Rescue crews search for 4 missing in Madeira after Portugese island’s fatal floods

4 missing after Madeira flash floods killed 42

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands – Emergency crews used bulldozers and other heavy equipment Monday to search for at least four people still missing in Madeira after flash floods and rockslides killed 42 people on the Portuguese island.
Rescue teams in more than 400 vehicles worked all night Sunday to clear … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Rescue crews search for 4 missing in Madeira after Portugese island’s fatal floods.

DNA, hot line lead authorities to charge 2 suspects in Texas church arson attack

DNA, hot line lead to arrests in Texas church fire

TYLER, Texas – Federal authorities say DNA evidence collected at the site of one of several Texas churches destroyed by arson links one of two suspects to the blaze.
A spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says 19-year-old Jason Robert Bourque and 21-year-old … Read this article on Gaea Times at : DNA, hot line lead authorities to charge 2 suspects in Texas church arson attack.

Afghan Cabinet: Civilian death toll in NATO airstrike rises to at least 33

Afghan Cabinet: Airstrike kills at least 33
KABUL – The Afghan Cabinet says at least 33 civilians are dead as the result of NATO airstrike in southern Afghanistan – an incident that is inflaming already heightened sensitivities over noncombatant casualties in the war.
In a statement released on Monday, the Afghanistan …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Exotic birds seized in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR – Chirping sound from a parcel at Ahmedabad railway station led to the recovery of 200 exotic birds from it, Gujarat police said Monday

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police G.D. Trivedi, the parcel arrived from Kolkata by train Sunday and included exotic parrots, lovebirds, doves and pigeons, all species protected under the Wildlife Protection …. Original article  : Exotic birds seized in Gujarat.

Violence in Indore, six injured

INDORE – Six persons, including two policemen, were injured in a clash between two groups here, police said Monday.

The incident occurred in Kadawghat locality late sunday night, when a cyclist ran into two persons belonging to a different community. The accident led to arguments and a scuffle after which the cyclist left the spot, the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Violence in Indore, six injured.

Main accused in Uttar Pradesh hooch tragedy held

LUCKNOW – The main accused in a hooch tragedy that claimed at least 13 lives in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district has been arrested along with a policeman, a police official said Monday.

“Bhonu, the main accused was nabbed along with a police constable Sunday evening from Nasedar locality,” Superintendent of Police (City) Vijay Bhushan told … Read more >>>.

Suicide note on thigh lands husband in jail (Lead, superseding earlier story)

CHANDIGARH – It was assumed that depression drove 35-year-old Aruna Srivastava to suicide here four days ago. But now her husband has been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide after a note was found written on her thigh.

Aruna’s husband Subhash Chander was arrested late Sunday and has been booked, along with his alleged girlfriend …. Original source  : Suicide note on thigh lands husband in jail (Lead, superseding earlier story).

Centre to Assam: Let CBI probe scam in North Cachar Hills

GUWAHATI – New Delhi has asked the Assam government to let the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe the multimillion rupee scam involving the swindling of central funds by a politicians-militants-bureaucrats-contractors nexus, union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said Monday.

“The home ministry has advised the Assam government to get the whole thing investigated by the … Read more : Centre to Assam: Let CBI probe scam in North Cachar Hills.

Couple held for kidnapping boy in Gurgaon

GURGAON – A couple has been arrested for kidnapping their landlord’s child here, police said Monday. The 10-year-old boy was rescued by the police from a train.

The couple, identified as Bali and Rahul, was held Sunday night, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gurgaon) Anil Dhawan.
According to police, the duo abducted the boy from outside …. Source article  : Couple held for kidnapping boy in Gurgaon.

Indian held for trying to rape 3-year-old in Nepal

KATHMANDU – A 14-year-old boy from India’s eastern Bihar state has been arrested in Nepal for allegedly trying to rape a three-year-old girl, police said Monday.

The adoloscent was arrested in Aapgachhi village in eastern Nepal’s Morang district Sunday after neighbours told police they found him trying to rape the child and rescued her, police said. … Original article on : Indian held for trying to rape 3-year-old in Nepal.

Sukna land scam: Army officer gets relief

NEW DELHI – The Armed Forces Tribunal Monday gave two months to Lt Gen Avdesh Prakash to cross question witnesses in the Sukna land scam case.

Prakash, the military secretary, facing charges of being involved in a land scam in Sukna, West Bengal, had approached the tribunal to complain that he had not been given an … Read more »».

Madeira rescue crews search for 4 missing after Portugese island’s fatal floods

4 still missing after Madeira flooding killed 42

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands – Emergency crews in Madeira continued their search Monday for at least four people still missing after mud and rockslides killed 42 people on the Portuguese island.
More than 400 vehicles, including bulldozers and trucks, worked all night Sunday in an effort to clear debris, authorities … Original article on : Madeira rescue crews search for 4 missing after Portugese island’s fatal floods.

Curfew partially relaxed in Punjab town after Christ row

BATALA – Curfew was partially relaxed in this Punjab town Monday after violence broke out Saturday over the publication of a poster depicting Jesus Christ in an objectionable manner, police said.

“Curfew has been relaxed till noon so that people can come out and do some necessary shopping or other work. However, we are keeping a [..] Read the original article: here.

Gentleman NRI shopkeeper killed for cigarettes, sweets

LONDON – British police have launched a murder hunt after a gang of teenagers in northern England killed an Indian-origin shopkeeper described by locals as a gentleman, who would do anything for anyone.

Gurmail Singh, a 63-year-old father of two, suffered head injuries in the robbery by four teenagers at his shop in Huddersfield Saturday and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Afghan government: at least 21 civilians killed in NATO airstrike in south

Afghan government: Airstrike kills 21 civilians
KABUL – A NATO airstrike in southern Afganistan killed at least 21 civilians, the Afghan Interior Ministry said Monday, in an incident that could inflame already heightened sensitivities over noncombatant casualties.
NATO forces confirmed in a statement that its planes fired Sunday on what it believed was a group …. Source article  : Afghan government: at least 21 civilians killed in NATO airstrike in south.

Dhaka to reconstruct prayer houses damaged in violence

DHAKA – The Bangladesh government has said it will reconstruct four prayer houses set ablaze during two days of violence against Buddhist tribals in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Dipankar Talukdar, the minister in charge of the region that is home to the indigenous people, said this would be done “as soon as possible”.
He … Read more : Dhaka to reconstruct prayer houses damaged in violence.

Abhay Chautala gets interim bail in graft case

NEW DELHI – Haryana legislator Abhay Chautala was granted interim bail by a city court Monday after he failed to appear before it in a graft case.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge P.S. Teji granted interim bail to Chautala, an Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator, and fixed the matter for further hearing March … Read : Abhay Chautala gets interim bail in graft case.

Suicide note on thigh lands husband in jail

CHANDIGARH – It was considered a case of suicide due to depression when 35-year-old Aruna Srivastava was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her house here four days back. But now her husband has been arrested after a suicide note was found written on her thigh.

Aruna’s husband Subhash Chander was arrested late [..] Read the original article: here.

Afghan officials say at least 19 civilians killed in NATO airstrike in south

Afghan officials: airstrike kills 19 civilians

KABUL – Afghan officials say at least 19 civilians have been killed by a NATO airstrike on a convoy of vehicles in southern Afghanistan.
NATO confirms that it fired Sunday on a group of vehicles that it believed contained insurgents, only to discover later that women and children were in the …. Original article  : Afghan officials say at least 19 civilians killed in NATO airstrike in south.

Bird box shaped like speed camera foxes motorists

LONDON – A bird box shaped like a speed camera has forced motorists to slow down in a British village and the villagers are delighted with the result.

Retired detective Bill Angus set up the plywood contraption, complete with metallic strips and what appear to be lenses on the side, on a pole at the edge … Read : Bird box shaped like speed camera foxes motorists.

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.

Contraband cough syrup seized from Delhi plane

AGARTALA – Tripura Police Wednesday seized from an aircraft from New Delhi a huge amount of contraband cough syrup that was to be smuggled to Bangladesh.

“We have seized 20 big trunks containing 4,000 bottles of Phensidyl worth Rs.400,000 from a private passenger airliner. The passenger plane arrived in Agartala from New Delhi via Guwahati,” said … Read more >>>.

Clean chit to two IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL – Two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in Madhya Pradesh facing charges of misusing their official positions have been given clean chits.

“Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has given a clean chit to G.P. Singhal and T. Dharmarao Tuesday as complaints filed against them were found baseless,” an EOW official told IANS … Read more »».

Using math, science to help solve crimes

WASHINGTON – Sophisticated math and science can be used to understand urban crime patterns, research says. Anthropologist Jeffrey Brantingham works with the Los Angeles Police Department to analyse crime patterns by studying hunter-gatherers in Northern Tibet.

“Criminal offenders are essentially hunter-gatherers; they forage for opportunities to commit crimes,” said Brantingham, associate professor of anthropology at …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Illegal Internet pharmacies thriving in India: UN

NEW DELHI – Illegal Internet pharmacies are thriving in India and they are increasingly becoming a source of pharmaceutical drug abuse across the globe, a report released by the United Nations office of Drugs and Crime said Wednesday.

India has emerged as one of the main sources of drugs sold through illegal Internet pharmacies, where orders … Original article on : Illegal Internet pharmacies thriving in India: UN.

Teenager may have seen Indian’s murder: Australian police

MELBOURNE – A teenager may be a key witness in the murder of Indian Nitin Garg here as he saw a number of men fighting in a park where Garg was fatally stabbed last month, the police said Wednesday.

Garg was viciously stabbed Jan 2 as he walked to work. He staggered to Hungry Jack’s, where …. Read the original article  : Teenager may have seen Indian’s murder: Australian police.

Alleged Saudi terrorism financier stands trial in Indonesia’s deadly twin hotel bombings

Saudi stands trial over Jakarta hotel bombings

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A retired Saudi Arabian school teacher went on trial Wednesday charged with financing suicide bombings at two Jakarta hotels that killed seven and wounded more than 50.
Al Khelaiw Ali Abdullah, 55, denied any involvement in the July 17, 2009, attacks on the downtown J.W. Marriott and …. Original article  : Alleged Saudi terrorism financier stands trial in Indonesia’s deadly twin hotel bombings.

Fire-hit Bangalore towers sealed; cases booked against owners

BANGALORE – The charred Carlton Towers in Bangalore were sealed a day after a major fire broke out Tuesday claiming nine lives and injuring about 50 people, a fire brigade official said Wednesday.

“We have sealed the entire premises to investigate the cause of the fire and ascertain whether the seven-storey building had fire safety systems [..] Read the original article: here.

Police say landslide at Indonesian tea plantation kills at least 15 workers, scores buried

Police: 15 dead, 57 buried by Indonesian landslide

CIWIDEY, Indonesia – Rescuers used heavy digging equipment Wednesday to clear a muddy landslide that killed at least 15 people and left 57 buried on Indonesia’s main island of Java, an official said.
Days of heavy rain prompted the landslide Tuesday afternoon at a mountainous tea plantation near the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Just like the movies _ in Afghanistan, US bomb disposal unit gets close to danger for a living

Afghan: US bomb squad on the frontlines
BADULA QULP, Afghanistan – Staff. Sgt. Joshua Rickert hasn’t just seen “The Hurt Locker,” the award-winning film about an American bomb disposal squad in Iraq. He’s living it – in Afghanistan.

Rickert and his team work for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, unit of the U.S. Air Force. Soldiers …. Original article  : Just like the movies _ in Afghanistan, US bomb disposal unit gets close to danger for a living.

Turkish government lowers death toll in mine collapse to 13

Turkey lowers death toll in mine collapse to 13

ANKARA, Turkey – The government on Wednesday said 13 workers were killed in a coal mine collapse in northwestern Turkey, not 17 as previously reported.
Labor Minister Omer Dincer explained the revised death toll by saying four bodies had previously been counted twice after the methane gas explosion …. Read the original article  : here.

Teacher recruitment scam hits Chandigarh again

CHANDIGARH – Irregularities in teacher recruitment for government schools have rocked Chandigarh for the second time in five months. The latest controversy is about last-minute changes in criteria for selecting over 500 teachers.

Sources in the administration say education department officials, particularly the office of the Director of Public Instruction (DPI, Schools), had “goofed up” in … Read : Teacher recruitment scam hits Chandigarh again.

Colombian politician sentenced to 40 years for massacre

Bogota, Feb 24 (IANS/EFE) Colombia’s Supreme Court has imposed a 40-year prison term on former senator Alvaro Garcia Romero for his role in a massacre carried out by right-wing militias.

The sentence, imposed Tuesday, is the harshest handed down so far in what is known here as the “parapolitica” scandal.
Garcia was “instigator and accomplice” of … Read more >>>.

Charity official, engineer kidnapped in Haiti

Dajabon (Dominican Republic), Feb 24 (IANS/EFE) An official with the Catholic charity Caritas and a chemical engineer have been kidnapped in eastern Haiti, the organisation Solidaridad Fronteriza and a Jesuit group that aids migrants said here.

They said the incident occurred Saturday in Ouanaminthe, near the Dominican border, and the perpetrators are demanding a ransom of …. Original source  : Charity official, engineer kidnapped in Haiti.

Goa businessmen want life imprisonment for illegal mining

PANAJI – Worried over rising incidents of illegal mining in the state, the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has demanded life imprisonment for those found guilty.

In its annual pre-budget suggestion to Goa Chief Minister and Finance Minister Digambar Kamat, GCCI president Cesar Menezes said: Illegal mining is creating huge and irreparable damage to [..] Read the original article: here.

Police say landslide at Indonesian tea plantation kills at least 6 workers, scores buried

Police: 6 dead, 66 buried by Indonesian landslide

CIWIDEY, Indonesia – Rescuers used heavy digging equipment Wednesday to clear a muddy landslide that killed at least six people and left 66 buried on Indonesia’ main island of Java, an official said.
Days of heavy rain prompted the landslide Tuesday afternoon at a mountainous tea plantation near the [..] Read the original article: here.

Widow of IRS worker killed in Texas plane attack sues pilot’s wife, seeks to determine assets

IRS worker’s widow sues Texas suicide pilot’s wife

AUSTIN, Texas – The widow of the Internal Revenue Service employee killed when a Texas man crashed his plane into the agency’s Austin office is suing the pilot’s widow.
Attorney Daniel Ross says the lawsuit against Sheryl Stack seeks to determine if the pilot left behind insurance policies or …. Original source  : Widow of IRS worker killed in Texas plane attack sues pilot’s wife, seeks to determine assets.

Back-to-back severe snowstorms with high, dangerous winds expected to slam Northeast

Back-to-back severe storms headed for Northeast

ALBANY, N.Y. – After being spared the brunt of early February snowstorms that buried the Atlantic coast, the Northeast is bracing for a double whammy of winter.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Tuesday evening for central New York through New England. It predicts heavy, wet snow with …. Original source  : Back-to-back severe snowstorms with high, dangerous winds expected to slam Northeast.

Police: NYC terror plotter Zazi planned with at least 2 bombers to kill rush-hour commuters

NYPD: Zazi planned to kill commuters at rush hour

NEW YORK – A man who admitted plotting to bomb the city’s subway system wanted to do so with the help of at least two other bombers during rush hour, when the most people could be killed, police said Tuesday.
“This was particularly disturbing,” police Commissioner Raymond Kelly … Read more >>>.

Fire at famed Philadelphia International Records is ruled an arson; producers vow to rebuild

Fire at famed Philly music company is ruled arson

PHILADELPHIA – A two-alarm fire that damaged the building where the “Sound of Philadelphia” was born has been ruled an arson.
Fire officials say the Sunday morning blaze on the third floor of the Philadelphia International Records building has been determined to be “incendiary.” One man has been …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Fire at famed Philadelphia International Records is ruled an arson; producers vow to rebuild.

Tussles over foreign adoptions mirror quake-ravaged Haiti…s dire needs, deep-seated fears

Haiti adoption fights mirror desperation
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Foreigners detained, Haitians enraged, children caught in the middle: The scenario that played out this week echoed the case of 10 Americans caught trying to spirit youngsters out of this earthquake-ravaged nation.

This time it turned out differently. Six U.S.-bound orphans seized by Haitian police Saturday as they were … Read more »»».

Indian monk charged with murder in Nepal

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s police have formally charged an Indian monk belonging to the renowned Bharat Sevashram Sangh order with murder following the death of a six-year-old boy who was entrusted to the care of the home and school run by the organisation in Kathmandu.

Swami Atmashuddhananda, the 40-year-old monk from Assam who had made Nepal his …. Original article  : Indian monk charged with murder in Nepal.

Marines, Afghans move to clear out last insurgent pockets in Afghan town

NATO forces move to flush out final resistance

MARJAH, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and Afghan troops slogged through bomb-laden fields Thursday to clear the last pockets of insurgents from the southern Taliban haven of Marjah, while vegetable markets resumed business in other parts of town.
The Marines’ progress was slowed by difficult terrain with no roads, few …. Original source  : Marines, Afghans move to clear out last insurgent pockets in Afghan town.

Woman dies after doctor removes kidney

PATNA – A 22-year-old woman died after a doctor allegedly removed her kidneys during surgery, her family said Thursday.

Sabila Khatoon, mother of a six-month-old baby, died at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) Wednesday night.
A resident of Tangaul Patti in Bihar’s Hajipur district, about 30 km from here, Sabila was admitted at the …. Read the original article  : here.

Goa police hand-in-glove with organised sex mafia: Official

PANAJI – A senior Goa police official Thursday admitted that the state is emerging as a den for the organized sex mafia in collusion with the local police.

Superintendent of Police (Criminal Investigation Department) Atmaram Deshpande wrote in his weekly column in a vernacular daily ‘Gomantak’ Thursday: “There is a disturbing increase in number of …. Original source  : Goa police hand-in-glove with organised sex mafia: Official.

Date rape drugs, prescription pill abuse rising, warns report

KATHMANDU – The use of “date rape drugs” as well as abuse of prescription drugs is rising with India emerging as one of the main sources of drugs sold through illegal Internet pharmacies, drugs watchdog International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has warned.

In its annual report, launched in Kathmandu Thursday by the UN Information Centre and … Read : Date rape drugs, prescription pill abuse rising, warns report.

2nd round of storms packing snow, high winds bears down on winter-weary Northeast

Snow, high winds headed to winter-weary Northeast

ALBANY, N.Y. – A day after a storm dumped more than a foot of snow, causing tens of thousands of people to lose power and stalling air and rail traffic, weather-weary Northeast residents braced for a repeat – a second storm packing potentially damaging wind gusts up to 50 … Read more >>.

Shamu Killer Whale Tillikum Kills Sea World Trainer Dawn Brancheau

ORLANDO, USA, (GaeaTimes.com) Sea World Park of Orland witnessed the greatest tragedy when one of its most experienced trainer was killed by a killer whale of the famous Shamu Show. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon after one of the Shamu show. The whale which dragged the trainer Dawn Brancheau to death was … Original source on Gaea Times at : Shamu Killer Whale Tillikum Kills Sea World Trainer Dawn Brancheau.

Philippine police arrest terror suspect wanted for kidnappings, bombings in latest crackdown

Philippine police arrest another terror suspect

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police dealt a new blow to a notorious al-Qaida-linked group with the arrest of a suspected militant wanted in a string of kidnappings and killings, officials said Thursday.
Mujibar Alih Amon, an alleged logistics officer of the Abu Sayyaf group, took part in the 2000 abduction of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Philippine police arrest terror suspect wanted for kidnappings, bombings in latest crackdown.

Fed report on crash that killed 3 Tesla workers says plane went down after hitting power lines

Report confirms plane crashed after hitting lines

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. – The plane carrying three Tesla Motors employees that crashed in a residential area last week had been flying about 50 feet above the ground when it struck power lines and a power line tower, a federal report confirmed late Wednesday.
But the National Transportation Safety …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Fed report on crash that killed 3 Tesla workers says plane went down after hitting power lines.

Top Maharashtra-Goa official nabbed taking Rs.2 crore bribe

MUMBAI – Chief Post Master General of Maharashtra and Goa M.S. Bali has been caught while accepting a Rs.2 crore bribe, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Thursday, describing it as the biggest such case involving a government official in 60 years.

Investigators who nabbed Bali while taking the bribe for giving a no-objection certificate … Read more »»».

Investigations show slain US soldiers not targeted in Pakistan bombing

Probes: US soldiers not target in Pakistan attack

ISLAMABAD – Three U.S. soldiers killed in a bombing in northwest Pakistan this month were not the intended targets of the attack, a top general said Thursday.
The militants who blew up a car bomb as a security convoy passed aimed for the “most prominent” vehicle in the apparent …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Investigations show slain US soldiers not targeted in Pakistan bombing.

Police kill alleged criminal in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A man wanted in nearly 20 criminal cases was killed in a gunfight with police in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, while two of his aides managed to escape, an official said Thursday.

Suresh Yadav, 30, who had charges of murder, abduction, loot and other heinous crimes against him, was killed late Wednesday in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Police kill alleged criminal in Uttar Pradesh.

Teacher found dead after nude pictures on Facebook

LONDON – A British teacher, who was working in the Middle East, was found dead after her former boyfriend posted naked pictures of her on social networking site Facebook, a relative said Thursday.

Emma Jones, 24, feared for her safety in Abu Dhabi where she was working in an international school, Daily Express reported.
She drank [..] Read the original article: here.

Chief post master general nabbed while taking Rs.2 crore bribe

MUMBAI – Maharashtra’s Chief Post Master General M.S. Bali has been caught while accepting a bribe of Rs.2 crore, a top Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said here Thursday.

Bali was caught red-handed by the CBI Wednesday night.
CBI Western Region Director Rishi Raj Singh said investigators also recovered Rs.34 lakh in cash …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chief post master general nabbed while taking Rs.2 crore bribe.

Man held for killing 100-year-old mother

LONDON – A man has been arrested in Britain for killing his 100-year-old frail, blind mother, a media report said Thursday.

Hannah Fitzgibbon, who had recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and telegram from the Queen, was found dead Wednesday at the home she shared with her 61-year-old son Michael, Daily Express reported.
Michael [..] Read the original article: here.

Ethnic violence continues in Chittagong Hill Tracts

DHAKA – Curfew was reimposed as ethnic violence in Khagrachhari resumed late Wednesday night after a day long calm. It’s now been six days since the clashes began between Muslim settlers and the Buddhist tribals in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Seven houses in Golabari, the tribal neighbourhood and five houses of Bengali-speaking settlers in Mollah Para …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ethnic violence continues in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

X-Games skier Johnson dies after falling, hitting head while skiing steep chute in California

X-Games skier dies after fall at Calif. ski hill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Current Olympians and others in the ski community are mourning the loss of professional free skier C.R. Johnson, who died in a fall while skiing a steep chute at California’s Squaw Valley.
Johnson, 26, who has competed in the Winter X Games, was skiing with …. Original source  : X-Games skier Johnson dies after falling, hitting head while skiing steep chute in California.

Fish bowl sets British home on fire

LONDON – A goldfish bowl kept close to a window started a fire at a house in Britain as sun rays caused a “magnifying glass” effect on the bowl, family members said.

Daily Express reported Thursday that sun rays caused the “magnifying glass” effect on the bowl, setting the wooden table it was on alight. The … Read more : Fish bowl sets British home on fire.

BSF seizes 15 kg heroin at India-Pakistan border

AMRITSAR – Nearly 15 kg of heroin was seized Thursday from close to the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Ajnala sector after suspected smugglers abandoned the consignment following an exchange of fire with forces on the Pakistani side.

The Border Security Force (BSF) officials said the exchange of fire between smugglers and security forces took …. Read the original article  : BSF seizes 15 kg heroin at India-Pakistan border.

Calif. X-Games skier dies of head injuries while trying run off steep cliff at Squaw Valley

X-Games skier dies after fall at Squaw Valley

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – C.R. Johnson, a professional free skier who competed in the Winter X Games, died Wednesday after he fell and hit his head on a rock outcropping while taking a run down a steep chute at California’s Squaw Valley.
Johnson, 26, was skiing with a group of …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Officials say 3 foreigners die in cruise liner accident in Egyptian Sinai

Egypt: 3 foreigners die in cruise liner accident

AL-ARISH, Egypt – Medics and police say three foreigners have died when a luxury cruise liner slammed into the docks in a Red Sea resort in Egypt.
A security official says it’s not clear what caused the ship to hit the docks Friday in Sharm el-Sheik.
Police and rescue officials … Original article on : Officials say 3 foreigners die in cruise liner accident in Egyptian Sinai.

Fire at NH oceanfront hotel spreads, engulfs block of 6-8 businesses, but no injuries reported

NH hotel fire spreads, engulfs block; no injuries

HAMPTON, N.H. – A fire that started in an oceanfront hotel spread to nearby buildings, engulfing an entire block of businesses, and could be seen from miles away, firefighters and a witness said.
The ferocious blaze started early Friday at the unoccupied three-story Surf Hotel in Hampton, a densely … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Fire at NH oceanfront hotel spreads, engulfs block of 6-8 businesses, but no injuries reported.

President Hamid Karzai condemns suicide attacks, says it won’t hurt Afghan-Indian relations

Karzai condemns suicide attacks in Kabul
KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned suicide attacks in the capital that killed at least 17 people including Indian citizens saying the strikes won’t hurt Afghan-Indian relations.

In a statement, Karzai said he “strongly condemns” the terrorist attacks that occurred Friday targeting two guesthouses in central Kabul where most …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : President Hamid Karzai condemns suicide attacks, says it won’t hurt Afghan-Indian relations.

New plan for Haiti’s earthquake homeless: Pack up and move back to destroyed neighborhoods

Haiti wants refugees back in ravaged neighborhoods

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Relief officials have changed tack and are urging Haiti’s earthquake homeless to return to their destroyed neighborhoods as the rainy season fast approaches.
Officials had initially planned to build big camps outside Port-au-Prince. They still anticipate creating some settlements, but they decided this week to instead emphasize …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : New plan for Haiti’s earthquake homeless: Pack up and move back to destroyed neighborhoods.

Plodding storm packing snow, rain, wind slams Northeast; flood worries persist in New England

Winter-weary Northeast deals with snow, rain, wind

PHILADELPHIA – A winter storm plodded up the Atlantic coast on Friday, delivering a powerful dose of wet snow, heavy rain with flooding potential and damaging winds near 50 mph in the Northeast as utility companies prepped for possible widespread outages due to toppled trees and near-blizzard conditions.
One day … Read more >>>.

China reports at least 29 injured in Yunnan province quake, 5.0 temblor strikes Tibet

China reports at least 29 injured in Yunnan quake

BEIJING – At least 29 people were injured and hundreds of buildings damaged in an earthquake in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, reports said Friday.
Dozens of aftershocks continued to rock the area around Chuxiong prefecture where the quake struck shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday.
Some registered as high as …. Original article  : China reports at least 29 injured in Yunnan province quake, 5.0 temblor strikes Tibet.

Fire at New Hampshire seaside hotel spreads to neighboring buildings, but no injuries reported

NH hotel fire spreads to nearby buildings
HAMPTON, N.H. – A fire that started in an oceanfront hotel spread to nearby buildings and could be seen from miles away, firefighters and a witness said.

The blaze started early Friday at the three-story Surf Hotel in Hampton, a densely populated community along the Atlantic coast an hour’s drive …. Read the original article  : Fire at New Hampshire seaside hotel spreads to neighboring buildings, but no injuries reported.

Grishin wins 1 for Belarus, Peterson lands a Hurricane and takes silver

Peterson lands a Hurricane, wins a silver
WEST VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Jeret “Speedy” Peterson has spent much of his adult life searching for a glimmer of hope wrapped inside a Hurricane.

Soaring 50 feet in the air on a clear, cold night at the Olympics – a night he called the best of his life – …. Read the original article  : here.

Taliban claims responsbility for suicide strikes in Kabul that kill at least 17, wound 32

Suicide bombers strike in heart of Kabul; 17 dead

KABUL – Suicide bombers attacked in the heart of Kabul on Friday, triggering a series of explosions and gunbattles that killed at least 17 people in an area of residential hotels rented by Indian embassy workers and other foreigners, police and witnesses said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying … Read : Taliban claims responsbility for suicide strikes in Kabul that kill at least 17, wound 32.

Train passengers looted – for one long hour

LUCKNOW – For one long hour, five armed men assaulted passengers in two coaches of a train in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district Friday and looted cash and valuables worth Rs.3 lakh, police said.

The Varanasi-bound Kashi Vishwanath Express had neared the Talakhajuri station, some 150 km from Lucknow, when five masked men surprised men and women …. Original source  : Train passengers looted — for one long hour.

Sajjan Kumar, six others get anticipatory bail (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Friday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in two cases connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and said it would not hamper investigations into the case.

Justice A.K. Pathak granted anticipatory bail to Sajjan Kumar and six others on a personal bond of Rs.50,000 each. …. Source  : Sajjan Kumar, six others get anticipatory bail (Second Lead).

Alcoholic man commits suicide after killing wife, kids

RAIPUR – A 32-year-old alcoholic man killed his wife and two children with a sharp-edged weapon and set their bodies on fire before burning himself to death in Chhattisgarh, police said Friday.

The incident took place Wednesday night at Siharpur village in the state’s Jashpur district, about 500 km north of capital Raipur but the police … Read more >>.

Body of missing nuclear centre scientist found

CHENNAI – The body of a scientist working at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), who had been missing since last week, was found in a railway hospital here Friday. S. Ananthanarayanan had died after being hit by a train on Feb 15, police said.

Ananthanarayanan, 37, was hit near the Pothery railway station … Read more >>>.

5.4 magnitude tremor jolts northeast, Nepal, China

GUWAHATI – An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale Friday rocked India’s northeast as well as parts of China and Nepal, triggering panic and forcing people out of their homes.

According to the US Geological Survey, the tremor was felt at 10.15 a.m. in Assam and other northeastern states, besides in Nepal and China. …. Original article  : 5.4 magnitude tremor jolts northeast, Nepal, China.

Taliban claims responsbility for Kabul attacks; Officials say at least 10 killed; 32 wounded

Taliban claims responsibility for Kabul attacks

KABUL – The Taliban are claiming responsibility for deadly suicide attacks that killed at least 10 people in the heart of Kabul.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said Friday that five suicide bombers conducted the attacks on two buildings used by foreigners.
Police officer Gulam Mustafa at the scene said authorities think two …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Taliban claims responsbility for Kabul attacks; Officials say at least 10 killed; 32 wounded.

Sajjan Kumar gets anticipatory bail in 1984 riot cases

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Friday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in two cases connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Justice A.K. Pathak granted anticipatory bail to Sajjan Kumar and six others on a personal bond of Rs.50,000 each.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sajjan Kumar gets anticipatory bail in 1984 riot cases.

Afghan police: 7 die in series of blasts near guest houses, hotel used by foreigners

Afghan police: 7 die in series of blasts in Kabul

KABUL – Two suicide bombers attacked in the heart of Kabul on Friday, triggering a series of explosions and gunbattles that killed at least seven people near a hotel and guest houses used by foreigners, police and eyewitnesses said.
The target of the early morning attacks, which … Original article on : Afghan police: 7 die in series of blasts near guest houses, hotel used by foreigners.

No smoking circuit for Toyota, but recalls put spotlight on auto industry’s use of electronics

Toyota’s crisis puts spotlight on auto electronics

DETROIT – Investigations into whatever is lurking behind Toyota’s crisis of quality have put a spotlight on all that can go wrong with auto electronics – the growing number of wires, sensors and computer chips that have profoundly changed the automobile in the last decade.
Though no smoking circuit has … Original source on Gaea Times at : No smoking circuit for Toyota, but recalls put spotlight on auto industry’s use of electronics.

Japanese tourist found dead in Varanasi guest house

VARANASI – A Japanese tourist was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside a guest house here, police said Friday.

Adachi Tatsua, 45, was found dead late Thursday evening in the Sankata guest house in this city’s Chowk area, about 250 km from Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.
“The body of the Japanese tourist was found lying in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Japanese tourist found dead in Varanasi guest house.

20 feared killed in Andhra quarry mishap

HYDERABAD – At least 20 workers were feared killed in a landslip in a granite quarry in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district, police said Friday.

Police said two bodies were recovered late Thursday while two injured people were shifted to hospital. The work to clear the debris was still on.
The mishap occurred Thursday evening at Chimakurthi, [..] Read the original article: here.

Haryana khap panchayat targets boy’s family in caste row

BHIWANI – Haryana’s unbending khap panchayats (caste councils) have done it again. This time a panchayat in Samaspur in Bhiwani district has targetted the family of a boy who eloped with a girl of the same gotra (sub-caste) and told them to leave the village.

The khap panchayat has given an ultimatum to the family to … Read : Haryana khap panchayat targets boy’s family in caste row.

Tsunami from Chile reaches Japan; Hawaii, other Pacific areas spared damage

Chile tsunami reaches Japan; Pacific damage small

TOKYO – The tsunami from the deadly earthquake in Chile hit Japan’s main islands and even reached the shores of Russia on Sunday, but the smaller-than-expected waves didn’t cause significant damage. Hawaii and other Pacific islands in their path were also spared.
In Japan, where hundreds of thousands of people …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tsunami from Chile reaches Japan; Hawaii, other Pacific areas spared damage.

Five die in Orissa accident

BHUBANESWAR – Five people, including four members of a family, were killed when an auto-rickshaw in which they were travelling collided with a truck in Orissa early Sunday, police said.

The dead included a one-year-old child and a woman besides the auto driver. The accident took place near Pipili in Puri. The family which lost four …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Five die in Orissa accident.

Iranian insurgent group on Pakistan border selects new leader after capture of the old one

Iranian insurgent group chooses new leader

CAIRO – An insurgent group in southeastern Iran announced the selection of a new leader after its founder was captured by Iranian forces, according to the group’s Web site.
The Jundallah insurgency, which says it’s fighting for equal rights for the Sunni minority in southeast Iran, has named al-Hajj Mohammed Dhahir …. Source article  : Iranian insurgent group on Pakistan border selects new leader after capture of the old one.

Tsunami advisory canceled in final US area

Tsunami advisory canceled in final US area

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A tsunami advisory has been canceled in the last U.S. area that had been under any sort of alert following the Chilean earthquake.
The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center canceled the advisory early Sunday morning for the far reaches of the Aleutian Islands, stretching from Sand Point to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Tsunami advisory canceled in final US area.

AP Top News at 3:37 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:37 a.m. EST
Chile assesses damage from mammoth earthquake
TALCA, Chile – A weeping man strokes the hand of a dead woman in a collapsed cafe. Survivors huddle around bonfires in the rubble of their homes. Smashed cars lie beneath bridges torn asunder by one of history’s strongest earthquakes. Authorities in Chile put … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : AP Top News at 3:37 a.m. EST.

Tsunami threat: People evacuated from Russian islands

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russia), Feb 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Residents of Kuril Islands in Russia’s Far East were being evacuated due to the threat of tsunami roused by a quake in Chile, an official said.

The expected height of waves to hit the regional coast is some 2 metres, spokesman for the local administration said.
“The inland of the … Read : Tsunami threat: People evacuated from Russian islands.

Japan on alert for possible major tsunami

TOKYO – Hundreds of thousands of Japanese households in Pacific coastal areas were ordered to evacuate Sunday after warnings of a possible “major” tsunami produced by the Chilean earthquake.

Shortly before 4 p.m. (0700 GMT), waves of 120 centimetres reached Kuji port in northeastern Japan, the highest observed so far. No victims and serious damages were …. Read the original article  : Japan on alert for possible major tsunami.

Lady teacher forces class 2 kid to eat green chillies

RAIPUR – A lady teacher in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district punished a naughty class 2 student by forcibly stuffing several green chillies in his mouth and telling him to eat them, police said Sunday.

Seven-year-old Rishav Gupta’s father Saturday lodged a complaint with police alleging that teacher Shobha Jain stuffed green chillies into his son’s mouth over … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lady teacher forces class 2 kid to eat green chillies.

Punjab, Haryana calm after Dera violence

CHANDIGARH – Violence-hit parts of Punjab and Haryana were returning to normalcy Sunday, a day after supporters of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect went on a rampage to protest registration of another murder case against their spiritual leader Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

“The situation is under our control and is totally peaceful in Bathinda, Moga …. Read the original article  : Punjab, Haryana calm after Dera violence.

AP Top News at 3:06 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:06 a.m. EST
Chile assesses damage from mammoth earthquake
TALCA, Chile – A weeping man strokes the hand of a dead woman in a collapsed cafe. Survivors huddle around bonfires in the rubble of their homes. Smashed cars lie beneath bridges torn asunder by one of history’s strongest earthquakes. Authorities in Chile put …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : AP Top News at 3:06 a.m. EST.

Chile measures toll from mammoth earthquake: at least 300 dead, half-million homes damaged

Chile assesses damage from mammoth earthquake
TALCA, Chile – A weeping man strokes the hand of a dead woman in a collapsed cafe. Survivors huddle around bonfires in the rubble of their homes. Smashed cars lie beneath bridges torn asunder by one of history’s strongest earthquakes.
Authorities in Chile put the official death toll from …. Read the original article  : Chile measures toll from mammoth earthquake: at least 300 dead, half-million homes damaged.

AP Top News at 2:42 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 2:42 a.m. EST
Chile struck by one of strongest earthquakes ever
TALCA, Chile – One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore apart houses, bridges and highways in central Chile on Saturday and sent a tsunami racing halfway around the world. Chileans near the epicenter were tossed about as if shaken by a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP Top News at 2:39 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 2:39 a.m. EST
Chile struck by one of strongest earthquakes ever
TALCA, Chile – One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore apart houses, bridges and highways in central Chile on Saturday and sent a tsunami racing halfway around the world. Chileans near the epicenter were tossed about as if shaken by a … Original article on : AP Top News at 2:39 a.m. EST.

AP Top News at 2:35 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 2:35 a.m. EST
Chile struck by one of strongest earthquakes ever
TALCA, Chile – One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded tore apart houses, bridges and highways in central Chile on Saturday and sent a tsunami racing halfway around the world. Chileans near the epicenter were tossed about as if shaken by a …. Source article  : AP Top News at 2:35 a.m. EST.

Fire official: Ice, glass fall into NYC’s Sony Building atrium; 10 sustain minor injuries

Official: Ice, glass fall into NYC building atrium

NEW YORK – Fire officials say ice has broken through a glass atrium at the Sony Building in New York City and 10 people have sustained minor injuries.
A spokesman for the New York City Fire Department says ice and glass fell into the lobby area of the Madison … Read more >>>.

90-year-old loses licence for speeding, drunk driving

MELBOURNE – A 90-year-old man lost his driving licence in Australia’s Victoria state after he was clocked over-speeding and detected with double the alcohol limit, police said.

Police Saturday found the 90-year-old driving along Thompsons Road, Lower Templestowe, at a speed of 83 kmph in a zone which has 60 kmph limit, Australian news agency AAP …. Source  : 90-year-old loses licence for speeding, drunk driving.

Moderate earthquake rattles northern Pakistan, Afghanistan; no damage reported

Quake hits north Pakistan, Afghanistan; no damage

ISLAMABAD – A moderate earthquake has rattled northern Pakistan and Afghanistan but there are no reports of injuries or damage.
Pakistani government meteorologist Qamar Zaman Chaudhry says the quake happened at 4:21 a.m. Pakistan time on Sunday (2321 GMT; 6:21 p.m. EDT on Saturday).
It was felt in northern Pakistan and …. Read the original article  : Moderate earthquake rattles northern Pakistan, Afghanistan; no damage reported.

China urges safety checks for finale of Lunar New Year after deadly fireworks blast kills 21

China urges checks after deadly fireworks blast

BEIJING – China has issued an urgent order to local authorities to strengthen safety measures after an explosion triggered by Lunar New Year fireworks killed 21 people and injured 48 in a southern village.
The State Council’s Work Safety Commission said in a notice that authorities around the country should … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : China urges safety checks for finale of Lunar New Year after deadly fireworks blast kills 21.

Goa to step up policing, ban revealing ads

NEW DELHI – Goa plans to reclaim its tourist paradise image – tarnished by rapes and other crimes against foreign nationals – by deploying a tourist protection force, opening fast-track courts and banning bikini-clad women on advertisements.

The Goa government is in the process of setting up a Goa Tourism Security Force, to be manned by … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Goa to step up policing, ban revealing ads.