Clark Rockefeller Appeal Rejected

SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- The story of Christian Gerhartsreiter is what crime fiction novels are made of. The German fraud who called himself Clark Rockefeller will be spending some more years in prison after his appeal got rejected in court on Thursday. The Appellate Division of the Superior Court in Suffolk which comprised Superior Court …. Source article  : Clark Rockefeller Appeal Rejected.

Jamaica State Of Emergency Declared

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (GaeaTimes.com)- The government of Jamaica has declared state of emergency at certain parts of Kingston on Sunday. The state of emergency will be maintained at West Kingston and the St. Andrews district of Kingston for a month and the government also added that it might be extended afterward. The emergency was declared … Original article on : Jamaica State Of Emergency Declared.

Australia moves to expel Israeli diplomat over forged passports used in Dubai slaying

Australia moves to expel Israeli diplomat
CANBERRA, Australia – Australia ordered the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat Monday after investigators concluded Israel was responsible for forging four Australian passports that were used in the slaying of a Hamas operative in Dubai.

Australia’s reaction echoes that of the United Kingdom, which in March expelled a diplomat in retaliation …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Australia moves to expel Israeli diplomat over forged passports used in Dubai slaying.

Government not underestimating Maoist insurgency: PM

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday denied that the government had underestimated the Maoist insurgency which he again described as the “biggest” security challenge the country faces.

“If you remember I have always been saying that Naxalism is the biggest security challenge. So it is not correct to say that we have underestimated … Original article on : Government not underestimating Maoist insurgency: PM.

Report: Handcuffed theft suspect in Malaysia escapes by fleeing in police car

Handcuffed suspect flees in Malaysian police car

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A report says a detained Malaysian car theft suspect has fled by driving off in a police cruiser while still in handcuffs.
The New Straits Times daily says the 33-year-old man sneaked into the police car and fled shortly after his arrest Sunday, while police officers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Report: Handcuffed theft suspect in Malaysia escapes by fleeing in police car.

Asbestos’ death toll climbs in scenic Montana town as EPA struggles with vast cleanup effort

For asbestos-ravaged town, questions persist

LIBBY, Mont. – Gayla Benefield and Eva Thomson are sisters who have grown used to death. For two decades, they have watched asbestos from a nearby vermiculite mine strangle their parents, Thomson’s husband, an aunt, several in-laws and numerous neighbors and friends.
So as they wandered the Libby cemetery on a blustery …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Asbestos’ death toll climbs in scenic Montana town as EPA struggles with vast cleanup effort.

Police: Paramedics found Jose Lima in full cardiac arrest in his Pasadena home

Police: Lima found in cardiac arrest at Calif home

LOS ANGELES – Authorities say paramedics found former major league pitcher Jose Lima in full cardiac arrest at his home in Pasadena early Sunday, and he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A statement from the Pasadena Police Department says a specific cause of …. Original source  : Police: Paramedics found Jose Lima in full cardiac arrest in his Pasadena home.

Indian town in Ecuador drops death penalty in murder, orders farm work for youthful defendant

Indian town drops death penalty in murder case

QUITO, Ecuador – An Indian community that sentenced a young man to death by hanging for the murder of another man softened his punishment Sunday, ordering him to do five years of community service instead.
Orlando Quishpe, 21, was also subjected to punishments that included carrying a heavy sack …. Read the original article  : Indian town in Ecuador drops death penalty in murder, orders farm work for youthful defendant.

Hundreds march 10 miles in Utah to honor, demand justice for slain 4-year-old

Hundreds march in Utah to honor slain 4-year-old

LAYTON, Utah – Hundreds of Utahns gathered for a 10-mile walk to honor a 4-year-old Virginia boy whose badly beaten body was dug up from a Utah mountainside grave nearly two weeks ago.
Ethan Stacy’s mother and stepfather are being held in the case, and prosecutors have said the … Read more : Hundreds march 10 miles in Utah to honor, demand justice for slain 4-year-old.

Jamaica declares state of emergency as gunfire erupts in barricaded slum

Jamaica: Gunfire, fire bombs in barricaded slum

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Masked men defending a reputed drug lord sought by the United States torched a police station and traded gunfire with security forces in a patchwork of barricaded slums in Jamaica’s capital Sunday.
The government declared a state of emergency as sporadic gunshots rang out in gritty West … Read : Jamaica declares state of emergency as gunfire erupts in barricaded slum.

Jamaica police urge alleged drug kingpin to surrender from barricaded stronghold

Jamaica police urge suspected drug lord to give up

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Police in Jamaica’s jittery capital urged a gang leader wanted in the U.S. on drug and arms-trafficking charges to surrender Sunday, even as tension grew behind barricades erected by his supporters to protect him.
In a gritty section of the capital of an island known …. Source  : Jamaica police urge alleged drug kingpin to surrender from barricaded stronghold.

TV producer wanted for questioning in wife’s death returns to US from Mexico, lawyer says

Producer wanted for questioning returns to US

LOS ANGELES – A former “Survivor” producer wanted for questioning in Mexico about his wife’s death has returned to the United States, his lawyer said Sunday.
Bruce Beresford-Redman returned to Los Angeles County “to be with his children and attend to family and personal matters,” attorney Richard Hirsch said in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : TV producer wanted for questioning in wife’s death returns to US from Mexico, lawyer says.

Iran’s spy chief calls 3 jailed Americans spies, hints Iran may be open to prisoner swap

Iran spy chief says 3 jailed Americans are spies

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s intelligence minister on Sunday signaled that Tehran might be open to a prisoner swap with the U.S. for three Americans jailed in Iran since last July.
Sarah Shourd, 31, Shane Bauer, 27, and Josh Fattal, 27, were arrested along the Iraqi border 10 months … Original article on : Iran’s spy chief calls 3 jailed Americans spies, hints Iran may be open to prisoner swap.

NJ woman who has MS and uses wheelchair charged with killing husband; couple planned divorce

NJ woman with MS charged with killing husband

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – A mother of three who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair was charged with fatally shooting her husband inside their northern New Jersey home.
Family members said the couple were planning to end their 19-year-marriage, but authorities have not determined a motive.
Amalia Mirasola, 44, was … Original source on Gaea Times at : NJ woman who has MS and uses wheelchair charged with killing husband; couple planned divorce.

Former Chicago police official faces charges that he lied about torture of suspects

Jury selection begins in Ill. police torture trial

CHICAGO – For decades, black men across Chicago described torture at the hands of former police Lt. Jon Burge and his officers, and for decades no one listened. Suspects landed in jail and even on death row for crimes they say they didn’t commit after Burge and his …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Former Chicago police official faces charges that he lied about torture of suspects.

Young female chief faces off with Pa. state trooper, raising allegations of bias, bullying

Young female chief faces off with Pa. trooper

MOUNT JEWETT, Pa. – Nataliya Miroslavna has a reputation for writing lots of speeding tickets, but it’s a ticket the young police chief was given by a state police trooper that has the town’s 1,070 residents buzzing.
Trooper Dale Vukovich Jr. ticketed Miroslavna – on her way to work, … Read : Young female chief faces off with Pa. state trooper, raising allegations of bias, bullying.

Would-be jihadis make circuitous journey to reach terror training camps in Pakistan

Jihadis make their way to Pakistan training areas

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – The path to terrorist training in Pakistan is well worn – developed and maintained by established militant groups that have operated for decades. They are open to those – Americans included – with enough determination and savvy to navigate both the extremist networks and the …. Read the original article  : here.

With 10 on death row, Iran seeks to link opposition to unpopular exile group

With death sentences, Iran seeks to cow opposition

BEIRUT – It didn’t take much for Iranian courts to sentence 10 people to death over the country’s post-election turmoil. For one prisoner, the main evidence was that he allegedly sent videos of protests abroad.
The government accuses the 10 of leading unrest after the disputed presidential election, but …. Original source  : With 10 on death row, Iran seeks to link opposition to unpopular exile group.

Ethiopia opposition bloc complains of intimidation in election, say they may contest results

Ethiopia opposition bloc claims voter intimidation

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Ethiopia’s opposition said they may contest the results of Sunday’s national election in court after reports of intimidation and vote-rigging, hoping to avoid the violent street clashes that marred the last poll and left nearly 200 dead.
The election in Africa’s third most populous nation is being …. Original article  : Ethiopia opposition bloc complains of intimidation in election, say they may contest results.

Maoists, security forces fight gun battle in Lalgarh

KOLKATA – Maoist guerrillas and joint security forces exchanged heavy firing in trouble-torn Lalgarh of West Bengal’s West Midnapore district Sunday.

“An encounter took place between the Maoists and the security forces near the Bakisol forest. There are no reports of casualties or arrests,” said West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma.
The gun battle happened …. Source article  : Maoists, security forces fight gun battle in Lalgarh.

Attorney says Pakistani student accused of aiding Taliban never wanted to fight US troops

Attorney: Texas man didn’t want to fight US troops

HOUSTON – A Pakistani student accused of conspiring to aid the Taliban and undergoing training to fight U.S. troops never intended to commit “battlefield Jihad” or help a terrorist group, his attorney told jurors Monday.
But a prosecutor said during opening statements in the trial of Adnan Babar …. Original article  : Attorney says Pakistani student accused of aiding Taliban never wanted to fight US troops.

Jamaica cops, soldiers invade slum stronghold where gunmen defend reputed drug kingpin

Jamaica cops attack drug lord’s slum stronghold

KINGSTON, Jamaica – More than 1,000 police and soldiers assaulted a public housing complex occupied by heavily armed gangsters defending an alleged drug lord wanted by the U.S., waging a major offensive in the heart of West Kingston’s ramshackle slums.
Security forces broke through barbed-wire barricades and fought their way … Read more >>.

American Center attack: apex court stays Aftab Ansari’s death sentence

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the death sentence of Aftab Ahmed Ansari, alias Aftab Ansari, a co-accused in the Jan 22, 2002, attack on the American Center in Kolkata that left six policemen dead.

On May 10, the Supreme Court had stayed the death sentence of Mohammed Jamiluddin Nasir who was also convicted …. Source article  : American Center attack: apex court stays Aftab Ansari’s death sentence.

American Center attack: apex court stays Aftab Ahmed’s death sentence

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday stayed the death sentence of Aftab Ahmed Ansari, alias Aftab Ansari, a co-accused in the Jan 22, 2002, attack on the American Center in Kolkata.
… Read more : American Center attack: apex court stays Aftab Ahmed’s death sentence.

Dara Singh Case Renewed On Thursday

JAIPUR, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Supreme Court in India which had ordered a CBI inquiry by members of the Rajasthan Police Special Operations Group in the year 2006 for the Dara Singh fake encounter case, renewed its probe on this Thursday. Police officials from India’s capital Delhi assembled in Jaipur to carry on further investigations.
The …. Source article  : Dara Singh Case Renewed On Thursday.

Prime suspect of German Bakery blast held: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – Abdul Samad, the prime suspect in the Feb 13 German Bakery blast in Pune, has been apprehended by the investigative agencies, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Tuesday.

“The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Maharashtra, with the assistance of the Pune police, were able to identify the prime suspect behind the bomb blast. He has …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Prime suspect of German Bakery blast held: Chidambaram.

Alaska soldier ordered to remove Facebook video showing Iraqi children being taunted

Alaska soldier ordered to remove Facebook video

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Alaska-based soldier is under investigation for a video on his Facebook page that taunts smiling Iraqi children by asking if they’re gay, if they engage in certain sex acts and if they would grow up to be terrorists.
The two young boys did not appear to … Original source on Gaea Times at : Alaska soldier ordered to remove Facebook video showing Iraqi children being taunted.

Texas man charged with assaulting Delta flight attendant on flight from Puerto Rico

Texas man charged with assaulting flight attendant

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Texas man has been charged with assaulting a flight attendant in a disturbance that led the captain to make an emergency return to Puerto Rico.
The FBI says 38-year-old Anthony David Watson of Fredericksburg, Texas, walked to the rear of the Delta Air Lines … Read more >>>.

9 accused of accessing Obama’s student loan records plead not guilty in federal court in Iowa

9 in Iowa plead not guilty in Obama loan case
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Nine people charged with illegally accessing President Barack Obama’s student loan records while employed for a Department of Education contractor in Iowa pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court.
The former employees of Vangent Inc. are accused of gaining access to a …. Original source  : 9 accused of accessing Obama’s student loan records plead not guilty in federal court in Iowa.

Lohan gets new bling when judge orders her to wear alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet

Lohan ordered to wear alcohol monitoring bracelet

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Lindsay Lohan left court Monday with a heavy new piece of jewelry, but it wasn’t her favorite kind of bling.
Lohan sported an ugly, alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet that came with tough restrictions on her probation that could cut into her career plans.
The measures were ordered after … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lohan gets new bling when judge orders her to wear alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet.

Texas Rangers seek bankruptcy protection to help spur $575 million sale

Rangers seek bankruptcy protection to spur sale

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday in hopes of spurring completion of the $575 million sale of the team by midsummer to a group of investors that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Under the plan, the Rangers would fully pay the … Read more : Texas Rangers seek bankruptcy protection to help spur $575 million sale.

Former dictator emerges as strong candidate to gain power in Suriname despite murder trial

Former dictator could gain power in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – A former dictator and convicted drug trafficker appears poised to regain political power in Suriname, where he has cultivated a following among young people despite facing trial for the execution of political opponents in the 1980s.
The main opposition party led by Desi Bouterse appears likely to [..] Read the original article: here.

Despite recession, violent crimes and property offenses both down _ for third straight year

Crime rates down for third year, despite recession

WASHINGTON – Crime in the United States dropped dramatically in 2009, bucking a historical trend that links rising crime rates to economic woes. Property crimes and violent offenses each declined about 5 percent, the FBI said Monday, citing reports from law enforcement coast to coast.
It was the third … Original article on : Despite recession, violent crimes and property offenses both down _ for third straight year.

Prosecutor wants prison for former Detroit mayor who faces sentence for violating probation

Prosecutor: Put former Detroit mayor in prison

DETROIT – A prosecutor is seeking a prison term of two years to five years for former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who violated his probation in a criminal case.
In a court filing Monday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says more probation for Kilpatrick would only be a reward for …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Government lawyers ask Supreme Court to keep ban on unlimited ’soft money’ contributions

Gov’t asks court to keep ’soft money’ ban
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is asking the Supreme Court to let stand a ban keeping political parties from raising unlimited campaign contributions.

This represents the latest skirmish following the high court’s decision to unleash corporate and labor spending in federal elections.
The Republican Party wants to undo the ban …. Original article  : Government lawyers ask Supreme Court to keep ban on unlimited ’soft money’ contributions.

74-year-old man acquitted of murder in 1966 shooting of Philly cop who died in 2007

Murder acquittal in ‘66 Philly police shooting

PHILADELPHIA – A 74-year-old man who shot a Philadelphia police officer in 1966 was acquitted Monday of murder and other charges filed after the officer’s death in 2007.
The jury reached its verdict after beginning deliberations late Friday afternoon after the weeklong murder trial of William J. Barnes, who served …. Source  : 74-year-old man acquitted of murder in 1966 shooting of Philly cop who died in 2007.

Retractable Technologies claims $5 million win in patent suit against Becton Dickinson

Retractable Tech claims $5M win in Becton suit

LITTLE ELM, Texas – Retractable Technologies Inc. said Monday that it has won a $5 million patent infringement case against Becton, Dickinson and Co.
Retractable Technologies, which makes safety syringes and blood collection devices, charged Becton Dickinson of violating intellectual property rights on two of its syringe designs.
A judge [..] Read the original article: here.

Battles intensify between Jamaica police and gangsters allied with reputed drug kingpin

Jamaica: Gun battles intensifying, spreading

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s security forces clashed with masked gunmen allied with an alleged drug kingpin for a second consecutive day on Monday as an intensifying multi-front battle against gangs spread to volatile slums outside the capital.
Police and soldiers came under heavy fire in barricaded battle zones in the West Kingston …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Battles intensify between Jamaica police and gangsters allied with reputed drug kingpin.

Lohan loses bid to ease restrictions on alcohol testing, to be fitted with monitoring bracelet

Lindsay Lohan ordered to wear monitoring bracelet

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – A judge on Monday refused a request by Lindsay Lohan’s attorney to ease restrictions involving drug and alcohol testing on the actress so she can film a movie in Texas.
Lohan, wearing a dark gray suit, appeared somber and concerned when she conferred with her attorney … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Lohan loses bid to ease restrictions on alcohol testing, to be fitted with monitoring bracelet.

Actress Lindsay Lohan loses bid to ease restrictions on alcohol testing

Lohan loses bid to ease restriction on drug tests

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Lindsay Lohan has lost a bid to ease restrictions involving drug and alcohol testing so she can attend a film shoot in Texas.
The actress, wearing a dark gray suit, appeared somber and concerned Monday in a Beverly Hills courtroom when she conferred with …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Former Detroit mayor spends first night in prison after plea for leniency fails

Ex-Detroit mayor spends first night in prison

DETROIT – Kwame Kilpatrick spent his first night in prison after the former Detroit mayor known for his exceptional speaking skills failed to persuade a judge to show him compassion and send him home to his family.
All Kilpatrick’s swagger and professions of love for family, God and the city …. Source article  : Former Detroit mayor spends first night in prison after plea for leniency fails.

Judge to consider guilty plea from Jordanian man accused of plotting to bomb Dallas skyscraper

Judge to consider man’s plea in Texas bomb plot

DALLAS – A federal judge is set to consider a plea agreement from a Jordanian man accused of plotting to blow up a skyscraper in downtown Dallas.
Court documents say 19-year-old Hosam Smadi (hoh-SAHM’ SMAH’-dee) has agreed to plead guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass …. Source article  : Judge to consider guilty plea from Jordanian man accused of plotting to bomb Dallas skyscraper.

Community board votes to support plans for mosque, cultural center near NYC’s ground zero

NYC community board OKs ground zero mosque plans

NEW YORK – After hours of contentious public comment, a New York City community board voted late Tuesday to support a plan to build a mosque and cultural center near ground zero.
“It’s a seed of peace,” board member Rob Townley said. “We believe that this is significant step …. Source article  : Community board votes to support plans for mosque, cultural center near NYC’s ground zero.

Judge lifts federal pumping limits in Calif for 3 weeks to free up more water for farms

Judge orders Calif water pumping limits lifted

FRESNO, Calif. – Central California farmers won more water for their parched fields Tuesday when a federal judge temporarily loosened pumping limits meant to protect native salmon.
Attorneys for some of the nation’s largest farms and Southern California cities had asked for a preliminary injunction that would lift a set …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Judge lifts federal pumping limits in Calif for 3 weeks to free up more water for farms.

NY teen convicted in hate crime stabbing death faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing

NY teen faces sentencing in hate crime stabbing

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – A New York teenager is facing up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in the hate crime killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant.
Nineteen-year-old Jeffrey Conroy was convicted last month of manslaughter and other crimes in the November 2008 stabbing death of Marcelo Lucero … Original article on : NY teen convicted in hate crime stabbing death faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing.

Mexican senator visiting Ariz. says Mexico preparing for influx once immigration law in effect

Mexican senator says gov’t preparing for Ariz. law

PHOENIX – A Mexican senator in Phoenix to learn more about Arizona’s new immigration law says Mexican government officials are preparing in case the law drives large numbers of people back to Mexico.
Sen. Silvano Aureoles of the central state of Michoacan said Tuesday that the Arizona law is …. Source article  : Mexican senator visiting Ariz. says Mexico preparing for influx once immigration law in effect.

Judge scolds former NY state senator for cheating public, sentences him to 7 years in prison

Ex-NY state senator chided, gets 7 years in prison

NEW YORK – A federal judge has sentenced former New York state Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr. to seven years in prison, saying his scheme to steal from charities was an “American tragedy.”
Federal Judge William Pauley sentenced Gonzalez on Tuesday.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty last year to charges he used … Read : Judge scolds former NY state senator for cheating public, sentences him to 7 years in prison.

TiVo 1Q net loss widens as higher costs wipe out 11 percent revenue increase

TiVo loss widens on legal costs, other expenses

PHILADELPHIA – Digital video recorder pioneer TiVo Inc. on Tuesday reported a net loss in the first quarter – its sixth straight money-losing quarter as the company struggled with higher legal expenses and other costs that wiped out an increase in revenue.
While TiVo has a loyal following among …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : TiVo 1Q net loss widens as higher costs wipe out 11 percent revenue increase.

Malaysia parents seek return of son exiled for allegedly possessing stolen motorcycle

Malaysia parents challenge gov’t exile of teen son

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Malaysian teenager banished by the government for allegedly possessing a stolen motorcycle sought a court order Wednesday for him to be returned to his parents.
Authorities arrested Jagendran Panir Selvam and two of his 16-year-old friends in central Selangor state last December under a …. Read the original article  : Malaysia parents seek return of son exiled for allegedly possessing stolen motorcycle.

Thousdns pray for peace in Bangkok in wake of protest violence, killings

Thousands pray for peace in Bangkok
BANGKOK – Thousands of residents gathered at dawn Wednesday to pray for peace at sites across Bangkok where people were killed and high-rise buildings torched in two months of the worst political violence in the country’s modern history.

The chants of 1,000 Buddhist monks mingled with the prayers of Muslim imams, … Read more : Thousdns pray for peace in Bangkok in wake of protest violence, killings.

Hezbollah threatens to strike Israeli ships

Damascus (Syria), May 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Shiite armed group Hezbollah has threatened to hit all Israeli ships in the Mediterranean Sea if a new armed conflict breaks out between Israel and Lebanon, the group’s leader said.

“In any future war, if Israel blocks our coast and ports, all military, civil and commercial ships heading to Palestinian …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Baghdad gold heist ends with 15 dead amid crime wave in the Iraqi capital

Brazen Baghdad gold heist ends in 15 dead
BAGHDAD – Gunmen wearing Arab headscarves and wielding assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and pistols robbed a gold jewelry market in broad daylight Tuesday, killing 15 people in the most brazen example of Baghdad street crime that has soared as sectarian fighting ebbed.

Authorities blamed al-Qaida in Iraq, as … Read more »»».

Jordanian man to plead guilty in Texas skyscraper bomb plot if prison time capped at 30 years

Jordanian man to plead guilty to Texas bomb plot

DALLAS – A Jordanian man accused of trying to blow up a downtown Dallas skyscraper has agreed to enter a guilty plea in return for no more than 30 years in prison, according to federal court documents filed Tuesday.
Hosam Smadi, 19, agreed to plead guilty in a … Read more »»».

Lori Berenson Conditionally Released

LIMA, PERU (GaeaTimes.com)- Lori Berenson, the woman who had been accused of having attempted to kidnap certain leaders of the Peruvian Congress, allegedly with the help of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary group, has been granted parole by a Peruvian judge. She has been granted conditional release after having completed fifteen years of her twenty … Read more : Lori Berenson Conditionally Released.

5 Somalis on trial in Dutch court for piracy in Gulf under a 17th century law

5 Somalis on trial in Dutch court for Gulf piracy

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – The trial of five Somali men for robbery on the high seas is beginning in the first modern piracy trial in a Dutch court.
The men were captured in January 2009 after attacking a cargo ship registered in the Dutch Antilles. The ship’s crew … Read more »».

Army foils infiltration bid, two intruders killed

SRINAGAR – Two guerrillas were killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district Wednesday when the army foiled another infiltration bid, an Indian Army spokesperson said.

The two infiltrators were killed near the Line of Control (LOC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, in Tangdhar sector.
“Alert troops of the army challenged a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Army foils infiltration bid, two intruders killed.

Judge denies request to release details of murder of Calif. girl found in suitcase

Judge won’t release details of Calif girl’s murder

STOCKTON, Calif. – A judge on Monday denied a media request to release details of the murder of an 8-year-old girl whose body was found in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond in Northern California.
San Joaquin County Judge Linda Lofthus ruled against several news organizations, noting the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Judge denies request to release details of murder of Calif. girl found in suitcase.

Over 1,000 landmines found in Colombia

Bogota, May 26 (IANS/EFE) At least 1,053 landmines, which rebel guerrillas were planning to use in attacks ahead of the May 30 presidential elections in Colombia, have been found buried in a rural area in the northwestern region, police said.

The mines found in Antioquia province belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), “which …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Over 1,000 landmines found in Colombia.

APNewsBreak: Attorney says probe of Roethlisberger’s police friend to take months, not weeks

AP: Probe of Roethlisberger friend to take months

PITTSBURGH – The attorney for a Pittsburgh suburb says it will be “months as opposed to weeks” before he recommends whether a police officer should be disciplined for being with Ben Roethlisberger the night he was accused of sexual assault at a Georgia nightclub.
Coraopolis (kor-ee-AH’-poh-lis) solicitor Richard Start … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : APNewsBreak: Attorney says probe of Roethlisberger’s police friend to take months, not weeks.

Jailed for 15 years, US woman wants to be pastry chef

Lima, May 26 (IANS/EFE) An American woman, who spent 15 years in a Peruvian prison for helping rebels plan an attack on the parliament, has been granted parole and wants to work as a translator and a pastry chef.

Lori Berenson, 39, a native of New York, was released Tuesday. However, judge Jessica Leon Yarango barred … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Jailed for 15 years, US woman wants to be pastry chef.

AP source: Probe of Afghan civilian deaths focusing on about 10 members of Stryker brigade

AP source: Afghan probe focuses on Stryker brigade

WASHINGTON – About 10 members of an Army unit based at Fort Lewis, Wash., are under investigation for as many as three civilian deaths in Afghanistan, along with other potential wrongdoing, a senior military official said Monday.
The official did not have details of the investigation but confirmed that … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : AP source: Probe of Afghan civilian deaths focusing on about 10 members of Stryker brigade.

Manhattan DA taking new look at case of 6-year-old Etan Patz who disappeared 31 years ago

31-year-old case of missing NYC boy under review

NEW YORK – Six-year-old Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979. One of the most extensive missing-child searches was mounted to find him but two decades later, the boy was officially declared dead. No one has ever been arrested.
Now, the Manhattan district attorney’s office will take a fresh …. Original article  : Manhattan DA taking new look at case of 6-year-old Etan Patz who disappeared 31 years ago.

Former dictator Bouterse’s political party emerges as biggest parliament bloc in Suriname

Ex-dictator’s party biggest bloc in Suriname vote

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Allies of former dictator Desi Bouterse have overtaken Suriname’s governing coalition in parliamentary elections, positioning him to run for president despite a pending trial in the execution of 15 opponents in the 1980s.
Bouterse, who previously was convicted by a Dutch court of drug trafficking, has declined … Read more >>.

Al Qaeda continues to plot from Pakistan: US

WASHINGTON – The top White House counterterrorism adviser says President Barack Obama has refocused US efforts on Afghanistan as “Al Qaeda continues to plot from the tribal regions along the border with Pakistan and inside of Pakistan.”

“The President’s strategy is unequivocal with regard to our posture,” John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security …. Read the original article  : Al Qaeda continues to plot from Pakistan: US.

Anti-whaling activist pleads guilty to 4 of 5 charges in Tokyo trial for disrupting whale hunt

Anti-whaling activist pleads guilty in Tokyo trial

TOKYO – An anti-whaling activist from New Zealand who boarded a Japanese whaling ship as part of a protest in February pleaded guilty Thursday to charges including trespassing and destruction of property, but denied that he committed assault.
Sea Shepherd activist Peter Bethune admitted in a Tokyo court that he …. Original source  : Anti-whaling activist pleads guilty to 4 of 5 charges in Tokyo trial for disrupting whale hunt.

Federal appeals court upholds Wyo. man’s conviction in daughter’s death

Appeals court upholds Wyo. man’s conviction

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A federal appeals court has ruled against a Northern Arapaho man who says the state of Wyoming lacked authority to prosecute him for murder in his daughter’s death.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld the conviction of Andrew John Yellowbear Jr.
Yellowbear is serving a life [..] Read the original article: here.

Calif. judge dismisses wrongful death lawsuit brought by parents of slain high school athlete

Calif. judge dismisses slain athlete lawsuit

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by the parents of a high school football star who sued the sheriff’s department for releasing from jail an illegal immigrant suspected of killing their son.
Superior Court Judge Charles Palmer found Wednesday the law doesn’t support the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Calif. judge dismisses wrongful death lawsuit brought by parents of slain high school athlete.

Colorado country club cuts ties with Uchiyama after he’s listed on USA Swimming banned list

Uchiyama no longer works at Colorado country club

Former USA Swimming national team director Everett Uchiyama no longer works for a Colorado club after his named turned up on a list of those under a lifetime ban from the national governing body.
Uchiyama was the aquatics director at the Country Club of Colorado, located about five miles … Read more »»».

Ark. police officers slain during traffic stop shootout remembered as dedicated to public

2 Ark. officers slain in roadside shootout mourned

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – Two West Memphis police officers slain during a roadside shootout with an anti-government advocate and his son were remembered Monday as dedicated public servants and as loving fathers.
Hundreds of mourners, including family, friends, neighbors and their fellow law enforcement officers packed the West Memphis … Read more >>>.

Obama’s new national security strategy emphasizes global diplomacy, in contrast to Bush

Obama’s new security strategy breaks with Bush

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is breaking with the go-it-alone Bush years in a new strategy for keeping the nation safe, counting more on U.S. allies to tackle terrorism and other global problems. It’s an approach that already has proved tricky in practice.
The administration’s National Security Strategy, a summary …. Read the original article  : Obama’s new national security strategy emphasizes global diplomacy, in contrast to Bush.

Former Miss Russia appears in court after being charged with forging painkiller prescription

Former Miss Russia appears in court on drug charge

NEW YORK – A former Miss Russia has appeared in a New York City court on charges she forged a prescription for painkillers on a pad stolen from her psychiatrist’s office.
Anna Malova’s attorneys asked for an August court date so they could work out a drug treatment …. Source article  : Former Miss Russia appears in court after being charged with forging painkiller prescription.

Peruvian judge grants house arrest to Lori Berenson after 15 years in prison for aiding rebels

Peru judge grants New York woman house arrest

LIMA, Peru – A Peruvian judge has granted house arrest to 40-year-old Lori Berenson, a New York woman who has served 15 years in prison for aiding leftist rebels.
Judge Jessica Leon issued an order Tuesday for the conditional release of Berenson, who gave birth to a son a … Read : Peruvian judge grants house arrest to Lori Berenson after 15 years in prison for aiding rebels.

Phoenix police officer fatally shot while investigating suspicious vehicle call

Phoenix police officer fatally shot
PHOENIX – A Phoenix police officer shot and killed early Wednesday while investigating a suspicious vehicle was a 29-year-old married father of two young children, authorities said.

Officer Travis Murphy’s wife had given birth just two weeks ago to the couple’s second child, police spokesman Sgt. Trent Crump said.
Murphy and his partner … Read more : Phoenix police officer fatally shot while investigating suspicious vehicle call.

NY-born man accused of trying to form mini al-Qaida terror cell is held without bail

NY man accused of seeking mini terror cell is held

NEW YORK – A native New Yorker accused of conspiring to join al-Qaida returned to the United States from Yemen after pledging allegiance to the terror group and tried to start his own “mini al-Qaida cell,” a prosecutor said Wednesday.
The latest allegation against Wesam El-Hanafi came …. Original article  : NY-born man accused of trying to form mini al-Qaida terror cell is held without bail.

Times Square plot: 11th suspect held in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani officials have detained an 11th person in connection with the botched attempt of bombing New York’s Times Square early this month, CNN reported quoting a Pakistani intelligence source.

The man, identified as Qamar Ejaz, is the brother of Adnan Ejaz, a former major in Pakistani army who is already in custody for having [..] Read the original article: here.

Former SoCal senior home worker sentenced to life for torturing, taunting elderly

Ex-caregiver sentenced to life for torture, abuse

LOS ANGELES – A former caregiver convicted of torturing, taunting and body-slamming frail and elderly patients at an upscale California retirement home was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.
Cesar Ulloa, 21, was convicted in April of one count of torture and seven counts of elder abuse. He was sentenced … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Former SoCal senior home worker sentenced to life for torturing, taunting elderly.

Alleged victim: Pleased about release of banned list, wants USA Swimming to do more

Alleged victim: Pleased Uchiyama’s ban made public

A woman who accused former USA Swimming national team director Everett Uchiyama of sexual abuse tells The Associated Press that officials need to do more than publicize his lifetime ban.
She spoke on condition of anonymity because she signed a confidential agreement with USA Swimming in 2006. That agreement led …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Aborted tobacco sting at Ohio governor’s home produces enduring political fallout

Aborted sting at official residence dogs Ohio guv

COLUMBUS, Ohio – While the governor entertained John Glenn at his official residence in a posh suburb, law enforcers planned to descend on a supplier of contraband tobacco skulking around the perimeter in an attempt to drop goods to a prison inmate working there.
It was a scene Gov. …. Source  : Aborted tobacco sting at Ohio governor’s home produces enduring political fallout.

Ohio dairy farm worker accused of beating cows with crowbars, charged with animal cruelty

Ohio dairy farm worker charged with animal cruelty

CLEVELAND – An Ohio dairy farm worker has been charged with 12 counts of cruelty to animals after a welfare group released a video it says shows him and others beating cows with crowbars and pitchforks.
Marysville prosecutor Tim Aslaner (AH’-slan-eer) says Billy Joe Gregg Jr. is jailed in …. Source article  : Ohio dairy farm worker accused of beating cows with crowbars, charged with animal cruelty.

Student from DC pleads guilty to impersonating FBI agent at Montana airport, saying he had gun

DC man pleads to impersonating FBI agent in Mont.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A 19-year-old Washington, D.C., man who was arrested at a Montana airport has pleaded guilty to impersonating an FBI agent and saying he had a gun in his carry-on bag to see how personnel would respond.
Malik Hannabal Shabazz was arrested March 5 at …. Original article  : Student from DC pleads guilty to impersonating FBI agent at Montana airport, saying he had gun.

Four policemen killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Four policemen were killed in an ambush by gunmen in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, media reports said Friday.

Gunmen attacked a police vehicle in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, killing four policemen, including an officer in charge of security issues, Xinhua reported quoting Express TV.
…. Source  : Four policemen killed in Pakistan.

Israeli police to question former Prime Minister Olmert on corruption charges

Israeli police to question ex-PM on bribe case

JERUSALEM – The spokesman for Ehud Olmert says police are about to question the former Israeli prime minister on corruption charges.
Amir Dan says police have asked Olmert to appear at its fraud squad on Tuesday morning for questioning related to a multimillion-dollar real estate bribery scandal that has …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Israeli police to question former Prime Minister Olmert on corruption charges.

Four NDFB bombers linked to Assam blasts held

GUWAHATI – Four members of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), directly involved in the October 2008 serial explosions in Assam, have been arrested in separate raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths, officials said Friday.

A CBI spokesperson said Rahul Brahma was arrested Thursday from Zero town in Arunachal … Original article on : Four NDFB bombers linked to Assam blasts held.

Voters in Suriname decide whether former dictator facing murder trial should return to power

Suriname votes on ex-dictator’s possible return

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – An opposition party led by a former dictator and convicted drug trafficker appeared likely to gain seats in Tuesday’s parliamentiary elections in the small South American country of Suriname.
The political comeback mounted by Desi Bouterse was a popular topic of debate at polling places, with some voters …. Read the original article  : Voters in Suriname decide whether former dictator facing murder trial should return to power.

1st defendant in NJ schoolyard triple slaying convicted of all counts, faces life in prison

1st defendant guilty in NJ schoolyard slaying case

NEWARK, N.J. – The first defendant to be tried for a triple schoolyard killing that jolted New Jersey’s largest city into trying to fix its crime problem was convicted on all counts Monday.
Rodolfo Godinez, a legal Nicaraguan immigrant who was one of six men and boys charged with … Read : 1st defendant in NJ schoolyard triple slaying convicted of all counts, faces life in prison.

Absolutely critical to dismantle terrorist networks in Pakistan: Obama

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says the US is working with Pakistan to make it more effective partners in dealing with the extremists within their borders as his national security strategy set “Disrupt, Dismantle, and Defeat Al Qaeda” as a key goal.

The United States went into Afghanistan “because the Taliban was harbouring Al Qaeda, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Jamaica cops, soldiers battle gangsters inside slum stronghold of reputed drug kinpin

Jamaica cops battle gangsters in don’s stronghold

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Security forces fought their way into the warren-like complex that is the slum stronghold of a Jamaican gang leader facing extradition to the United States and sporadic gunfire could be heard late into Monday night.
More than 1,000 police officers and soliders attacked heavily armed gang members … Original source on Gaea Times at : Jamaica cops, soldiers battle gangsters inside slum stronghold of reputed drug kinpin.

Insurer Lloyd’s refuses to pay jailed Texas financier’s latest legal fees; says it’s spent $6M

Insurer refuses to pay latest Stanford legal fees

HOUSTON – The insurance company paying jailed Texas financier R. Allen Stanford’s legal bills said Tuesday it is tired of supporting his revolving door of attorneys and already has spent more than $6 million on lawyers from 10 firms to defend him from allegations that he orchestrated a [..] Read the original article: here.

FBI and the late John Murtha: A ‘prosecutive’ case in Abscam; an ongoing criminal probe now

Murtha’s FBI files detail a career of scrutiny

WASHINGTON – Even after death, John Murtha remains mired in controversy.
On Tuesday, the FBI released hundreds of pages about the late congressman who came under criminal investigation three decades ago and who died in February amid an ongoing criminal probe into alleged kickbacks involving defense contractors.
Besides the FBI’s …. Original article  : FBI and the late John Murtha: A ‘prosecutive’ case in Abscam; an ongoing criminal probe now.

Cuba’s top judge: No legal case yet against jailed US contractor nearly 6 months after arrest

Cuba says no case yet against jailed American

HAVANA – Cuba has yet to open a legal case against a U.S. government contractor from Maryland nearly six months after he was arrested as a suspected spy, the head of the island’s high court said Wednesday.
Alan P. Gross was detained Dec. 3 at Havana’s Jose Marti International …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cuba’s top judge: No legal case yet against jailed US contractor nearly 6 months after arrest.

Feds say 2-year investigation of child porn ’social networking site’ nets more than 50 arrests

Feds bust child porn ’social networking site’

INDIANAPOLIS – Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they had broken up a major online international child pornography ring that at its peak had more than 1,000 members trading millions of sexually explicit images.
More than 50 people have been arrested in several states since the 2008 start of the investigation, … Original article on : Feds say 2-year investigation of child porn ’social networking site’ nets more than 50 arrests.

25 Pakistani militants freed, to be sent back

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir government has revoked the detention orders of 25 Pakistani militants lodged in different jails of India to facilitate their return to their country.

The state government acted late Thursday night on the advice of the home ministry, which asked that the militants be released.
“Their detention orders under …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Diwali demon-slaying tradition triggered Goa blast?

PANAJI – Seven months after a blast in Goa killed two people, investigators now say a Diwali tradition that has been consistently opposed by a Hindu right wing group for “glorifying a demon” lay at the heart of the conspiracy.

On Narak Chaturdashi day early in the Diwali season, nearly every town or residential hub worth …. Read the original article  : Diwali demon-slaying tradition triggered Goa blast?.

As a young lawyer at high court, Kagan was on guard against Supreme Court’s conservative shift

As Marshall clerk, Kagan was wary of conservatives

WASHINGTON – As a young lawyer working for Justice Thurgood Marshall, Elena Kagan repeatedly expressed her concern that a conservative Supreme Court was looking for ways to cut back on the rights of women, criminal defendants and prisoners.
Documents from Kagan’s year with Marshall show a law clerk who … Read more >>>.

Police: Metal band Slipknot bassist Paul Gray found dead in Iowa hotel; no foul play suspected

Police: Slipknot bassist found dead in Iowa hotel

DES MOINES, Iowa – Paul Gray, the bassist for Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot, was found dead Monday in an Iowa hotel room but there was no indication of foul play, police said.
A hotel employee found Gray, 38, dead in a room at the TownePlace Suites in Urbandale, a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Police: Metal band Slipknot bassist Paul Gray found dead in Iowa hotel; no foul play suspected.

Israeli police question Ex-PM Olmert on corruption charges

Israeli police question ex-PM Olmert on bribe case

JERUSALEM – Israeli fraud investigators grilled former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for eight hours on Tuesday, police said, questioning him about suspected bribery and money laundering in a multimillion dollar real-estate scandal that has rocked the country.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Olmert was ordered to return to the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Israeli police question Ex-PM Olmert on corruption charges.

2011 trial expected for Boston ex-student accused of killing masseuse he met on Craigslist

Mass. Craigslist killing trial delayed until 2011

BOSTON – The trial of a former Boston University medical student accused of killing a masseuse he met through Craigslist will likely be postponed until at least January.
No firm date was selected during a hearing in Suffolk Superior Court Tuesday, but prosecutors and lawyers for Philip Markoff agreed that …. Read the original article  : here.

Judge: Ohio church day care worker endangered kids by putting sleep supplement in their candy

Ohio woman guilty of giving kids sleep supplement

CINCINNATI – A former Ohio church day care worker has been found guilty of endangering children by slipping an over-the-counter dietary supplement into candy to help them sleep.
Prosecutors say a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge on Thursday found the woman guilty of three counts each of child endangering …. Read the original article  : Judge: Ohio church day care worker endangered kids by putting sleep supplement in their candy.

37 years later, NC jury finds former small-town police chief guilty in Marine’s shooting death

NC jury convicts ex-police chief in 1972 murder

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. – A North Carolina jury has convicted a former small-town police chief of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Marine sergeant 37 years ago.
Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson said Wednesday that 57-year-old George Hayden was sentenced to life in prison in the 1972 …. Source article  : 37 years later, NC jury finds former small-town police chief guilty in Marine’s shooting death.

Kan. doctor tied to 68 overdose deaths takes witness stand, says he didn’t mean to cause harm

Kan. doctor takes stand in overdose death trial

WICHITA, Kan. – A Kansas physician whose clinic is linked to 68 overdose deaths testified Wednesday at his trial that he never intentionally gave anyone medication he believed would cause them harm.
Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda, are charged in a 34-count indictment with unlawfully prescribing drugs, … Read more : Kan. doctor tied to 68 overdose deaths takes witness stand, says he didn’t mean to cause harm.

Chinese novelist’s lawsuit against Google goes to court after settlement talks fail

Chinese court hears novelist’s Google lawsuit

BEIJING – A Chinese novelist’s lawsuit against Google over its online library is going ahead in court after settlement talks failed.
Mian Mian – known for lurid tales of sex, drugs and nightlife – filed suit in October after her latest book, “Acid House,” was scanned into the library. Google says … Read more »»».

Federal prosecutors say they smashed international child porn ring; more than 50 arrested

Feds announce bust of major child porn ring

INDIANAPOLIS – Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they had broken up a major online international child pornography ring that operated as a hierarchy and at its peak had more than 1,000 members trading millions of sexually explicit images.
More than 50 people have been arrested in several states since … Read more : Federal prosecutors say they smashed international child porn ring; more than 50 arrested.

Detroit girl, 14, facing assault with intent to murder charge after 13-year-old rival is shot

Detroit teen charged in shooting of 13-year-old

DETROIT – A 14-year-old Detroit girl accused of shooting a 13-year-old girl in the leg has been charged with assault with intent to murder.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office says a preliminary examination is scheduled Wednesday afternoon in the Juvenile Detention Facility in Detroit. The older girl is being charged …. Read the original article  : Detroit girl, 14, facing assault with intent to murder charge after 13-year-old rival is shot.

Judge backs MLB interim financing for Texas Rangers through bankruptcy process

Judge backs MLB financing for Rangers
FORT WORTH, Texas – A judge on Wednesday approved a multimillion-dollar Major League Baseball loan to keep the Texas Rangers afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, raising hopes that the team’s stalled $575 million sale may happen this summer.

U.S. District Judge D. Michael Lynn set a mid-June hearing on the Rangers’ plan … Original source on Gaea Times at : Judge backs MLB interim financing for Texas Rangers through bankruptcy process.

NY-born man accused of trying to form mini al-Qaida cell is held without bail

New Yorker accused of aiding al-Qaida is detained

NEW YORK – A prosecutor says a native New Yorker accused of conspiring to join al-Qaida returned to the United States from Yemen after pledging allegiance to the group and tried to start his own “mini al-Qaida cell.”
Federal prosecutor John Cronan (CROH’-nin) made the accusation against Wesam El-Hanafi … Original article on : NY-born man accused of trying to form mini al-Qaida cell is held without bail.

Arrest of Cancun politician heightens fears that drug gangs infiltrating Mexican elections

Cancun mayor’s arrest fuels fears of drug politics

MEXICO CITY – The arrest of Cancun’s mayor on suspicion of protecting two violent drug gangs as he campaigned for governor has heightened fears that cartels are muscling their way into Mexican politics. There are also worries the gangs are tightening control over the country’s most important tourist …. Source article  : Arrest of Cancun politician heightens fears that drug gangs infiltrating Mexican elections.

Restraining order issued against onetime JonBenet suspect for alleged threats against woman

Woman seeks order against onetime JonBenet suspect

SAN FRANCISCO – A 19-year-old woman has requested a temporary restraining order against the man who once falsely claimed to have murdered JonBenet Ramsey in 1996.
San Francisco Court Commissioner William Gargano issued the order against John Mark Karr on April 19, on behalf of Samantha Spiegel, 19.
Spiegel claimed that …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Restraining order issued against onetime JonBenet suspect for alleged threats against woman.

NYC man’s kidney transplant gave him woman’s cancer; trial weighs transplant risks, rewards

NY man’s kidney transplant gave him woman’s cancer

NEW YORK – The scenario was unique, as far as doctors could tell: A man had gotten a transplanted kidney from a woman who had uterine cancer and didn’t know it.
Vincent Liew decided to keep the kidney after his transplant surgeon concluded there was only a slim chance …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NYC man’s kidney transplant gave him woman’s cancer; trial weighs transplant risks, rewards.

Feds alert Houston authorities to be on lookout for Somalia terror group member

Somali terror member may be heading to Texas

HOUSTON – U.S. Homeland Security officials have asked Houston authorities to watch for a member of a Somalia-based terror group who may be coming to Texas through Mexico.
The federal department issued an alert last week for a suspected member of the al-Shabaab group, which has declared allegiance to … Read more »».

Argentine police finally catch former Colombian coffee queen in ‘pretty women’ smuggling plot

Argentina: Colombian model arrested on drug charge

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – A Colombian model accused of leading a drug-trafficking gang that persuaded pretty young women to smuggle cocaine to Mexico was arrested Wednesday after evading Argentine police for five months.
Angie Sanclemente Valencia had been hiding out in Buenos Aires since December, when airport police caught a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Argentine police finally catch former Colombian coffee queen in ‘pretty women’ smuggling plot.

Police search Southern California park for dismembered murder victim’s remains

Police search SoCal park for victim’s remains

LOS ANGELES – Authorities are searching a Long Beach park for the remains of a man killed and dismembered in a bizarre double murder-for-profit plot.
Daniel Wozniak, 26, of Costa Mesa, was charged with two counts of murder Friday for the deaths of his neighbor Samuel Herr, 26, and Herr’s … Read more >>>.

Hong Kong police confiscate Tiananmen statue, arrest 13 activists

Hong Kong police confiscate Tiananmen statue

HONG KONG – Hong Kong police on Saturday confiscated a statue and a carving mourning victims of China’s 1989 crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square and arrested 13 activists, a participant said, in what critics called an escalation in political censorship in the semiautonomous Chinese territory.
China’s military suppression of pro-democracy …. Read the original article  : Hong Kong police confiscate Tiananmen statue, arrest 13 activists.

Man burns to death son for disturbing his sleep

A drunken man in eastern India burnt to death his five-year-old child after he began crying at night and disturbed his sleep, police said today.

Police said Hira Sahani, a resident of Sheikh Majharia village in West Champaran district of Bihar returned home drunk Friday night and went to bed.
He got furious when his son …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Man burns to death son for disturbing his sleep.

Iraqi police say gunmen attacked gold shops in Baghdad robbery, killing 14

Gunmen kill 14 in Baghdad gold shops robbery

BAGHDAD – Baghdad police say masked gunmen have attacked gold shops in the Iraqi capital, killing 14 people before they fled with a large quantity of gold.
The police say the gunmen came in five cars, their faces covered with traditional Arab headscarves, and opened fire on 12 shops …. Read the original article  : Iraqi police say gunmen attacked gold shops in Baghdad robbery, killing 14.

Michigan admits NCAA violations in football AD says “bruise” shouldn’t mean harsh penalties

Michigan admits to NCAA violations in football

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan has been playing football for more than a century, earning respect by becoming the nation’s winningest program while avoiding the stigma attached to teams that break NCAA rules.
Until now.
The school admitted Tuesday to a series of violations by its storied football …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Michigan admits NCAA violations in football AD says “bruise” shouldn’t mean harsh penalties.

Wisconsin man who admitted killing his 2 children and their mother sentenced to life in prison

Wis. man who admitted killing his 2 kids gets life

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – A 37-year-old Wisconsin man who admitted killing his estranged girlfriend and their two young sons has been sentenced to life in prison.
Shane Kettner on Wednesday received two life prison sentences for killing 3-year-old Ashley Kettner and 2-year-old Griffin Kettner and a 30-year …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Couple convicted under Malawi’s anti-gay laws separated for safety reasons

2 convicted under Malawi anti-gay laws separated

BLANTYRE, Malawi – The prison spokesman says the gay men convicted under Malawi’s anti-homosexuality laws are being held in separate facilities.
Evance Phiri told The Associated Press Wednesday that Tiwonge Chimbalanga is being held at a Blantyre prison, while his partner Steven Monjeza is at a prison some 50 miles …. Source  : Couple convicted under Malawi’s anti-gay laws separated for safety reasons.

Pakistan court prevents arrest of hardline cleric blamed in Mumbai attacks

Pakistan court prevents arrest of hardline cleric
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a government move to detain a hardline cleric India suspects masterminded the deadly 2008 siege of Mumbai, saying there was no evidence against him, a defense lawyer said.
The decision could strain Pakistan and India’s already brittle relationship at a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pakistan court prevents arrest of hardline cleric blamed in Mumbai attacks.

74-year-old man acquitted of murder in 1966 shooting of Philly police officer who died in 2007

Murder acquittal in 1966 Philly police shooting

PHILADELPHIA – A 74-year-old man who shot a police officer during a botched burglary in 1966 was acquitted Monday of murder and other charges filed after the officer’s death in 2007.
The jury reached its verdict after beginning deliberations late Friday afternoon following the weeklong murder trial of William J. …. Original article  : 74-year-old man acquitted of murder in 1966 shooting of Philly police officer who died in 2007.

Iraqi authorities blame cash-strapped al-Qaida for gold robbery that kills 15

Iraq blames al-Qaida in gold robbery that kills 15

BAGHDAD – Masked men armed with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles shot up a jewelry market in Baghdad Tuesday, killing 15 people before they fled with a large quantity of gold in an attack authorities swiftly blamed on a cash-strapped al-Qaida in Iraq.
The attack was the latest … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Iraqi authorities blame cash-strapped al-Qaida for gold robbery that kills 15.

Colombian beauty queen denies to judge she lured Argentine models into drug trafficking ring

Beauty queen denies drug traffic charge in court

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – A Colombian model accused of luring pretty young Argentine women into smuggling cocaine to Mexico declared her innocence before a judge Thursday, while her lawyer called the evidence against her merely cosmetic.
Attorney Guillermo Tiscornia, speaking to a media crush on the courthouse steps, said …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Colombian beauty queen denies to judge she lured Argentine models into drug trafficking ring.

British police question suspect in murders of 3 prostitutes in northern England

UK police arrest suspect in triple killing

LONDON – British police say they’ve arrested a 40-year-old man in the killing of three prostitutes in northern England.
West Yorkshire Police said Wednesday that the man was being questioned after having been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The three victims had all been missing from their homes – one since …. Original article  : British police question suspect in murders of 3 prostitutes in northern England.

US issues warnings after 2 citizens killed during kidnapping attempts in Nigeria

US warns of Nigerian kidnappings after 2 deaths

LAGOS, Nigeria – The U.S. government is warning its citizens about rising violent attacks in Nigeria after two Americans died in separate kidnappings in April.
The State Department announced the two deaths in a new travel warning for Nigeria issued Monday. In the statement, the State Department said six … Read more : US issues warnings after 2 citizens killed during kidnapping attempts in Nigeria.

Supreme Court says jury must find machine gun use in crime to trigger 30-year minimum sentence

Court limits 30-year term for machine gun use

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has ruled that a minimum 30-year prison term for crimes involving a machine gun may not be imposed unless a jury specifically convicts a defendant of using a machine gun.
The court on Monday unanimously upheld a federal appeals court ruling that had been … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Supreme Court says jury must find machine gun use in crime to trigger 30-year minimum sentence.

Rip Torn’s attorney seeking to keep actor out of prison on charges he broke into Conn. bank

Rip Torn seeks to resolve Conn. break-in charges

LITCHFIELD, Conn. – Rip Torn’s attorney says he and prosecutors are discussing a resolution to charges that Torn broke into a Connecticut bank while intoxicated and carrying a loaded gun.
Torn appeared briefly in Litchfield Superior Court on Tuesday. Attorney A. Thomas Waterfall says he hopes to resolve the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Guatemala orders DNA tests prior to all adoptions to prevent stolen-child cases

Guatemala orders DNA tests prior to all adoptions

GUATEMALA CITY – Guatemalan authorities said Monday they will require DNA tests for all babies offered for adoption following allegations of child theft that led the government to impose a two-year freeze on international adoptions.
The National Adoptions Council said the new rule will apply only to adoptions whose … Read more : Guatemala orders DNA tests prior to all adoptions to prevent stolen-child cases.

Canada’s ‘Prince of Pot’ pleads guilty to drug charge in exchange for 5-year sentence

Canada’s ‘Prince of Pot’ pleads guilty in Seattle

SEATTLE – Canada’s so-called Prince of Pot has pleaded guilty to a drug charge in exchange for a five-year prison term.
Marc Emery appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Monday after being extradited last week from Vancouver, British Columbia. He sold millions of marijuana seeds to U.S. … Read more : Canada’s ‘Prince of Pot’ pleads guilty to drug charge in exchange for 5-year sentence.

‘US consistently pressing Pakistan to rein in anti-India terror groups’

WASHINGTON – The United States says it has consistently pressed Pakistan to stop the continuing infiltration into India by Punjab-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taeba and Jaish-e-Mohammed as this was a key obstacle to improved relations between “two friends of US”.

“On Pakistan, I’m sure it will be a topic of discussion” at the inaugural US-India strategic … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : ‘US consistently pressing Pakistan to rein in anti-India terror groups’.

Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could face more jail time over probation violation

Ex-Detroit mayor faces possible jail time
DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, sent to jail and forced to resign over racy text messages that showed he had lied under oath, has presented himself as a changed man since his release last year – someone working to repair his damaged relationship with his family and pay …. Read the original article  : Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could face more jail time over probation violation.

Former Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick apologizes in court for violating terms of probation

Former Detroit mayor apologizes in court
DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has apologized in court for violating the terms of his probation.

Kilpatrick asked Judge David Groner to show him compassion during the Tuesday hearing. The former mayor says he is doing everything he can to pay his $1 million debt to the city.
Groner ruled … Read more »».

In Colombia presidential vote, maverick outsider vies with Uribe disciple

Uribe torchbearer vs. outsider in Colombia vote

BOGOTA, Colombia – A former defense minister pledging to build on President Alvaro Uribe’s security gains was favored in Sunday’s election along with a maverick outsider whose campaign was a civics lesson on how to end Colombia’s endemic corruption.
Juan Manuel Santos, a Cabinet minister in three administrations and grandnephew … Read this article on Gaea Times at : In Colombia presidential vote, maverick outsider vies with Uribe disciple.

Maoists blow up Orissa village council building

BHUBANESWAR – Maoist guerrillas early Sunday blew up a panchayat (council) office building in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, police said.

About 30-40 rebels came to Kankurukunda village at about 1 a.m. and blasted the building using explosives, a senior police officer told IANS.
No body was inside the office when the blast took place, he said. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Maoists blow up Orissa village council building.

Mexican police, army probe silver mine where gangs tossed numerous bodies

Silver mine in southern Mexico used to dump bodies

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Mexican police on Saturday found an abandoned silver mine scattered with bodies outside a colonial-era town popular with international tourists.
Five bodies were recovered from the mine at Taxco in southern Mexico in what appears to be a dumping ground for victims of organized crime, …. Original article  : Mexican police, army probe silver mine where gangs tossed numerous bodies.

China executes man who attacked 29 children, 3 teachers at kindergarten

China executes man who attacked 29 children

BEIJING – Chinese authorities on Sunday executed a man convicted of slashing 29 children and three teachers with a knife in one of a series of recent assaults on schools and kindergartens, a state news agency reported.
Xu Yuyuan was found guilty of attempted homicide in mid-May by the Taizhou …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China executes man who attacked 29 children, 3 teachers at kindergarten.

Oregon man accused of stealing dead boy’s identity said to have come to US from Bulgaria

Bulgarian accused of stealing dead boy’s identity

PORTLAND, Ore. – His war hero grandfather and namesake fought the Nazis, his parents are respected scientific scholars in Bulgaria, and a former Reagan administration lawyer and his physician wife helped raise him as a teenager, all predicting a bright future.
Doitchin Krastev walked away from it all in college …. Read the original article  : Oregon man accused of stealing dead boy’s identity said to have come to US from Bulgaria.

Jamaica police: Nearly all 980 etained during slum raid have been released

Jamaica cops release most of 980 detained in raid

KINGSTON, Jamaica – All but a handful of the roughly 980 Jamaicans detained during raids by security forces in gang-heavy Kingston slums have been released, police said Saturday.
Detainees had been held at the Kingston’s National Arena, where dozens of concerned relatives had congregated outside a security gate …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Surrogate father: Oregon man accused of taking Ohio boy’s identity came to US from Bulgaria

Surrogate father: Man with Ohio ID is Bulgarian

PORTLAND, Ore. – His war hero grandfather and namesake fought the Nazis, his parents are respected scientific scholars in Bulgaria, and a former Reagan administration lawyer and his physician wife helped raise him as a teenager, all predicting a bright future.
Doitchin Krastev walked away from it all in …. Original source  : Surrogate father: Oregon man accused of taking Ohio boy’s identity came to US from Bulgaria.

NY man killed after shooting phone store clerk had been banned for making threats, slurs

NY phone store gunman had been banned for threats

NEW YORK MILLS, N.Y. – A man who shot a central New York AT&T phone store clerk had previously harassed and threatened employees so many times that the company banned him, cut off his cell phone service and lodged a complaint that led to his handgun permit … Read this article on Gaea Times at : NY man killed after shooting phone store clerk had been banned for making threats, slurs.

Oregon man using identity of murdered Ohio boy turns out to be Bulgarian

Mystery solved: Ore. man with Ohio ID is Bulgarian

PORTLAND, Ore. – The mystery over the real identity of an Oregon man calling himself Jason Robert Evers has been solved – he was born in Bulgaria, not Ohio.
A family that hosted Doitchin Krasev in Virginia told The Associated Press Saturday they were shocked to find out …. Original source  : Oregon man using identity of murdered Ohio boy turns out to be Bulgarian.

Malawi’s leader pardons gay couple, orders them freed from prison; still rejects homosexuality

Under pressure, Malawi’s leader pardons gay couple

BLANTYRE, Malawi – Malawi’s president on Saturday pardoned a gay couple who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered their release but insisted that homosexuality was still illegal in his conservative southern African nation.
President Bingu wa Mutharika announced the pardon on “humanitarian grounds only” during a …. Source article  : Malawi’s leader pardons gay couple, orders them freed from prison; still rejects homosexuality.

NATO airstrike kills 25 Taliban in Afghanistan

KUNDUZ – A NATO airstrike in northern Afghanistan killed 25 Taliban insurgents, including two of their commanders, an Afghan government official said Saturday.

The air raid took place in Dana Ghori district in northern province of Baghlan Friday night, Sayed Zamanuddin, the deputy provincial police chief said.
“At least 25 Taliban were killed in the airstrike,” …. Source article  : NATO airstrike kills 25 Taliban in Afghanistan.

Activist gets back cell phone used in caper at La. senator’s office but video is deleted

Video gone from phone activist used in La. caper

NEW ORLEANS – Conservative activist-videographer James O’Keefe said video he shot of conversations with staffers of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu was deleted when his cell phone was returned after he and three others pleaded guilty to charges in a caper he orchestrated at the Democrat’s New Orleans … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Activist gets back cell phone used in caper at La. senator’s office but video is deleted.

Malawi president orders gay couple’s pardon and release, but warns homosexuality still illegal

Malawi’s president: pardon and release gay couple

BLANTYRE, Malawi – Malawi’s president on Saturday pardoned and ordered the release of a gay couple sentenced to 14 years in prison, but said that homosexuality remains illegal in this conservative southern African nation.
Activists were searching for a safe house for the couple, fearing they could be attacked upon …. Original source  : Malawi president orders gay couple’s pardon and release, but warns homosexuality still illegal.

European Parliament condemns railway attack in India

BRUSSELS – The European Parliament Saturday expressed shock over the train attack in West Bengal in which 131 people were killed.

“Attacking the civil infrastructure and killing innocent people is perfidious terror. On behalf of the European Parliament, I condemn this attack sharply,” Jerzy Buzek, president of the EU parliament, was quoted as saying by EuAsiaNews. …. Original article  : European Parliament condemns railway attack in India.

Nigeria: Gunmen release 3 Chinese technicians kidnapped in country’s restive southern delta

Nigeria: 3 kidnapped Chinese technicians released

LAGOS, Nigeria – China’s government news agency says three Chinese technicians kidnapped in Nigeria’s restive southern delta have been released.
The official Xinhua News Agency quotes an unnamed Chinese diplomat saying the three men were freed Saturday morning. The diplomat said the three men, who worked for a Nigerian steel company, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Antony doesn’t rule out using army against Maoists

NEW DELHI – Defence Minister A.K. Antony Saturday met Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh to discuss the possibility of using the army against the Maoist guerrillas – a possibility that Antony later didn’t rule out.

A well informed source told IANS that Singh and Antony discussed the role of the army in “assisting” paramilitary … Original source on Gaea Times at : Antony doesn’t rule out using army against Maoists.

Malawi’s president orders pardon and immediate release of gay couple sentenced to 14 years

Malawi’s president pardons, releases gay couple

BLANTYRE, Malawi – Malawi’s president says he has pardoned and ordered the release of a jailed gay couple sentenced to 14 years in prison.
President Bingu wa Mutharika made the announcement Saturday during a press conference with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Lilongwe, the capital.
A judge earlier this month convicted and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Malawi’s president orders pardon and immediate release of gay couple sentenced to 14 years.

Police investigating prostitute deaths in northern England find more human body parts in river

UK police find human remains in river
LONDON – Police investigating the deaths of three British women say they have recovered what are believed to be human remains in a river in northern England.

West Yorkshire Police say an underwater search team made the discovery in the River Aire Saturday, near where body parts of 36-year-old Suzanne …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Police investigating prostitute deaths in northern England find more human body parts in river.

Vatican abuse prosecutor warns of hell for perpetrators of child sex abuse

Vatican abuse prosecutor: Culprits going to hell

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican prosecutor of clerical sex abuse warned perpetrators on Saturday that they would suffer damnation in hell that would be worse than the death penalty.
The Rev. Charles Scicluna, a Maltese priest who is a top official at the Vatican’s morality office, led a special “make …. Original source  : Vatican abuse prosecutor warns of hell for perpetrators of child sex abuse.

‘US studying options for a possible Pakistan strike’

WASHINGTON – The US military is reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan in the event that a successful terror attack on American soil is traced to the country’s tribal areas, according to the Washington Post.

Ties between the alleged Times Square bomber, Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad, and elements of the Pakistani Taliban have sharpened the … Read more >>>.