Money crunch forces California to release prisoners

September 11th, 2009 Official: 1,500 Zimbabwe prisoners to be freedHARARE, Zimbabwe — A Zimbabwe official says 1,500 prisoners are being released across the country under a presidential amnesty program designed to ease overcrowding. Elizabeth Banda, manager for Zimbabwe's prisons, says 150 have already been freed from Harare Central Remand Prison, the first of Zimbabwe's 46 prisons to begin the program.

August 26th, 2009 16 indicted in California in drug-smuggling probeIMPERIAL, Calif. — Sixteen people were indicted and hundreds of pounds of cocaine seized in a sting against Mexico's notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Wednesday.

August 22nd, 2009 Mexico frets about California plan to free inmatesMEXICALI, Mexico — Mexican authorities have been sending more alleged criminals north to the U.S. for trial since President Felipe Calderon took office.

August 17th, 2009 Obama welcomes release of US citizen from MyanmarWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Monday it was pleased that Sen. Jim Webb had arranged the release of an American citizen from detention in military-run Myanmar.

August 13th, 2009 Prison riot to cost California $5M-$6MSACRAMENTO, Calif. — It will cost taxpayers as much as $6 million to make repairs and clean up debris after a weekend prison riot damaged seven housing units and forced the transfer of more than 1,100 inmates, California's corrections chief said Wednesday.

August 10th, 2009 Crowding may have contributed to Chino prison riotCHINO, Calif. —A California lawmaker says overcrowding may have contributed to a prison riot that injured 250 inmates, 55 of them seriously.

August 10th, 2009 SoCal prison riot prompts transfer of inmatesCHINO, Calif. —A California state prison where 175 inmates were injured in a riot remains locked down and more than 1,000 prisoners are being moved.

June 17th, 2009 Feds release details on high-speed rail fundsCHICAGO — The Obama administration has released criteria for $8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail that appear to give front-runner status to projects in the Midwest and California. The 68-page guidelines released Wednesday by the Federal Railroad Administration are the starting shot in a race between states to build new or revamped networks.

May 14th, 2009 GENEVA - The UN special expert for human rights in Myanmar Thursday called for the 'unconditional release' of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the special rapporteur, said the detention of Suu Kyi was unlawful, both according to international law and Myanmar's own domestic legislation.

March 31st, 2009 RAIPUR - Several candidates for the April 16 elections in Chhattisgarh say their campaign has been hit hard by fund shortage. A few of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates say they have been asked to exercise restraint vis-a-vis expenditure as the party will not be able to provide enough money for a comprehensive campaign.

March 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pointing to Pakistan's inner turmoil, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has raised the spectre of an Indian aggression but said the armed forces would be provided the necessary funds in spite of a cash crunch to maintain the necessary deterrent. Noting that historically a weak internal front always tended to invite external aggression, Gilani said: 'When seen with the widening force differential between ours and Indian armed forces, it explains to us its emboldened posture and urge to find space for a conventional war.' Despite the current financial crunch, the government would ensure that all the requirements of the armed forces were fully met to prepare them to accomplish their mission, the prime minister said during his address at the National Defence University here, Dawn reported Friday.

March 20th, 2009 RANCHI - Four prisoners undergoing treatment at a hospital here escaped Friday by breaking the window panes of the room where they were kept, the police said. The four prisoners, two each from Ranchi and Simdega were admitted in the jail ward of Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Ranchi.

March 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court has asked the central government what steps it was taking to secure the release of Indian prisoners who have been languishing in Pakistani jails for over 25 years. The court issued notice last week on the release of 13 such prisoners including that of Sarabjit Singh who is awaiting death sentence in a Pakistani jail for alleged involvement in the 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan.

February 25th, 2009 BRUSSELS - The European Union has called for 'an immediate and unconditional release' of all political prisoners and detainees in Myanmar, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The EU presidency, held currently by the Czech Republic, urged for an all-inclusive dialogue between the authorities and the democratic forces, including ethnic groups in Myanmar, EuAsiaNews reported.

February 7th, 2009 RANCHI - At least seven undertrial prisoners were injured in a clash between two criminal groups in Dhanbad jail Sunday, police said. Prisoners Sanjay Mahto and Diwakar Mahto, who were collecting weekly extortion of Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 from each prisoner, thrashed three other prisoners which led to the clash.