Malawi’s former President Muluzi pleads not guilty in corruption case

Malawi’s ex-president: I’m innocent of corruption

BLANTYRE, Malawi – Former President Bakili Muluzi has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of corruption and theft.
Muluzi appeared in the High Court in Blantyre Tuesday, five years after he was arrested and charged with corruption following allegations that he took for his personal use $12 million in development aid …. Source article  : Malawi’s former President Muluzi pleads not guilty in corruption case.

Guinea’s election commission chief dies, just days before critical presidential runoff vote

Guinea poll chief dies days before critical vote

CONAKRY, Guinea – A family friend says Guinea’s election commission chief has died just days before a scheduled critical election.
Mamadou Bah says Ben Sekou Sylla died overnight Monday at a Paris hospital. Sylla has been ill for some time and a temporary successor was appointed. But his death …. Source article  : Guinea’s election commission chief dies, just days before critical presidential runoff vote.

George Michael to be sentenced for driving under influence of drugs after photo-shop collision

George Michael to be sentenced for drug driving

LONDON – George Michael is facing a fine or jail time after he admitted driving while under the influence of drugs.
The singer pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence and possession of cannabis following an incident on July 4 when his Range Rover crashed into a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : George Michael to be sentenced for driving under influence of drugs after photo-shop collision.

US drone attack kills eight militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least eight militants were killed Tuesday in a suspected US drone attack in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border, Pakistani security officials said.

An intelligence official said the unmanned aircraft fired three missiles into a house in the Shawal Valley in the North Waziristan tribal district, demolishing the compound.
“The house was …. Source article  : US drone attack kills eight militants in Pakistan.

US eyes first-ever criminal charges against radical cleric al-Awlaki, already marked for death

US eyes terror charges for Yemeni cleric al-Awlaki

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is considering filing the first criminal charges against radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in case the CIA fails to kill him and he’s is captured alive in Yemen.
The decision continues the White House’s strategy of fighting terrorism both in court and on the battlefield.
Al-Awlaki, …. Read the original article  : US eyes first-ever criminal charges against radical cleric al-Awlaki, already marked for death.

French Senate set to vote on bill outlawing Islamic veils that cover the face; passage likely

French Senate to vote on ban of full Muslim veils

PARIS – Oum Al Khyr says she’ll hole up at home and pray. Other women, preferring to flirt with arrest, may defy a ban on the burqa-style veil if a bill to outlaw the Islamic garment becomes the law of the land in France.
The ban, to … Read this article on Gaea Times at : French Senate set to vote on bill outlawing Islamic veils that cover the face; passage likely.

Testimony expected to conclude in trial of Los Angeles actor accused of stabbing ex

Testimony nearing a close in LA actor trial

VISTA, Calif. – Testimony is expected to conclude Tuesday in the trial of a Los Angeles actor accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend at her San Diego County home.
Shelley Malil, who appeared in the film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” testified Monday he understands he’s responsible for her wounds but doesn’t … Read more : Testimony expected to conclude in trial of Los Angeles actor accused of stabbing ex.

Musharraf tried to protect Taliban after 9/11: Report

WASHINGTON – As the White House focused its efforts “on challenging long-established Taliban strongholds”, newly released documents revealed that back in the Bush era Pakistan made all out efforts to save the terrorist group.

After the Sep 11, 2001 terror attack, when the US had decided to bomb Afghanistan, then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and its … Read more >>.

Chicago man charged with kidnapping, attempting to kill California woman

Chicago man charged in Calif. kidnapping case

ALHAMBRA, Calif. – Los Angeles County prosecutors say a Chicago man has been charged with kidnapping and attempting to murder a 21-year-old woman who authorities say was left for dead after her father had agreed to pay a ransom for her return.
Prosecutors say 24-year-old DeQiang Song was charged Monday … Read more : Chicago man charged with kidnapping, attempting to kill California woman.

Federal appeals court criticizes Wisconsin judge for Hitler reference

Court blasts Wisconsin judge for Hitler reference

CHICAGO – An appeals court has admonished a federal judge in Wisconsin for claiming a convicted drug dealer’s love for his family is akin to Adolf Hitler’s love for his dog.
The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Monday ordered that the defendant, Jose Figueroa, be re-sentenced.
The …. Original article  : Federal appeals court criticizes Wisconsin judge for Hitler reference.

‘40-Year-Old Virgin’ actor testifies he stabbed ex because he thought he was under attack

‘40-Year-Old Virgin’ actor testifies at trial

VISTA, Calif. – Shelley Malil, the Indian-born actor accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend at her San Diego County home, testified Monday he understands he’s responsible for her wounds but doesn’t remember inflicting each one.
Malil, who appeared in the film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” told jurors he started flailing with a knife …. Original source  : ‘40-Year-Old Virgin’ actor testifies he stabbed ex because he thought he was under attack.

Attorney for ESPN’s Jay Mariotti says domestic violence allegations are false

Mariotti’s attorney says allegations are false

LOS ANGELES – ESPN personality and AOL sports columnist Jay Mariotti will be charged in an alleged domestic violence incident in Los Angeles, prosecutors said Monday.
Seven misdemeanors are being filed against Mariotti, including domestic violence with injury, false imprisonment and grand theft, city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan said. Each count …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Maoists blow up railway track in Bihar

PATNA – Maoists blew up a railway track in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district and set ablaze the machine room of a mobile tower in Gaya district early Tuesday to enforce a two-day strike, police said.

The rebels blew up the railway track near Sakra railway station in Muzaffarpur district, about 70 km from here. Sakra is situated …. Source  : Maoists blow up railway track in Bihar.

Chinese man sentenced in San Diego for smuggling restricted US military equipment

Chinese man sentenced in military smuggling case

SAN DIEGO – A Chinese man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for trying to smuggle restricted U.S. military equipment to his native Macau.
City News Service reported a federal judge in San Diego handed down the sentence Monday for Chi Tong Kuok.
Kuok was convicted in May … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chinese man sentenced in San Diego for smuggling restricted US military equipment.

Mass. doctor pleads guilty to manslaughter charges in death of Cape Cod abortion patient

Mass. doc pleads guilty in abortion patient death

BOSTON – A Massachusetts doctor has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the case of a woman who died after he performed an abortion on her.
Dr. Rapin Osathanondh (O-SATH’-an-on) entered the plea Monday as his trial was getting under way in Barnstable Superior Court on Cape Cod. It was …. Original article  : Mass. doctor pleads guilty to manslaughter charges in death of Cape Cod abortion patient.

Al Qaeda blows up gas pipeline in Yemen

SANA’A – Suspected Al Qaeda militants blew up a pipeline transferring liquefied natural gas (LNG) between two provinces in Yemen, officials said.

The gas pipeline was from Yemeni Marib province to Shabwa province via the Belhaf port terminal, near where the blast took place, officials of the Yemen Gas Co. were quoted as saying by Xinhua. …. Source  : Al Qaeda blows up gas pipeline in Yemen.

Justice Dept. asks judge to force Ariz. sheriff to turn over documents in civil-rights probe

Feds ask judge to order Ariz. sheriff to cooperate

PHOENIX – The Justice Department has asked a federal judge in Arizona to force Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office to provide full and immediate access to records and facilities for a civil-rights investigation without going to trial.
The motion for summary judgment filed Monday also …. Source article  : Justice Dept. asks judge to force Ariz. sheriff to turn over documents in civil-rights probe.

Rudy Giuliani backs Illinois Republicans, touts national anti-gang task force legislation

Giuliani calls for federal anti-gang task force
CHICAGO – The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Illinois raised the specter of Chicago gangster Al Capone on Monday in calling on the federal government to become more involved in fighting modern-day street gangs nationwide.
Mark Kirk appeared with former New York City Mayor Rudy … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Rudy Giuliani backs Illinois Republicans, touts national anti-gang task force legislation.

Settlement in class-action lawsuit over actors’ foreign royalties goes to judge for approval

Actors, union settle suit over foreign royalties

LOS ANGELES – Attorneys for the Screen Actors Guild and the actor who played Eddie Haskell on “Leave It to Beaver” have reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the distribution of millions of dollars in foreign royalties to actors.
Attorneys for the union and actor Ken Osmond filed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Settlement in class-action lawsuit over actors’ foreign royalties goes to judge for approval.

New misdemeanor charges for 5 teens accused of disrupting mosque service in upstate NY

New charges for 5 accused of harassing NY mosque

CARLTON, N.Y. – Five teenagers accused of disrupting a religious service at a small-town mosque were hit with extra misdemeanor charges Monday, but a prosecutor said he was holding off classifying their acts as a hate crime.
Two 17-year-old boys and three 18-year-olds yelled obscenities and honked car … Read : New misdemeanor charges for 5 teens accused of disrupting mosque service in upstate NY.