Australian child rapist jailed for 26 years

SYDNEY – A 58-year-old Australian man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for sexually assaulting 18 children in 25 years, a media report said Thursday.

Dennis Alfred Goudge, formerly of Bendigo, had shown no remorse or insight into his offending, the Victorian County Court heard, the Age reported on its website.
The 26-year sentence … Original article on : Australian child rapist jailed for 26 years.

An 1,800-year-old murder

LONDON – In a shallow grave in Britain lay a girl with injuries to her head. An investigation is being carried out not by the police, but by archaeologists as her death took place over 1,800-years back.

The child’s remains were found in a pit in the corner of a barrack room floor at Vindolanda Roman … Read more >>.

8 killed in blast aboard minibus in southeast Turkey

8 killed in minibus blast in Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey – A roadside bomb attack killed at least eight people Thursday in the latest violence that shook Turkey’s turbulent southeast where Kurdish guerrillas fought a bitter war for autonomy for decades, authorities said.

The incident occurred near the village of Gecitli in the rugged Hakkari province, bordering Iran … Read : 8 killed in blast aboard minibus in southeast Turkey.

NTSB: 2 float planes collide near Dillingham, Alaska; both pilots survive

2 float planes collide in Alaska; pilots survive

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal investigator says two pilots in Alaska have survived the collision of two float planes that took off from a pond.
National Transportation Safety Board investigator Larry Lewis tells KTUU-TV in Anchorage that one pilot had major but non-life-threatening injuries, while the other pilot suffered … Original source on Gaea Times at : NTSB: 2 float planes collide near Dillingham, Alaska; both pilots survive.

600 booked for violence

LUCKNOW – Cases have been slapped against nearly 600 people in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district for indulging in violence after a truck ran over a student, police said Thursday.

Sushil Kumar’s death Tuesday in Chapad village triggered violence that left about 10 policemen injured. Fellow students also set fire to a dozen vehicles.
Police inspector Rakesh … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 600 booked for violence.

‘Smuggling, trafficking key issues on India-Bangladesh border’

DINAJPUR – Smuggling and human trafficking are the “key issues that sometimes create problem in the border areas of Bangladesh and India”, the country’s border guard chief has said.

“Borders of the two countries generally remain calm, but smugglers of drugs and other goods and human traffickers, who are always active across the borders, often …. Read the original article  : ‘Smuggling, trafficking key issues on India-Bangladesh border’.

Police officer’s cook arrested

CHANDIGARH – A Punjab police officer’s cook has been arrested for allegedly entering the house of a journalist here to steal, police said Thursday.

The incident took place at Sector 39 around 12.30 a.m.
“The accused worked with an inspector general. He was in an inebriated condition and entered the house to steal. The house owner … Read more : Police officer’s cook arrested.

Congress MP from Orissa attacked in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Congress MP Hemananda Biswal from Orissa was attacked at his official residence in the capital Thursday morning.

Sources at the MP’s residence at 7, Kamraj Lane near Connaught Place said that a person named Pravat Kumar Sharma alias Swamy, who had worked with the MP earlier, forcibly entered his residence and attempted …. Original source  : Congress MP from Orissa attacked in Delhi.

Report: 12 killed in blast aboard minibus in southeast Turkey

Report: 12 killed in minibus blast in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey – CNN-Turk television says a blast has killed 12 people aboard a minibus in southeast Turkey.
There are conflicting reports about how the explosion occurred Thursday near the city of Hakkari, bordering Iran and Iraq. NTV television says the minibus hit a land mine while Dogan news … Read : Report: 12 killed in blast aboard minibus in southeast Turkey.

Fierce air, ground attack help slow advance of forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada

Fierce air, ground attack help slow fire’s advance

LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. – A fierce air and ground attack helped slow the advance of a California forest fire in the southern Sierra Nevada that has charred more than 6,100 acres and destroyed one home, authorities said.
Light winds aided the firefighting effort Wednesday as bulldozers carved firebreaks and … Read : Fierce air, ground attack help slow advance of forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada.

Chinese mom, Indian father continue search for lost child

KUALA LUMPUR – The parents of a two-year-old Indian girl, who has been missing since June, are still searching for her, and her mother who is of Chinese origin, believes she is alive and is being held captive somewhere.

Wong Lai Lan, the mother of Nisha Chandramohan, believes her daughter is alive and being …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chinese mom, Indian father continue search for lost child.

Put out too much on Facebook and risk burglary

LONDON – People who post too much personal information on social networking sites could be at risk from burglary, a media report said Thursday.

Wisbech magistrates’ court heard that Peter Trower, 22, and Joseph McLennan, 18, monitored Facebook accounts waiting for the “perfect opportunity” to rob a home in the town, Daily Telegraph reported on … Read more >>.

Malaysia to probe missing people linked to lawyer brothers

KUALA LUMPUR – The police in Malaysia are to investigate all reports of missing people who were known to two lawyer brothers arrested for the murder of a businesswoman and three others.

Sosilawati Lawiya, 47, who owned a cosmetics making firm, went missing last week and she was found murdered along with three others at a …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Malaysia to probe missing people linked to lawyer brothers.

Firefighters gain ground on forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada, now 50 percent contained

Firefighters make progress against canyon wildfire

LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. – Firefighters were beginning to gain ground on a forest fire in the southern Sierra Nevada that charred more than 6,100 acres and destroyed one home, authorities said Wednesday.
The fire got “very active” Wednesday afternoon, but a fierce air and ground attack kept the flames away from …. Original source  : Firefighters gain ground on forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada, now 50 percent contained.

Firefighters begin to gain ground on forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada

Firefighters begin to gain ground on canyon fire

LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. – Firefighters are gaining ground on a California forest fire in the southern Sierra Nevada that has blackened more than 6,100 acres and destroyed one home.
U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Cindy Thill says the fire “got very active” Wednesday afternoon, but a fierce air and ground … Original article on : Firefighters begin to gain ground on forest fire in southern Sierra Nevada.

Sohrabuddin case witness faked shootout, friend questioned: police

UDAIPUR – Azam Khan, a key witness in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh killing, tried to fabricate a story about an attempt on his life by shooting himself in the shoulder, say police. He along with his friend and cousin are being questioned.

Khan, who had given evidence in the killing of Tulsiram Prajapati – a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sohrabuddin case witness faked shootout, friend questioned: police.

Hundreds evacuated after tropical storm hits Mexico

Cancun (Mexico), Sep 16 (IANS/EFE) Hundreds of people have been evacuated from Mexico’s Quintana Roo state after tropical storm Karla hit the region with wind speeds of up to 95 kmph.

The storm made landfall Wednesday morning.
Power and telephone lines were cut as heavy rains and gusts of wind lashed the region, Quintana Roo state …. Original source  : Hundreds evacuated after tropical storm hits Mexico.

War of words over France’s Gypsy expulsions threatens to overshadow EU summit

War of words with France may overshadow EU summit

BRUSSELS – A bitter rift over France’s Gypsy expulsions was set to dominate a summit of European Union leaders Thursday, after French ministers angrily hit back at comments likening the crackdown to World War II deportations.
In an emotional statement Tuesday, European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called France’s …. Source article  : War of words over France’s Gypsy expulsions threatens to overshadow EU summit.

Reducing software piracy can inject $142 bn into economy

WASHINGTON – Reducing software piracy by 10 percentage points in four years would inject over $142 billion into the global economy, create nearly 500,000 jobs and generate close to $32 billion in tax revenues, according to a new study.

Moreover, reducing software theft at a faster rate in two years could boost the economic benefits another … Read : Reducing software piracy can inject $142 bn into economy.

Tropical Storm Karl crosses Yucatan and moves to Gulf of Mexico; gov’t issues hurricane watch

Tropical Storm Karl heads to Gulf of Mexico

CANCUN, Mexico – Tropical Storm Karl dumped heavy rains on the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday as it moved toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to pick up steam and become a hurricane threatening Mexico’s central coast by the weekend.
In the Atlantic, forecasters say Hurricane Igor … Read more >>.