India to observe May 21 as Anti-Terrorism Day

NEW DELHI – India will observe Anti-Terrorism Day Friday to mark former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination on May 21, 1991.

The home ministry said in a statement Thursday: “Anti-terrorism Day is observed to generate awareness among all sections about the danger of terrorism, violence and its dangerous effect on the people, the society and the … Read : India to observe May 21 as Anti-Terrorism Day.

Lockerbie bomber is alive – nine months after being freed

LONDON – Cancer-stricken Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi is alive, nine months after he was granted compassionate release from a Scottish prison by doctors who gave him just three months to live.

Megrahi has now become the longest-surviving person to be granted compassionate release in Scotland, The Sun reported Thursday.
Former Libyan intelligence agent Megrahi was … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lockerbie bomber is alive – nine months after being freed.

No misunderstanding in fighting Maoists: Raman Singh

NEW DELHI – Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Thursday said there was no misunderstanding with the central government in fighting the Maoists and efforts will be made to further improve coordination between the paramilitary forces and the state police.

Singh told reporters after his interaction with Home Minister P. Chidambaram here that they had a “detailed … Original source on Gaea Times at : No misunderstanding in fighting Maoists: Raman Singh.

Malaysia court sentences woman to 8 years in jail for scalding Indonesian housemaid

Malaysia woman handed 8 years’ jail for maid abuse

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Malaysian court sentenced a woman to eight years in prison Thursday for scalding her Indonesian housemaid with hot water and assaulting her with scissors and a hammer.
The case was one of several involving the abuse of Indonesian domestic workers that strained ties …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysia court sentences woman to 8 years in jail for scalding Indonesian housemaid.

Maoists loot 16 tonnes of ammonium nitrate

RAIPUR – Suspected Maoists hijacked a truck in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district and looted 16 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer also used to make explosives, police said Thursday.

“It’s really very stunning. A few Maoists forcibly diverted the truck from National Highway 43 on Tuesday and took it to their forest hideout in Bastar district. They …. Read the original article  : Maoists loot 16 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.

No info on arrest of ULFA chief in Bangladesh: Pillai

GUWAHATI – Indian authorities Thursday rejected reports that Paresh Baruah, one of India’s most wanted fugitives and leader of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), has been arrested in Bangladesh.

“We have no such reports,” Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai told IANS in response to an SMS about the reports.
Local television channels in Assam … Read more : No info on arrest of ULFA chief in Bangladesh: Pillai.

West Bengal can’t control Maoists until others do: Buddhadeb

KOLKATA – Maoist activities in West Bengal cannot be fully controlled if similar security operations are not launched in neighbouring Jharkhand and Orissa, says Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

“It won’t be possible for us to fully check Maoist activities in our state till a similar security operation is started in Jharkhand and Orissa,” Bhattacharjee told Bengali … Original article on : West Bengal can’t control Maoists until others do: Buddhadeb.

South Korea Warship Case Solved?

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (GaeaTimes.com)- The President of South Korea, President Lee Myung-bak, declared Thursday that he would be calling an emergency meeting to deal with the recently unearthed evidence that proves that the sinking of the South Korean warship in March this year was a premeditated effort on the part of North Korea. The …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : South Korea Warship Case Solved?.

Couple sentenced to maximum 14 years under Malawi’s anti-gay laws

Gay couple sentenced to maximum 14 years in Malawi

BLANTYRE, Malawi – A judge sentenced a couple to the maximum 14 years in prison for unnatural acts and gross indecency Thursday under Malawi’s anti-gay legislation.
The harsh sentence had been expected in this conservative southern African country after the same judge convicted Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza …. Source  : Couple sentenced to maximum 14 years under Malawi’s anti-gay laws.

China says thousands of officials punished in crackdown on stimulus-linked corruption

China cracks down on stimulus-linked graft

BEIJING – China disclosed widespread corruption Thursday linked to its 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus, announcing that thousands of officials have been punished for taking bribes, embezzlement and other abuses.
The announcement confirmed public fears the flood of spending and a stimulus-linked easing of curbs on real estate development would … Read more >>.

Senators push for National Guard troops on Southern border, administration can’t agree on plan

Senators press for National Guard troops on border
WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Pentagon officials are at loggerheads over a plan to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, even as President Barack Obama is pledging to bolster security there.
The Guard stalemate has festered for nearly a year, and frustrated lawmakers are …. Original article  : Senators push for National Guard troops on Southern border, administration can’t agree on plan.

Mirandizing the political conversation: Obama administration gains a little breathing room

‘Modifying’ Miranda modifies the political debate
WASHINGTON – Hammered for months by Republicans as soft on terrorism, Attorney General Eric Holder and the rest of the Obama administration are suddenly playing offense, offering to work with Congress on a law that would let law enforcement delay constitutional Miranda warnings to terror suspects.
The shift would …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Australian ninja students come to the aid of mugging victim, attackers flee in panic

Australian ninja students rescue mugging victim

SYDNEY – Three men who police said were robbing a German medical student in an alley fled in a panic when five members of a nearby martial arts school rushed to the rescue dressed in full ninja gear.
The trio attacked the 27-year-old man on Tuesday night after he got off …. Original source  : Australian ninja students come to the aid of mugging victim, attackers flee in panic.

Paper: Pa. Hershey School pays $3M in compensation to former alleged abuse victims

Paper: Pa. school pays alleged abuse victims $3M

PHILADELPHIA – A Pennsylvania newspaper says the Milton Hershey School for disadvantaged children has paid $3 million to compensate five former students who claimed they were sexually abused.
The Philadelphia Inquirer cited sources, including a high-ranking official at the century-old school.
School spokeswoman Connie McNamara on Wednesday confirmed the payments … Original source on Gaea Times at : Paper: Pa. Hershey School pays $3M in compensation to former alleged abuse victims.

Maoists blast rail track, torch diesel tankers on goods train

PATNA – At least 15 diesel tankers caught fire when suspected Maoists derailed a goods train by blasting the railway track and then set afire one of the tankers in Bihar’s Motihari district, a railway official said Thursday.

The Maoists targeted the diesel tankers on the goods train between Jeevdhara and Pipra railway stations in Motihari, [..] Read the original article: here.

Professor sentenced to 3-1/2 years in trial on swingers club on China

Professor given 3-1/2 years in China swingers case

BEIJING – A college professor accused of organizing a swingers club and holding private orgies in China was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, officials said, in a case that touched off national debate about sexual freedom.
Ma Yaohai, 53, was convicted and sentenced on charges of group … Read more »».

Professor sentenced to 3 1/2 years in trial on swingers club on China

Professor given 3 1/2 years in China swingers case

BEIJING – A college professor accused of organizing a swingers club and holding private orgies in China was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, officials said, in a case that touched off national debate about sexual freedom.
Ma Yaohai, 53, was convicted and sentenced on charges of …. Source article  : Professor sentenced to 3 1/2 years in trial on swingers club on China.

Army vet fatally shot by FBI agent at MacDill base in Tampa; security chased him after fight

Army veteran fatally shot at MacDill AFB in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – An Army veteran who sped away from MacDill Air Force Base security on a motorcycle was fatally shot Wednesday by an FBI agent after the man threatened him with a knife, officials said.
At about 6 p.m., base security was called to an altercation, which …. Source article  : Army vet fatally shot by FBI agent at MacDill base in Tampa; security chased him after fight.

Attorney says Lohan stuck in Cannes and will miss court hearing; warrant could be issued

Attorney: Lohan stuck in Cannes, won’t be in court

LOS ANGELES – An attorney for Lindsay Lohan says the actress will miss a mandatory court appearance Thursday because she is stuck in France.
Attorney Shawn Chapman Holley says Lohan’s passport was stolen while she was at the Cannes Film Festival. Holley told ABC7 that Lohan has an … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Attorney says Lohan stuck in Cannes and will miss court hearing; warrant could be issued.

Police in northern Mexico border state arrest 11 men suspected in kidnappings of migrants

Mexico arrests 11 suspects in migrant kidnappings

TIJUANA, Mexico – Police in northern Mexico say they have arrested 11 men who allegedly kidnapped migrants trying to reach the United States.
Prosecutors in the border state of Baja California say 8 suspects were captured Monday after they opened fire on police during a raid on a house where … Read more »»».