “substantial assistance” to investigators.
They said they anticipated writing … Read more >>.

Man guilty in Spelman College student’s shooting death, sentenced to 25 years

Ga. jury: Man guilty in Spelman student’s death

ATLANTA – A jury has convicted a 22-year-old man of murder in the shooting death of a Georgia college student.
Devonni Benton was also found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault Saturday in the September killing of Spelman College sophomore Jasmine Lynn. Prosecutors say Benton was in a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Man guilty in Spelman College student’s shooting death, sentenced to 25 years.

Former official returns from prison and reawakens memories of Chicago suburb’s corruption

Ill. town’s ex-mayor’s return reawakens corruption

CICERO, Ill. – Prohibition was the law of the land when Al Capone took over Cicero in 1924, muscling his way in with gun-toting hoodlums on Election Day. And many residents were happy to hear his beer wagons rumbling through the streets en route to speakeasies.
More than 80 years later, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Former official returns from prison and reawakens memories of Chicago suburb’s corruption.

Pa. school district accused of spying on students with computer webcams defends administrator

Pa. school official defended in webcam spy case

PHILADELPHIA – A suburban Philadelphia school district accused of secretly switching on laptop computer webcams inside students’ homes says it never used webcam images to monitor or discipline students and believes one of its administrators has been “unfairly portrayed and unjustly attacked.”
The Lower Merion School District, in response …. Source  : Pa. school district accused of spying on students with computer webcams defends administrator.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen charged with DUI in Miami Beach

Dolphins corner Will Allen charged with DUI

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Miami Beach.
Jail records show Allen was arrested Saturday and was being held at the Pretrial Detention Center in Miami on $1,000 bond.
A spokesman for the Dolphins declined comment, saying … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen charged with DUI in Miami Beach.

Suspect in Ala. university shooting rampage was brilliant, but social misfit at times

Ala. shooting suspect brilliant, but social misfit

BOSTON – Amy Bishop’s intelligence was never debatable. Even as a child, she didn’t hesitate to tell people when they were wrong. As she grew older, earned a Harvard Ph.D and claimed a genius IQ of 180, her brilliance could come with a bluntness, condescension and volatile self-righteousness.
It was …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Cops to track down Maoist camp in Uttarakhand
LUCKNOW – A team of Uttar Pradesh’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Saturday evening left for Uttarakhand to track down a suspected Maoist training camp there, a government spokesperson said.

“On the basis of the information provided by one of the eight Maoists arrested from Kanpur Feb 8, ATS sleuths have left for Uttarakhand to destroy the … Original article on : Cops to track down Maoist camp in Uttarakhand.

Sri Lanka to set up community villages for ex-rebels
COLOMBO – The Sri Lankan government said Saturday it will set up community villages to rehabilitate former Tamil Tiger rebels.

Over 11,000 former cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are now sheltered in 18 state-run rehabilitation centers. The majority of them surrendered to the military during the last stages of the battle in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Eastern Frontier Rifles officer ‘masked’ at media meet
SALUA – A senior Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) officer Saturday addressed a media conference with his face covered with a black cloth, raising questions about the force’s morale after the death of 24 of its troopers in a Maoist attack on the Silda camp Monday.

EFR special Inspector General Benoy Chakraborty lambasted the authorities for “misusing” …. Original article  : Eastern Frontier Rifles officer ‘masked’ at media meet.

Fla. woman charged with murder in lottery winner’s death ordered held without bond

No bail for woman charged in lotto winner’s death

TAMPA, Fla. – The woman charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Florida Lottery winner has been ordered held without bail.
Dorice “Dee Dee” Moore appeared before a Hillsborough County judge Saturday morning.
Detectives say Abraham Shakespeare was killed at a home in a rural …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Fla. woman charged with murder in lottery winner’s death ordered held without bond.

Eleven Maoists arrested in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR – Police arrested 11 Maoist guerillas in Chhattisgarh Saturday and seized explosives and guns from them, an official said.

The arrests were made from Durgkondal area in the state’s restive Kanker district, some 150 km south from capital Raipur, officials here at the police headquarters here told IANS.
The rebels were apprehended from a thickly …. Source  : Eleven Maoists arrested in Chhattisgarh.

‘Eastern Frontier Rifles misused, ill-treated’
SALUA – Charging the authorities with “misusing” and “ill-treating” the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR), which lost 24 of its men in a Maoist attack in West Bengal Monday, a senior officer of the force Saturday claimed that his men had killed five ultras after being attacked.

Coming down heavily on state authorities, particularly West Midnapore superintendent …. Original article  : ‘Eastern Frontier Rifles misused, ill-treated’.

Ukranian PM Tymoshenko withdraws legal challenge to presidential election results

Ukraine’s PM Tymoshenko withdraws vote challenge
KIEV, Ukraine – Embattled Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko on Saturday withdrew her legal challenge to the presidential runoff vote, claiming she could not win because the court refused to consider documents that she said showed election fraud.
Tymoshenko lost the Feb. 7 runoff to pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ukranian PM Tymoshenko withdraws legal challenge to presidential election results.

Review cases against innocents branded Maoists: Soren
RANCHI – Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Saturday asked the police to review cases against “innocent people branded as Maoists in the state”, a day after the government freed two Maoists to secure the release of an abducted government official.

“The district police chiefs should investigate the cases filed against innocent people in the state. We … Read more : Review cases against innocents branded Maoists: Soren.