Three Maoists surrender in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Three Maoist guerrillas, including a woman, surrendered in Orissas Kandhamal district Sunday, police said.

Three Maoists have surrendered before us. They have expressed their willingness to return to the mainstream, Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Pravin Kumar told IANS.
Ledi Mondal alias Kanala was a senior cadre Maoist of Bansadhara Division. She joined the Maoist …. Source  : Three Maoists surrender in Orissa.

India-Myanmar to jointly fight northeast rebels

IMPHAL – India and Myanmar will conduct a ‘coordinated operation’ against northeast separatist outfits taking shelter and setting up base camps in the neighbouring country, Union Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said here.

“A coordinated operation by the joint forces of India and Myanmar would be conducted in the jungles of the neighbouring country to flush …. Source  : India-Myanmar to jointly fight northeast rebels.

Mounting protests, federal grand jury challenge ‘America’s toughest sheriff’

Protests, grand jury challenge Sheriff Joe Arpaio

PHOENIX – With a sheriff’s helicopter beating overhead, the man known as “Sheriff Joe” stood behind a line of officers as 10,000 people marched past – but this was not the usual show of affection and support for Joe Arpaio.
“Joe must go! Joe must go,” whole families chanted, as …. Read the original article  : Mounting protests, federal grand jury challenge ‘America’s toughest sheriff’.

Thompson’s career-high paces Wagner past St. Francis 81-76 in regular season finale

Hot-shooting Wagner beats St. Francis 81-76

NEW YORK – Josh Thompson scored a career-high 23 points and Wagner defeated St. Francis (Pa.) 81-76 on Saturday night.
The freshman had 19 points in the first half as the Seahawks (5-26, 3-15 Northeast Conference) led 53-34 at halftime.
Wagner shot 63 percent before halftime (17 of 27), including going 8 … Original source on Gaea Times at : Thompson’s career-high paces Wagner past St. Francis 81-76 in regular season finale.

Killer of former Colombian president’s sister nabbed

Bogota, Feb 28 (IANS/EFE) Authorities here have arrested a leftist rebel on charges of kidnapping and murdering a sister of former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria, officials said.

A team of the Attorney General’s office and the army has arrested Beatriz Villalba Betancourt of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country’s largest leftist guerrilla group, …. Read the original article  : here.

Mexican police capture 3rd suspect in last month’s massacre in bloody border city

Mexico arrests 3rd Juarez massacre suspect

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – Mexico has arrested a third suspect in last month’s massacre of 15 people in the border city of Ciudad Juarez.
Chihuahua state prosecutors say he is a former police officer believed to have worked as a hit man for the Juarez cartel.
A statement Saturday says he confessed …. Read the original article  : Mexican police capture 3rd suspect in last month’s massacre in bloody border city.

Obama signs one-year extension of Patriot Act, the nation’s main counterterrorism law

Obama signs one-year extension of Patriot Act
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has signed a one-year extension of several provisions in the nation’s main counterterrorism law, the Patriot Act.
Provisions in the measure would have expired on Sunday without Obama’s signature Saturday.
The act, which was adopted in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama signs one-year extension of Patriot Act, the nation’s main counterterrorism law.

Texas board recommends governor pardon man who died in prison after wrongful rape conviction

Texas board urges pardon in wrongful conviction

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas pardons and parole board has recommended clemency in the case of a man who died in prison after he was wrongly convicted of rape.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Saturday the recommendation in Tim Cole’s case was forwarded to Gov. Rick Perry’s office Friday.
Perry spokeswoman Allison … Read : Texas board recommends governor pardon man who died in prison after wrongful rape conviction.

Texas board recommends Perry pardon man who died in prison after wrongful rape conviction

Board recommends Perry issue pardon in DNA case

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas pardons and parole board has recommended clemency in the case of a man who died in prison after he was wrongly convicted of rape.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Saturday the recommendation in Tim Cole’s case was forwarded to Gov. Rick Perry’s office Friday.
Perry spokeswoman …. Original source  : Texas board recommends Perry pardon man who died in prison after wrongful rape conviction.

AP source: RFK’s grandson considers maintaining Kennedy tradition with US House campaign

AP source: RFK’s grandson weighing US House run
BOSTON – A top Massachusetts Democrat said Saturday that one of Robert F. Kennedy’s grandsons is considering carrying on the family’s vaunted political tradition by running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Joseph P. Kennedy III, one of the twin sons of former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : AP source: RFK’s grandson considers maintaining Kennedy tradition with US House campaign.

Police aggressively handle low-level crimes to boost SF’s image as international tourist spot

SF police, new chief tackle quality of life crimes

SAN FRANCISCO – In the Tenderloin, not far from tourists at the historic cable car turnaround, the city’s incoming police chief was shocked to see open drug dealing.
Then, in the swank Union Square shopping area, Sacramento’s visiting mayor had his luggage swiped from outside a hotel.
And in … Read more »»».

Judges say Berlusconi trial goes on despite conviction overturned for British lawyer

Berlusconi corruption trial to continue
MILAN – A panel of judges ruled Saturday that Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s trial on corruption charges will continue, despite a ruling by Italy’s highest appellate court that overturned the conviction of the lawyer the Italian leader allegedly bribed.

The judges rebuffed a bid by Berlusconi’s defense lawyers to suspend the premier’s trial …. Original source  : Judges say Berlusconi trial goes on despite conviction overturned for British lawyer.

US condoles death of Indians in Kabul blasts

NEW DELHI – The US Saturday condoled the death of six Indians in a series of blasts in Kabul.

“I offer sincere condolences to the government of India and the families, friends, and loved ones of those injured and killed in yesterday’s (Friday’s) tragic attack in Kabul,” US Ambassador Timothy Roemer said in a statement.
“India’s …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US condoles death of Indians in Kabul blasts.

Sentencing delayed for Scott Roeder, convicted killer of Kansas abortion provider

Sentencing delayed for abortion provider’s killer

WICHITA, Kan. – A court says the sentencing for the convicted killer of a Kansas abortion provider has been delayed.
The district court in Wichita said Saturday that Scott Roeder will now be sentenced on April 1. The sentencing had been set for March 9.
Roeder was convicted Jan. 29 of first-degree …. Source  : Sentencing delayed for Scott Roeder, convicted killer of Kansas abortion provider.

President attends poignant tribute for Indians killed in Kabul

NEW DELHI – With the headlights of military trucks illuminating the area and President Pratibha Patil looking on solemnly, six tricolour-draped coffins carrying the bodies of the Indians killed in the Kabul blasts were offloaded from a special air force aircraft that flew them here Saturday.

The president had just landed at the air … Read : President attends poignant tribute for Indians killed in Kabul.

Iran’s opposition leader _ in strongest criticism yet _ says dictatorial “cult” ruling Iran

Opposition leader: Dictatorial “cult” rules Iran

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s opposition leader said Saturday that a dictatorial “cult” was ruling Iran in the name of Islam – his strongest attack to date on the country’s clerical leadership.
Mir Hossein Mousavi also challenged the government to let his supporters take to the streets freely, saying that would allow …. Original source  : Iran’s opposition leader _ in strongest criticism yet _ says dictatorial “cult” ruling Iran.

Ensure security to Indians, PM to Karzai as bodies arrive (Roundup)

NEW DELHI – India Saturday asked Afghanistan to “ensure full security” to Indians working in that country even as the bodies of six Indians, including two major-rank army officers, killed in a terror attack in Kabul Friday were brought back here in the evening.

An Indian Air Force plane Saturday evening brought back the bodies from …. Read the original article  : Ensure security to Indians, PM to Karzai as bodies arrive (Roundup).

European countries show little interest in following trail of Dubai killers

Europe wary of following Dubai killers’ trail

GENEVA – A killer – or killers – may be on the loose in Europe after a Hamas operative was slain last month in Dubai.
European nations, however, seem to be in no rush to find him, her or them.
The spotlight is falling on those countries where police say the …. Source  : European countries show little interest in following trail of Dubai killers.

Bodies of six Indians killed in Kabul brought back (Second lead)

NEW DELHI – A special India Air Force plane carrying the bodies of six Indians killed in the Kabul terror attack arrived Saturday evening here, where President Pratibha Patil attended the wreath-laying ceremony.

The special plane carrying six coffins draped in the national tricolour landed at the Palam air base, behind the domestic airport, around 6 … Read more »»».

Went to Kabul to earn for daughter’s marriage, his body arrived instead

NEW DELHI – He went to Kabul to perform and earn some good money for his eldest daughter’s marriage, but little did Delhi-based tabla player Nawab Khan know that it would be his last journey. Khan is one of the Indians who died in the Kabul terror attack Friday.

“This was his first visit to Afghanistan. … Read more : Went to Kabul to earn for daughter’s marriage, his body arrived instead.