Larry Birkhead gives jurors inside story of life with Anna Nicole Smith and drugs

Birkhead shares story of life with Anna Nicole

LOS ANGELES – Larry Birkhead, one of the central figures in the Anna Nicole Smith drama, is returning to the witness stand to give jurors the inside story of his life with the late Playboy model and her drug use.
Birkhead, the father of Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn, was to …. Original article  : Larry Birkhead gives jurors inside story of life with Anna Nicole Smith and drugs.

Authorities catch last prison escapee at Arizona campsite, ending 3-week nationwide manhunt

Arizona fugitive and fiancee arrested at campsite

PHOENIX – An unattended campfire and a suspicious forest ranger led to the arrest of two of the most wanted fugitives in the U.S., ending a three-week nationwide manhunt that drew hundreds of false sightings, authorities said.
John McCluskey fled July 30 with two other inmates from a private prison …. Source  : Authorities catch last prison escapee at Arizona campsite, ending 3-week nationwide manhunt.

UK warns Libya any celebration of Lockerbie bomber’s freedom would be offensive and tasteless

UK warns Libya over Lockerbie bomber anniversary

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Britain’s government says it has warned Libya that any celebration of the anniversary of the release from jail of the Lockerbie bomber would be offensive and insensitive to the families of the mainly U.S. victims of the attack.
Abdel Baset Al-Megrahi is the only person convicted in … Read more »»».

British families of Lockerbie victims call on US senators to visit Scotland

UK Lockerbie families call US senators to Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland – Some families of the British victims of the Lockerbie bombing have challenged four U.S. senators to speak to them about their take on the 1988 terror attack.
Although the American relatives of those who died in the attack have largely focused on the controversy surrounding the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : British families of Lockerbie victims call on US senators to visit Scotland.

South Korea arrests religious activist for making illegal trip to North Korea

SKorea arrests activist after trip to NKorea
SEOUL, South Korea – Authorities arrested a South Korean religious activist Friday as he passed through the heavily fortified demilitarized zone after an illegal trip to North Korea.
U.N. Command spokesman Kim Yong-kyu said South Korean officials took Rev. Han Sang-ryol into custody as he walked through the [..] Read the original article: here.

Investigators say they don’t know what led Iraq war vet to kill pregnant wife, daughter, self

Police look for why vet killed family, self

MADISON, Wis. – An Iraq war veteran who police say shot and killed his pregnant wife and young daughter before turning the gun on himself left behind no clues to explain what might have prompted the bloodshed, investigators say.
There was no note and no evidence that there had …. Source article  : Investigators say they don’t know what led Iraq war vet to kill pregnant wife, daughter, self.

Thai appeals court rules to extradite alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to US

Thais rule to extradite Russian arms suspect to US

BANGKOK – A Thai appeals court ruled Friday to extradite suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States, effectively ending a more than decade-long chase for the man dubbed “The Merchant of Death.”
The court ordered Bout’s extradition within three months, overturning a lower court’s ruling …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sheriff’s office: Final Arizona prison escape, companion caught at campground in Arizona

Authorities: Ariz. escapee caught at campground

PHOENIX – After nearly three weeks on the run, an escaped state prison inmate and his fiancee who were targets of an intense nationwide manhunt were captured Thursday at an Arizona campground after an alert forest ranger spotted the suspicious couple, along with their stolen vehicle hidden in the trees.
John …. Original article  : Sheriff’s office: Final Arizona prison escape, companion caught at campground in Arizona.

Officials: Escaped Arizona prison inmate, fiancee captured in northeastern Arizona

Escaped Arizona prison inmate, fiancee captured

PHOENIX – An escaped state prison inmate and his fiancee who have been on the run for weeks were captured Thursday in northeastern Arizona, officials told The Associated Press.
Details were sketchy and Arizona authorities scheduled a news briefing late Thursday night to discuss the capture of John McCluskey and Casslyn …. Read the original article  : here.

Thai appeals court rule to extradite alleged top arms dealer Viktor Bout to US

Thais rule to extradite arms suspect to US

BANGKOK – An appeals court in Thailand ruled Friday to extradite suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States, effectively ending a more than decade-long chase for the man dubbed “The Merchant of Death.”
The decision overturns a lower court’s rejection of the U.S. extradition request. The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Thai appeals court rule to extradite alleged top arms dealer Viktor Bout to US.

Rio Tinto chief vows to persist in efforts to win approval for Pilbara joint venture with BHP

Rio Tinto vows to work for approval of Pilbara JV

SHANGHAI – Global miner Rio Tinto’s CEO shrugged off doubts Friday over a proposed iron ore joint venture in Australia with BHP Billiton, saying he will do everything he can to win regulatory approval for a deal opposed by big ore buyers like China.
His comments came …. Read the original article  : Rio Tinto chief vows to persist in efforts to win approval for Pilbara joint venture with BHP.

Thai appeals court to rule on US extradition bid for alleged top arms dealer Viktor Bout

Thais to rule on US bid to extradite arms dealer

BANGKOK – An appeals court in Thailand began delivering a final verdict Friday on a U.S. request to extradite suspected arms smuggler Viktor Bout, the elusive Russian businessman dubbed “The Merchant of Death.”
Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, is reputed to be one of …. Source article  : Thai appeals court to rule on US extradition bid for alleged top arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Supreme Court Justice Kennedy says most terrorism cases should be tried in civilian courts

Kennedy favors civilian courts in terrorism cases

KAANAPALI, Hawaii – Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said Thursday that most terrorism cases should be tried in civilian courts.
Kennedy addressed participants in the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference on Maui, where a panel discussion earlier this week reached a consensus in favor of using civilian courts instead of military … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Supreme Court Justice Kennedy says most terrorism cases should be tried in civilian courts.

7-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens charged with perjury, obstruction of Congress

Baseball great Clemens indicted in steroid case

WASHINGTON – Roger Clemens was vehement: “Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH,” he told a House committee in 2008. Now, instead of the Hall of Fame, baseball’s seven-time Cy Young winner could go to prison after being indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday …. Original source  : 7-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens charged with perjury, obstruction of Congress.

Child of leftist guerrillas finally confronts her alleged Argentine kidnapper in court

Guerrillas’ child testifies against kidnapper

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The first dirty-war kidnap victim to be identified by DNA tests returned from Spain to testify that a former government intelligence agent not only stole her from her parents, but sexually abused her as well.
Carla Rutila, 35, was abducted as a baby in 1976 in Bolivia, where …. Original article  : Child of leftist guerrillas finally confronts her alleged Argentine kidnapper in court.

Peruvian justice minister: Berenson using toddler to gain sympathy in parole appeal

American back in Peruvian prison with toddler son

LIMA, Peru – Peru’s justice minister on Thursday accused American activist Lori Berenson of using her 15-month-old son to try to win sympathy as she was taken back to prison after an appeals court struck down a decision granting parole.
The 40-year-old from New York surrendered to police Wednesday …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Peruvian justice minister: Berenson using toddler to gain sympathy in parole appeal.

Money talks: Why the feds should offer disgraced star a plea deal

If Clemens is smart, he’ll cut losses starting now

Turns out some members of Congress didn’t believe Roger Clemens any more than the rest of us.
But what makes it a teachable moment is they did something about it. The lesson is that if you lie to enough people, eventually someone will take it personally. The drawback …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Money talks: Why the feds should offer disgraced star a plea deal.

Mexican president raises possibility of anonymous judges in drug trafficking cases

Calderon: Mexico should consider anonymous judges

MEXICO CITY – President Felipe Calderon said Mexico should consider appointing anonymous judges for drug trafficking trials, an unexpected proposal that he acknowledged contradicts the country’s efforts to build a more open judicial system.
Calderon, who raised the idea Thursday during meeting with senators on national security, said Mexico should at …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mexican president raises possibility of anonymous judges in drug trafficking cases.

Larry Birkhead, father of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, testifies about Smith’s drug use

Birkhead testifies on Anna Nicole Smith’s drug use

LOS ANGELES – Larry Birkhead, the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, has testified he saw Smith taking numerous prescription drugs but says she told him she was not an addict.
Birkhead told jurors Thursday how his love affair with the former Playboy model began when he photographed her.
He … Original source on Gaea Times at : Larry Birkhead, father of Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, testifies about Smith’s drug use.

Man freed after being imprisoned for 13 years for trying to steal food from Calif. church

Man free after years in jail for trying food theft

LOS ANGELES – A homeless man is free after spending 13 years behind bars for trying to steal food from a Los Angeles church kitchen.
Gregory Taylor became an example of the harsh sentences allowed by California’s three-strikes law when he was ordered to spend 25 years … Read : Man freed after being imprisoned for 13 years for trying to steal food from Calif. church.