Man robs Portland, Ore., bank, steals Jaguar containing 2 Chihuahuas

Man robs Ore. bank, steals car containing 2 dogs

Fight with Detroit bus driver results in assault and battery charges against 2 women

Women charged after fight with Detroit bus driver

Residents criticize security at crime-ridden NJ building where 7-year-old girl was attacked

Security criticized at NJ tower where girl raped

New Zealand Catholic church investigating 5 more historic sex abuse complaints

NZ Catholic church investigates 5 abuse complaints

Roman Polanski attorneys say prolonged case is assault on US justice system

Roman Polanski attorneys plead to end case

Official: Guantanamo lawyers don’t expect to be ready for Sudanese detainee’s trial until 2011

Attorneys ready for Gitmo detainee’s trial in 2011

We will continue to hit Maoist heart: Chhattisgarh top cop

NEW DELHI - Ruling out a change in the central and state forces’ strategy in the anti-Maoist operation, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police (DGP) Viswas Ranjan Thursday said the security forces would “continue to hit the Naxal (Maoist) heart” and the rebels will have to pay for Tuesday’s massacre.

Chhattisgarh shuts down to protest Maoist massacre

RAIPUR - Roads were deserted, schools were closed and shops downed shutters across many parts of Chattisgarh Thursday as the opposition Congress began a daylong shutdown to protest the massacre of 76 troopers by Maoist guerrillas.

Chhattisgarh shuts down to protest Maoist massacre (Second Lead)

RAIPUR - Life came to a virtual standstill across Chhattisgarh Thursday as the opposition Congress enforced a daylong shutdown to protest the massacre of 76 troopers by Maoist guerrillas.

What can air force do in jungles of Bastar, ask officials

RAIPUR - The air force can only play a limited role in the thick forests of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, security officials in the Maoist stronghold said Thursday amid indications that the government might “revisit” the issue of using air power against the guerrillas.

US hopes summit will endorse Obama approach to check n-terrorism

WASHINGTON - The United States hopes next week’s Nuclear Security Summit here will endorse President Barack Obama’s approach to prevent nuclear terrorism given a “very strong international consensus” on the issue.

Threat mail to replicate Dantewada massacre in Orissa traced

BHUBANESWAR - The threat email sent to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik warning of an attack like Chhatisgarh’s Dantewada massacre, in which 76 troopers were killed, has been traced to a computer in the state, officials said Thursday.

One killed in battle with guerrillas in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - A Rashtriya Rifles soldier was killed and another wounded in a gunbattle with separatist guerrillas in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said Thursday.

Forests, mines keep Maoist location out of bounds

RAIPUR - Police officers trying to track down Maoists involved in the massacre of 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh Thursday said they had clues about the location of the rebels, but a thick forest cover and a heavily mined area were proving to be deterrents in the combing operation.

Start talks with Maoists, Nepal peers tell India

KATHMANDU - Though India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram has ruled out holding talks with the Maoist guerrillas, Nepal’s former Maoist guerrillas urged New Delhi to open dialogue, warning else it would have to pay a “heavy price”.

Maoist leader arrested in West Bengal, weapons seized

KOLKATA - A key Maoist leader was arrested during a search operation jointly carried out by the central paramilitary forces and state police in West Bengal’s troubled West Midnapore district Thursday, police said.

Threat to replicate Dantewada blood bath in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - Suspected Maoists have again sent a threat e-mail to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, warning of orchestrating an attack akin to Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada massacre in his state, police said Thursday.

Montek, Buddhadeb discuss Maoist violence

NEW DELHI - Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia Thursday discussed the issue of Maoist violence with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday while finalising the state’s annual plan for 2010-11.

Some UPA partners friendly with Maoists: BJP

NEW DELHI - Alleging that some parties of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were close to Leftist guerrillas, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday said the government was a mute spectator when Maoists were spreading terror.

Indian Mujahideen emerges prime suspect in Pune blast

MUMBAI - The Indian Mujahideen (IM) Thursday emerged as the mastermind behind the Feb 13 terror blast in Pune’s German Bakery that killed 17 people, including four foreigners, and injured another 57.

Shutdown in Chhattisgarh to protest Maoist massacre

RAIPUR - A day-long shutdown called by the opposition Congress began in Chhattisgarh Thursday to protest the massacre of 76 troopers by Maoists.

12 militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Twelve militants were killed in fighting with the security forces in northwest Pakistan Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Six convicted for 1996 Lajpat Nagar bomb blast

NEW DELHI - A city court Thursday convicted six accused, including a woman, in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar bomb blast which killed 13 people and injured 39. Four accused were set free.

Bangladesh parliament security intensified

DHAKA - The security at Bangladesh’s parliament has been intensified following a threat to blow it up, Speaker Abdul Hamid has said.

Maoists get weapons from across the border: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Two days after Maoist guerrillas killed 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday said the leftist insurgents were procuring arms from across the border.

Indian Mujahideen prime suspect in Pune blast

MUMBAI - The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is on the verge of a breakthrough in the Feb 13 Pune terror blast and two suspects linked to the Indian Mujahideen (IM) have been identified, Home Minister R.R. Patil said here Thursday.

Malegaon blast accused did not plot to kill RSS chief: Minister

MUMBAI - Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Thursday denied that the 2008 Malegaon blast accused had hatched a conspiracy to eliminate the then Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh general secretary Mohan Bhagwat, who now heads the organisation.

BJP for united fight against Maoists, flays UPA

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday called for “a unified strategy” against Maoists and accused the Congress and the Trinamool Congress of being soft to the rebels at varying times.

CRPF \’faulty planning\’ led to massacre, says Maoist expert

KOLKATA - Faulty planning by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was a key factor that led to the massacre of over 70 men at the hands of Maoists in Chhattisgarh, according to a former intelligence chief of West Bengal Police.

What went wrong in Dantewada to be probed: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - An inquiry has been set up into Tuesday’s Maoist massacre of 76 security personnel in Dantewada to find out “what went wrong”, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday and admitted that security personnel did not have adequate number of mine protected vehicles (MVPs) for operations against the rebels.

Judge in case of Ohio man accused of killing 11 sues newspaper for $50M, says privacy violated

Judge in Ohio murder case sues newspaper for $50M

Veteran paramilitary boss, fugitive for more than decade, captured in central Colombia

Paramilitary leader, 71, captured in Colombia

3rd New Orleans police officer pleads guilty, gives eyewitness account of Katrina shootings

3rd ex-officer pleads guilty in Katrina probe

Los Angeles authorities seek injunction to bar gang members from selling drugs on Skid Row

Injunction would bar gang members from LA Skid Row

Militia member who targeted judge is 1st nationwide to be sentenced under anti-retaliation law

Militia member is 1st sentenced for retaliation

Bodies of 12 slain men, 8 partially burned, found in fields outside western Mexican town

Mexico: 12 found dead in Pacific coast state

Atty: Concrete lab chief tried suicide, hospitalized as NYC sentencing loomed

Atty: Concrete lab chief tried suicide

NEW YORK — A concrete-testing company chief tried to kill himself on the eve of his sentencing on a racketeering conviction — his second suicide attempt during a case that involves some of the city’s most prominent building projects, his lawyer said Wednesday.