Sri Lanka’s military says former army head appears before court-martial for alleged sedition

Sri Lanka’s ex-army head faces court-martial

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The general who led the army to victory in Sri Lanka’s civil war and then was roundly defeated in his bid for the presidency appeared before a court-martial Tuesday on allegations of sedition, the military said.
Military spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said Sarath Fonseka and his …. Original article  : Sri Lanka’s military says former army head appears before court-martial for alleged sedition.

British boy kidnapped in Pakistan 2 weeks ago found unharmed, officials say

Officials: British boy kidnapped in Pakistan found

ISLAMABAD – Kidnappers released a 5-year-old British boy unharmed Tuesday almost two weeks after abducting him from his grandparents’ house in central Pakistan, British and Pakistani officials said.
Sahil Saeed, who is of Pakistani origin, was found in a small village in Punjab province, some 20 miles (30 kilometers) southeast … Original source on Gaea Times at : British boy kidnapped in Pakistan 2 weeks ago found unharmed, officials say.

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews says 30 month sentence not enough for stalker who filmed her naked

ESPN reporter’s stalker gets 30 months in prison

LOS ANGELES – ESPN reporter Erin Andrews says her ordeal at the hands of a video stalker still haunts her every time she steps into a hotel room, wondering if someone is in the next room waiting to invade her privacy with a hidden camera.
Andrews spoke Monday just … Original article on : ESPN reporter Erin Andrews says 30 month sentence not enough for stalker who filmed her naked.

Facebook feds go undercover: Report shows FBI, other agents dipping quietly into social media

Break the law and your new ‘friend’ may be the FBI

WASHINGTON – The Feds are on Facebook. And MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter, too.
U.S. law enforcement agents are following the rest of the Internet world into popular social-networking services, going undercover with false online profiles to communicate with suspects and gather private information, according to an … Read more : Facebook feds go undercover: Report shows FBI, other agents dipping quietly into social media.

Chinese foreign minister says missing lawyer Gao Zhisheng sentenced on subversion charges

China says missing lawyer sentenced for subversion

BEIJING – Missing Chinese lawyer Gao Zhisheng has been sentenced to prison on subversion charges, the country’s foreign minister said Tuesday.
Yang Jiechi gave no details of the charges against Gao or the length of his sentence. He denied Gao had been tortured as has been widely alleged. It was …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese foreign minister says missing lawyer Gao Zhisheng sentenced on subversion charges.

Surprisingly strong ballot showing for new Colombian party linked to far-right criminal bands

New Colombian party linked to right-wing gangs

BOGOTA – A new party accused of ties to far-right criminal bands has emerged as a surprising force in Colombian politics, adding to worries that President Alvaro Uribe has failed to weaken drug-funded paramilitaries in the provinces.
Voters made the Party of National Integration, or PIN, Colombia’s fourth-strongest party in …. Source  : Surprisingly strong ballot showing for new Colombian party linked to far-right criminal bands.

Hornets beat cold-shooting Clippers 108-100 to snap 7-game road skid and sweep season series

Hornets beat cold-shooting Clippers 108-100

LOS ANGELES – David West scored 24 points and the New Orleans Hornets snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a 108-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, completing a four-game season sweep.
New Orleans beat the Clippers for the 13th straight time since a 100-90 loss on Jan. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Hornets beat cold-shooting Clippers 108-100 to snap 7-game road skid and sweep season series.

Federal prosecutors want Nacchio to appear in court when given a new sentence

Prosecutors want Nacchio in court for new sentence

DENVER – Federal prosecutors are objecting to former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio’s request to not be present in court when he is given a new sentence.
The U.S. attorney’s office said in a court filing Monday that Nacchio should be required to appear at the sentencing hearing to promote … Read more >>.

LA doctor described as country’s 2nd most prolific prescriber convicted of 13 felony counts

Los Angeles physician convicted of 13 felonies

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles physician who investigators call the second “most prolific provider” of prescription drugs in the country has been convicted of 13 felony counts.
A Superior Court jury deliberated for two days before convicting 68-year-old Carlos Estiandan of unlawfully prescribing controlled substances Monday.
The Drug Enforcement Administration …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : LA doctor described as country’s 2nd most prolific prescriber convicted of 13 felony counts.

California man sentenced for leading ring that bilked $7 million from casinos across US

Calif. man sentenced for bilking $7M from casinos

SAN DIEGO – A San Diego man who led a card-cheating ring that bilked dozens of casinos out of $7 million was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in federal prison.
Phuong Quoc Truong has acknowledged leading the ring, known as the “Tran Organization,” that targeted 27 casinos across …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : California man sentenced for leading ring that bilked $7 million from casinos across US.

Chavez defends ETA suspects in Venezuela, says they aren’t involved in Basque terrorism

Chavez defends ETA suspects wanted in Spain

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez on Monday defended a group of Basque separatists who arrived in Venezuela years ago, saying he is certain they aren’t involved in terrorism.
A Spanish judge is seeking the arrest of six members of the Basque separatist group ETA and six Colombian rebels for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chavez defends ETA suspects in Venezuela, says they aren’t involved in Basque terrorism.

Even after 20 years, biggest art heist in history rattles Boston investigators

Boston art heist rattles investigators 20 years on

BOSTON – It remains the most tantalizing art heist mystery in the world.
In the early hours of March 18, 1990, two thieves walked into Boston’s elegant Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum disguised as police officers and bound and gagged two guards using handcuffs and duct tape. For the next … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Even after 20 years, biggest art heist in history rattles Boston investigators.

Ex-jailer in Nevada gets community service, no prison time in ‘Girls Gone Wild’ bribery case

No jail for NV ex-jailer in ‘Girls Gone Wild’ case

RENO, Nev. – A judge ordered no prison time Monday for the final defendant in a bribery scheme that allowed “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis to dine on sushi and watch “The Office” and “Family Guy” DVDs while jailed in Nevada on tax charges.
U.S. District …. Read the original article  : Ex-jailer in Nevada gets community service, no prison time in ‘Girls Gone Wild’ bribery case.

Opponents ask court to overturn state decision to approve permit for U.P. nickel, copper mine

Opponents ask court to overturn U.P. mining permit

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Four groups have filed a lawsuit hoping to overturn a state permit for a nickel and copper mine in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, saying the project does not meet legal requirements for protecting the environment.
The opponents said Kennecott Eagle Minerals Co.’s application didn’t prove the … Read : Opponents ask court to overturn state decision to approve permit for U.P. nickel, copper mine.

Some Toyota drivers sue in US, want to return vehicles for a full refund after safety recall

Some Toyota drivers suing in US for a full refund

MIAMI – A group of Toyota owners sued the Japanese automaker Monday, demanding a full refund for their recalled cars and seeking a payout that could exceed several billion dollars.
Dozens of Toyota owners in Arizona and Washington claim the vehicles recalled over incidents of sudden acceleration …. Source article  : Some Toyota drivers sue in US, want to return vehicles for a full refund after safety recall.

Toyota says tests don’t back up story of man who claimed Prius sped out of control

Toyota dismisses account of runaway Prius
SAN DIEGO – Toyota Motor Corp. dismissed the story of a man who claimed his Prius sped out of control on the California freeway, saying Monday that its own tests found the car’s gas pedal and backup safety system were working just fine.

The automaker stopped short of saying James Sikes …. Original article  : Toyota says tests don’t back up story of man who claimed Prius sped out of control.

Irish investigating threats to Swedish artist charge Algerian, Libyan with minor offenses

Algerian, Libyan charged in plot to kill artist

DUBLIN – Irish police have charged two men from Algeria and Libya with minor offenses following a weeklong investigation into Muslim extremists allegedly involved in efforts to kill a Swedish artist.
Ali Charafe Damache, a 49-year-old Algerian, was charged Monday with sending a threatening text message. A Libyan who …. Original source  : Irish investigating threats to Swedish artist charge Algerian, Libyan with minor offenses.

Authorities seek motive in 3 slayings after US consulate party in Mexico; drug gangs suspected

Investigators seek motive in 3 slayings in Mexico

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – The two families climbed into white SUVs and almost simultaneously left the children’s birthday party put on by the U.S. consulate. One headed deeper into one of the world’s most dangerous cities, the other toward a bridge to El Paso, one of America’s safest.
Neither …. Source  : Authorities seek motive in 3 slayings after US consulate party in Mexico; drug gangs suspected.

Man who shot nude video of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews gets 2??-year prison sentence

ESPN reporter’s stalker gets 2?? years in prison

LOS ANGELES – An Illinois insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was sentenced Monday to 2?? years in prison after giving a tearful apology that was harshly rebuked by his victim.
Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty in December to interstate stalking after prosecutors …. Read the original article  : Man who shot nude video of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews gets 2??-year prison sentence.

NC soldier acquitted in 3 killings now faces military trial some 25 years after slayings

Soldier acquitted in 3 deaths faces military trial

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A soldier acquitted of killing a mother and two of her young daughters in North Carolina about 25 years ago is now going on trial in military court after prosecutors say new DNA tests link him to the crimes.
Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis, 51, is charged …. Read the original article  : NC soldier acquitted in 3 killings now faces military trial some 25 years after slayings.