Nation Briefs: New York synagogue bomb plot suspect pleads guilty

NEW YORK — A man charged with plotting to blow up synagogues in New York City has pleaded guilty to state terrorism charges.

Ahmed Ferhani entered the plea Tuesday in the unusual state-level terror case.

Manhattan state Supreme CourtJustice Michael Obus says he plans to sentence Ferhani to 10 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Jan. 30.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has said Ferhani wanted to attack a synagogue. Prosecutors say he bought three guns and a grenade to do so. The buy was a sting.

His lawyers previously said Ferhani was mentally unstable. They have said the prosecution was based on insufficient evidence and dubious tactics.

Ferhani and a co-defendant were arrested last year.

GEORGIA

World’s oldest person, 116, dies in nursing home

MONROE — The woman who was listed as the world’s oldest person died Tuesday in a Georgia nursing home at age 116.

Besse Cooper died peacefully Tuesday afternoon in Monroe, about 45 miles east of Atlanta.

She was declared the world’s oldest person in January 2011. In May 2011, Guinness World Records learned that Maria Gomes Valentin of Brazil was 48 days older. Valentin died the next month.

The title of world’s oldest person now belongs to 115-year-old Dina Manfredini, of Johnston, Iowa. 

ARIZONA

Sick girl sought after mom takes her from hospital

PHOENIX — Authorities in Arizona are looking for an 11-year-old girl with leukemia and a heart catheter who they say could die in a matter of days if she isn’t brought back to a hospital after her parents inexplicably took her out of the facility last week.

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