China says drug cases shot up 16 percent last year with more than 56,000 people convicted

Drug cases shoot up 16 percent last year in China

Vatican asks judge to reject attempt in Ky. to get under-oath testimony from pope on abuse

Vatican: Ky. abuse lawsuit lacks link to Rome

Vatican asks judge to reject attempt in Ky. to get under-oath testimony from Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican: Kentucky lawsuit lacks link to Rome

Effective Pakistani government must to destroy Al Qaeda: Obama

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says to achieve its mission in Afghanistan to dismantle and destroy Al Qaeda and its affiliates, the US must ensure a stable Afghan and an effective Pakistani government.

Greek minister escapes unhurt as bomb kills aide

ATHENS - Greece’s public order minister escaped injury after a bomb went off next to his office Thursday, killing a close aide, police said.

Woman who faked pregnancy stabs couple while trying to take newborn baby from home, police say

Cops: Ind. woman tries taking baby, stabs parents

Former BART officer testifies in own defense in California train station shooting

Defendant testifies in Calif. train shooting trial

Police say man dead, 1 wounded in shooting at Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary

Police say man killed in LA pot dispensary

Attorneys for producer implicated in wife’s killing in Mexico say he’ll surrender to US court

Attorneys: Producer will surrender to US court

Moms of hikers held nearly 1 year in Iran ’shocked’ by report they were arrested in Iraq

Hiker moms ’shocked’ by story on children’s arrest

California couple arrested for trying to sell baby for $25 outside Walmart, police say

Police: Calif couple tried to sell baby at Walmart

Chicago judge issues arrest warrant for New York Knicks player Eddy Curry over civil lawsuit

Chicago judge issues arrest warrant for Eddy Curry

Prosecutor casts Chicago cop as calculating torturer, defense calls him an upstanding officer

Prosecutor: Chicago cop was a calculating torturer

New indictment filed amending charges against 12 charged with attempting to overthrow Laos

New indictment filed in alleged Laos coup attempt

Lawyers clash at close of hearing on whether Ga. death row’s Troy Davis can prove innocence

Ga. hearing for Troy Davis closes on second day

Former BART officer testifies in own defense in California train station shooting trial

Defendant testifies in CA train shooting trial

Lawyers for Jackson doctor say deal with family court DA in Vegas makes license safe

Jackson MD lawyers: Vegas deal makes license safe

Venezuela says it captures suspected drug smuggler wanted in US on cocaine trafficking charges

Venezuela captures drug suspect wanted by US

Some well-known cases based on a federal fraud law narrowed by the Supreme Court Thursday

Barack Obama

Appeals court vacates truck driver’s life sentences for nation’s deadliest human smuggling try

Life sentences overturned in smuggling deaths case

Daley vows not to ‘roll over’ if high court lifts Chicago gun ban, may follow DC’s tough rules

Chicago mayor won’t ‘roll over’ if gun ban lifted

Alameda County DA drops rape charge on MC Hammer’s cousin by woman he met through Twitter

Prosecutors drop rape charge on MC Hammer’s cousin

Woman held for trial in assault on ‘Jackass’ star Bam Margera outside suburban Philly club

Woman held for trial in assault on ‘Jackass’ star

Defense attorney paints ex-Chicago cop accused of lying about torture as an upstanding officer

Deliberations begin in Chicago cop torture trial

Federal agents bring notorious Jamaican gang leader to NY to face drug trafficking charges

Jamaican gang leader arrives to face NY charges

Bankruptcy judge orders mediation for Texas Rangers and lenders, delaying hearing on team sale

Judge orders mediation for Texas Rangers, lenders

Canadian sports doctor’s assistant pleads guilty to lying to agents; has cooperated in probe

Canadian doctor’s assistant takes plea deal

Four detained over failed UK envoy attack in Yemen

Sana’a, June 25 (IANS/AKI) Yemen has detained four people in relation to a failed suicide attack on the British ambassador here in April, the ministry of defence said.

Defense witness: Unarmed man had hand free before he was shot by ex-BART police officer

Video expert testifies in CA train shooting trial

Judge cuts former Qwest CEO’s sentence by 2 months, reduces forfeiture by $7.4 million

Former Qwest CEO’s sentence cut by 2 months, $7.4M

Baubles owned by Madoff associate bring buyers with different agendas to auction preview

Baubles from Madoff associate on auction block

Plane with Jamaican gang leader leaves for New York, ending bloody extradition battle

Jamaican gang leader departs for US in extradition

Judge delays ex-Merrill Lynch exec’s retrial in Enron-related case to weigh misconduct claims

Retrial delayed for ex-Merrill Lynch exec

HOUSTON — A federal judge in Houston has delayed the retrial of a former Merrill Lynch executive whose 2004 Enron-related fraud and conspiracy convictions were overturned.

Plane with Jamaican gang leader takes off for New York, ending bloody extradition battle

Jamaican gang leader en route to NY

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican gang leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke is en route to the U.S in the culmination of a deadly fight over his extradition.

Feds say NH woman involved in Rwandan genocide lied to get US citizenship

Feds say NH woman involved in Rwandan genocide

Jury starts deliberations in former Chicago cop’s trial on allegations he lied about torture

Jury starts deliberations in Burge’s torture trial

French court hands out 30-year prison term for prisoner accused of eating cellmate’s lung

French court sentences cannibal to 30 years

Teenage Phillies fan stunned by Taser gets 6 months’ probation, 80 hours of community service

Teen Phillies fan stunned by Taser gets probation

Kansas doctor, wife convicted of conspiracy in running of clinic prosecutors link to 68 deaths

Kan. doc convicted of conspiracy in pill mill case

If high court lifts Chicago’s gun ban, city may follow DC’s lead and make it tough to buy guns

Chicago not done fighting if court strikes gun ban

Supreme Court weakens the law used to imprison Enron boss, media mogul and public figures

High court reins in prosecutors’ use of fraud law

Former Qwest CEO Nacchio to get new sentence for insider trading conviction

Former Qwest CEO to get new sentence

DENVER — Prosecutors are asking a judge to add six months to former Qwest Communications International Inc. CEO Joseph Nacchio’s sentence for insider trading.

Former Brocade CEO sentenced to 18 months, fined $15M for illegal stock backdating

Ex-Brocade CEO sent to prison for stock backdating

Jurors reach verdict in Kansas painkiller deaths case

Verdict reached in Kan. doctor’s trial

WICHITA, Kan. — Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of a Kansas doctor and his wife accused of running a painkiller “pill mill.”

Man with weapon-laden car held near G20 venue

TORONTO - Police arrested a man Thursday after he attempted to drive a car containing weapons near the G20 summit area in downtown Toronto.

Human Rights Watch urges Egypt investigate death of man allegedly beaten by police

HRW urges Egypt probe police in case of beaten man

Blagojevich got bitter over Obama aide’s message offering nothing but thanks for seat nod

Barack Obama

Canadian police: Arrest made after car with weapons, gasoline found near G-20 summit

Arrest near G-20 summit site

TORONTO — Police on heightened alert before a summit of world leaders stopped a car with a large container strapped to its roof and arrested the driver after finding gasoline canisters, a chainsaw, a cross bow, arrows and sledge hammers inside.

Judge refuses to delay decision to overturn Obama administration’s drilling ban

Judge refuses to delay ruling on Gulf drilling ban

Airline: Official threatened to arrest passengers stranded in Conn. if pilot released them

Airline: Arrest threatened if Conn. plane unloaded