Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is alive: ISI

LONDON/ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was thought to have been killed in a US drone attack early this year, is alive and “basically OK”, claimed a senior ISI official.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency official told The Guardian: “He (Mehsud) is alive…
“He had some wounds but he is basically …. Source article  : Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is alive: ISI.

Intel official: Pakistan Taliban chief now believed alive, not killed by US missile in January

Intel: Pakistan Taliban chief now believed alive

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is now believed to have survived a U.S. missile strike earlier this year, but has lost clout within the militant network, a senior intelligence official said Thursday.
The revelation contradicts initial confidence among U.S. and Pakistani intelligence officials that the brash militant leader … Read more >>.

Punjab on terror radar?

CHANDIGARH – Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and pro-Khalistan groups based in Pakistan, Canada and other countries are planning strikes in Punjab, according to security agencies.

Sources in Punjab Police, quoting intelligence inputs from central and state agencies, said that pro-Khalistan groups based in other countries, especially Pakistan, recently reached an understanding with the LeT “to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Punjab on terror radar?.

Immigration allegations an issue for kosher Iowa plant manager facing life on fraud charges

Kosher plant manager facing life on fraud charges

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A former manger of a kosher Iowa slaughterhouse who was convicted of financial fraud admitted he committed the fraud and that he knew illegal immigrants worked at the plant, a psychiatrist said during the executive’s sentencing hearing.
The psychiatrist was hired by the defense for …. Source article  : Immigration allegations an issue for kosher Iowa plant manager facing life on fraud charges.

Chavez foes manage to put aside differences and field unified slate for Venezuela’s elections

Chavez foes fielding unified lineup for election

CARACAS, Venezuela – Foes of President Hugo Chavez have largely put their differences aside and come up with a unified lineup of candidates, hoping to win control of a congress that has done the socialist leader’s bidding for years.
Pro-democracy activists, jailed government opponents, journalists, businessmen and union leaders are …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chavez foes manage to put aside differences and field unified slate for Venezuela’s elections.

Indian Mujahideen plans ’something’ in Kolkata: police

KOLKATA – The Indian Mujaheedin plans to carry out subversive activities in Kolkata, a top police official said here Thursday.

“We have received inputs that the Indian Mujaheedin is planning to do something. We can’t say anything more on this at this moment,” the officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.
Asked whether the famous Kali …. Original article  : Indian Mujahideen plans ’something’ in Kolkata: police.

Hamas: Egyptian forces pumps gas into cross-border smuggling tunnel, killing 4 Palestinians

Hamas: Egypt forces gas, kill 4 tunnel smugglers

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Egyptian forces pumped gas into a cross-border tunnel used to smuggle goods into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians, Hamas officials said.
Egypt has been under pressure to seal off the hundreds of tunnels that are a key economic lifeline for the …. Source article  : Hamas: Egyptian forces pumps gas into cross-border smuggling tunnel, killing 4 Palestinians.

Referendum drive, lawsuits could delay Arizona immigration law until 2012

Referendum could delay AZ immigration law to 2012

PHOENIX – Challenges to Arizona’s tough new law targeting illegal immigration have started to emerge, with a Latino clergy group planning to file the first lawsuit seeking to halt enforcement of the crackdown and others aiming to block the law at the ballot box.
The National Coalition of Latino …. Read the original article  : Referendum drive, lawsuits could delay Arizona immigration law until 2012.

Canadian parliament condemns Sikh extremism

TORONTO – In yet another warning to pro-Khalistan elements, the Canadian parliament Wednesday passed a resolution condemning threats by radicals to top Indo-Canadian leader and former health minister Ujjal Dosanjh.

A moderate Sikh who became premier of Canada’s British Columbia province in 2000,Dosanjh has been a staunch opponent of radical Sikhs in Canada since the 1980s … Read more : Canadian parliament condemns Sikh extremism.

Knife-wielding man attacks 28 children, 3 adults at kindergarten in China’s Jiangsu

Man stabs 28 children at kindergarten in China

BEIJING – A knife-wielding man attacked a kindergarten class of 4-year-olds in eastern China on Thursday, slashing 28 children in the third such rampage at a Chinese school in a month.
The three stabbings have been part of a series of school attacks in recent years, most blamed on …. Source article  : Knife-wielding man attacks 28 children, 3 adults at kindergarten in China’s Jiangsu.

Fresno, Calif., police arrest 108 since starting crackdown on gangs this week

Fresno, Calif, police arrest 108 in gang crackdown

FRESNO, Calif. – More than 100 suspects are facing charges since police in Fresno, Calif., started a crackdown on gangs this week.
After three people were killed in separate shootings over the weekend, Police Chief Jerry Dyer ordered officers to start looking for guns and drugs in a Fresno …. Original source  : Fresno, Calif., police arrest 108 since starting crackdown on gangs this week.

Calif. prosecutors ask judge to dismiss charges in whale sushi case; investigation ongoing

Prosecutors seek to dismiss whale sushi charges

LOS ANGELES – Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss charges against a Southern California sushi restaurant that admitted serving illegal and endangered whale meat, though the case appears not to be over.
U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Thom Mrozek said Wednesday that prosecutors want charges dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could … Read : Calif. prosecutors ask judge to dismiss charges in whale sushi case; investigation ongoing.

Maoists kill forest guard in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Maoist guerrillas killed a forest guard in Orissa’s Nuapada district, police said Thursday.

“About 30-4O Maoists had come (Wednesday night). They attacked the check gate inside the Bharuamunda forest area and killed forest guard Sangram Swain,” police said, adding they blew up the check gate.
Nuapada is 580 km from here.
In yet another … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Maoists kill forest guard in Orissa.

Washington state man convicted of killing 3-year-old stepdaughter for insurance money

WA man guilty of killing child for insurance money

SEATTLE – A Washington state man accused of drowning his 3-year-old stepdaughter so he could collect on a $200,000 life insurance policy has been convicted of second-degree murder.
A jury on Wednesday found 40-year-old Joel Zellmer of Kent guilty in the death of Ashley McLellan.
The girl was pulled …. Source  : Washington state man convicted of killing 3-year-old stepdaughter for insurance money.

Prosecutor won’t seek death penalty for man accused of raping 2 Seattle women, killing 1

No death penalty sought in WA rape-slaying

SEATTLE – Prosecutors won’t seek the death penalty in the case of a man accused of raping two women and fatally stabbing one of them in their Seattle home.
King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Wednesday that a jury might find a “mitigating factor” in Isaiah Kalebu’s (kuh-LAY’-boo’s) history of …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Prosecutor won’t seek death penalty for man accused of raping 2 Seattle women, killing 1.

Ohio man who left 2 children in plastic trash bin on hot July day gets 17 years in prison

Ohio man gets 17 years for leaving 2 kids in trash

DAYTON, Ohio – An Ohio man who left an infant and a toddler in a plastic trash bin on a hot July day has been sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Thirty-nine-year-old Tommie Johnson Jr. cried and apologized Wednesday before his sentencing in Montgomery County Common …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ohio man who left 2 children in plastic trash bin on hot July day gets 17 years in prison.

Investigator says Colo. school shooting suspect said he woke up feeling angry, ‘transformed’

Probable cause found in Colo. school shooting case

GOLDEN, Colo. – A man accused of shooting and wounding two Colorado students on school grounds has been ordered by a judge to stand trial for attempted first-degree murder and other charges.
The suspect, 32-year-old Bruco (bruce-oh) Strong Eagle Eastwood, was in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. He’s … Original article on : Investigator says Colo. school shooting suspect said he woke up feeling angry, ‘transformed’.

Psychiatrist says Iowa kosher slaughterhouse ex-manager convicted of fraud admitted crimes

Psychiatrist: Kosher plant manager admitted fraud

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A former executive of a kosher Iowa slaughterhouse who was convicted of financial fraud knew illegal immigrants worked at the plant, an admission that directly contradicts what he said under oath, a psychiatrist testified Wednesday at the executive’s sentencing hearing.
The psychiatrist was hired by the defense … Original article on : Psychiatrist says Iowa kosher slaughterhouse ex-manager convicted of fraud admitted crimes.

Judge challenges federal prosecutors to show Michigan militia members did more than just talk

Judge asks feds to show militia did more than talk

DETROIT – A federal judge challenged prosecutors Wednesday to show that nine members of a Michigan militia accused of plotting war against the government had done more than just talk and should remain locked up.
U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts heard nearly 10 hours of testimony and …. Read the original article  : Judge challenges federal prosecutors to show Michigan militia members did more than just talk.

Lawyer says she saw police shoot Southern California man whose hands were in air

Lawyer: Police shot man whose hands were in air

LOS ANGELES – An attorney says she saw police fatally shoot a Southern California robbery suspect whose hands were in the air.
Lawyer Frances Prizzia said Wednesday she had an unobstructed view of Lejoy Grissom’s hands when Culver City police shot him outside a doughnut shop.
Grissom was shot … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lawyer says she saw police shoot Southern California man whose hands were in air.