Agnivesh proposes 72-hour ceasefire with Maoists

KOLKATA – Welcoming the Maoist offer for a three-month ceasefire to begin talks, social activist Swami Agnivesh Wednesday proposed an initial three-day truce between the government and the guerrillas as a confidence building measure.

“It’s a forthright decision by Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist politburo member Kishenji. It is a befitting response to the president and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Agnivesh proposes 72-hour ceasefire with Maoists.

Philippines suspends entire police station, investigates alleged torture of detainee

Philippines suspends 11 police in torture probe

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police relieved an entire precinct and began an investigation Wednesday after a television station aired footage purportedly showing officers torturing a naked detainee.
The man is believed to be a suspected thief caught in Manila’s Tondo slum district, according to ABS-CBN TV, which said it obtained …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Philippines suspends entire police station, investigates alleged torture of detainee.

Kashmir frees six jailed Pakistani militants

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir government has set free six Pakistani militants and sent them to the Attari border checkpost in Punjab for their deportation to Pakistan, official sources said.

Three others, including a woman caught while crossing the border, have also been set free.
“At least six Pakistani militants were set free (Tuesday) evening. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Kashmir frees six jailed Pakistani militants.

Maoists blast Jharkhand school building, kill contractor

RANCHI – Maoist rebels blew up a school building and shot dead a contractor in two separate incidents in Jharkhand, police said Wednesday.

Around 15 to 20 Maoist rebels Tuesday night raided Ziyan village in East Singhhum district, around 160 km from here, and blasted the primary school building with the help of explosives and detonators. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Maoists blast Jharkhand school building, kill contractor.

Jurors were close to convicting Rod Blagojevich on many charges, including Senate seat count

Jurors were close to convicting Rod Blagojevich
CHICAGO – They were close. After three weeks of respectful but increasingly tense deliberations, 11 jurors were ready to convict Rod Blagojevich of what prosecutors called a “political corruption crime spree” that would have sent yet another former Illinois governor to prison.
Not close enough. On vote after … Read more : Jurors were close to convicting Rod Blagojevich on many charges, including Senate seat count.

Police exploring why Texas gunman with explosive-laden trailer opened fire outside station

Police seeking motive for Texas gunman’s attack

McKINNEY, Texas – Police in a Dallas suburb are seeking a motive after a man towed a trailer full of explosives into the parking lot of their headquarters, set fire to his truck and began shooting at the building.
Authorities say 29-year-old Patrick Gray Sharp died after a shootout with … Original source on Gaea Times at : Police exploring why Texas gunman with explosive-laden trailer opened fire outside station.

City of Bell says it has terminated ‘loan program’ that lent nearly $900,000 to city employees

City of Bell says it has terminated ‘loan program’

BELL, Calif. – The California city of Bell has ended a loan program devised by the former city administrator whose exorbitant salary sparked a scandal in the small working class city, interim city manager Pedro Carrillo said Tuesday.
“Since learning of the ‘loan program’ it was immediately terminated,” … Read : City of Bell says it has terminated ‘loan program’ that lent nearly $900,000 to city employees.

Singapore extends jail term of Swiss graffiti vandal by 2 months, rejects appeal

S’pore adds 2 months to jail term of Swiss vandal
SINGAPORE – A Singapore judge rejected an appeal by a Swiss graffiti vandal to reduce his five-month jail term and instead added two months to the sentence Wednesday.
Justice V K Rajah ruled that Oliver Fricker’s initial sentence of two months for trespassing was insufficient … Original source on Gaea Times at : Singapore extends jail term of Swiss graffiti vandal by 2 months, rejects appeal.

Israeli jets raid Gaza targets

GAZA – Israeli airplanes struck several targets in the Gaza Strip, apparently in response to the injury of two soldiers by Palestinian militants.

Witnesses said that the air strikes destroyed two smuggling tunnels beneath Gaza’s southern border with Egypt late Tuesday. Medical sources said there were no casualties in these raids, Xinhua reported .
The …. Source  : Israeli jets raid Gaza targets.

AP Interview: Costa Rican president wants US anti-drug aid program for Central America

Costa Rica wants US anti-drug program for CentAm

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla said Tuesday she wants the United States to offer an anti-drug aid program just for Central America.
The region currently gets some aid to fight organized crime through the Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion aid program pledged by President …. Read the original article  : AP Interview: Costa Rican president wants US anti-drug aid program for Central America.

CIA tapes show 9/11 suspects in secret prisons

WASHINGTON – The US Central Intelligence Agency has videotapes made at a secret prison in Morocco showing the interrogation of a conspirator in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, CNN reported Tuesday.

The tapes were reportedly found three years ago under a desk at the CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and may offer insights into … Original source on Gaea Times at : CIA tapes show 9/11 suspects in secret prisons.

Rocker Ted Nugent pleads no contest in California to baiting deer during televised hunt

Ted Nugent pleads no contest to deer baiting in CA

MARYSVILLE, Calif. – Rocker and celebrity hunter Ted Nugent will have to pay a $1,750 fine after pleading no contest in California to baiting a deer and not having a properly signed hunting tag.
California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Patrick Foy says game wardens saw …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US appeals court panel: Law against faking receipt of military medals is unconstitutional

Appeals court: Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional

PASADENA, Calif. – A three-year-old federal law that makes it a crime to falsely claim to have received a medal from the U.S. military is unconstitutional, an appeals court panel in California ruled Tuesday.
The decision involves the case of Xavier Alvarez of Pomona, Calif., a water district board member who … Original source on Gaea Times at : US appeals court panel: Law against faking receipt of military medals is unconstitutional.

Pharmacist: Doctors prescribed dangerous doses of drugs for Anna Nicole Smith

Witness: Dangerous drug doses prescribed for Smith

LOS ANGELES – A pharmacist testified Tuesday he refused to fill a request from two doctors for drugs he believed would have killed Anna Nicole Smith if taken in the doses prescribed.
Ira Freeman, who identified hundreds of prescription he filled for the Playboy model over five years, said he …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Pharmacist: Doctors prescribed dangerous doses of drugs for Anna Nicole Smith.

Okla. execution stayed for 3rd time after defense attorneys object to lethal injection drug

Judge stays Oklahoma man’s execution for 3rd time

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma death row inmate’s execution was stayed for the third time in less than three months Tuesday, after his defense attorneys objected to plans to substitute a drug in his lethal injection.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot issued the stay just hours before Jeffrey David …. Original source  : Okla. execution stayed for 3rd time after defense attorneys object to lethal injection drug.

Arizona sheriff’s office says it hasn’t turned over records in Justice Department probe

Ariz. sheriff hasn’t turned over records in probe

PHOENIX – An Arizona sheriff’s office says it hasn’t turned over records the U.S. Department of Justice is requesting as part of a civil rights investigation.
The Justice Department has threatened to sue the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office if it didn’t hand over the records by Tuesday.
Robert Driscoll, a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Arizona sheriff’s office says it hasn’t turned over records in Justice Department probe.

APNewsBreak: Juror says Blago panel locked 11-1 to convict in alleged plan to sell Senate seat

APNewsBreak: Blago panel deadlocked 11-1 on Senate
CHICAGO – A juror in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich says the panel was deadlocked 11-1 in favor of convicting the former Illinois governor of trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat.
Juror Erik Sarnello of Itasca, Ill said a female holdout “just …. Original article  : APNewsBreak: Juror says Blago panel locked 11-1 to convict in alleged plan to sell Senate seat.

Police arrest man who allegedly assumed identity of Arizona soldier stationed in Iraq

Police: Arizona soldier victim of identity theft

MESA, Ariz. – Police have arrested a man accused of assuming the identity of an Arizona soldier stationed in Iraq.
Mesa police say 21-year-old Richard L. Schrodt was taken into custody Monday and booked into jail on suspicion of identity theft and forgery.
They say Schrodt and Richard Burke were high …. Read the original article  : here.

Travis County prosecutor reviewing double billing by Dallas-area lawmaker

Prosecutor reviews Texas lawmaker’s double billing

AUSTIN, Texas – Travis County prosecutors are reviewing the double-billing practices of a north Texas lawmaker who took taxpayer reimbursements for travel that had been paid for by his campaign, the district attorney said Tuesday.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said her office opened a review of state Rep. Joe … Original article on : Travis County prosecutor reviewing double billing by Dallas-area lawmaker.

Blago jury deadlocks on all but 1 charge against former governor; prosecutors plan retrial

Jury deadlocks on all but 1 charge against Blago
CHICAGO – A federal jury deadlocked Tuesday on all but one of 24 charges against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, including the most explosive of all – that he tried to sell an appointment …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Blago jury deadlocks on all but 1 charge against former governor; prosecutors plan retrial.