Man attempts self immolation near parliament

NEW DELHI – An unemployed man tried to set himself on fire Tuesday near parliament house here, police said.

Vijay Singh from Maharashtra attempted self immolation around 1 p.m. at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, a police officer said.
He was saved by security personnel and bystanders, the officer said, adding that he …. Read the original article  : here.

Plane-spotting Britons get bail

NEW DELHI – A city court Tuesday granted bail to two British nationals who were charged by police for plane spotting near the Delhi airport.

A metropolitan magistrate granted bail to the duo after furnishing a personal and surety bond of Rs.10,000 each.
The two, Stephen Hampston, 46, and Steve Martin, 55, were … Read more : Plane-spotting Britons get bail.

Forest officials, scribes under scanner for official’s suicide

NAGPUR – A day after an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer – believed to have been fighting the timber mafia in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra – committed suicide, police Tuesday were on the lookout for five of his colleagues and four local journalists whom he named in a note.

Gopal Kale, divisional forest officer, Pandharkawda, who …. Source article  : Forest officials, scribes under scanner for official’s suicide.

One dead, 19 hurt in Colombia prison fight

Bogota, Feb 23 (IANS/EFE) One inmate was killed and 19 wounded in clashes at a prison in the southwestern Colombian city of Cali, but authorities managed to regain control of the facility, officials said.

Groups of inmates in a cell block at the prison in Villahermosa fought as part of a larger struggle for control of …. Read the original article  : One dead, 19 hurt in Colombia prison fight.

Bangladesh border guards go on trial for mutiny

DHAKA – The trial of nearly 800 troopers of Bangladesh rifles (BDR), the country’s border guard, began Tuesday, nearly a year after a mutiny led to the killing of 74 people, including 54 army officers.

The venue of the trial was the Durbar Hall at Pilkhana, the BDR Headquarters, where Feb 25-26 last year, hundreds … Original source on Gaea Times at : Bangladesh border guards go on trial for mutiny.

160,000 illegal drug tablets seized in Guatemala

Guatemala City, Feb 23 (IANS/EFE) Guatemalan drug enforcement agents seized some 160,000 pseudoephedrine tablets in a warehouse at the capital’s La Aurora International Airport, but no arrests were made, the police said.

The tablets were found at a warehouse belonging to Conbex, a company that imports and exports a variety of products.
A manifest shows … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 160,000 illegal drug tablets seized in Guatemala.

Paediatrician charged with raping over 100 patients

WASHINGTON – US paediatrician Earl B. Bradley was indicted Monday on 103 counts of rape, allegedly committed on child patients under his medical care, according to press reports.

Bradley, 56, appeared before a county court in Sussex, Delaware, charged with 471 assaults on minors including the alleged rapes, Delaware Online reported.
He was charged in December … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Paediatrician charged with raping over 100 patients.

15 hurt as ethnic violence continues in Bangladesh

DHAKA – At least 15 people were injured Tuesday as Buddhist tribals clashed with Muslim settlers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in continuing ethnic violence in Bangladesh.

The southeastern region, home to indigenous tribals, witnessed a daylong blockade of road and waterways by tribals protesting last Saturday’s killings. While the government has confirmed two deaths, … Original source on Gaea Times at : 15 hurt as ethnic violence continues in Bangladesh.

Madeira looks for 32 people missing after deadly floods on Portuguese island

Madeira looks for 32 missing after island’s floods

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands – Emergency crews in Madeira are looking for 32 people still missing four days after weekend landslides that claimed dozens of lives in the Portuguese island’s worst disaster in living memory.
Authorities have confirmed the flash foods killed at least 42 people.
Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Madeira looks for 32 people missing after deadly floods on Portuguese island.

Tax officer heading Madhu Koda probe to stay: Court

RANCHI – The Jharkhand High Court Tuesday stayed the transfer of Income Tax Director (investigation) Ujjwal Chaudhary, who is probing the money laundering scam of at least Rs.2,500 crore in which former chief minister Madhu Koda is a prime suspect.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra and Justice R.R. Prasad stayed the … Original article on : Tax officer heading Madhu Koda probe to stay: Court.

Student faints after ragging in Allahabad University

ALLAHABAD – Ill-treated and tortured physically, a first year student of Allahabad University who was allegedly ragged by his seniors fainted and was admitted to a hospital, police said Tuesday.

Amarjeet Kumar Yadav is still under medical treatment, but out of danger now, authorities said.
Police have registered a case of ragging against two senior students. … Read more : Student faints after ragging in Allahabad University.

Video cameras to keep eye on Canadian cops

TORONTO – Canadia’s federal police may carry video cameras pinned to their uniforms to record their dealings with the public and keep an eye out for high-handedness and corruption, says a parliamentary report released Monday.

If the report by a senate (upper house of the Canadian parliament) committee on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Video cameras to keep eye on Canadian cops.

Afghan police: 3 die in Lashkar Gah blast amid continuing offense against Taliban

Afghan police: 3 die in Lashkar Gah blast
KABUL – Afghan police say three civilians have died and at least 11 others were wounded in an explosion in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province where thousands of NATO and Afghan forces are in their 11th day of a major offensive against the Taliban.

Provincial police chief … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Afghan police: 3 die in Lashkar Gah blast amid continuing offense against Taliban.

Fresh warrant against Sajjan Kumar for 1984 riots

NEW DELHI – A city court Tuesday issued fresh non-bailable warrants against Sajjan Kumar and others as they did not appear at the court to answer charges of their alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar issued the warrants, asking Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others to appear in court … Original article on : Fresh warrant against Sajjan Kumar for 1984 riots.

Salem, Ore.-area man arrested after loud explosions heard in neighborhood

Ore. man arrested after tree blows up
SALEM, Ore. – Authorities in Oregon say a man has been arrested after explosions rocked his Salem-area neighborhood and partially blew up a tree on his property.

Sgt. Mark Garton of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says explosive material was put in a tree and detonated. One 911 caller reported …. Read the original article  : here.

Sex-for-immigration lands Canadian judge in dock

TORONTO – A former judge of the powerful Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board is in the dock for seeking sex from a South Korean woman refugee for granting her Canadian residence.

A court here Monday heard that Steve Ellis, now 50, told the then 25-year-old refugee claimant Ji-Hye Kim in September 2006 that he will reject …. Source article  : Sex-for-immigration lands Canadian judge in dock.

Orphanage director: Haitians holding 6 orphans cleared for adoption

Orphanage director: Haiti holds 6 US-bound kids

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Six U.S.-bound orphans seized by Haitian police despite having their papers in order remained in a government-run nursery more than two days later, the orphanage director said.
The seizure of the orphans and the brief detention of their escorts Saturday came amid fears that foreigners are exploiting …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Orphanage director: Haitians holding 6 orphans cleared for adoption.

NATO commander in Afghanistan apologizes for airstrike in video to Afghan people

NATO commander takes apology direct to Afghans

KABUL – The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan took his apology for a weekend airstrike that killed civilians directly to the Afghan people Tuesday, with a video in which he pledged to work to regain their trust as NATO continues a mass offensive against the Taliban …. Source article  : NATO commander in Afghanistan apologizes for airstrike in video to Afghan people.

Armed men loot passengers in Bihar

PATNA – At least six armed robbers looted cash and valuables from passengers of a train and stabbed one traveller in Bihar’s Buxar district, police said Tuesday.

The robbers looted the passengers travelling on the Punjab Mail Express between Ara and Buxar late Monday in Buxar district, about 125 km from here.
The injured passenger was …. Read the original article  : Armed men loot passengers in Bihar.

Radio: Iran arrests leader of militant Sunni group Jundallah

Radio: Iran arrests Sunni militant group leader

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s state radio says its security forces have arrested a leader of an armed Sunni opposition group waging a low-level insurgency in southeastern Iran.
The broadcast says Iranian security forces have arrested Abdulmalik Rigi, leader of the Jundallah terrorist group which has claimed responsibility for several bombing …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Radio: Iran arrests leader of militant Sunni group Jundallah.