Russia says pirates who held oil tanker off the coast of Somalia have been released

Russia says pirates who held tanker are freed

MOSCOW – Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday the pirates seized by a Russian warship off the coast of Somalia have been released because of “imperfections” in international law.
Authorities initially said the pirates would be brought to Russia to face criminal charges after hijacking a Russian oil tanker. But … Read more »».

Day after Kasab verdict, business as usual at CST

MUMBAI – A day after he was sentenced to death, it was business as usual Friday at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) where Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab and an accomplice slaughtered more than 50 innocents during the Mumbai terror attack.

Moments after a special court Thursday awarded the capital punishment to Kasab, the only one … Read more »»».

Russia says pirates who held oil tanker released

Russia says pirates who held tanker released

MOSCOW – A spokesman for Russia’s Defense Ministry says the pirates seized by a Russian warship off the coast of Somalia have been released because of “imperfections” in international law.
Authorities initially said the pirates would be brought to Russia to face criminal charges after hijacking a Russian oil tanker. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Russia says pirates who held oil tanker released.

Five guerrillas, two soldiers die in Kashmir gunfight

SRINAGAR – Five separatist guerrillas and two Indian soldiers were killed in heavy fighting in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said Friday.

The deaths took place late Thursday during a joint operation by the army and police in Sheikhpora’s forest, some 80 km from here, Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmad …. Source  : Five guerrillas, two soldiers die in Kashmir gunfight.

Tension continues in Manipur

IMPHAL – The situation in Manipur continued to be volatile for the second day Friday after three students were killed and about 70 injured in clashes between security forces and supporters of Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah.

More than 5,000 Nagas had Thursday gathered at Mao, the border town between the two adjoining states of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Tension continues in Manipur.

Pakistan taking ‘aggressive action’ against terrorists, says US

WASHINGTON – As Times Square bombing attempt suspect Faisal Shahzad was linked to terror groups in his homeland, the United States came to the aid of its key ally saying of late Islamabad has been taking “aggressive action” against militants.

“Pakistan has for a number of years been taking aggressive action,” State Department spokesman Philip J. …. Source article  : Pakistan taking ‘aggressive action’ against terrorists, says US.

Immigration protesters arrested after locking selves together, blocking LA street for hours

Immigration protesters block Los Angeles street

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles police have arrested more than a dozen protesters who chained themselves together on a downtown street to protest Arizona’s new immigration law.
Protest spokesman Nelson Motto says 14 activists locked themselves in a circle Thursday afternoon and lay down in front of federal immigration detention center, …. Original source  : Immigration protesters arrested after locking selves together, blocking LA street for hours.

Four guerrillas, two soldiers killed in Kashmir gunfight

SRINAGAR – Four separatist guerrillas and two army troopers were killed in a fierce gunfight in a forest area near Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, an official said Friday.

The army and police jointly surrounded the area near Sheikhpora village, 80 km from here Thursday, when they received specific information about the presence of a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Four guerrillas, two soldiers killed in Kashmir gunfight.

Pakistan links of Times Square suspect grows stronger

WASHINGTON – Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American suspect in the Times Square bombing attempt, has been linked to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a Yemeni-American militant cleric who has inspired several recent attacks and plots.

The extent of Shahzad’s involvement with TTP has not been determined and could range from communications to training and does not necessarily mean … Read more »»».

Video emerges of Times Square suspect buying fireworks

WASHINGTON – A video has been aired in the US showing the suspect in the attempted bombing of New York’s Times Square purchasing fireworks.

Broadcaster CNN aired the footage Thursday captured by cameras in a Phantom Fireworks store in Matamoras, Pennsylvania, which is said to show Faisal Shahzad purchasing M-88 firecrackers.
M-88s were a component in … Read more : Video emerges of Times Square suspect buying fireworks.

Police chief says NH bomb scare, hours-long standoff with passenger ‘not terrorist event’

Police: NH bus bomb scare not ‘terrorist event’

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – A nine-hour bomb scare aboard a Maine-to-New York Greyhound bus ended peacefully Thursday night when the lone remaining passenger walked off it with his hands over his head. The other 16 passengers and the driver had left the bus safely hours earlier.
Portsmouth Police Chief David …. Source  : Police chief says NH bomb scare, hours-long standoff with passenger ‘not terrorist event’.

Pentagon bans 4 Guantanamo reporters who published name of witness after being told not to

Pentagon bans 4 Gitmo reporters for naming witness

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Pentagon on Thursday barred four journalists from military commissions at Guantanamo Bay because they published the name of a witness after being told not to.
The U.S. military wanted the witness identified only as “Interrogator No. 1″ and forbade reporting his name during …. Source  : Pentagon bans 4 Guantanamo reporters who published name of witness after being told not to.

US adds 3 Mexican states to list of places Americans should avoid, including 2 tourist areas

US adds 3 Mexican states to travel-warning list

MEXICO CITY – The U.S. State Department updated its travel warning for Mexico on Thursday by including three additional states on its list of places it recommends Americans avoid when south of the border.
The new warning adds the northern state of Tamaulipas, parts of the northern Pacific coast [..] Read the original article: here.

‘Person of interest’ in recent KC rapes charged in 1980s assaults, also investigated in Calif.

Charges in old Mo. rapes, investigation in Calif.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A convicted Missouri sex offender considered a person of interest in a recent string of Kansas City rapes was charged Thursday with 15 counts related to assaults in the same neighborhood in the early 1980s.
Investigators also are looking into possible connections between Bernard Jackson, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘Person of interest’ in recent KC rapes charged in 1980s assaults, also investigated in Calif..

Cincinnati Bengals agree to deal with cornerback Pacman Jones

Bengals agree to deal with Jones
CINCINNATI – Adam “Pacman” Jones agreed to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, putting the troubled cornerback on a team with a history of giving players second chances.

Jones, who was released by the Cowboys after the 2008 season and didn’t play last year, worked for the Bengals … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cincinnati Bengals agree to deal with cornerback Pacman Jones.

Siblings, father killed, mother wounded after gunman invades LA-area home

3 family members killed by gunman in LA-area home

HAWAIIAN GARDENS, Calif. – Six family members escaped a gunman rampaging through their house Thursday by climbing through a window and hiding on a roof as a room-to-room attack left a father, son and daughter dead and the mother critically wounded, authorities said.
Joseph Mercado, 26, is suspected … Read more : Siblings, father killed, mother wounded after gunman invades LA-area home.

Blagojevich attorneys barred from mentioning one-time fundraiser’s suicide at corruption trial

Blagojevich lawyers can’t mention suicide at trial
CHICAGO – A federal judge says former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s (blah-GOY’-uh-viches) attorneys cannot talk about a fundraiser’s suicide at his corruption trial.
Judge James Zagel barred mention of Christopher Kelly’s suicide in a one-line order Thursday.
Prosecutors sought the order, saying Kelly’s suicide was unrelated to the case.
Kelly … Original source on Gaea Times at : Blagojevich attorneys barred from mentioning one-time fundraiser’s suicide at corruption trial.

Utah Supreme Court to hear arguments in case of man scheduled to die by firing squad

Utah court to hear appeal in firing squad case

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Supreme Court said Thursday it will hear an expedited appeal from a condemned inmate scheduled to be executed by a firing squad.
Ronnie Lee Gardner, 49, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die in 1985 for the fatal courthouse shooting …. Original source  : Utah Supreme Court to hear arguments in case of man scheduled to die by firing squad.

NYC judge orders filmmaker to turn over outtakes of documentary on Chevron-Ecuador legal fight

NYC judge to ‘Crude’ filmmaker: Hand over footage

NEW YORK – A federal judge ordered a documentary filmmaker Thursday to turn over about 600 hours of raw footage from a film about a court fight over whether Chevron Corp. owes billions of dollars in damages for oil contamination in Ecuador.
U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said …. Read the original article  : here.

Siblings killed, parents wounded after gunman with assault-style rifle invades LA-area home

2 killed when gunman invades LA-area home
HAWAIIAN GARDENS, Calif. – Six family members escaped a gunman rampaging through their house Thursday by climbing through a window and hiding on a roof as a room-to-room attack left a sister and brother dead and their parents critically wounded, authorities said.

Joseph Mercado, 27, is suspected of shooting and … Read more »»».