Briefs, October 7, 2012

Terror suspects in court after UK extradition

NEW YORK - An extremist Egyptian-born preacher and four other terrorism suspects arrived in the US from England to face trial, and two appeared within hours in a court in Connecticut. The preacher, Abu Hamza al-Masri, was taken to a lockup next to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan to face charges that he conspired to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon and that he helped abduct 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998. Syed Talha Ahsan, 33, and Babar Ahmad, 38, pleaded not guilty in federal court in New Haven, Connecticut, to charges they provided terrorists in Afghanistan and Chechnya with cash, recruits and equipment. Al-Masri and two others were to make an initial appearance later in the day. AP
 

US Border Patrol likely killed by friendly fire

PHOENIX - Friendly fire probably killed a US Border Patrol agent in Arizona near the Mexican border last week, the FBI said, citing "strong preliminary indications" from the investigation. Nicholas Ivie was one of three agents responding on foot to a tripped ground sensor before daybreak on Tuesday when gunfire erupted. They were near the tiny border town of Naco. A second agent was wounded in the incident, and the third agent was unharmed. The death heightened concern about border security in the state. Reuters
 

James Bond's car sold for £240,000

LONDON - A 2008 Aston Martin V12 DBS used by Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace has been sold for £241,250 (HK$3 million) at a James Bond memorabilia auction. The car, estimated to sell for between £100,000 and £150,000, was the most expensive of 11 lots being auctioned by Christie's International, London. The event marked "Global James Bond Day" and 50 years of Bond movies. The second-highest price was the £157,250 paid for an Omega Automatic Seamaster Professional "Planet Ocean" watch worn by Craig in the latest Bond movie, Skyfall, while a pair of La Perla swimming trunks worn by Craig in Casino Royale went for £44,450. Bloomberg
 

Magician performs electrifying stunt

NEW YORK - Daredevil stuntman David Blaine lit up New York's Pier 54 for his latest high voltage feat. The illusionist is scheduled to spend three days and nights standing in the middle of a million volts of electric currents streamed by tesla coils. Viewing stations are located in London, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney. Viewers at the stations can control the coils. The 39-year-old Blaine, whose past stunts included being buried alive and encased in a block of ice, is wearing a chainmail bodysuit as a barrier between himself and the electric currents. AP