Chinese ship captain, officer arrested by Australian police for damages to Great Barrier Reef

2 from ship that smashed Australian reef arrested

SYDNEY – Australian police arrested a Chinese ship captain and officer Wednesday and charged them with damaging the Great Barrier Reef, more than a week after their coal carrier ran aground and tore a two-mile (three-kilometer) gash in the protected area.
The 755-foot (230-meter) Shen Neng 1 veered into …. Read the original article  : Chinese ship captain, officer arrested by Australian police for damages to Great Barrier Reef.

Hundreds of Israelis flee from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula after ‘urgent’ travel warning

After warning, hundreds of Israelis flee Sinai

JERUSALEM – Hundreds of Israeli travelers returned home after Israel warned its citizens to urgently leave Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula because of a kidnapping alert, police said Wednesday.
In the unusually strong wording late Tuesday, Israel’s anti-terror office called on all Israelis in Sinai “to leave immediately and return home,” and …. Source article  : Hundreds of Israelis flee from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula after ‘urgent’ travel warning.

Attorney for man scheduled to be sentenced in Iowa coach’s killing maintains client was insane

Man to be sentenced in Iowa coach’s killing

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The attorney for a man facing a life sentence for the slaying of a nationally known Iowa high school football coach maintains her client was insane at the time of the shooting.
Mark D. Becker, 24, was convicted last month of first-degree murder in the … Read more »».

Parent protester says 2 arrested during school furlough sit-in at Hawaii governor’s office

2 arrested during protest at Hawaii gov’s office

HONOLULU – The dispute over school furloughs between Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and a group of frustrated parents is now a week old, and even with the arrest of two demonstrators and the threat of even more arrests, no resolution on the matter appears to be near.
Without unfettered … Original source on Gaea Times at : Parent protester says 2 arrested during school furlough sit-in at Hawaii governor’s office.

Jailed ULFA chairman can visit ailing mother: Gogoi

GUWAHATI – The Assam government will have no objection in allowing jailed ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to visit his ailing 90-year-old mother, especially with people celebrating Assamese New Year or Bohag Bihu, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said Wednesday.

“I received a written appeal from Rajkhowas family to allow him to see his old mother during Bihu. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Jailed ULFA chairman can visit ailing mother: Gogoi.

Judge: Wash. woman to stand trial in killing of pregnant woman whose baby was ripped from womb

Woman to stand trial in baby ripped from womb case

KENNEWICK, Wash. – A Washington state woman accused of fatally stabbing a pregnant woman and cutting the woman’s nearly full-term baby from her womb has been ruled competent to stand trial.
Benton County Superior Court Judge Robert Swisher issued his ruling Tuesday in the case of Phiengchai …. Source  : Judge: Wash. woman to stand trial in killing of pregnant woman whose baby was ripped from womb.

Iraq officials say gunmen killed Sunni cleric after morning prayers in Baghdad

Sunni cleric killed in Baghdad shooting
BAGHDAD – Gunmen killed a Sunni cleric early Wednesday, spraying him with bullets outside a Baghdad mosque where he had just finished leading morning prayers, officials said.

Sheik Ghazi Jabouri was gunned down in a hail of automatic-weapons fire outside the al-Rahman mosque in the primarily Sunni-neighborhood of Azamiyah in north …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iraq officials say gunmen killed Sunni cleric after morning prayers in Baghdad.

In role switch, Argentines to try probing crimes against humanity during Franco era in Spain

Argentina tries probing crimes of Franco’s Spain

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentine human rights groups are turning the tables on Spain, hoping to open a judicial probe of murders and disappearances committed during the Spanish Civil War and the long dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco.
Lawyers representing Argentine relatives of three Spaniards killed during the 1936-39 war … Original article on : In role switch, Argentines to try probing crimes against humanity during Franco era in Spain.

Haleigh Cummings Case Revisited

FLORIDA (GaeaTimes.com)- Ronald Cummings discovered his daughter Haleigh Cummings to be missing as he returned to his house from his work on Feb 10 in the year 2009. Since then there has been no news about Haleigh Cummings. No one has been able to confirm whether the girl is dead or alive. The cops have … Original article on : Haleigh Cummings Case Revisited.

Vatican goes into damage control mode, floating new initiatives ahead of papal trip

Vatican goes into damage control mode over abuse

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has gone into full-fledged damage control mode in the priest sex abuse scandal ahead of the pope’s first foreign trip since it erupted. Officials are promising surprising new initiatives. The pope’s personal secretary is speaking out. And bishops around the world are being … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Vatican goes into damage control mode, floating new initiatives ahead of papal trip.

One guerrilla killed in Kashmir gunfight

SRINAGAR – Security forces gunned down a separatist guerrilla in a forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, a defence spokesperson said here.

Forces of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police jointly surrounded the Rainawadi forest area near Handwara in Kupwara. During searches, the forces came under fire from hiding militants. This led to an … Read : One guerrilla killed in Kashmir gunfight.

Police: New Zealand man watched strippers after leaving baby in car

Police: NZ man at strip club leaves baby in car

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Police arrested a man for leaving his 1-year-old baby in a car unattended during the early hours while he watched strippers at a nightclub in New Zealand’s capital, and have placed the boy in welfare agency care.
A passer-by called police after seeing …. Source  : Police: New Zealand man watched strippers after leaving baby in car.

No dialogue before steps taken against 26/11 attackers: PM

WASHINGTON – A fortnight before a likely meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani in Bhutan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said India can resume dialogue with Pakistan on all issues only if it takes “credible steps” to bring the known perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage to justice.

Underscoring India’s growing exasperation with lack of … Original source on Gaea Times at : No dialogue before steps taken against 26/11 attackers: PM.

Seahawks tell LB Leroy Hill to take care of personal issues, not practice

Seahawks tell LB Hill to stay home
RENTON, Wash. – The Seahawks have told linebacker Leroy Hill to stay away from this week’s minicamp to deal with his personal issues.

Coach Pete Carroll said after practice Tuesday that he and general manager John Schneider advised Hill it was “best for him to take care of some things” …. Source article  : Seahawks tell LB Leroy Hill to take care of personal issues, not practice.

Youth tears Bihar CM’s flag, arrested

Police have arrested a youth for tearing apart the flag of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
The Indian tri-colour was fitted on the bonnet of CM’s car parked in the portico of Old Secretariat building.

Police said Sheikh Abdul, a disabled youth from east Champaran district in Bihar, had sought an appointment with the chief secretary …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Youth tears Bihar CM’s flag, arrested.

Feds say ex-engineer sold military secrets to China for money; defense says info was ‘obvious’

Opening statements begin in Hawaii spy trial

HONOLULU – Federal prosecutors on Tuesday accused a former B-2 stealth bomber engineer of betraying the U.S. by selling military secrets to China, but his defense countered that the information he passed on was “obvious” and “well-known.”
Noshir Gowadia, 66, disclosed “vulnerabilities of our nation’s most important strategic assets” and …. Original source  : Feds say ex-engineer sold military secrets to China for money; defense says info was ‘obvious’.

Guatemala arrests drug investigator for allegedly passing information to Mexico’s Zetas gang

Guatemala says drug investigator tipped off cartel

GUATEMALA CITY – The chief of the anti-drug office in Guatemala’s Peten region has been arrested for allegedly passing information to Mexico’s Zetas drug gang.
Prosecutors charge officer Noe Vasquez sent text messages to an imprisoned Zetas leader to warn the gang about police raids and searches in the prison.
The …. Original source  : Guatemala arrests drug investigator for allegedly passing information to Mexico’s Zetas gang.

22,700 people killed in Mexico’s drug violence since military crackdown started in 2006

22,700 killed in drug violence in Mexico since ‘06

MEXICO CITY – More than 22,700 people have been killed in Mexico’s drug war since a U.S.-backed military crackdown on cartels began more than three years ago, according to a government report.
The report said 2009 was the deadliest year in the drug war, with 9,635 people killed …. Original source  : 22,700 people killed in Mexico’s drug violence since military crackdown started in 2006.

Mexican bishops ask for forgiveness from abuse victims, pledge to aid investigations

Mexican bishops ask forgiveness of abuse victims

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican Council of Bishops is asking for forgiveness from victims of sex abuse cases within the Roman Catholic Church, and pledges to cooperate in any investigations.
Bishop Victor Rene Rodriguez says the church did not act quickly enough in the past in dealing with abuse allegations. …. Original source  : Mexican bishops ask for forgiveness from abuse victims, pledge to aid investigations.

Authorities: 19-year-old man plotted to kill sheriff’s deputies in Washington state

Authorities: Man plotted to kill Wash. deputies

EVERETT, Wash. – A 19-year-old man has been arrested on allegations that he was plotting to kill sheriff’s deputies in Washington state’s Snohomish County.
Investigators say Michael McConnachie was planning an attack similar to the Thanksgiving weekend assassination of four Lakewood police officers.
The Herald newspaper of Everett reports that McConnachie …. Read the original article  : Authorities: 19-year-old man plotted to kill sheriff’s deputies in Washington state.