Police: Drug buy leads to five arrests in city - Altoona Mirror

A controlled drug buy led to the arrest of five individuals and the discovery of three bricks of heroin and multiple illegal firearms, police said.

Angeline Marie Gority, 28, 2919 W. Chestnut Ave., and Gregory Michael Robertson II, 26, 120 Crawford Ave., were taken into custody at 7:21 p.m. Friday in a controlled heroin buy, according to Altoona police.

Gority and Robertson were each charged with possession of illegal drugs, conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.

Police said the pair purchased the heroin from Steven Douglas Hamilton, 32, of Shand Avenue. Police obtained search warrants for Hamilton and another alleged supplier, Steven Weyant, no age or address given, and tracked both individuals down Friday night.

"These are people who have been distributing major amounts of heroin daily in our city," after bringing in the drugs from outside of Altoona, Detective Sgt. Troy Johannides said.

The four individuals were identified as dealers who helped to move anywhere from three to 10 bricks of heroin through the city daily, Johannides said. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests connected to the distribution rings are expected, he said.

A search of Hamilton's car uncovered three bricks of heroin, which each contain 50 individual doses, Johannides said.

Police arrested a fifth individual, Alex Rodriguez Sr., no age or address given, while serving an arrest warrant at Weyant's residence. Rodriguez was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm after four firearms were recovered at the residence, police said.

"We don't believe [Rodriguez] to be involved in the drug distribution," Johannides said.

Rodriguez is Weyant's stepfather, Johannides said. No drugs were uncovered in the search of their shared residence.

The individuals were arraigned by on call Magisterial District Judge Todd F. Kelly Saturday morning.

Gority and Hamilton were jailed on $40,000 bail, Blair County Prison officials said. Robertson and Weyant were jailed on $50,000 bail, officials said.

All four individuals remained incarcerated as of Saturday night. Rodriguez was released on unsecured bail, police said.

Preliminary hearings for all five individuals are scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 19 in district court.

Mirror Staff Writer Zach Geiger is at 946-7535.

CBS 3 Springfield - WSHMFamily of Springfield murder victim want violence to stop - WSHM-TV

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WSHM) -

Troy Morris has been there for his nephew, Felix Laurent, since he was just a baby.

"I remember the first time I brought him home from the hospital when he was just a baby in my arms when he was born," Morris said.

Now his uncle is mourning his loss as Springfield police search for Laurent's killer.

"This has to come to an end at some point, I don't want anymore uncles grieving or grandmothers grieving," Morris said.

A week ago, 20-year-old Laurent had been found staggering along Wilbraham Road near Eastern Avenue, suffering from two stab wounds to the back. Someone driving by found him and rushed him to the hospital.

Laurent told police from his hospital bed that he had been attacked near DeBerry school on Union Street, but he didn't know who his attackers were.

On Wednesday he was released into his uncle's care at their Oak Grove Avenue home.

But just eight hours after his release, his uncle discovered him dead in his bed.

"My nephew was only 20 years old and this is totally uncalled for," Morris said.

Friday, the medical examiner ruled that Laurent had died from complications from the stab wounds.

Friday night his closest friends and family gathered at his home, lighting candles.

"I'm struggling still with the fact that he's gone, he's a good kid, he has a son that he looks after," said Laurent's friend, Octavia Brookens.

She says Laurent's son, just a baby, was his world.

"That's all he really talked about was his son and the fact that he loved him and always wanted to be there for him," Brookens said.

Now Morris has one request for young people just like his nephew.

"I want the young people, especially in Springfield and neighboring areas, to learn to embrace each other. I want you all to love each other, not to kill and destroy. Violence is not the answer to anything."

Police told CBS 3 they are following leads in Laurent's death.

Copyright 2012 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

Five arrested in Taunton drug raid - Taunton Daily Gazette

Four men were arrested on heroin trafficking charges this week after Taunton police executed a search warrant at a Cohannet Street apartment.

Police said they confiscated 31.2 grams of heroin and $2,642 in cash Wednesday night from a second-floor apartment at 418 Cohannet St.

A woman was also arrested after police say she stopped by in an attempt to buy heroin after calling a cell phone inside the apartment.

All four men were charged with trafficking heroin and conspiracy to violate the state's Controlled Substances Act.

Police said two of the men apparently had been living together at the apartment. They were identified as Luis O. Reyes, 42, and 30-year-old Edguardo Navarro-Carrasquillo.

The other two were identified as Benjamin Adam Roman, 28, 187 School St., and 18-year-old William M. Sanjurjo-Carrasquillo.

During arraignment in Taunton District Court, Reyes's bail was set at $25,000, Navarro-Carrasquillo's at $20,000, Roman's at $15,000 and Sanjuro-Carrasquillo's at $1,000.

Penny Medeiros, 48, of 1313 Somerset Ave., was charged with conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act and attempting to commit a crime. She was released on personal recognizance.

Police said they used a battering ram to break through a rear door at around 8:30 p.m.

They said when they entered the apartment they encountered an initially incompliant Roman and Reyes — the latter of whom allegedly was in the process of trying to flush a baggie of dope down the toilet.

Cops say Reyes was caught with 15.7 grams of heroin and $1,373 in cash.
They also say they saw Navarro-Carrasquillo toss a baggie out a window. That retrieved item contained 15.5 grams of heroin, cops said.

Police said they also confiscated $1,189 in cash and a Walmart MoneyCard prepaid credit card from Navarro-Carrasquillo.

Sanjuro-Carrasquillo allegedly was carrying a fresh box of 180 Glad baggies. Police said they found an empty 180-baggie Glad brand box on the kitchen counter.

The elder Carrasquillo allegedly told cops his brother William had just moved to Taunton from his native Puerto Rico.

Besides the cash and drugs, police said they confiscated three cell phones and a digital scale.

Four detectives from the street crimes unit conducted the drug bust with the assistance of a patrolman and sergeant.

Drugs arrests continue after cocaine seized - Worcester News

Drugs arrests continue after cocaine seized

3:12pm Friday 28th September 2012 in Local By Neil Watts

THE police crackdown on the drugs supply in south Worcestershire continues after cocaine worth more than £50,000 was seized from a Malvern flat.

A man and a woman were arrested on Thursday after a warrant was executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act at a property in Abbey Road at about 10.30am.

Jason Kerton, aged 41, and 44-year-old Kelly Rodda appeared in Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and were remanded in custody.

The pair are due to return to court on Friday, October 5.

This follows on from Operation Dorado which has seen 26 drug dealers jailed for a total of 81 years in the major undercover operation.

A police spokesperson said: "Following on from Operation Dorado this week - which saw 26 people sentenced to 81 years for conspiring to supply Class A drugs in Worcester - we are pleased that officers have seized such a large quantity of cocaine in Malvern, which stops it from being circulated within our community.

"Targeting those who deal hard drugs continues to be a top priority for police in South Worcestershire, and for West Mercia as a whole.

"Drugs cause untold misery for people and we will continue to tackle the issue and prosecute anyone involved in their production, use and supply.

"However, we do rely on information from people living in our communities about illegal drug activity.

"If members of the public suspect drugs are being produced or supplied at an address, please call us with any information you may have."

Anyone with information should call the police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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21 people killed as passenger plane crashes in Kazakhstan - Times of India

KYZYL TU, KAZAKHSTAN: A passenger plane crashed in thick fog near Kazakhstan's commercial capital Almaty on Tuesday and broke into pieces when it hit the ground, killing all 21 people on board.

After several hours, rescue teams recovered the plane's flight recorder, the central communications service for Kazakhstan's president said on its Twitter page.

A list published by the prosecutor-general's office showed there had been 16 passengers and five crew members on board.

The Canadian-built Bombardier Challenger CRJ-200 belonged to private Kazakh airline SCAT. It came down near the village of Kyzyl Tu about 5 km (3 miles) from Almaty's airport.

"There was no fire, no explosion. The plane just plunged to the earth," Yuri Ilyin, deputy head of the city's emergencies department, told Reuters near the scene.

Parts of the plane could be seen in the thick snow. Tractors and other heavy vehicles were being used cut paths through the snow to the wreckage but journalists were kept at a distance from the crash site.

It was the second fatal plane crash in the former Soviet republic in just a over a month.

Visibility at Kyzyl Tu was only about 20 to 30 metres (yards), and much of the area around Almaty was veiled in fog when the plane crashed at around 1pm (0700 GMT).

"The preliminary cause of the accident is bad weather," deputy Almaty mayor Maulen Mukashev told reporters. "Not a single part of the plane was left intact after it came down."

The plane had been on its way from the city of Kokshetau in northern Kazakhstan to Almaty in the southeast, Mukashev said.

SCAT, which has been operating since 1997, runs an extensive domestic service and has some international flights.

Alexander Gordeyev, deputy head of Almaty's airport, said the weather had been bad but planes were being allowed to land.

A military transport airplane crashed in bad weather on Dec. 25 near the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent, killing all 27 on board. Prosecutors have said a combination of technical problems, bad weather and human error caused that accident.

Two Garden City men arrested on drug allegations - The Garden City Telegram

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Two Garden City men arrested on drug allegations

Published 1/29/2013 in Local News

By The Telegram

The Garden City Police/Finney County Drug Task Force served three search warrants Friday morning that led to the arrest of two men on drug allegations.

According to police, the task force served search warrants at 622 N. 13th St., 3618 Westport Ave., and at Mojados Customs, 3515 E. U.S. Highway 50.

During a search of 622 N. 13th St., officers found 30 grams of suspected marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia consistent with the use and distribution of illegal drugs.

Eduardo Reyes Ortega, 21, was located inside the residence and was arrested on allegations of three counts of sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and no Kansas drug-tax stamp.

A search of 3618 Westport Ave. resulted in the recovery of 15 grams of suspected marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia consistent with the use and distribution of illegal drugs. No one was home during the search, and the investigation is ongoing.

During the search of Mojados Customs, officers found 292 grams of suspected marijuana, 7.24 grams of suspected cocaine, items of drug paraphernalia consistent with the use and distribution of illegal drugs, and a sawed-off shotgun.

Javier Humberto Varela, 31, was arrested at the business on allegations of five counts of sale of marijuana, four counts of unlawful use of a communication device, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, possession of cocaine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, no Kansas drug-tax stamp, and criminal possession of a firearm.

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India braces for violence after death of rape victim - Deutsche Welle

Thousands of police were deployed across India's capital on Saturday following the death of the unnamed medical student. Authorities closed 10 metro stations and banned vehicles from several main roads in the city amid fears of further violent protests.

Hundreds of people are gathered at two locations in the heart of the city, although the day's protests have so far remained peaceful.

Protesters have staged daily demonstrations about the treatment of women in India since the woman was raped and beaten by six men on a bus in the city before being thrown from the moving vehicle two weeks ago.

Six men were charged with her murder on Saturday, Dehli's police spokesman said. The charge will be added to existing murder and assault charges.

The woman was being treated for her injuries at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital. The hospital announced her death in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain," Kelvin Loh, the chief executive of Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, said in a statement "She was courageous in fighting for her life for so long against the odds but the trauma to her body was too severe for her to overcome."

Call for social change

Gang-rapes are a daily occurrence in India and many go unreported. Social activists say governments do little to ensure the safety of women and most perpetrators go unpunished.

Responding to the woman's death in a statement on Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that social change in India was needed.

"The need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes," the prime minister said.

"I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and... help us all reach the end that we all desire - making India a demonstrably better and safer place for women to live in."

On Friday, the chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, pledged 65 all-female police stations dealing with crimes against women. She said that ten of them were already up and running.

ccp/rc (AFP, Reuters)

HK$2.8m reason that this job is obscene - South China Morning Post

It doesn't have a proper title yet, but if I had to describe it, I would use the Chinese euphemism "the position of double happiness". Sorry, it's not another 3-D porn movie but a new full-time salaried position that the government is creating under its Central Policy Unit.

Actually "salaried" is an understatement. The job will pay a whopping HK$2.8 million a year, or HK$233,333 a month, including perks and expenses. You may remember that a recent survey found Hong Kong people think they need an average of HK$1.5 million a year to be happy; the lucky occupant of the new job, whoever he or she is, will be almost doubly happy.

You read the numbers right. I have confirmed it with the government. So, what does the new job actually entail?

The new think tank employee will mainly monitor public opinion through the news, social media and opinion polls. The job probably also requires an understanding of survey design, policy research and analysis. Let's just say it's not exactly rocket science. When CPU chief "Yum Cha" Shiu Sin-por first broke the news about the job in the Legislative Council this week, our usually hyper-alert lawmakers took a pass on the proposed salary.

Instead, they continued the fruitless debate on Shiu calling the CPU "a government tool", prompting Shiu to say "of course" it worked for the government. "What can it do if it isn't a tool? Yum cha?" he asked.

Come to think of it, the high pay for staff at the CPU for merely providing policy advice would naturally lead many people to conclude high-powered thinkers like Shiu really have overpaid jobs with plenty of time to enjoy frequent leisurely yum cha.

We should ask Shiu why the new job is needed in the first place. Doesn't the government already have the Information Services Department to do that? The department says on its webpage it serves as "the government's public relations consultant, publisher, advertising agent and news agency". It also provides the link between the administration, the media and the public. Now the government says a whole department is still not enough.

Forget porn. The new job's ridiculous salary is even more obscene.

MPD warns 2 weeklies over 'obscene' pics - The Daily Yomiuri

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Tokyo police have verbally warned the editorial departments of two major weekly magazines to stop carrying pictures of plaster art made in the shape of vaginas because they could constitute the display of "obscene" objects, it has been learned.

Weekly Post carried color pictures of some of the artworks by a British artist and one of the half-naked female models they were based on in its Aug. 17 and 24 combined edition, and Shukan Gendai carried the same pictures in black and white in its Sept. 15 edition and Sept. 22 and 29 combined edition.

The Metropolitan Police Department said the art is no different from vaginas and is utterly obscene. Since the two magazines are widely sold, for example at convenience stores where an unspecified number of people may see them, the MPD said the magazines have "a great impact" on the public, and so summoned chief editors and others from both magazines in September to issue the warning.

Shukan Gendai is published by Kodansha Ltd., and Weekly Post by Shogakukan Inc.

"The works are displayed to the public at a gallery in London. As the artist said he expressed the beauty of the subject matter, we carried pictures of the works to report on the act of expression," the editorial department of Weekly Post insisted. It admitted that it has talked with the MPD, but declined to comment on other questions.

The editorial department of Shuken Gendai said simply, "We have no comment."

Experts are divided over whether the art constitutes an "obscene" object.

Hiroshi Nakasatomi, an associate professor at the University of Tokushima and a constitutional scholar, said certain rules are necessary, even on artwork, when it is explicit and utterly obscene.

On the other hand, Prof. Shojiro Sakaguchi at Hitotsubashi University, also an expert on the Constitution, said: "It is problematic to place restrictions on artwork. There are more obscene comics and videos than there are other works of art. The [MPD's] warning is arbitrary."

Teenage Sex Scandal at Main Line High School - Philadelphia Magazine (blog)

Radnor High School Students Investigated for Posting Classmate's  Sex Video. Sources tell NBC 10 that three boys are being investigated for allegedly posting video of a 16-year-old classmate having sex. They got the porno off a stolen cell phone. [NBC Philadelphia]

City Union Workers Protest Outside Nutter's Home. Members of blue- and white-collar city unions, who haven't had a contract since 2009, held a candlelight vigil outside the Mayor's pad, claiming Nutter favors the one percent and that he's "anti-people."  Nutter didn't appear to be home.  Unless he just didn't feel like talking to anyone. [CBSPhilly]

Chris Christie Goes to Vegas. But it's just for a Republican governors get together–he's not looking for a fast way to pay for Shore cleanup. Christie says he'll thank all the other guvs who sent help to Jersey while he's there. [NBCPhiladelphia]

Analysts Claim Sandy Puts AC's Revel in Serious Danger of Default. Customers are slow to come back, and the bond market is "concerned." [philly.com]

Lower Merion Gets to Keep Its Historic Street Signs. Crisis averted.  Phew. [Main Line Times]

Inky Critic Gives "Silver Linings Playbook" Four Stars. Steven Rea goes  gaga for Bradley Cooper. [philly.com]

New Apple Store Opening In King of Prussia.  It will be three times the size of the old one. Which means you can buy your iPad mini in a larger store. God, so ironic.  [Philadelphia Business Journal]

 

Long Preston man, 32, had hoard of obscene pictures - Craven Herald

Long Preston man, 32, had hoard of obscene pictures

10:16am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News

A 32-year-old man whose extensive hoard of pornography included hundreds of sick images of child abuse and bestiality has been sentenced to a suspended term of imprisonment.

Robert Moore was caught with photos and videos of people having sex with an octopus, goat, pig, dogs, horses and snakes, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to 15 charges of possession of child pornography and extreme pornography on February 17.

Prosecutor Jeremy Hill-Baker told the court on Friday that police seized computer equipment, CDs and DVDs when they searched Moore's home on the Ribblesdale estate in Long Preston.

As well as a large collection of legal adult pornography, they found a significant amount of illegal images.

Mr Hill-Baker said the haul included 82 indecent images or videos of children as young as six or seven, including 37 at the second highest level of seriousness.

Also seized were 635 images and 79 videos of extreme pornography involving humans having sex with animals.

Asked if he wanted to view the images, Judge Colin Burn said he did not think that was necessary.

Moore told the police he was looking for "decent porn" when the illegal images were downloaded.

His barrister, Robin Frieze, said Moore had made no attempt to search for child pornography on his computer. The illegal images were a by-product of his hunt for adult images.

There was no suggestion of any file sharing or distribution.

Judge Burn sentenced Moore to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years.

A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made for five years, meaning that any computer Moore uses must retain and display its internet history for 30 days and he must allow police officers to inspect any internet device he uses.

Judge Burn warned Moore that any repetition of the offences could lead to "dire consequences" for him.

6 people killed in attacks in Iraq - Nzweek

BAGHDAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — Six people were killed and nine others injured in separate bomb and gunfire attacks across Iraq on Tuesday, the police said.

In Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, two members of a major Kurdish party were killed in a roadside bomb explosion near their vehicle at a village near the town of Tal Afar, some 70 km west of the provincial capital city of Mosul, a provincial police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The victims are two brothers affiliated to the office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a Kurdish party headed by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, the source said.

Tal Afar is part of disputed areas between the Kurds and both Arabs and Turkomans. The area has long been the hotbed of insurgency since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Also in Nineveh province, gunmen shot dead judge Abbas al-Abadi in front of his house in the city Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, the source said.

Meanwhile, a deputy police chief and a policeman were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in western Mosul, the source added.

Elsewhere, five people from one family were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their minibus in the town of Sulaiman Bek, some 160 km north of Baghdad, a local police source said.

In central Iraq, two roadside bombs went off in the early hours of the day near an Iraqi army patrol in Abu Ghraib area, some 20 km west of Baghdad, killing an officer and a soldier and wounding two soldiers, a local police source anonymously told Xinhua.

Insurgent attacks continue in the once volatile Sunni Arab area that stretches through Anbar province to Iraq's western borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

In Baghdad, an interior ministry Brigadier General escaped unharmed a drive-by shooting attack by gunmen on his car in a highway in eastern Baghdad, but his driver was killed, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Violence and sporadic high profile attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease of violence over the past few years.

Man sent 61 obscene texts to teen boy - Herald.ie

A 48-year-old Dublin man will be sentenced in April for sending obscene text messages to a 15-year-old boy.

KENNETH Shortall of Bluebell Avenue, Bluebell, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five charges of sending phone messages that were grossly offensive, indecent or obscene between November 12 and November 23, 2010.

Tara Burns, prosecuting, said 61 messages were sent from Shortall's phone to the teenager, but the DPP accepted pleas to five charges.

The gardai were satisfied that some of those 61 messages were crude jokes that Shortall had forwarded in a group message.

Garda Kevin Lynn said Shortall and his partner, Colin Huggins, had befriended the young boy and his family a number of months previously.

He had been sending the messages to the boy for just over a month when a friend of the teenager noticed them and told the boy's mother. The gardai were alerted in February 2011 as was the HSE.

Partner

Gda Lynn agreed with Ms Burns that "nothing further arises" from either the garda or the HSE investigations.

The boy told gardai he had asked Shortall to stop sending the messages.

Shortall was arrested in May 2011. He told garda that some of the texts were just banter.

The five texts contained obscene sexual suggestions.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring told Keith Spencer, defending, that she would give his client "the benefit of the doubt" as to why he formed a friendship with this boy and his family in the first instance.

She said she understood banter between 15-year-old boys, but Shortall was considerably older, which was worrying.

"This kind of behaviour puts children and young people in a very difficult position to stop the person sending the messages and makes it difficult for them to tell someone," the judge said.

She adjourned the case to April, remanded Shortall on continuing bail until that date and ordered a probation report.

Mr Huggins told Mr Spencer that he and Shortall had been in a relationship for 12 years and there was no question of his partner being interested in children or younger men.

hnews@herald.ie

- Sonya McLean

Haryana: Police arrest five for raping teenage girl, making obscene video - IBNLive

Hisar (Haryana): Police on January 20 arrested five youths for allegedly raping a teenage girl in the district and preparing her obscene video on a mobile phone. The arrest was made under Sections 376 (rape), 292 (sale etc of obscene video), 506 (criminal intimidation) and some other Sections of the IPC, police said.

The girl, a class tenth student, on January 19 made a complaint to Barwala police that about two months back while returning from an agriculture field the youths Pradeep, Baru and Golia of her village raped her at knife-point and made a video-clip on a mobile phone.

The 18-year-old victim alleged that the accused threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed the matter to anyone. The video was allegedly circulated to other youths in the village through MMS, she alleged. The victim also told the police after some days another youth of the village, Kuldeep, stopped her and showed her the video. He allegedly threatened the victim and raped her.

The victim alleged that the accused threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed the matter to anyone.

Later on after a few days, Kuldeep and another youth Mange Ram came to her house when she was alone and both allegedly raped her. On January 19, when the victim had gone out of her house to make some purchases, Rohtas, brother of Kuldeep tried to take her forcibly towards a house, but she, managed to escape and narrated the incident to her family.

After the victim's medical examination, the police have registered a case against six persons and arrested five youths. District Police Chief B Satheesh Balan along with other police officers on January 19 visited Barwala police station and ordered the concerned staff to take stern action against the culprits.

In the recent past, a number of rape cases, particularly involving teenaged victims have come to light. During the past four months, two teenaged rape victims, both Dalits, committed self-immolation after being raped

Three arrested in connection with fatal drug deal - AZFamily

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Three people are facing first-degree murder and armed robbery charges for their alleged roles in a fatal drug deal.

According to Glendale Police, 19-year-old Josh Rasmussen, 19-year-old Justin Whitley, and 21-year-old Justin Drennan were arrested early Saturday morning for reportedly trying to steal drugs and money from a 17-year-old.

Rasmussen, Whitley, Drennan and a 17-year-old had agreed to meet up with another 17-year-old in the area of 6400 W. Behrend to purchase drugs.

During their meeting, the 17-year-old with Rasmussen, Whitley, and Drennan reportedly pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the 17-year-old who was selling the drugs.

The gun was actually a BB gun, but the teen selling the drugs pulled out his own handgun and shot the 17-year-old in what police said appeared to be self-defense.

The 17-year-old who was shot was taken to a local hospital and then air lifted to a trauma center. He was declared dead on Saturday afternoon.

The alleged 17-year-old drug dealer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and then released to his parents.

Police said second-degree murder and drug related charges will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office against the 17-year-old.

Rasmussen, Whitley, and Drennan are facing first-degree murder charges due to the Felony Murder Rule, which stipulates that an individual can be charged with murder if someone is killed while they're committing a felony.
 

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New figures show 265 trans people were murdered in the last 12 months - Gay Star News

New figures released yesterday by the Trans Murder Monitoring project show 265 trans people were known to be the victims of violent killings across the world over the last 12 months.

The figures show a nearly 20% increase from last year, when 221 trans murders were reported.

The Trans Murder Monitoring project was started by Transgender Europe in 2009 but it has now developed into the TransRespect versus Transphobia project (TvT).

'We are witnessing a significant increase [of murders], which points to the extreme level of violence many trans people continue to be exposed to,' said a statement from Transgender Europe.

'However, this increase may also reflect the TvT project's intensified cooperation and data exchange with trans and LGBT organizations.'

Transgender Europe reported that 'even these high numbers are only a fraction of the real figures; the truth is much worse'.

The figures show only documented cases which have been reported in 29 countries over the last 12 months.

'In most countries, data on murdered trans people are not systematically produced and it is impossible to estimate the numbers of unreported cases,' said the statement.

Most of the reported murders happened in Brazil (126) but Transgender Europe pointed out that the number of killings in Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras and Guatemala 'is equally or even more worrying in view of the much smaller population sizes of these countries'.

Nineteen Central and South American countries account for 80% of the reported homicides of trans people globally. But the USA reported the third highest number of trans murders (15) after Brazil and Mexico (48).

In Asia most reported trans murders over the last 12 months were in India (6), Pakistan (5) and the Philippines (4).

In Europe, Turkey reported the most trans murders (5).

The cumulative figures show 1,083 reports of murdered trans people in 56 countries since January 2008.

The figures were released for the 14th International Transgender Day of Remembrance, that will be commemorated around the world on Tuesday 20 November.  

23 arrests as drugs seized in Cumbria police crackdown - News & Star

By Nick Griffiths

Last updated at 14:50, Monday, 12 November 2012

Police have arrested 23 people and seized drugs worth £25,000 in a blitz on street-level users and dealers.

Officers in west Cumbria confiscated cannabis and amphetamine after stopping and searching suspects or carrying out house raids in a crackdown spanning more than a month.

The police squad covering Copeland say they acted following concerns from residents about drugs crime.

The operation has targeted street-level users and dealers whose impact is said to stretch beyond the criminal underworld to hit families touched by crimes associated with drugs, such as stealing from cars and house burglaries.

Seven house raids have been carried out in total, with police targeting properties in Whitehaven, Egremont and Cleator Moor.

Operation Laddock was launched at the beginning of October.

Residents at community meetings and taking part in online forums had named drugs as the top priority police should be tackling.

Sergeant Jim Lloyd, leading the operation, said: "Over the past month this operation will have disrupted the activity of people involved with drugs in Copeland.

"We are serious about ridding our streets of illegal substances and will continue to use all available methods to target the people involved in the misuse of drugs."

Recent raids include:

• The execution of a search warrant at Sneckyeat Grove, Hensingham, Whitehaven, on November 2. A man was charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply.
• Police swoops on October 27 at High Road and Snaefell Terrace, Whitehaven. In total, four people were arrested and later bailed.

The 23 people arrested during the operation as a whole were held for either alleged drugs possession or on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Six people were either charged or cautioned following their arrest, while the others were released on police bail while investigations continue.

Officers have warned that the operation will be continuing.

First published at 14:49, Monday, 12 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk

Four arrested in Mayfair, Oxford Circle drug bust - Philadelphia Daily News (blog)

This post has been updated

Four men were arrested Tuesday night after being caught in a narcotics bust in which heroin, cocaine, more than $15,000 in cash and a loaded handgun were confiscated from two houses in Mayfair and Oxford Circle.

Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, police in the Narcotics Unit executed a warrant at a house on McKinley Street near Brous and found three bricks of heroin, bags of bulk heroin, a bag of black tar heroin, three bags of cocaine, various paraphernalia, and two bags of horse tranquilizer – which is used to dilute heroin, police said.

Authorities had been performing surveillance on the stash house for an undisclosed amount of time, police said.

Cops initially said the drugs were worth about $1.5 million Tuesday night. However, police Wednesday said the heroin had a street value of over $1.8 million and the cocaine was worth about $42,000.

Around 9:40 p.m., cops searched another house on Elbridge Street near Loretto in Oxford Circle and found $15,428 and a loaded .22-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Police said the serial number on the weapon had been obliterated and the gun contained five live rounds of ammunition.

Police arrested three following three Philadelphia men and one from Allentown in connection with the drug ring:

Felix Fernandez, 37, of McKinley Street near Brous in Mayfair.

Ramon Pedraza, 26, of Elbridge Street near Loretto in Oxford Circle.  

Henry Luis Diaz, 48, of Diamond Street near 6th in the Hartranft section of North Philadelphia.  

Frank Hidalgo, 36, of Howard Street near Juniata in Allentown.

Hidalgo, Fernandez and Pedraza are facing charges of drug possession and distribution, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime, said Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's office. Diaz was charged with drug possession and distribution, and is being held on $50,000, Jamerson said.

Hidalgo's bail was set at $10 million, Fernandez and Pedraza are being held on $5 million bail, Jamerson said, adding that Nebbia Orders were placed on their cases  —  which are used to ensure that profits from drug sales are not used as bail money.

All four are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 30.

31 people killed in Pak violence, tension escalates - Hindustan Times

As many as 31 people lost their lives in Karachi as tensions escalated between pro and anti Taliban elements in the city. The Awami National Party, which represents a large proportion of Karachi's Pakhtoon population said that its activists were being targeted by militants sympathetic to the Taliban. "We are under attack from extremists elements," the ANP Karachi chief, Shahi Syed, said.

So far while ANP office bearers are being killed, analysts say that the real target of the Taliban is the Karachi-based MQM party. "Right now the Taliban is clearing the stage for its offensive with the MQM," said journalist Shahid Husain.

The Taliban has already issued a statement that it would "liberate" Karachi from the MQM party after MQM chief Altaf Husain commented that they (the Taliban) were taking Pakistan "back to the caves."

The MQM had planned a nationwide referendum last week in which it wanted to ask people whether they were for a Pakistan envisaged by Jinnah or by the Taliban. However, after government pressure, the MQM decided to postpone its referendum. The MQM criticised the Taliban for its attack on Malala Yousafzai and is possibly the only party that has come out in its criticism of the militants.

But the referendum was seen more as a popularity stunt by some."It was a political gimmick but one that would escalate tensions in Karachi," said political commentator Najam Sethi.

What is not a gimmick is the rise in targeted killings in the city. Since September over 100 people have died in targeted shootings. Police chief Fayaz Leghari says that many of the killings may not be linked to the Taliban. But the ANP and independent analysts disagree.

Many who fled the fighting in the tribal areas and migrated to Karachi are also being targeted by the Taliban. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court asked the police to explain the presence of over 700 suspected Taliban militants in the city.

On Sunday, PM Raja Pervez Ashraf ordered stepped up policing to counter the spate of violence but analysts say that a more focused government operation would be needed.

Arrests as police target drug, property crime - TVNZ

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Sixteen people have been arrested in a police operation in Tauranga that revealed drugs, cash, firearms and the components of a methamphetamine lab.

Police used a number of search warrants across the area in the operation yesterday to target drug and property crime. Sixteen men and women were arrested.

At one address in rural Pyes Pa, components of a methamphetamine lab were found along with precursor chemicals, cannabis plants and a stolen Subaru car, police said.

Ten thousand dollars in cash and approximately seven grams of methamphetamine was discovered at one Tauranga home with a rifle and shotgun at another, police said.

More than 500 cannabis plants and a 40-litre drum full of dried cannabis head were located in rural Welcome Bay, while 60 plants were found in a sophisticated growing operation in Mount Maunganui.

Corrections staff joined the police operation helping to recover approximately $1800 in unpaid fines.

"We've made no secret of the fact that these types of operations will continue until the message sinks in and we break this cycle of offending," said Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner.

"There are some people who are clearly delusional if they think we will not catch up with them sooner or later."

Those arrested now face a variety of charges including possession and supply of cannabis and methamphetamine, cultivation, unlawful possession of firearms, theft, receiving and aggravated robbery.

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Seven arrested in Swansea drug raids - This is South Wales

POLICE arrested seven people and seized a cocktail of drugs in a series of raids on houses in Swansea.

Officers swooped on addresses in Penlan, Blaenymaes, Gowerton and Pontarddulais in a co- ordinated two-day operation.

Detectives say information from the public was vital in planning the raids, and they are urging people to continue coming forward with intelligence and tip-offs.

Inspector Phil Thomas, from Penlan police station, said: "This combined operation was very successful and it sends out a clear message to all those who are currently dealing or thinking of dealing in drugs that, in time, we will catch up with you.

"It has been well documented that drugs can bring misery and depravation and have a devastating effect on families and communities, and our message is quite simple — we will not tolerate this type of behaviour and we will actively seek out these individuals and to bring them to justice.

"I would like to thank the community for the information that was provided which enabled us to conduct this successful two-day operation and to reassure the everyone that our work is continuing and that there further operations area planned in the next couple of weeks."

He added: "I would urge anyone with information whether it is drug dealing or other forms of criminality to come forward."

The raids took place at houses in Heol Gwyrosydd, Penlan, Pittsburgh Court in Blaenymaes, Heol y Gog and Cedar Avenue in Gowerton, and Heol y Cae in Pontarddulais on Thursday and Friday.

Police say a large amount of amphetamine was recovered in the operation, along with cannabis and a quantity of white power which is currently being tested.

Four men — one aged 29, two aged 22 and a 19-year-old — who were arrested for possession with intent to supply have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

An 18-year-old man was cautioned for possession of cannabis, while an 18-year-old man and a woman aged 22 were released with no further action.

Can you help? Call South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

Woman arrested in drugs raid on house in Vernon Road, Aylestone, Leicester - This is Leicestershire

Police arrested a woman and seized a quantity of suspected drugs thank to tip-offs from members of the public.

Officers raided a house in Vernon Road, Aylestone, Leicester, yesterday.

A 23-year-old woman was arrested and what officers believe to be class A drugs were recovered when the house was searched.

The raid was conducted by officers from Welford Road police station with a warrant granted under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

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Leicestershire Police said there had been a number of complaints about alleged drug activity in the area.

The arrested woman has been released on bail as officers continue their inquiry.

Inspector Richard Toone, commander of Welford Road police station, said: "We have had a number of calls from members of the public in relation to issues of anti-social behaviour in this area, particularly relating to the use of drugs, and it's from that information that we acted.

"We will continue to work with our communities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and would urge anyone who has information to get in touch.

"Information that comes to us from our communities is imperative in tackling the issues that matter most to you, so please don't hesitate to call us."

Information about drugs misuse can be reported to Leicestershire Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Super Bowl Advertising Sold Out Says CBS, But Obscene Amount Of Money ... - Fast Company

The coveted TV spot hotspot that is Super Bowl XLVII is completely full, says the Chairman and CEO of CBS, Leslie Moonves. He did, however, suggest that, if a movie studio was willing to shovel five or six million dollars in the network's direction, he could probably squeeze them in. Moonves was at the Super Bowl's media day in Manhattan yesterday, where a whole heap of little factoids about the annual event that leaves U.S. citizens with severe sofa burn were revealed.

• The average price for a 30-second slot is anything between $3.7 and $3.8 million, up from last year's average of $3.5 million.
• Late Show With David Letterman should have its own little promo spot as well. Scream!
• With a lot of pre-game excitement already trending on social networks, some of the sponsors are already revealing their plans for the big night: Paramount has an app-based promotional sweepstake to go with the Super Bowl spot for Star Trek Into Darkness.
• Coca-Cola, Ford, Pepsi, Mercedes, Doritos, Samsung, VW, and Oreo are just some of the players you'll see in the 60-70 spots on February 3.

[Image via Flickr user kevin.pelrine]

David Letterman, Oprah Talk About Employee Sex Scandal, Calls Jay Leno ... - Mstarz

(Photo : Oprah.com)

David Letterman is the next celebrity in line to be interviewed by the Queen of television Oprah Winfrey, and only she can drag the late show host to her chair to talk about is infamous sex scandal.

In 2009, Letterman went on his show and confirmed that he cheated on his wife of six months, Regina Lasko with several women who worked on The Late Show with David Letterman. In his interview on Oprah's Next Chapter, which airs January 6 at 9 p.m. on OWN the comic admitted, "I have no one to blame but myself." He added, "I want to be the person I always thought I was, and probably was pretending I was," he tells Oprah in the interview. "I hurt a lot of people. ... I'm not looking to blame anybody. I'm looking to find out why I behaved the way I behaved." Since admitting his infidelities, Letterman says that his relationship with his wife has gotten much better.

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Aside from serious topics, Letterman opened up about his relationship with Jay Leno, "Jay and I were friends. We were always friends before all of this happened," referring to Letterman losing "The Tonight Show," in 1992 to Leno. "He has a way -- he's an unusual fellow. I've never met anyone quite like Jay. And I will say, and I'm happy to say, that I think he is the funniest guy I've ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his nightclub act, just the funniest, the smartest, wonderful observationist and just very appealing as a comic." He added, "Therefore, the fact that he is also maybe the most insecure person I have ever known, I could never reconcile that."

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Adam Lanza Mass Murder in US, China's Knife Attacks Shift Focus on Mental ... - International Business Times AU

In Shanghai, a day-care helper went deranged and hurt children ages 3 to 4 years old with a box cutter recently. However, in the year 2010, a man stabbed to death eight students at the gate of their school and injured five.

Although the violent incidents may not have resulted to death of any of the victims, the dreadful experience will remain as an emotional trauma carried on for years.

The question as to why the violence arises even from individuals, whose backgrounds are even from reputable families and are bordering "genius", remains elusive.

Violence Triggers

Is it hereditary, the environment or in the food or medicines taken? What could have triggered the violent streak?

An American blogger and mother of four, Liza Long, was able to get more than 70,000 shares on social media outlets with her article claiming she has the same experience as Adam Lanza's mother.

In her essay, "I am Adam Lanza's Mother", Ms Long pointed that it could be a higher form of autism called "aspergi syndrome," that has bouts with sudden mood swings arising from some experience like not wearing the right colour of clothes and shoes.

Ms Long said in her blog that she is now coping with the same violent nature of her son and also seeking medical help. She, however, did not explain how could this had befallen his now 13-year-old son.

Some concerned individuals are pointing the potential dangers of vaccines causing the imbalances in children and adults including their mental state.

Danger of Some Vaccines

In Sweden, families of some 150 children vaccinated against the swine flu are now suffering from narcolepsy, "a chronic sleeping disorder that causes overwhelming and severe daytime sleepiness that often occurs at inappropriate times and places."

This prompted the Swedish government to compensate the children's families because they now have to take medication, which induces food intake to avoid being sleepy during the day.

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Triple Shooting Means Baltimore 2012 Homicide Rate Higher Than 2011 - CBS Local

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A spike in violence causes the city to surpass last year's murder rate and there's still a month to go in 2012. That's led to growing concerns, particularly in one neighborhood where five people have been shot in the past 24 hours. Meghan McCorkell has more on this violent streak.

Since last week, there's been two triple shootings and four double shootings in the city. Police say a big part of it is gang violence.

Two men were shot as gunfire rang out in the Harwood community. It's an all too familiar sound; just hours before on Tuesday night, a running gun battle left 16-year-old Daniel Pearson dead and two other men shot.

"I knew I was shot because my leg ain't feel right. I knew I had been shot and I kept running. I don't know if they were still shooting at me," one of the victims said.

The spike in violence citywide has pushed the number of murders to 198, with a month to go in 2012. That's up from 197 last year. In 2010, 219 people were murdered in the city.

"This year's homicide numbers, they're tragic," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Commissioner Anthony Batts, who was on the scene in Harwood, says the shootings are part of a turf war between rival gangs.

Community leaders say neighbors have been voicing their concerns about a growing gang and drug problem for years.

"I think they've been concerned for years. I don't think this is a new concern," said Diana Mitchell.

Mitchell is with the Charles Village Benefits District, which includes Harwood. She says the police and community need to work together.

"So that we can start tackling drugs. We can start dealing with some of the dealers that are in this neighborhood and push them out," Mitchell said.

Meanwhile, police are reviewing footage from a crime camera right near the shootings, hoping it leads to arrests.

Police plan to increase foot patrols throughout the city starting this weekend.

Last year was the first time since the 1970s that the murder rate in Baltimore City dipped below 200.

Memorial for Camden Homicide Victims Sparks Controversy - NBC 10 Philadelphia

As the city of Camden remains on the brink of breaking its homicide record, controversy is now brewing over the location of the memorial honoring victims of violence in the city.

Stop the Trauma on People (STOP) created the memorial outside Camden City Hall to remember those who have lost their lives to violence in Camden this year. The memorial consists of 58 crosses containing the names of the 58 homicide victims in 2012, which ties a record set in Camden back in 1995.

"We have a very tight family," said Ketsy Crespo, the sister of one of the murder victims. "So we're doing this for him and everyone else who lost someone."

"It's very real," said Jinely Rosado of Runnemede. "Sophia Ortiz was my God sister and she was a victim of domestic violence. She passed in May."

Activists with STOP and Cease Murder Diplomats are fighting to keep the memorial at City Hall so that everyone can see it. Some members of city council however believe the memorial makes it difficult for the city to move forward. The council is gearing up for a ceremony on Tuesday renaming city hall in honor of the late Randy Primas, Camden's first African American Mayor.

"I can understand what they represent," said Brian Coleman of the Camden City Council. "I just don't think this particular location is where we need to set up the memorial."

Father Jeff Putthoff, the founder of STOP, says the memorial is a way for families to heal and bring awareness to the city's alarming death toll.

"We're going to continue to advocate that people have not just the right but that the reality of their life is acknowledged," said Father Putthoff.

The dedication to Mayor Primas takes place Tuesday at noon. As for the memorial, the council president says there is no timetable for a removal. The issue of whether the memorial will remain at city hall is now in the hands of Camden's mayor. 

Lyme Regis man, 71, arrested after Border Agency drugs bust - Dorset Echo

Lyme Regis man, 71, arrested after Border Agency drugs bust

5:20pm Tuesday 6th November 2012 in News

A 71-YEAR-OLD man from Dorset has been arrested after Border Agency officers seized £64,000 of cannabis powder. The man from Lyme Regis, who was arrested and later bailed pending further enquiries, was stopped at Portsmouth ferry terminal on Saturday November 3. Officers with the UK Border Agency stopped a car which had just arrived off a ferry from Caen at 6.30am and found the drugs after searching the vehicle. The 32 kilos of cannabis found was worth approximately £64,000. Andy Lumb, from the UK Border Force, said: "As this detection shows, our officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep drugs, other smuggled goods and illegal persons out of the UK. "We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many." Anyone who has information on suspected smuggling or immigration offences can call the Border Force hotline on 0800 59 5000.

Comments(2)

Matt1970 says...
9:48pm Tue 6 Nov 12

Its a shame that the 100,000's of illegals that enter the uk every year dont have some cannabis in there pockets then perhaps they may be able to stop them from entering the uk aswell. Matt1970

MASK & SNORKEL says...
10:33pm Tue 6 Nov 12

he was only topping up his pension " pot " :) MASK & SNORKEL

Comment now! Register or sign in below.

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SFPD Responds to Increasing Gun Violence in the Mission - SF Weekly (blog)

We keep telling you about more murders and more violence nearly every day in the Mission District. But now we are going to tell you what police are doing about it.

Sgt. Michael Andraychak tells SF Weekly that the Police Department has allocated "additional staffing" to the Mission District in response to the recent spike in assaults, shootings, and overall violence that have plagued the neighborhood.
While he wouldn't disclose how many more officers are patrolling the streets, he did say the Department's violence reduction teams and gang task force specifically have been deployed to hopefully try to curb the number of people being killed in the Mission.

Just to recap:

Tuesday morning, 28-year-old Jose Matias-Aguilon was shot to death on the corner of 21st Street and South Van Ness. Police arrested two people, including a 14-year-old boy, in connection with the murder.

Five days earlier, two men were shot on Harrison Street; 19-year-old Cesar Bermudez, a San Francisco resident, died, while the other victim is expected to survive. Five days before that, 19-year-old Jose Escobar was shot to death as he walked through the Mission neighborhood.

On September 20, a group of people spontaneously rioted along Valencia Street after an undercover officer shot a man who was believed to be a gang member. Demonstrators trashed the area, smashing car windows and storefronts, as well as scribbling the word "killers" across the Mission Police Station.

And don't forget about the chaos that happened after the World Series win on Sunday; much of the destruction happened right there in the Mission District, where small fires burned. Police arrested three dozen people, and the city attorney is pledging to sue every single one of those vandals.

---

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Who Is Giovanna Plowman And Why Would She Make That Obscene Video? - International Business Times

She's a 15-year-old girl from Buffalo, N.Y., who allegedly made a revolting video on a dare and become famous. 

The video is a graphic depiction of something that's too taboo for most news sites to even write about -- in fact, I wasn't even sure my editor would allow me to write about it.   

For example, the video originally appeared on Examiner.com with a headline that also included "photo" in caps but has been since taken down, no doubt because of the graphic nature of this episode.

So when approaching the issue where a teenage girl does something with a feminine hygiene product that no one should ever do, I tried to be descriptive in my article but not obscene.

Personally, I feel bad for the young girl. Clearly, Plowman is desperate for attention, and people within her age group have begun to bully the girl and threaten her life.

Plowman has turned into a overnight star and has even begun bragging about appearing on Tosh.O, where she will undoubtedly be made fun of.

What she did isn't acceptable behavior, but she also shouldn't be told that she should "shove bleach down her throat and die," as some Web commenters have suggested.

Other have even commented that she should "f****" herself and "die."

Though it's not something I would have ever even joked about doing when I was 15, she's a young girl who clearly didn't think through the repercussions of making this video.

It's easy for others to sit around and judge her, but one really has to sit back and wonder what's going on in this girl's life if she's so desperate to get her name out there that she'd disgrace herself.

After I picked my jaw up off the floor from watching the video, I started to reflect and think this is really frightening.

This girl must be so far removed from reality that she has a complete lack of self-respect for herself.

Doesn't it make you wonder how she got to this point? 

3 arrested with drugs worth Rs 1cr - Times of India

NEW DELHI: With the arrest of an ex-serviceman from Assam Rifles and a BPO employee, police have busted yet another module of the Northeast based narco-terrorism network. Crime branch claims that drugs worth Rs 1 crore have been seized from the 3 accused, John Lalmingthanga alias John (35), Ashem Danny Singh alias Danny (32) and Lalawmpuia (27).

Intelligence agencies believe that a portion of money acquired by selling party drug 'ice' is diverted to Maoist sympathizers in northeast and Myanmar. The seizures include 100.49 kg of controlled substances pseudoephedrine (in tablet form) - packed in 5 cardboard boxes - and 70,000 strips (of 10 tables each) of pseudo-ephedrine, ( approximately 60 kgs).

Recently, cops had received a tip-off that some Manipuris, along with the locals of Delhi, are illegally sending narcotics, especially Pseudo-Ephedrine, from Delhi to Manipur. The drug is in demand internationally since it is used in the preparation of party drugs like ecstasy and ice.

"The team, lead by inspector Sanjay Dutt, was working on the movement of banned terrorist organization KYKL (Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup) of Manipur. It was learnt that Khumanba alias IK, a top commander of KYKL, was financing his terror activities with the assistance of one Delhi based John. John had reportedly established a godown in Janakpuri and large quantity of the narcotics were being packed for there for transmission to Myanmar, China via Manipur,'' said Sanjeev Yadav, DCP (special cell).

John, a resident of Manipur, is an ex-serviceman from Assam Rifles. After shifting to the capital, John tried his hands in various businesses but eventually started trafficking pseudo-ephedrine from the capital.

Danny is the son of an ex-teacher from Manipur. He works as a facilitator in obtaining contracts with various PSUs, and came in contact with John through a common friend. Since September, had been actively associated with John in his illicit business.

Lalawmpuia is a relative of John and works in a call centre in Gurgaon. He rented out his flat as a godown to John and Danny for the packaging of illegal drugs in Village Asalatpur, Janakpuri.

Five people killed in spate of insurgents' attacks in Iraq - Nzweek

BAGHDAD, Oct. 15 — At least five people were killed and 29 wounded in a series of bomb and gunfire attacks in north of Baghdad on Monday, the police said.

Two policemen were killed when gunmen attacked their checkpoint in the city of Tuz Khurmato, some 170 km north of Baghdad, a local police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In a separate attack, gunmen stopped a car carrying two brothers affiliated to a government-backed Awakening Council paramilitary group in a desert area northwest of the city of Samarra, some 120 km north of Baghdad, and shot them dead, a police source from Samarra anonymously told Xinhua.

The Awakening Council group, also known as Sons of Iraq movement or Sahwa, consists of mostly anti-U.S. Sunni insurgent militant groups, who turned their rifles to fight al-Qaida network after Sahwa's leaders became dismayed by al-Qaida's brutality and religious zealotry in the country.

Separately, gunmen planted bombs in the house of a policeman and blew them up in the early hours of the day, wounding three of the policemen's family members, a local police source told Xinhua, adding the policeman himself escaped the attack unharmed.

In the Iraqi capital, gunmen using silenced weapons attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in Baghdad's southern district of Doura, wounding three soldiers, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Also in the day, the police reportedly said that one person was killed and 18 wounded when two car bombs and a roadside bomb explosions went off near the provincial government compound in central the capital city of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad.

Meanwhile, a third car bomb detonated near a court building in the city of al-Riyadh, some 35 km south of Kirkuk, wounding five people, according to Kirkuk police.

Violence and sporadic high-profile bomb attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007, when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

Violent protests in the Maldives - The Guardian

On behalf of the Maldives government, I must respond to the letter (2 October) about the situation here. It claims "the outlook for democracy in the Maldives is deteriorating"; many in the Maldives would agree, but for very different reasons. On Monday, there was the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali, an MP. His death was a result of the climate of violent protest which is now threatening our democracy and which includes the supporters of former President Nasheed. We hope that all the signatories to the Guardian letter would join with us in disowning that violence and urge the former president to do the same.

In response to the specific issues raised by the letter, Nasheed is being investigated by our judicial system which, unlike in his time as president, is completely independent of the government. The claims of an "island arrest" are completely untrue; in any judicial process, the accused is asked to remain in the country. This applies in the UK or US, as much as it does in the Maldives.

A date for presidential elections will be set in line with our constitution between June and September 2013. This will no doubt be contested by a wide range of candidates and will, as with the previous elections in 2008, be open to international observation. There is no evidence that 2,000 people have been detained. There have been arrests – all for violent criminal acts associated with demonstrations that have endangered life or property.

The government takes reports by Amnesty International very seriously and has asked that it reports any alleged abuses to the independent Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and the independent Police Integrity Commission, which monitor every demonstration. We are also inviting several human rights bodies to come to the Maldives and see the situation for themselves.
The government is concerned about the future of our democracy if the current level of violent protests continues. Dr. Ali's death shows us all why we all need to work together to bring back peace to the streets.

Dr Hassan Saeed
Special adviser to President Waheed

5 foreigners arrested for making drugs - New Straits Times

JOHOR BARU: Three Singaporeans and two Indonesians were nabbed by Johor police on Wednesday in two separate raids for allegedly manufacturing and distributing drugs with a total street value of over RM220,000.

Johor police chief Datuk Mokhtar Shariff said more arrests were expected.

The incident unfolded at 11pm when police raided a house in Taman Permas Jaya here and seized Ecstacy, Eramin 5 and tablet printing machines.

Mokhtar said that during the raid, police arrested a 44-year-old Singaporean who tested positive for drugs and had a previous police record for violent crime.

Investigations revealed that the suspect was involved with a drug syndicate which distributed drugs to Singapore.

Mokhtar said police seized 1,268 Ecstacy pills worth RM63,400, 100 Eramin 5 pills worth RM3,000, 544g of Ecstacy powder worth RM136,000 and 139g of caffeine worth RM100.

"The seizure was estimated to be worth RM202,100," he told reporters at the state police headquarters here, yesterday.

The second raid happened at 10.55pm on the same day when another police team raided a house in Taman Tampoi Indah here and seized ganja and heroin.

Two Singaporeans and two Indonesians, aged between 39 and 45, were arrested during the raid.

Mokhtar said police seized 516g of heroin worth RM20,640 and 30g of ganja worth RM60 with an estimated street value of RM20,700.

All the suspects tested positive for drugs. Mokhtar said one of the suspects had just been released from the Kluang prison six months ago after serving a sentence for a drug offence.

All the suspects are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty.

The case is also being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the same Act and under Section 32 of the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.

Johor police chief Datuk Mokhtar Shariff said police seized 1,268 Ecstacy pills worth RM63,400, 100 Eramin 5 pills worth RM3,000, 544g of Ecstacy powder worth RM136,000 and 139g of caffeine worth RM100. -- Pix by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

Now, CPM leader's obscene rape remark on Mamata sparks row - Moneycontrol.com

After Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee, another politician from West Bengal has made a sexist remark, and this time the target is none other than Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. CPM leader Anisur Rehman made the crude remarks against the CM at a rally at Itahar in North Dinajpur.

He reportedly said, "The government promises that it will do well for everyone - girls, farmers and the poor. So what's good for girls? They are being raped everyday. Mamata is decorating her house with rape victims. She used to once land up at Writers' Building, when we were in power, with rape victims seeking compensation. We used to look up and tell her that these girls won't do. Get some decent girls, in fact, nobody is more appropriate than you. You can go around saying 'I have been raped'. I asked 'didimuni' that their compensation is only Rs 20,000. 'What about yours? If someone rapes you, how much is your compensation'?"

The Trinamool Congress has submitted a Privilege Notice at the Assembly, demanding an apology within 48 hours. Reports say that Anisur has already tendered an unconditional apology. "For the last 21 years I have been an MLA in the state. I have never said anything like this before and this will not happen again in future. I apologise before all the people of the state," Rahman said reading out a statement before the media in the evening without taking any questions.

The BJP and the Congress also condemned the remarks.

"Such use of foul language is unheard of in the political history of Bengal," said TMC leader and Industry and Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee. "It has tarnished the culture of Bengal and lowered our heads. We hope the Speaker will take up the matter. We will demand appropriate punishment," he said.

Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said, "I feel ashamed to think that he was a minister in the erstwhile Left Front government. People will know whom they have sent to the assembly. Does he not have sisters at home?"

Also Read: Gangrape case: Delhi Police targets Sheila Dikshit

Parents of murdered nurse speak out about her ex's violence | Granada - ITV News - ITV News

7:30am, Wed 12 Dec 2012Parents of murdered nurse step up campaign against domestic abuse - last updated Wed 12 Dec 2012

• UK

Jane Clough, who was murdered by her violent ex-partner Photo: ITV Granada

The parents of a nurse from Blackpool who was killed by her violent ex have released photos of their daughter after he first assaulted her.

Jonathan Vass stabbed Jane Clough to death in a frenzied attack outside Blackpool Victoria hospital in July 2010.

Ever since her death, her parents John and Penny have campaigned to raise awareness about domestic abuse.

They have released photos of Jane after she was assaulted by Vass as part of a documentary on TV tonight.

John and Penny Clough outside Preston Crown Court after Vass was sentenced back in 2010. Credit: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images

In the programme, the couple were also interviewed about the events leading up to Jane's death, and their campaign, Justice for Jane.

Earlier this year, they took that campaign to number 10.

When Vass murdered Jane, he was on bail accused of nine counts of raping her.

He was later jailed for a minimum of 30 years for her murder.

Her parents wanted the law to be changed so the prosecution could challenge a judge who bailed a defender.

Back in February, they received a standing ovation in the House of Commons when the amendment was passed.

The documentary, Britain's Darkest Taboos: Murdered for Reporting Rape, is on C&I Network Sky 553/555 or Virgin 237