Maoists call two-day strike to protest Azad’s killing

KOLKATA – The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist has called for a two-day strike across the country from Wednesday to protest the gunning down of their senior politburo member Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad, top Maoist leader Kishenji said Sunday.

Condemning the killing of Azad, at Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh by police on Friday, the leftwing party …. Original article  : Maoists call two-day strike to protest Azad’s killing.

Pakistan PM agrees to hold terrorism conference after opposition calls for Taliban talks

Pakistan PM agrees to hold terrorism conference
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s prime minister agreed to hold a national conference on ways to combat terrorism after the main opposition leader said the government should negotiate with the country’s Taliban militants to improve security.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s decision late Saturday came just two days after a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan PM agrees to hold terrorism conference after opposition calls for Taliban talks.

Revolutionary songs mark Maoist leader Azad’s last rites

HYDERABAD – Sympathisers, former extremists and civil liberties activists Sunday sang revolutionary songs and paid their respects to top Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad, whose last rites were performed in Panjagutta here.

The body of Azad, who was killed by the police in an alleged exchange of fire in the forests of Adilabad district Friday, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Revolutionary songs mark Maoist leader Azad’s last rites.

Afghan forces kill 14 militants

KABUL – Afghan forces killed 14 militants including their commander in Wardak province, 40 km west of Kabul, an official spokesman said Sunday.

“The joint operation of Afghan army and police raided Taliban hideouts in Syedabad district late Saturday during which 14 Taliban fighters including their commander Mullah Tawab had been killed,” spokesman for … Read : Afghan forces kill 14 militants.

Pakistani PM agrees to hold terrorism conference after opposition calls for Taliban talks

Pakistani, PM agrees to terrorism conference
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s prime minister agreed to hold a national conference on ways to combat terrorism after the main opposition leader said the government should negotiate with the country’s Taliban militants to improve security.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s decision late Saturday came just two days after a … Read more »».

Mexico’s old ruling party seeks momentum in elections besieged by drug gang hits, scandals

Mexicans vote elections besieged by drug violence

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico – A dozen Mexican states hold elections Sunday after a campaign marred by assassinations and other scandals that displayed drug cartels’ power. The party that ruled Mexico for 71 years hoped to capitalize on frustrations over the bloodshed and gain momentum in its bid to regain … Read more >>>.

Ecuadoreans, DEA seize drug-smuggling submarine before it can make its maiden voyage

Ecuadoreans, DEA seize drug-smuggling submarine

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration said Saturday it has helped seize a submarine capable of transporting tons of cocaine.
DEA officials said that the diesel electric-powered submarine was constructed in a remote jungle and captured near a tributary close to the Ecuador-Colombia border. Ecuadorean authorities seized the sub before it could … Read more : Ecuadoreans, DEA seize drug-smuggling submarine before it can make its maiden voyage.

Authorities say 2 arrests linked to booby trap attacks on police in Southern California town

Chief: 2 arrests linked to Calif. police attacks

LOS ANGELES – Two men who investigators believe are linked to a series of booby trap attacks on police in a town in the Southern California desert have been arrested, authorities said Saturday.
Seventy-eight police officers, deputies and federal agents served a series of warrants Friday night and raided …. Original source  : Authorities say 2 arrests linked to booby trap attacks on police in Southern California town.

Ecuadorians, DEA seize drug-smuggling submarine

Ecuadorians, DEA seize drug-smuggling submarine

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration said Saturday it has helped seize a submarine capable of transporting tons of cocaine.
DEA officials said that the diesel electric-powered submarine was constructed in a remote jungle and captured near a tributary close to the Ecuador-Colombia border. Ecuadorian authorities seized the sub before it could …. Read the original article  : here.

Petraeus to take control of Afghan NATO forces Sunday

WASHINGTON/KABUL – US General David Petraeus was to take command of NATO forces in Afghanistan Sunday after calling for a “unity of effort” among US civilian and military officials.

The four-star general will take over from General Stanley McChrystal, who was relieved of command for disparaging remarks about White House leadership of the US mission in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Petraeus to take control of Afghan NATO forces Sunday.

Van der Sloot files suit against first lawyer, charging him with posing as public defender

Van der Sloot files suit against initial lawyer

LIMA, Peru – Joran van der Sloot has sued the lawyer who represented him during a police interrogation on the day that authorities say the Dutchman confessed to killing a Peruvian woman, his current attorney said Saturday.
Maximo Altez told The Associated Press he filed suit Friday charging attorney …. Read the original article  : Van der Sloot files suit against first lawyer, charging him with posing as public defender.

Authorities say 2 arrests linked to booby trap attacks on police in Southern Calif. town

Officials: Arrests linked to Calif. police attacks

HEMET, Calif. – Authorities say there have been two arrests linked to a series of booby trap attacks on police in a small Southern California town.
The Press-Enterprise reports that detectives served a series of warrants Friday night and arrested 40-year-old Nicholas John Smit of Hemet and 36-year-old Steven Hansen …. Original source  : Authorities say 2 arrests linked to booby trap attacks on police in Southern Calif. town.

Appeals court says Algerian man at Guantanamo should get new hearing

Appeals court orders new hearing for detainee

WASHINGTON – A U.S. appeals court says an Algerian protesting his Guantanamo detention deserves a new lower court review – to determine whether he was part of al-Qaida, not just a supporter.
A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a lower court decision that Belkacem Bensayah’s imprisonment …. Original source  : Appeals court says Algerian man at Guantanamo should get new hearing.

EX-ND student convicted of marrying Bosnian woman for $15K in fairy tale wedding gets released

Ex-ND student convicted of marriage fraud released

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A former University of North Dakota student who pleaded guilty to marrying a Bosnian woman for $15,000 in a fairy tale wedding is being released to live with his father in Arizona.
Jeffrey Goble originally was ordered to stay in a Fargo halfway house until his … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : EX-ND student convicted of marrying Bosnian woman for $15K in fairy tale wedding gets released.

Cyprus president says island’s authorities not at fault for vanishing of Russian spy suspect

Cyprus president: Not our fault spy suspect fled

NICOSIA, Cyprus – The president of Cyprus said Saturday the island’s authorities are not to blame for the disappearance of an alleged fugitive Russian spy.
Dimitris Christofias said that 54-year-old Christopher Metsos “appears to have fled” the island, but insisted Cypriot authorities acted appropriately in handling the case. His …. Read the original article  : here.

Nothing to snort at: Colombian authorities find World Cup trophy made of cocaine at airport

Colombian cops find World Cup _ made of cocaine

BOGOTA, Colombia – Fans worldwide have fashioned replicas of the World Cup trophy out of everything from papier-mache to plastic. But a lawbreaker in Colombia gets top prize for most original material: cocaine.
Airports anti-drug chief Col. Jose Piedrahita says that Colombian authorities found the unusual statue during [..] Read the original article: here.

NY spy suspect wants to stay in US, “embarrassed” over photos in papers, lawyer tells AP

NY spy suspect wants to stay here, lawyer tells AP

NEW YORK – The Russian diplomat’s daughter accused of being a spy is “embarrassed” by photos of her that have turned up in media reports and fears she will be deported, her lawyer said.
Attorney Robert Baum told The Associated Press that he showed Anna Chapman, 28, … Read more : NY spy suspect wants to stay in US, “embarrassed” over photos in papers, lawyer tells AP.

2 slain Fla. cops mourned at funeral while suspect denied bond at hearing across town

2 slain Fla. cops mourned as suspect denied bond

TAMPA, Fla. – Two police officers gunned down during a traffic stop were remembered Saturday as family men devoted to protecting the public, while the convicted felon accused of killing them was ordered to remain in jail the day after he surrendered.
Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, was denied … Read more >>.

Legal circus making Texas financier Stanford’s $7 billion fraud case greatest show in court

Stanford lawyer not focused on case’s legal circus

HOUSTON – It might not be the Greatest Show on Earth but the legal circus in the $7 billion fraud case against jailed Texas financier R. Allen Stanford is possibly making it the greatest show in court.
So far, the criminal and civil cases against Stanford have included claims … Read more »»».

Maine triple slaying suspect planned to live with woman who had child with victim, police say

Maine suspect planned to live with victim’s child

AMITY, Maine – A man who police say confessed to killing two men and a boy in Maine was planning to move in with a woman who had a child with one of the men.
Twenty-year-old Thayne Ormsby of Orient was arrested Friday in New Hampshire, where he was … Original source on Gaea Times at : Maine triple slaying suspect planned to live with woman who had child with victim, police say.