Integrated approach needed to fight Maoists: Raman Singh

NEW DELHI – Maoist-affected states needed an “integrated action plan” to fight left wing rebels, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said here Wednesday.

“State governments are dealing with the issue in their own way. An integrated action plan should be devised and all of us should be on one common point,” Raman Singh said.
The Chhattisgarh …. Original source  : Integrated approach needed to fight Maoists: Raman Singh.

Deaf inmate seeking exoneration in Texas says print matching sex offender proves his innocence

Deaf inmate says fingerprint proves his innocence

DALLAS – Through a sign-language interpreter at the Dallas County Jail, Stephen Brodie cops to all sorts of crimes save the one that put him behind bars for 10 years: sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl.
He insists he is innocent, and there’s support for his claim.
A fingerprint at the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Deaf inmate seeking exoneration in Texas says print matching sex offender proves his innocence.

Blagojevich prosecutors roll through case in 5 weeks, don’t call some potential key figures

Blagojevich prosecutors done quicker than expected
CHICAGO – Prosecutors at Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial wheeled three carts crammed with documents into court each day, making it easy to believe estimates that it could take more than two months to present their case to jurors.
Instead, it took them just five weeks despite having dozens of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Blagojevich prosecutors roll through case in 5 weeks, don’t call some potential key figures.

4 police officers could face death penalty in deadly post-Katrina New Orleans shootings

Cops could face death in post-Katrina shootings

NEW ORLEANS – Four police officers are accused of gunning down two unarmed people in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the latest twist for a corruption-plagued police department that already faces several federal investigations.
The four officers could face the death penalty. They were charged along with two …. Source article  : 4 police officers could face death penalty in deadly post-Katrina New Orleans shootings.

Attorneys for couple accused of plotting to extort John Stamos attack actor’s character

Defense attacks actor Stamos at extortion trial

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Attorneys for a couple accused of plotting to extort $680,000 from John Stamos are trying to get them off the hook by attacking the actor’s character and the FBI’s credibility.
Defense lawyers in the trial of Allison Coss and Scott Sippola have portrayed Stamos as a promiscuous … Read more >>.

Ex-officer faces sentencing after video of NYC clash with cycling activist is posted online

Ex-officer faces sentencing in NYC bicycle clash

NEW YORK – A former police officer convicted of lying about a confrontation with a bike-riding demonstrator – a clash later seen by millions of YouTube viewers – was to be sentenced Wednesday.
Patrick Pogan faced up to four years behind bars but could get probation instead.
Jurors acquitted Pogan, 24, … Read more : Ex-officer faces sentencing after video of NYC clash with cycling activist is posted online.

Maoists have been killing over 500 civilians every year: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has been killing over 500 civilians every year since 2004 after labelling many of them “police informers”, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Wednesday.

According to Chidambaram, as long as the “principal left wing extremist organisation was not challenged effectively, it expanded its area of activity, recruited more …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Maoists have been killing over 500 civilians every year: Chidambaram.

Set up unified command in four Maoist hit states: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said that Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal should coordinate their anti-Maoist operations and form a Unified Command with a retired major general of the Indian Army as its member.

“The central government acknowledges the primary role and responsibility of the state governments in enforcing law and order [..] Read the original article: here.

Suicide attack near security checkpoint kills Afghan policeman in Kandahar

Suicide attack kills Afghan policeman in Kandahar

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – An Afghan official says a suicide car bomb has exploded near a police checkpoint in the southern city of Kandahar, killing one policeman.
Provincial spokesman Zulmi Ayubi says the attack was at a compound next to one of several new checkpoints set up around Kandahar to try …. Source article  : Suicide attack near security checkpoint kills Afghan policeman in Kandahar.

Terror suspect arrested in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – Terror suspect Viqar Ahmed, who is suspected to have links with Pakistan-based terror groups and is allegedly involved in three incidents of firing on policemen, was arrested by Hyderabad Police here Wednesday.

Ahmed was arrested along with another suspect Amjad. The arrests were made in Secunderabad, when the accused were reportedly planning more … Read : Terror suspect arrested in Hyderabad.

Charles Sobhraj Case Verdict Comes Today

KATHMANDU, NEPAL (GaeaTimes.com)- Nepal Supreme Court shall announce it’s verdict on “Bikini Killer” Charles Sobhraj’s case today. Reportedly, Charles Sobhraj is accused of a series of backpacker murders in Asia back in 1970. Charles Sobhraj who is now 65 years old was convicted six years ago for killing a tourist named Connie Joe Bronzich. Charles …. Read the original article  : here.

PM meets chief minister of Maoist affected states

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday met the chief ministers of Maoist affected states to review government policy and discuss strategy to counter one of the greatest internal security threats to India.

Attending the meeting at the prime minister’s 7, Race Course Road residence are the chief ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PM meets chief minister of Maoist affected states.

Major killed in Jammu and Kashmir, gunfight still on

JAMMU – An Indian Army major was killed and a colonel injured in a fierce gunfight between security forces and a group of terrorists in Mendhar forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The exchange of fire that started Tuesday night was continuing Wednesday, an official said.

Major Thange, 28, was killed Tuesday night. He …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US general wants Pakistani group labelled terrorists

WASHINGTON – Amid efforts at a political settlement with Afghan Taliban, the new American military commander in Afghanistan is pushing to have top leaders of the Pakistani Haqqani network designated as terrorists, according to the New York Times.

Gen. David H. Petraeus broached the idea of blacklisting the group late last week in discussions with President … Read more >>.

Grandmother held as police investigate ax slaying of Detroit woman, 26, in Highland Park home

Grandmother arrested following ax slaying of woman

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Police in the small Detroit enclave of Highland Park are investigating what a neighbor described as the bloody ax slaying of a 26-year-old Detroit woman in her boyfriend’s home.
Mila Perry’s body was found Monday inside the two-story wood-frame house not long after police arrested a …. Original article  : Grandmother held as police investigate ax slaying of Detroit woman, 26, in Highland Park home.

Malaysian police raid for stolen cars finds hundreds of birds, other protected wildlife

Malaysia raid for stolen cars nets protected birds

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A police raid for stolen vehicles found 42 of them at a warehouse in Malaysia – and hundreds of birds and other protected wildlife.
Celescoriano Razond, an official with the wildlife department, says police officers found some 700 birds and caged leopard cats, albino pygmy … Read more : Malaysian police raid for stolen cars finds hundreds of birds, other protected wildlife.

Clinton urges US Jewish groups to join campaign to release American aid worker held in Cuba

Clinton asks Jewish support to free worker in Cuba

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday urged Jewish groups to join the campaign to persuade Cuba to release a U.S. government contractor detained on the communist island for seven months without charge.
Clinton told representatives of the American Jewish community that they should add …. Read the original article  : Clinton urges US Jewish groups to join campaign to release American aid worker held in Cuba.

3 charged with drug possession after railroad tanker car found filled with marijuana in LA

3 charged in LA in connection with rail car pot

LOS ANGELES – Three men whose arrests led to the discovery of hundreds of pounds of marijuana in a railroad tanker car have been charged with drug possession in Los Angeles.
The district attorney’s office says 28-year-old Jesse Lopez, 18-year-old Justin Coffey and 19-year-old Kristopher Maldonado were … Original source on Gaea Times at : 3 charged with drug possession after railroad tanker car found filled with marijuana in LA.

Major killed, Col injured in J&K encounter

JAMMU – A major of the Indian Army was killed and a colonel injured in a fierce gun battle between the security forces and a group of four to six terrorists in Mendhar forest area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday night.

Five other soldiers were injured in the encounter that was continuing till …. Original source  : Major killed, Col injured in J&K encounter.

Albuquerque police outline how victims were shot in rampage through solar plant

Police outline NM shooting spree that left 3 dead

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A gunman storming through his former workplace fired without provocation or warning at his first victim, then moved on in a spree that left three dead and four injured, police said Tuesday.
A day after the shooting that ended with Robert Reza turning the gun … Original source on Gaea Times at : Albuquerque police outline how victims were shot in rampage through solar plant.