Over 12,000 vehicles seized in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, June 26 (IANS/WAM) In an effort to prevent accidents in Abu Dhabi, police have seized 12,605 faulty vehicles.

Tyre bursts in faulty vehicles have caused serious accidents leading to the death of 20 people in 2009, especially on highways, the department of traffic and patrol said.
“Seventy-six tyre burst accidents occurred last year across …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Obama’s point man on the Gulf oil spill cleanup will visit the region next week

Cleanup czar to tour Gulf region next week
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s point man for the clean up and recovery of the area affected by the Gulf oil spill will tour the region next week.
According to a statement from his office, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will begin a five-day visit on … Read more : Obama’s point man on the Gulf oil spill cleanup will visit the region next week.

NATO: US troop dies, Taliban commander, disguised as woman, killed in southern Afghanistan

NATO: US troop dies, Taliban commander killed

KABUL, Afghanistan – A senior Taliban commander disguised as a woman was killed by Afghan and international forces after he opened fire with a pistol and tried to throw a grenade south of the capital Kabul.
NATO reported a U.S. troop died in a roadside bomb attack Saturday in southern …. Original article  : NATO: US troop dies, Taliban commander, disguised as woman, killed in southern Afghanistan.

Tropical weather could be latest blow to containing massive Gulf spill; forecasters watch path

Weather could be latest problem in spill cleanup

NEW ORLEANS – Tropical weather gathering strength in the Caribbean could be the latest bad news for BP crews trying to contain and clean up the massive oil spill in the Gulf, an effort that has been plagued with setbacks for more than two months.
It is still too …. Source  : Tropical weather could be latest blow to containing massive Gulf spill; forecasters watch path.

Honour killing suspects in police custody

NEW DELHI – A court here Saturday sent three men arrested on charges of killing a couple and another woman in a case of suspected honour killing to five days police custody.

Metropolitan Magistrate Satish Kumar gave the ruling after the three – Mandeep Nagar, 23, Ankit Chaudhury, 22, and Nakul Khari, 21 – were presented … Read more >>.

Industry, government spend little on oil spill clean-up technology

Little spent on oil spill cleanup technology

ON BARATARIA BAY, La. – While oil companies have spent billions of dollars to drill deeper and farther out to sea, relatively little money and research have gone into finding new, improved ways to respond to oil spills in deepsea conditions like those in the Gulf of Mexico.
Experts say …. Read the original article  : here.

Nirupama Pathak’s mother denied bail

RANCHI – A Jharkhand court Saturday rejected the bail plea of Sudha Pathak, the mother of Delhi journalist Nirupama Pathak who was found dead in her home April 29.

Additional District Judge Nitynanad Singh in Koderma town rejected the appeal for bail, her lawyer Arun Mishra told IANS over telephone, adding he would move the high …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Crime cloud over Shimla worries government, tourists

SHIMLA – Is the popular hill resort of Shimla, crowded at this time of the year, turning into a crime zone for tourists? There have been two suicides and two murders, all involving tourists, in the past six months.

The alleged suicide by a Chhattisgarh couple who reached this town June 19 is the most recent … Read more : Crime cloud over Shimla worries government, tourists.

6.9 quake hits Solomon Islands

HONG KONG – An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit Solomon Islands Saturday but there was no reports of casualties.

The quake struck at 1.40 p.m. (0540 GMT) Saturday, Xinhua reported citing the Hong Kong Observatory. The epicentre was determined to be about 220 km southeast of Honiara in Solomon Islands in the Pacific … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 6.9 quake hits Solomon Islands.

Strong quake hits in Pacific near Solomon Islands

Strong quake hits in Pacific near Solomon Islands

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – A powerful earthquake struck underwater off the Solomon Islands, but there was no immediate word of damage and no tsunami alert was issued.
Saturday’s quake had a magnitude of 6.9, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was centered 35 miles (55 kilometers) west-southwest of San …. Original source  : Strong quake hits in Pacific near Solomon Islands.

10 killed in Brazil accident

Sao Paulo, June 26 (IANS/EFE) At least 10 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a Brazilian city when two cars collided with a truck that had overturned a few moments before, police said.

The two cars ran into the overturned truck carrying steel coils and had turned turtle only minutes earlier in Belo Horizonte …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 10 killed in Brazil accident.

Forecasters: Tropical depression in Caribbean headed west; unclear if it will hit oiled Gulf

Tropical depression in Caribbean headed west

MIAMI – The first tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season has formed in the Western Caribbean and is headed west, but forecasters can’t yet say if it will pass over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said early Saturday …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Forecasters: Tropical depression in Caribbean headed west; unclear if it will hit oiled Gulf.

Two die in China mine blast

BEIJING – At least two people were killed and 10 injured in an explosion in a coal mine in China’s Ningxia Hui region Saturday, Xinhua reported.

The explosion occurred in the Hongyuan coal mine in Shikong town.
…. Source  : Two die in China mine blast.

Indian remanded in custody for murders in New Zealand

AUCKLAND – An Indian fruit packer indicted for killing a woman and his two-year-old daughter has been remanded to custody and asked to reappear in a New Zealand court next month.

Deepak Nagpal, 23, appeared in the Tauranga District Court Friday for the second time after he was charged with the murder of Anna and …. Read the original article  : Indian remanded in custody for murders in New Zealand.

4 US troops killed in Afghanistan; 11 bodies found in field in south, some beheaded

Bodies found beheaded in Afghanistan; 4 troops die

KABUL, Afghanistan – Four American troops were reported killed and the bodies of 11 Afghan men, some beheaded, were found in rising violence across Afghanistan.
Mohammad Khan, deputy police chief in Uruzgan province, said a villager in the Bagh Char area of Khas Uruzgan district spotted the bodies Friday …. Read the original article  : here.

Two workers killed in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Two workers were killed and six critically injured when a boiler at a soft drink manufacturing plant exploded in Orissa’s Khordha district, police said Saturday.

The accident took place Friday at the plant of Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages at Khordha town, about 50 km from here.
The two workers succumbed to their injuries … Read more »»».

15 killed in Bihar accident

PATNA – Fifteen people were killed early Saturday when a bus in which they were travelling collided with a truck in Bihar, police said.

Over 10 people were injured after the accident took place near Chenati village in Bihar’s Patna district, a police officer said.
“All the injured have been admitted to a hospital for treatment,” … Original article on : 15 killed in Bihar accident.

Wildfire burning north of Flagstaff now at estimated 15,000 acres but 50 percent contained

Wildfire near Flagstaff now 50 percent contained

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – A wildfire burning in Arizona that threatened homes in Flagstaff and has charred an estimated 15,000 acres has been declared 50 percent contained.
U.S. Forest Service officials said Friday night that full containment of the so-called Schultz fire isn’t expected until at least July 2.
Four air tankers, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Wildfire burning north of Flagstaff now at estimated 15,000 acres but 50 percent contained.

Hurricane Darby still Category 3 storm in the Pacific; Celia continues to weaken

Hurricane Darby still major storm; Celia weaker

MIAMI – Hurricane Darby is still Category 3 strength, making it the second major hurricane of the eastern Pacific season.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Darby’s maximum sustained winds Friday night were near 115 mph (185 kph).
The hurricane is located about 265 miles (425 kilometers) southwest of Acapulco, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Hurricane Darby still Category 3 storm in the Pacific; Celia continues to weaken.

Six drug traffickers killed in Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Six drug traffickers were killed and two arrested by the Mexican marine soldiers in a raid in Mexico, media report said.

The shootout began near a customs office on a road that links Matamoros to Brownsville, a city in US state of Texas, after the marines spotted the armed men riding on their … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Six drug traffickers killed in Mexico.