Nebraska bill seeks to ban most late-term abortions based on argument that fetuses feel pain

Neb. lawmakers to discuss fetal pain abortion bill

OMAHA, Neb. – A group of lawmakers is pushing to make Nebraska the first state to outlaw most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the argument that the fetus might feel pain during the procedure.
Emboldened by the Supreme Court’s 2007 decision upholding a ban on what …. Read the original article  : Nebraska bill seeks to ban most late-term abortions based on argument that fetuses feel pain.

Australia warns Israel over assassination reportedly involving fraudulent Australian passports

Australia warns Israel over Dubai assassination

ADELAIDE, Australia – Australia warned Israel on Thursday that if it was involved in the alleged use of three fraudulent Australian passports in a Dubai assassination it would not be considered the “act of a friend,” the foreign minister said.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith summoned Israel’s ambassador and demanded his cooperation …. Read the original article  : Australia warns Israel over assassination reportedly involving fraudulent Australian passports.

Judgment Day: Court verdict on former PM Thaksin’s assets to open new chapter on Thai crisis

Thai court to rule on seizing Thaksin’s fortune

BANGKOK – Thailand is bracing for “Judgment Day” on Friday – when the highest court decides whether to seize the $2.29 billion fortune of the country’s divisive ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
The universal assumption is that the Supreme Court will confiscate at least part of Thaksin’s fortune, which was frozen …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Judgment Day: Court verdict on former PM Thaksin’s assets to open new chapter on Thai crisis.

Internal memo: Obama’s pick to run Coast Guard wants to cut back on counterterrorism programs

Coast Guard pick wants to refine homeland mission
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the Coast Guard wants to make major cuts to the agency’s counterterrorism mission over the next five years.
An internal memo from Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., Obama’s nominee to become Coast Guard commandant, says that starting in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Two hunters detained for killing endangered bantengs in northern Cambodia

Men detained for killing rare cattle in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Two hunters have been detained for killing two banteng, an endangered wild cattle species, in a protected forest in northern Cambodia, an official said Thursday.
They were arrested Monday as they were butchering the animals they shot with AK-47 assault rifles near Anlong Veng, the …. Read the original article  : Two hunters detained for killing endangered bantengs in northern Cambodia.

Democrats retreat on adding new privacy protections in counterterrorism surveillance

Democrats retreat on new privacy protections

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats have retreated from adding new privacy protections to the nation’s primary counterterrorism law, as Republicans refused to lend support and portrayed the majority as willing to harm terror investigations.
Lacking the necessary 60-vote supermajority, Democratic leaders settled on a one-year extension of expiring surveillance and seizure provisions … Read : Democrats retreat on adding new privacy protections in counterterrorism surveillance.

New site tries to point out that posting your location online is like saying ‘Please Rob Me’

Site asks social networkers to rethink revelations

SAN FRANCISCO – As more people reveal their whereabouts on social networks, a new site has sprung up to remind you that letting everyone know where you are – and, by extension, where you’re not – could leave you vulnerable to those with less-than-friendly intentions. The site’s name says …. Source article  : New site tries to point out that posting your location online is like saying ‘Please Rob Me’.

Police officer, Maoist killed in West Bengal

KOLKATA – The officer-in-charge of a police station and a Maoist were killed in a gun battle in West Bengal’s Bankura district, police said Thursday.

Bankura Superintendent of Police Vishal Garg told IANS that a group of heavily armed Maoists abducted and shot Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Tarashankar Patra Wednesday night.
When police inspector …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Police officer, Maoist killed in West Bengal.

Thailand seizes 2 tons of tusks from Africa, its largest ivory seizure

Thai customs seizes 2 tons of ivory
BANGKOK – Thailand has seized two tons of elephant tusks from Africa hidden in pallets labeled as mobile phone parts in the country’s largest ivory seizure.

Thai Customs officials valued Wednesday night’s haul at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 120 million baht ($3.6 million). It is further sign that Thailand is … Read : Thailand seizes 2 tons of tusks from Africa, its largest ivory seizure.

India and Pakistan begin first high-level talks since Mumbai attack 15 months ago

India, Pakistan hold first talks in 15 months

NEW DELHI – India and Pakistan held high-level peace talks Thursday for the first time since the 2008 Mumbai attacks in an effort to rebuild confidence and reduce tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The one-day talks in New Delhi between the two countries’ foreign secretaries is seen as an … Read more >>>.

‘Canada fears Tamil backlash after LTTE defeat’

TORONTO – With its huge population of Sri Lankan Tamils, Canada fears that resentment over the defeat of the Tamil Tigers last year may lead to violent response by sections of the 300,00-strong community here, says a report.

Canadian security agencies are worried that the Tamil anger could lead to backlash like the Air India Kanishka …. Original source  : ‘Canada fears Tamil backlash after LTTE defeat’.

Truck driver’s assistant shot, set ablaze by Maoists

RANCHI – Maoist rebels shot and set ablaze a truck driver’s assistant and set afire three trucks laden with bauxite in Gumla district of Jharkhand Thursday morning, police said.

“The truck driver’s assistant was first shot and later burnt by the Maoists. The rebels also set on fire three trucks,” said Superintendent of Police Narendra Kumar …. Original article  : Truck driver’s assistant shot, set ablaze by Maoists.

Lawyer says Calif. man charged in Jaycee Dugard kidnapping has ’serious’ mental illness

Lawyer: Jaycee Dugard kidnapper is mentally ill

SAN FRANCISCO – The Northern California man charged with kidnapping and raping Jaycee Dugard has “a serious mental illness” and “may not be competent to be a defendant,” his defense lawyer said in court papers filed Wednesday.
Susan Gellman, a deputy public defender in El Dorado County, offered the blunt … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lawyer says Calif. man charged in Jaycee Dugard kidnapping has ’serious’ mental illness.

Senate votes to extend expiring surveillance provisions of USA Patriot Act for 1 year

Senate votes to extend USA Patriot Act for 1 year

WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Wednesday to extend for a year key provisions of the nation’s counterterrorism surveillance law that are scheduled to expire at the end of the month.
In agreeing to pass the bill, Senate Democrats retreated from adding new privacy protections to the USA … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Senate votes to extend expiring surveillance provisions of USA Patriot Act for 1 year.

Ind. man faces preliminary charges of killing father, helping mother commit suicide

Police: Ind. man killed dad, helped mom kill self

WINCHESTER, Ind. – Authorities say an eastern Indiana man told investigators that he fatally shot his father and helped his ailing mother overdose on medication as part of a pact with his parents.
Thirty-three-year-old Brian “Scott” Hartman was arrested Tuesday night on preliminary charges of murder and assisting … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ind. man faces preliminary charges of killing father, helping mother commit suicide.

News organizations ask judge to unseal plea agreement in NYC subway bomb plot case

News outlets: Unseal NYC terror plea agreement

NEW YORK – The Associated Press and Newsday have asked a judge to make public a sealed plea agreement between prosecutors and a man who admitted he plotted to bomb the city’s subway system in the days following the Sept. 11 anniversary.
A federal judge sealed prosecutors’ agreement with Najibullah … Original source on Gaea Times at : News organizations ask judge to unseal plea agreement in NYC subway bomb plot case.

Colorado gunman had grown increasingly erratic, was let into the school hours earlier

Colo. gunman had grown increasingly erratic

LITTLETON, Colo. – The man accused of wounding two middle school students in a community still haunted by the Columbine massacre had become increasingly erratic in recent weeks, yelling at imaginary friends and complaining that eating macaroni and cheese made too much noise, his father said Wednesday.
Investigators are looking into … Read : Colorado gunman had grown increasingly erratic, was let into the school hours earlier.

Extradited Mexican drug kingpin sentenced to 25 years during closed hearing in Houston court

Drug kingpin sentenced during closed Texas hearing

HOUSTON – A drug kingpin who once headed one of Mexico’s most notoriously violent cartels was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday and ordered to forfeit $50 million, prosecutors announced after a closed hearing in Houston.
Osiel Cardenas-Guillen had previously pleaded guilty to five counts, including drug trafficking. In … Read : Extradited Mexican drug kingpin sentenced to 25 years during closed hearing in Houston court.

Wisconsin teen sentenced to 15 years for using Facebook to blackmail classmates into sex

Wisconsin teen gets 15 years for Facebook sex scam

WAUKESHA, Wis. – A Wisconsin teen convicted of using Facebook to blackmail dozens of classmates into sex has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Nineteen-year-old Anthony Stancl (STAN’-sihl) of New Berlin showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down Wednesday.
Stancl pleaded no contest in December to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Wisconsin teen sentenced to 15 years for using Facebook to blackmail classmates into sex.

Colombian leader’s cousin and political ally arrested, accused of colluding with death squads

Political ally of Colombian president arrested

BOGOTA – A former senator with close political ties to President Alvaro Uribe was arrested by Colombian authorities Wednesday on charges of colluding with far-right death squads.
Mario Uribe, a second cousin to the president, is one of the most prominent figures in a scandal that has sent dozens of current … Read more >>>.