Nepal Terai tense after Hindu leader’s murder

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s main hub for trade with India, Birgunj, simmered with tension Sunday as traders and Hindu groups erupted in protests following the murder of the chief of a newly-formed militant Hindu organisation that had become involved in anti-Maoist vigilante activities.

Kashinath Adhikari, the 45-year-old chief of Hindu Yuva Sangh, was attacked Saturday evening while … Read more >>>.

Tropical storm Alex not aiming at Gulf spill area for now, but change could come rapidly

Alex not aiming at Gulf spill area – for now

NEW ORLEANS – Forecasters say a tropical storm slamming into parts of Mexico isn’t taking aim at the massive Gulf oil spill – for now. Although storms can rapidly change course, the forecast could be a rare piece of good news for crews trying to control … Original article on : Tropical storm Alex not aiming at Gulf spill area for now, but change could come rapidly.

Afghan and NATO officials say airstrike in northern Afghanistan killed local Taliban commander

Northern Afghan airstrike kills 8 militants
KABUL, Afghanistan – A U.S. airstrike killed eight militants including a local Taliban commander in northern Afghanistan, NATO and Afghan officials said Sunday.
The battle against the Taliban in Afghanistan has been expanding increasingly to the whole country, with insurgent cells operating and launching attacks in the west and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Afghan and NATO officials say airstrike in northern Afghanistan killed local Taliban commander.

Tropical Storm Alex heads for Gulf after drenching Belize, Mexico; could become hurricane

Tropical Storm Alex sets sights on Gulf of Mexico

BELIZE CITY – Tropical Storm Alex headed overland toward the Gulf of Mexico early Sunday, drenching Belize, northern Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with torrential rains.
Meteorologists project Alex, which made landfall on Belize’s coast late Saturday, will weaken as it passes over the Yucatan Peninsula but will … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Tropical Storm Alex heads for Gulf after drenching Belize, Mexico; could become hurricane.

Floodwaters begin to recede in hard-hit southern China, workers still fixing dike breach

Floodwaters receding in hard-hit southern China

BEIJING – Floodwaters receded in hard-hit southern China on Sunday and workers nearly finished repairing a dike breach that forced the evacuation of 100,000 people.
Torrential rains pummeled a wide swath of China’s south and more than 3 million people had to be evacuated from their homes over the past two …. Original source  : Floodwaters begin to recede in hard-hit southern China, workers still fixing dike breach.

10,000 protesters run riot at G-20 summit (Lead)

TORONTO – Thousands of protesters rampaged through Canada’s largest city and its financial capital, unleashing an unprecedented fury of violence as world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gathered here for the G-20 summit Saturday.

Four police cruisers were set on fire, storefronts smashed, windowpanes sprayed with anti-police and anti-G-20 slogans as more than …. Original source  : 10,000 protesters run riot at G-20 summit (Lead).

American service member killed by bomb attack in southern Afghanistan

US service member killed in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan – The U.S. military says an American service member has been killed by a bomb in southern Afghanistan.

U.S. forces spokesman Col. Wayne Shanks said Sunday the American died Saturday. He did not provide further details because family members had not been notified.
June has been one of the deadliest … Read : American service member killed by bomb attack in southern Afghanistan.

Sporadic violence as 10,000 protesters march in Toronto

TORONTO – There was sporadic violence in the streets of Canada’s largest city Saturday as at least 10,000 otherwise peaceful demonstrators fumed at the world’s 20 leading powers gathered for a summit on the global economy.

Dozens of windows were smashed in the city centre and at least three police cars were set on fire. Police …. Read the original article  : Sporadic violence as 10,000 protesters march in Toronto.

Boats ferrying tourists collide near popular Thai beach; 42 hurt, 2 missing

Tourist boats collide in Thailand, 42 injured

BANGKOK – Forty-two passengers were injured and two were missing after two boats carrying Thai and foreign tourists collided in the Gulf of Thailand on the way to a popular island beach party, police said Sunday.
The speedboats were ferrying tourists to Pha-ngan island for a “full moon” party, a … Read : Boats ferrying tourists collide near popular Thai beach; 42 hurt, 2 missing.

District attorney: 4 found stabbed to death in home in northeastern Pa.; suspect in custody

DA: 4 found fatally stabbed in Pa.; man in custody

NORTHAMPTON, Pa. – Four people were found stabbed to death Saturday in a house in northeastern Pennsylvania and a suspect was in custody, authorities said.
Police discovered the bodies after responding to a car crash about a half-mile from the house, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli …. Original source  : District attorney: 4 found stabbed to death in home in northeastern Pa.; suspect in custody.

News report: Boats ferrying tourists collide at popular Thai beach; 39 hurt, 2 missing

Tourist boats collide in Thailand, 39 injured

BANGKOK – Thirty-nine passengers were injured and two were missing after two boats carrying Thai and foreign tourists to a popular island beach party collided in the Gulf of Thailand, a news report said Sunday.
The boats were ferrying tourists to Pha-ngan island to attend a “full moon” party, a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Stop drug trafficking to wipe out poverty: UN

UNITED NATIONS – Fighting drug abuse, trafficking and other social evils must be parts of the battle against poverty, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said.

“Our work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and fight drugs must go hand-in-hand. In seeking to eradicate illicit crops, we must also work to wipe out poverty,” Ban said … Read more : Stop drug trafficking to wipe out poverty: UN.

Two Pakistani sentenced to death in Yemen

SANAA – Two Pakistanis were sentenced to death by a Yemeni court Saturday after being convicted of drug trafficking, state media reported.

“Salim Dawod Abdulrahim and Imam Bakhsh Eyepub Yakoub received death penalty after the court convicted them of smuggling 1,695 kg of hashish into Yemen through its coastal territories,” official Saba news agency cited the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Two Pakistani sentenced to death in Yemen.

Children feared among multiple dead in house fire in upstate New York

Children feared among several victims of NY fire

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. – Children were feared to be among the victims of a house fire that killed several people in am upstate New York village on Saturday, authorities said.
The blaze happened about 6:05 a.m. in a single-family home in Fort Edward, about 45 miles north of the …. Read the original article  : Children feared among multiple dead in house fire in upstate New York.

Ind. auction for ex-financier who tried to fake death in plane crash, hid motorcycle to flee

Auction for Ind. financier who tried to fake death

INDIANAPOLIS – Auctioneers are selling off items owned by a former Indiana money manager who tried to fake his death in a plane crash, including the motorcycle he used to flee after parachuting from his plane.
Hundreds of people turned out as Marcus Schrenker’s belongings went up for … Read more »»».

Tropical Storm Alex drenches Caribbean coast of Belize, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Tropical Storm Alex soaks Belize, Mexico’s Yucatan

BELIZE CITY – Tropical Storm Alex made landfall late Saturday on Belize’s coast, where hundreds of tourists and residents fled low-lying islands ahead of the storm’s arrival.
Besides Belize, Alex’s torrential rains were drenching Guatemala and Mexico’s resort-studded Caribbean coast, where beachgoers were warned to stay out of the water …. Original source  : Tropical Storm Alex drenches Caribbean coast of Belize, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Some oil spill events from Saturday, June 26, 2010

Some oil spill events on Saturday, June 26, 2010
A summary of events Saturday, June 26, Day 67 of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began with the April 20 explosion and fire on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean Ltd. and leased by BP PLC, which is in charge of … Read more >>>.

Girl, 6, scratched, bitten by coyotes who attacked as she played in front yard in NYC suburb

Girl, 6, scratched, bitten by coyotes in NY suburb

RYE, N.Y. – Police say a 6-year-old girl was scratched and bitten by a pair of coyotes who charged her as she played with friends in the front yard of her suburban New York City home.
The girl was treated and released from the hospital. She had bites … Read more >>>.

Tropical weather could put BP’s oil containment system out of commission for a week or more

Tropical weather is new reason to worry in Gulf

NEW ORLEANS – The logistics of containing the oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico are mind-boggling even in ideal conditions. Add a tropical storm like the one swirling in the Caribbean and things get even more complicated.
Any system with winds over 46 mph could force BP …. Read the original article  : Tropical weather could put BP’s oil containment system out of commission for a week or more.

Obama, South Korean leader say North Korea must face consequences for alleged ship sinking

Obama, Lee criticize North Korea on ship sinking
TORONTO – President Barack Obama said Saturday that North Korea must be “held to account” for its alleged sinking of a South Korean warship, a tough statement of support for an ally made at its leader’s side.
After talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on the …. Original article  : Obama, South Korean leader say North Korea must face consequences for alleged ship sinking.