German held without valid documents in Punjab

ROPAR – A 45-year-old German national, who was staying near Himachal Pradeh’s Bhakra dam, was arrested without any passport, visa and other required documents near Punjab’s Nangal town in Ropar district, police said Saturday.

Disguised as a ’sadhu’ (ascetic) with long hair and beard, Thomas Kuehn, a resident of Hamburg in Germany, was staying near the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : German held without valid documents in Punjab.

Train tragedy toll rises to 98, bodies decaying

JHARGRAM – The putrefying stench of decaying bodies filled the air here Saturday as the toll in Friday’s train accident rose to 98. The authorities said more casualties were expected as a very badly-mangled coach was yet to be prised open.

More than 36 hours after the Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express met with the accident, …. Source article  : Train tragedy toll rises to 98, bodies decaying.

Army officer booked for civilian killings in Kashmir

SRINAGAR – An Indian Army major and four other people, including a Territorial Army soldier, have been booked for the murder of three civilians in a staged gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir April 30, police said Saturday.

The army said it will initiate a probe. The state government has already ordered a magisterial probe.
The … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Army officer booked for civilian killings in Kashmir.

Indian team going to US to interrogate Headley

NEW DELHI – A four-member National Investigation Agency (NIA) team is to leave for the US Sunday to interrogate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Headley, accused of plotting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

“The team is expected to stay in the US for 10 to 15 days,” NIA Deputy Inspector General Satwant Atwal told IANS.
The team … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Indian team going to US to interrogate Headley.

China offers condolences for sinking of SKorea ship ahead of talks with SKorea, Japan

China offers condolence for sinking of SKorea ship
SEOUL, South Korea – The premier of China, North Korea’s main ally, offered condolences Saturday to South Korea for the sinking of a warship blamed on Pyongyang after promising his country would not defend anyone guilty of the attack, as it faced growing pressure to take …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China offers condolences for sinking of SKorea ship ahead of talks with SKorea, Japan.

Investigation faults US drone crew in deadly February airstrike that killed Afghan civilians

Drone crew blamed in Afghan civilian deaths

KABUL, Afghanistan – Inexperienced operators of a U.S. drone aircraft ignored or downplayed signs that civilians were aboard a convoy blasted by American missiles in Afghanistan earlier this year, said a military investigation report released Saturday.
At least 23 people were killed in the Feb. 21 attack in Uruzgan province … Original source on Gaea Times at : Investigation faults US drone crew in deadly February airstrike that killed Afghan civilians.

Teenager dies after being set ablaze by molester

MALEGAON – A 16-year-old girl was set ablaze by a man who tried to molest her in Deoghat village of Malegaon district. The girl died in hospital, police said Saturday.

The accused, Samadhan Khairnar, had barged into the girl’s house when she was alone and tried to molest her before he set her on fire, the … Read more >>.

Army officer booked for civilian killings

SRINAGAR – An Indian Army major and four other people, including a territorial army soldier, were booked for the murder of three civilians in a staged gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir April 30, police said Saturday.

The bodies of the three civilians — Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Riyaz Ahmad Lone and Muhammad Shafi Lone — were … Read more »»».

Americans watch underwater video, wait to see if latest attempt to plug Gulf oil well works

Americans wait to learn if top kill will stop oil
ROBERT, La. – Two days after BP began a risky effort to stop a gushing oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, company officials said the operation was going as planned but offered few details, leaving the nation in suspense about whether its worst … Original source on Gaea Times at : Americans watch underwater video, wait to see if latest attempt to plug Gulf oil well works.

DNA tests to identify bodies of train tragedy victims

JHARGRAM – With many of the bodies extricated from the ill-fated Gyaneshwari Express mutilated beyond recognition, the authorities Saturday decided to conduct DNA tests for identification before handing them over to their relatives.

West Bengal Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee, who is supervising rescue operations at the site here in West Midnapore district, said blood samples …. Read the original article  : DNA tests to identify bodies of train tragedy victims.

3 eastbound lanes of SoCal freeway reopen after fiery crash, all westbound lanes open

3 eastbound lanes of freeway open after crash

CORONA, Calif. – Three eastbound lanes of Highway 91 in Riverside County have reopened after a gasoline tanker overturned and burst into flames.
The freeway was shut down for several hours after the Friday morning collision. All westbound lanes reopened around 3 p.m. and three eastbound lanes reopened about …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 3 eastbound lanes of SoCal freeway reopen after fiery crash, all westbound lanes open.

Leaders of South Korea, Japan, China head to summit expected to focus on ship sinking

Leaders of SKorea, Japan, China head to summit
SEOUL, South Korea – Top military commanders gathered in Seoul on Saturday to discuss how to counter North Korean provocations, as leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan headed to the southern island of Jeju for a summit amid tensions over the sinking of a warship … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Leaders of South Korea, Japan, China head to summit expected to focus on ship sinking.

Militants attack Afghan police convoy, kill 5 officers with roadside bomb, official says

Militants attack Afghan police convoy, killing 5

KABUL, Afghanistan – Militants ambushed an Afghan police convoy with a roadside bomb and gunfire in eastern Afghanistan, killing five officers before fleeing NATO aerial bombardment, an official said Saturday.
Two militants were killed and up to six wounded in the battle Friday in Paktia province, said Ghulam Dastagir, the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Militants attack Afghan police convoy, kill 5 officers with roadside bomb, official says.

Train derailment kills at least 90 in eastern India; authorities suspect rebel sabotage

Suspected sabotage derails train in India; 90 dead
SARDIHA, India – Railway authorities canceled all night trains in an eastern Indian state on Saturday after a passenger express train derailed and was hit by a cargo train, killing at least 90 people and injuring hundreds. The government accused Maoist rebels of sabotaging the tracks.
Railway …. Source article  : Train derailment kills at least 90 in eastern India; authorities suspect rebel sabotage.

Four tourists drown in Arabian Sea

RATNAGIRI – A dolphin-sighting trip turned into tragedy when a boat carrying tourists capsized, drowning four people, in the Arabian Sea off Dapoli coast here Saturday, police said.

Three Mumbaikars and a Pune resident drowned.
The private boat carrying 12 tourists, nine of them from Mumbai and three from Pune, suddenly capsized due to huge waves …. Read the original article  : Four tourists drown in Arabian Sea.

In impoverished Niger, food crisis looms as starving cattle unable to stand wait for death

Dying cattle, costly grains fuel Niger food crisis

GADABEJI, Niger – At this time of year, the Gadabeji Reserve should be refuge for the nomadic tribes who travel across a moonscape on the edge of the Sahara to graze their cattle. But the grass is meager after a drought killed off the last year’s crops. Now … Read : In impoverished Niger, food crisis looms as starving cattle unable to stand wait for death.

Six engineers suspended for Jhansi chimney collapse

LUCKNOW – Six engineers have been suspended for negligence after a chimney collapsed at a power plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district killing two workers and injuring at least, an official said Saturday.

The engineers work for Rajya Vidyut Utpandan Nigam (the Uttar Pradesh power generation corporation).
“Those suspended are two superintendent engineers, two assistant engineers, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Six engineers suspended for Jhansi chimney collapse.

BP says it has apent $930 million so far on response to ruptured Gulf well

BP: Gulf spill response has cost it $930M so far

NEW YORK – BP PLC says it has spent $930 million so far responding to a ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
The British oil giant owns the well that’s gushed millions of gallons of crude for more than a month.
The company made the estimate … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : BP says it has apent $930 million so far on response to ruptured Gulf well.

Sulfur gas leak at Tenn. chemical plant prompts evacuation of 30-40 people from nearby homes

Sulfur leak prompts evacuation around Tenn. plant

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – About 30 to 40 people have evacuated their homes after an acidic gas escaped from a chemical plant near Memphis.
A spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and firefighters went door to door in the mainly rural area to tell people to leave. The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sulfur gas leak at Tenn. chemical plant prompts evacuation of 30-40 people from nearby homes.

Doctor confirms 30 dead in train derailment in eastern India

Doctor: at least 30 dead in India train derailment
CALCUTTA, India – A doctor says at least 30 people died when an overnight passenger train was derailed by suspected sabotage and then hit by another train in eastern India.
E. Mitra, a doctor at a railway hospital, says 30 bodies have been brought to the … Read more »»».