Feds arrest, charge California man with threatening WA Congressman McDermott

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA -- A 32-year-old Palm Springs, California man was arrested on Wednesday morning after being charged with making death threats against Washington Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, prosecutors said.

Charles Turner Habermann is accused of making two expletive-laden, threatening phone calls to the Seattle office of McDermott on December 9 over his views on tax cuts and unemployment insurance. In one of the calls, Habermann allegedly threatened to kill McDermott and his friends and family.

Three killed including one officer in series of attacks in drug-plagued north Mexico

MONTERREY, MEXICO -- At least 3 people were killed, including a traffic official, while 2 police officers were injured in a series of attacks in the country's drug-plagued northern state of Nuevo Leon, officials said Wednesday.

The first incident occurred at around 5:30 p.m. local time in the small town of Santiago, Nuevo Leon, when a group of gunmen carrying AR-15 and AK-47 rifles attacked two men traveling on a truck. No further details were available, but the two men reportedly died during the attack.

In Santa Catarina, initial reports confirmed that a Mexican Federal Police convoy confronted several gunmen of an organized crime group who conducted the attack in an attempt to free four drug dealers, who had been previously captured.

Santa Catarina's Secretary of Security, Rene Castillo, said two federal police officer suffered injuries during the attack. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where they have been reported to be in stable condition.

A third incident was reported at around 8:20 p.m. local time when another group of armed men attacked and killed a traffic officer in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon. The officer was on his motorcycle when the group of men fired against him.

UN's Ban concerned with Australia's ongoing floods, at least 9 dead

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday voiced his concern at the heavy toll the ongoing floods have taken on lives and property across much of north-eastern Australia.

According to media reports, more than 200,000 people in an area larger than France and Germany combined have been affected since flood waters began rising in the state of Queensland in December.

The floods have reportedly claimed at least nine lives and caused damage worth billions of dollars, as well as destroying vital food crops and forced much of the state’s mining industry to a halt.

"The Secretary-General is concerned by the danger to life and the destruction of property following the ongoing floods," Ban’s spokesperson said.

"He extends his condolences to the families of those who have been affected and stresses the readiness of the United Nations to assist in any way necessary," the spokesperson added.

Orioles pitcher Simon sent to preventive prison for killing a man

PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon on Tuesday was sent to a year in preventive prison over the murder allegations against him, Hoy newspaper reported.

The Puerto Plata Court determined to sent Simon to prison meanwhile the charges against him are resolved. Simon is accused of killing a young neighbor and injuring another during New Year's festivities.

The Orioles relief pitcher claims to be innocent of the murder charges against him. The 29-year-old pitcher surrendered himself to Dominican authorities during the morning. He said he shot bullets to the air and never towards a person.

"That boy was just like a brother to me. I should not have to surrender but here I am in order to clarify the incident," said Simon as he entered the police headquarters.

The charges allege that Simon fatally shot Michael Castillo Almonte, 25, in the chest and also injured Starlin Castillo, 17, in Luperon, northeastern Dominican Republic. Simon was wanted by the national police.

Simon was accompanied to the police headquarters by Orioles teammate shortstop Julio Lugo. Simon's attorney, Carlos Olivares, said that they would appeal the court's decision as there is no risk of Simon fleeing the country.

"He is scared as he acknowledged shooting some bullets to the air, not to the victim, who was his friend," said Lugo. "We don’t know if he is guilty or not. I advised him to surrender."

Police said that in less than 48 hours the lab analysis will return and will determine if the bullets were fired using Simon's weapon. Initially, prosecutors demanded three months of preventive prison but later it was extended to one year.

Prosecutors said that apparently there was an argument between two women and Simon tried to stop it. He fired a bullet that passed through the 17-year-old boy's arm and ended in the victim's chest cavity.

There are allegedly many witnesses of the incident as it took place in a Luperon public park. If found guilty, Simon could receive a sentence of up to two years in prison as well as irreparable damage to his rising baseball career.

Simon was the Orioles closer during the last season. He saved 17 games and had a 4-2 winning record. It was Simon's third complete season in the Major Leagues.

Bus bomb blast kills 6 in central Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY -- At least six people on Tuesday were killed after a bus bomb exploded in San Juan Sacatepequez city in central Guatemala, local media reported.

Authorities informed that on Tuesday morning an unidentified woman boarded the bus in Ciudad Quetzal neighborhood and left a backpack before leaving the bus from the Rutas Quetzal company.

The bus exploded in the intersection of 37 Avenue and San Juan street after the woman detonated the explosives using a mobile phone. In addition, fifteen passengers were injured.

Paramedics and rescue teams were rushed to the scene. The wounded were transported to the Roosevelt Hospital, where the death toll was set at six. The fifteen individuals injured are being treated of first and third degree burns.

Rigoberto García Orozco, 69, and Dora Rodas Franco, 54, were killed alter sustaining burns in 80 percent of their bodies. A 35-year-old mother, Alicia Zacarias, was also killed along her children, Nury Paola and Gerson Daniel, aged 3 and 11 years respectively.

Another victim has not being identified as his body was left completely charred. Jorge, 13, another son of Zacarias was injured and transported to the hospital. The Zacarias family had just had lunch with the dad, Jorge Cac Gutiérrez, a taxi driver who left them at the bus stop.

Authorities have not informed the cause of the attack. It is believed that it is related to an unpaid bribery to a local gang but an investigation was launched to found the responsible individuals.

Somali pirates attack and board UK-flagged ship in failed hijack attempt

MANAMA, BAHRAIN -- Somali pirates on Monday attacked and boarded a UK-flagged tanker in the North Arabian Sea, but failed to take control of it, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Navy said the incident happened at approximately 1.45 p.m. Bahrain time when Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) were notified of a distress call from the merchant vessel CPO China, which is a UK-flagged tanker. The distress call indicated that the vessel was being attacked by pirates while underway in the North Arabian Sea.

The ship reported taking fire from several skiffs and, despite evasive manoeuvring, was boarded by the suspected pirates. The U.S. Navy said the ship's master mustered his 20 man crew in the ship's citadel, a secure compartment from where they could retain control of the ship.

Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne, currently serving with CMF's counter-piracy mission, Combined Task Force 151, was the nearest warship to CPO China and was immediately ordered to assist.

When the HMAS Melbourne's helicopter arrived at the location of the CPO China, the warship was able to establish communications with the vessel. "Having been unable to take control of the merchant vessel, and with Melbourne on the scene, the pirates left the ship," the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

The Master of the CPO China reported that all the crew members were safe and, on Tuesday morning, a security team from HMAS Melbourne boarded the ship to make sure it was secure.

"Somali pirates operate across a vast expanse of sea. They use large mother ships to travel great distance from the Somali coast, from where they can launch fast skiffs to attack international shipping," a CMF spokesperson said. "We are pleased that HMAS Melbourne was close enough to intervene in this instance. However, coalition warships may not always be in the vicinity of a pirate attack. That is why we emphasize that seafarers have the power to greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they take simple precautions."

The spokesperson urged mariners transiting these waters to follow guidance laid out in the Best Management Practice volume 3 and added that they should regularly check Navigation Area Warnings and liaise closely with Maritime Trade authorities. Other CMF warships have also been involved in disrupting pirate activities in recent days.

On Sunday, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Champlain was ordered to investigate a suspicious vessel that had been spotted in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel displayed the hallmarks associated with the kind of 'skiff' commonly used by pirates.

As Lake Champlain launched her helicopter to investigate, the suspicious vessel increased its speed and was seen to be throwing items overboard, according to the U.S. Navy. The vessel initially refused verbal commands to stop, but ultimately heeded directions after warning shots were fired.

Personnel from Lake Champlain then boarded the skiff and confiscated excess fuel and a motor. The vessel was then released.

Pakistani governor killed by own guard

SLAMABAD, PAKISTAN -- Salman Taseer, the governor of the Pakistan's Punjab province, on Tuesday was killed by one of his guards, Ary News Television reported.

Taseer was shot dead by a bodyguard as he was stepping out of his vehicle at Kohistar Market in sector F6 of the capital. The assassination was perpetrated for Taseer's opposition towards blasphemy laws.

The Punjab governor was immediately transported to a Polyclinic hospital but died due to the severity of the wounds sustained. He was shot nine times, four in neck, three in chest and two in abdomen.

Afther shooting the governor, the bodyguard threw down his gun and raised both arms. The crime took place on a parking area of the Koshar shopping center, a popular site visited mostly by foreigners.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that Taseer was killed due to his high-profile opposition to the blasphemy laws. He recently supported the pardon for a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy.

Taseer was known for being moderate politician within the main ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He also openly expressed himself against the Taliban and other militant groups.

The shooter was identified as Qadri, a member of Taseer's own security team. He admitted perpetrating the crime and declared that he did it in retaliation for Taseer's comments towards the blasphemy law.

Taseer was appointed governor by the PPP-led coalition government in 2008. He previously served as minister for industry and production under former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from 2007 to 2008.

Iran accuses Israel of kidnapping former deputy minister in 2006

JERUSALEM - Iran on Friday accused the Israeli government of kidnapping former Deputy Defense Minister Ali Reza Asghari who went missing in Istanbul, Turkey in 2006.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister in the Middle East and Commonwealth Affairs Mohammed Raouf Sheybani said that reports indicate that Ashgari was kidnapped by Israeli forces with the help of U.S. operatives.