Australia says Chinese ruling on Australian Rio Tinto executive is a ‘very tough sentence’

Australia: China’s Rio Tinto sentence ‘very tough’

CANBERRA, Australia – Australia’s foreign minister says the 10-year prison term handed to an Australian employee of mining giant Rio Tinto by a Chinese court is “very tough sentence.”
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was responding Monday to the conviction and sentencing in a Chinese court of Australian national Stern Hu …. Source article  : Australia says Chinese ruling on Australian Rio Tinto executive is a ‘very tough sentence’.

Moscow residents suffer nervous breakdowns after blasts

Moscow, March 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Dozens of Moscow residents and visitors turned to doctors with nervous breakdowns and heart attacks after two early morning bomb blasts in the capital’s subway, a hospital source said.

The blasts in Moscow’s Lubyanka and Park Kultury subway stations occurred during rush hour, killing at least 35 people and injuring over …. Source article  : Moscow residents suffer nervous breakdowns after blasts.

Wife says she’s relieved dissident Chinese lawyer is alive, appeals for his release to the US

Dissident’s wife pleas for China to let him leave

BEIJING – The wife of a dissident Chinese lawyer missing for more than a year said she was relieved to learn he is alive and appealed Monday to the government to allow him to leave China and join his family in the United States.
Attorney Gao Zhisheng resurfaced …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Wife says she’s relieved dissident Chinese lawyer is alive, appeals for his release to the US.

Don’t remove Frontier Constabulary from Islamabad: Police chief

ISLAMABAD – Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Kaleem Imam has requested the interior ministry not to remove the Frontier Constabulary (FC) deployed for security of the Diplomatic Enclave here, a media report said Monday.

The government has decided to pull out the force after intelligence agencies revealed the involvement of some FC personnel in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Don’t remove Frontier Constabulary from Islamabad: Police chief.

Moscow metro bombings kill 35 (Third Lead)

Moscow, March 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) At least 35 people were killed when two powerful bombs ripped through two Moscow metro stations during rush hour Monday, officials said.

The first blast took place at 7.52 a.m. at the Lubyanka station close to the Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters, killing at least 23 people and injuring 18. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Moscow metro bombings kill 35 (Third Lead).

Hutaree Targeted By FBI

MICHIGAN (GaeaTimes.com)- Hutaree, a Christian militia group was raided by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). According to reports, FBI agents on Sunday, Mar 28 raided places in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, of which one was this Christian militia group. Michael Lackomar, the spokesperson of another militia group named Southeast Michigan …. Original article  : Hutaree Targeted By FBI.

Opposition party led by Suu Kyi meets to decide whether to take part in Myanmar election

Opposition deciding whether to run in Myanmar poll

YANGON, Myanmar – The party of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was meeting Monday to decide whether to participate in the first election in military-ruled Myanmar in two decades, the party spokesman said.
A senior party member called it “a life-or-death” decision.
More than 100 senior members of …. Original article  : Opposition party led by Suu Kyi meets to decide whether to take part in Myanmar election.

Chinese court sentences Rio Tinto employees to 7-14 years in jail on bribery, secrets charges

Rio Tinto employees get up to 14 years in jail

SHANGHAI – A Chinese court Monday sentenced four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto to jail terms of seven to 14 years on bribery and commercial secrets charges, in a case seen as a barometer of China’s treatment of foreign business as trade frictions increase.
The court …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese court sentences Rio Tinto employees to 7-14 years in jail on bribery, secrets charges.

32 killed in Moscow metro bombings (Second Lead)

Moscow, March 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) At least 32 people were killed Monday when blasts rocked two Moscow metro stations, an official said.

The first blast occurred around 8 a.m. at the central Moscow Lubyanka station, killing 20 people and injuring 11. The second blast occurred some 45 minutes later at the nearby Park Kultury station. The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Venezuela Supreme Court bars Chavez foe from discussing criminal case with news media

Chavez foe barred from talking to media about case

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s highest court on Sunday barred an outspoken opponent of President Hugo Chavez from talking to news media about criminal charges alleging he struck a police official.
The Supreme Court’s order prohibits lawmaker Wilmer Azuaje from “talking in relation to the present issue through any …. Source article  : Venezuela Supreme Court bars Chavez foe from discussing criminal case with news media.

Miracle for John Paul II’s sainthood case under renewed scrutiny, as is record on sex abuse

Miracle under scrutiny in John Paul beatification

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican this week marks the fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s death amid some doubts that the miracle needed for his saint-making cause will stand up to scrutiny and questions about his record combatting pedophile priests.
The inexplicable cure of a young French nun from … Read more »».

One dead, two injured in Athens blast

ATHENS – One person was killed and two injured by a bomb that exploded outside a Greek government building late Sunday in Athens, according to local media.

Police believe that the dead man was holding the explosive device when it detonated in the Greek capital’s densely populated Patissia district. In a radio report, a witness said …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Verdict due Monday after China court trial of 4 Rio Tinto workers in bribery, secrets case

Verdict due after China trial of Rio Tinto workers

SHANGHAI – A Shanghai court is due to rule Monday on bribery and commercial secrets charges against four employees of mining giant Rio Tinto – a case seen as a barometer of China’s treatment of foreign business in a time of rising trade friction.
The verdict comes as … Read : Verdict due Monday after China court trial of 4 Rio Tinto workers in bribery, secrets case.

Arizona woman gets prison time for recruiting teens to commit robberies

Arizona woman sentenced for role in robbery spree

PHOENIX – An unemployed Phoenix mother who police say led her teenage sons and their friends to commit at least 20 armed robberies and assaults has been sentenced to 2?? years in prison.
Cynthia Roberson pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and one count of aggravated robbery. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Arizona woman gets prison time for recruiting teens to commit robberies.

FBI raids in Mich., Ohio, Ind. end with gun charge arrests; target may be Christian militia

Official: Gun charges after FBI raids in Midwest

ADRIAN, Mich. – The FBI said Sunday that agents conducted weekend raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and arrested at least three people, and a militia leader in Michigan said the target of at least one of the raids was a Christian militia group.
Federal warrants were sealed, but …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : FBI raids in Mich., Ohio, Ind. end with gun charge arrests; target may be Christian militia.

San Francisco prosecutors say additional 1,400 cases may be dropped this week over lab scandal

More SF cases may be dropped in crime lab scandal

SAN FRANCISCO – Prosecutors are considering dropping an additional 1,400 cases this week because of a scandal at the police crime lab, a spokesman for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said.
Though no final decision has been made, the additional cases would be come on top … Read more >>.

Police: 2 arrested on suspicion of murder after California woman dragged alongside car, shot

Woman dies after being dragged, shot; 2 arrested

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – Authorities say two suspects have been arrested after a 38-year-old woman was dragged alongside a vehicle for several blocks and then shot during an apparent robbery attempt at a Southern California park.
Westminster police spokesman Van Woodson says Tuyet Thi Huynh of Garden Grove was at … Read more »».

22 militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least 22 militants killed Sunday when Pakistan military retaliated an attack on its base in the northwest tribal region.

The security forces backed by gunship helicopters killed 22 militants in the restive Arakzai Agency, Geo TV reported quoting official sources.
The troops killed 10 militants who attacked an army base with rockets and …. Read the original article  : here.

FBI agents arrest some people on gun charges during weekend raids in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana

FBI makes arrests in Midwest raids
WASHINGTON – A U.S. official says some of the people arrested by the FBI in Midwest raids this weekend face gun charges.

FBI raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio have resulted in three arrests, and officials are pursuing other suspects.
The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : FBI agents arrest some people on gun charges during weekend raids in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana.

Minn. attorney who found documents implicating pope in abuse scandal has long pursued Vatican

Lawyer who found documents has long pursued church

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Jeff Anderson has filed thousands of lawsuits alleging sex abuse by priests and won tens of millions of dollars for his clients, but he has had a bigger goal in mind for nearly two decades. He wants to bring his career-long legal crusade against …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Minn. attorney who found documents implicating pope in abuse scandal has long pursued Vatican.