France raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered western Europe; overall toll up to 53

France storm death toll hits 47; overall up to 53

PARIS – France’s interior minister says the death toll from a violent storm that lashed western France with hurricane-force winds has risen to 47. At least six people died in other countries.
Most deaths are concentrated in France’s Vendee region on the Atlantic coast.
Minister Brice Hortefeux told …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : France raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered western Europe; overall toll up to 53.

Suspects in east Texas church arsons grew up together in small church near torched buildings

Arson suspects grew up together in Texas church

TYLER, Texas – Even as authorities closed in, one of the two suspects in a string of east Texas church fires attended a Sunday service and went to a Baptist ministry on his junior college campus for a free meal.
Such activity wasn’t unusual for 19-year-old Jason Robert Bourque, …. Source  : Suspects in east Texas church arsons grew up together in small church near torched buildings.

World stocks advance amid Greece hopes, China manufacturing news; oil tops $80 a barrel

World stocks gain amid Greece hopes, China data

HONG KONG – Global stocks advanced Monday amid new hopes of a bailout for debt-ridden Greece and as slower Chinese manufacturing eased worries the government would accelerate steps to cool the world’s third-largest economy.
European shares opened up and major Asian markets posted their second day of gains. Oil … Read more >>.

Interior minister raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered France’s western coast

France raises death toll to 47 in fierce storm

PARIS – France’s interior minister says the death toll from a violent storm with hurricane-force winds that lashed western France has risen to 47. At least six deaths have been reported in other countries.
Most deaths are concentrated in the Vendee region on the Atlantic coast.
Brice Hortefeux said …. Original article  : Interior minister raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered France’s western coast.

AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll over 700 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Police fired tear gas and imposed an overnight curfew to control looters who sacked virtually every market in this hard-hit city as Chile’s earthquake toll surpassed 700. President Michelle Bachelet promised imminent deliveries of food, water and …. Original article  : AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST.

Death toll in Chile quake above 700 as rescuers save trapped survivors, looters empty stores

Chile quake death toll over 700 as rescue ramps up

CONCEPCION, Chile – Police fired tear gas and imposed an overnight curfew to control looters who sacked virtually every market in this hard-hit city as Chile’s earthquake toll surpassed 700. President Michelle Bachelet promised imminent deliveries of food, water and shelter for thousands living on the …. Source article  : Death toll in Chile quake above 700 as rescuers save trapped survivors, looters empty stores.

AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST.

AP Top News at 3:18 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:18 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Read the original article  : here.

AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Read the original article  : AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST.

Chile quake toll reaches 711, 90 aftershocks (Second Lead)

SANTIAGO – The streets were deserted Sunday night in Concepcion, Chile’s second largest city, amidst a curfew imposed to clamp down on looting a day after the South American nation was rocked by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that has claimed at least 711 lives.

An estimated 90 aftershocks continued to rattle the region since the early Saturday …. Original source  : Chile quake toll reaches 711, 90 aftershocks (Second Lead).

Suicide car bomb kills 1 NATO service member, 4 civilians in southern Afghanistan

Bomb kills NATO service member, 4 Afghan civilians

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy Monday outside the major southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing one NATO service member and four Afghan civilians, officials said.
The attacker waited in a station-wagon taxi near a bridge between the airport and city that NATO troops …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Suicide car bomb kills 1 NATO service member, 4 civilians in southern Afghanistan.

Teenage brother, sister driving toward Conn. home die when their car crashes into utility pole

Brother, sister die in car crash near Conn. home

MILFORD, Conn. – A teenager driving with his younger sister has crashed into a utility pole near their Connecticut home, killing both of them.
Police say the crash happened Sunday afternoon in Milford, a city of about 50,000 residents an hour north of New York City.
They say a …. Read the original article  : here.

Two boys held for raping 16-year-old

LUCKNOW – Two Class 11 boys have been arrested for allegedly raping their 16-year-old classmate at gunpoint in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.

The two were nabbed late Sunday from Rajuaha forest area, about 400 km from Lucknow, police Inspector R.K. Singh told reporters.
The girl was abducted and raped Friday by three …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP Top News at 1:49 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 1:49 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Afghan government: Car bomb aimed at NATO troops kills 4 civilians; NATO toll unknown

Afghanistan: 4 civilians die in suicide car bomb

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber targeted NATO forces Monday outside the major southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing four civilians, the Interior Ministry said. It was not immediately known if there were any NATO casualties.
The attacker waited in a station-wagon taxi near a bridge between the …. Original article  : Afghan government: Car bomb aimed at NATO troops kills 4 civilians; NATO toll unknown.

Another 6.2-magnitude aftershock hits Chile

WASHINGTON – A day after a 8.8-magnitude earthquake ravaged Chile’s Concepcion city, a fresh 6.2-magnitude aftershock hit central Chile late Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

According to Xinhua, the temblor was centred 109 km northeast of the city of Talca and struck at a depth of 35 km, the USGS said.
A number … Read : Another 6.2-magnitude aftershock hits Chile.

Some scientists defend tsunami predictions after giant waves failed to materialize

Some scientists defend tsunami warnings
HONOLULU – The warning was ominous, its predictions dire: Oceanographers issued a bulletin telling Hawaii and other Pacific islands that a killer wave was heading their way with terrifying force and that “urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.”

But the devastating tidal surge predicted after Chile’s magnitude 8.8-earthquake … Read : Some scientists defend tsunami predictions after giant waves failed to materialize.

Security up in major Himachal temples

SHIMLA – Security has been stepped up in leading temples in Himachal Pradesh following warnings of possible strikes by a Punjab terrorist group, police said Monday.

Superintendent of Police Atul Kumar Fulzele told IANS that there had been intelligence inputs that Babbar Khalsa might target temples during the Navratra season beginning March 16.
Accordingly, security has …. Original article  : Security up in major Himachal temples.

AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one … Original source on Gaea Times at : AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST.

Three killed during Holi in Bihar

PATNA – At least three people were killed and 12 injured during Holi revelry in Bihar, police said Monday.

Two people were killed in a village in Aurangabad district Monday while a man was shot dead in Patna district late Sunday.
Half-a-dozen people were injured in firing between two groups. “The injured were admitted to the [..] Read the original article: here.

Absconding IAS officer’s home raided

PATNA – A team from the Bihar Vigilance Investigation Bureau Tuesday carried out a raid at the residence of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Senthil Kumar, who is absconding for nearly a week, police said here.

A police officer said the bureau carried out a raid at the residence of Senthil Kumar for the second time … Read more : Absconding IAS officer’s home raided.

Police: Landslides in eastern Uganda kill more than 30, more than 100 missing

Police: Uganda landslides kill 30; 100 missing

KAMPALA, Uganda – A police commander in Uganda says landslides in the country’s east have killed more than 30 people and left more than 100 missing.
Joel Aguma says the landslides occurred overnight about 170 miles (275 kilometers) east of the capital, Kampala, in the mountainous region of Bududa.
Police and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pakistani Taliban confirm death of senior commander wanted by US in American missile strike

Pakistan Taliban confirm death of man wanted by US

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani Taliban confirmed Tuesday that a senior commander wanted in the deadly 2006 bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi was killed in a suspected American missile strike in northwestern Pakistan.
Mohammed Qari Zafar’s death, which was reported earlier by Pakistani intelligence officials, marks the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pakistani Taliban confirm death of senior commander wanted by US in American missile strike.

Burglars loot football federation office in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Four armed burglars barged into the All India Football Federation (AIFF) office in southwest Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday and stole LCD TV sets, computers as well as a Maruti van.

Police said the masked burglars made a forced entry into the three-storeyed building of the federation in Dwarka’s sector 19 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Burglars loot football federation office in Delhi.

18 killed in Yemen dynamite warehouse explosion

SANA’A – At least 18 people were killed and several injured in an explosion at a dynamite warehouse in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz Tuesday, witnesses and rescuers said.

Witnesses told DPA that the pre-dawn explosion destroyed three buildings housing eight families near the warehouse in Yemen’s second-largest city.
They said the store was owned …. Read the original article  : 18 killed in Yemen dynamite warehouse explosion.

Goa home ministry to decide on loud parties

PANAJI – By an order issued Tuesday, Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik has divested the powers of the district administration to allow parties in coastal Goa where loud music can be played.

The home department, which has been criticised by the opposition for allegedly protecting rave parties — often disguised as parties with music — …. Source article  : Goa home ministry to decide on loud parties.

Rs.34 lakh looted from SBI parking lot

GREATER NOIDA – Armed robbers struck at the parking lot of a State Bank of India (SBI) branch Tuesday noon and looted Rs.34 lakh in cash from a petroleum company manager, police in this suburban town said.

Colonel (retd) V.B. Singh, manager of a Bharat Petroleum retail outlet, was going to deposit the cash in the … Original article on : Rs.34 lakh looted from SBI parking lot.

Blast from explosives hidden in basement brings down building in Yemen, killing at least 8

Officials: 8 killed in building collapse in Yemen

SAN’A, Yemen – Security officials in southern Yemen say a three-story building collapsed when explosives stored in its basement went off, killing at least eight people.
The officials said it was unclear what set the explosives off early on Tuesday in the southern town of Taiz. They spoke on … Read : Blast from explosives hidden in basement brings down building in Yemen, killing at least 8.

BJP leader in the dock for booze bash

GANDHINAGAR – The former vice president of the Gandhinagar district Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit, Prabhatsinh Thakore, is in the dock after a raid at his farmhouse on the eve of Holi unearthed alcohol plus bar girls specially ushered in from the country’s metros.

According to police, liquor was being served and a dance party was … Original source on Gaea Times at : BJP leader in the dock for booze bash.

Two fighter jets crash in South Korea

Moscow, March 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Two fighter jets crashed into a mountain in South Korea during a routine training flight Tuesday, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The accident took place near the coastal city of Gangneung, about 237 km east of Seoul.
“We are currently searching for the missing pilots near the area,” Yonhap quoted an …. Source article  : Two fighter jets crash in South Korea.

Three policemen killed in West Bengal road accident

KOLKATA – Three policemen were killed and one critically injured in a road accident in West Bengal’s Hooghly district late Monday night, police said Tuesday.

The accident took place near Rukeshpur under Balagarh police station area in the district as a speeding truck hit a police vehicle on patrol, killing the three men on the spot. …. Source article  : Three policemen killed in West Bengal road accident.

Post-quake tsunami swept away fleeing bus full of retirees amid coastal Chile’s devastation

Tsunami swept away fleeing bus full of retirees

PELLUHUE, Chile – The 40 retirees enjoying summer vacation at a seaside campground nestled under pine trees knew they had to move fast after Chile’s powerful earthquake struck.
They didn’t make it. The tsunami came in three waves, surging 200 meters (yards) into this Pacific Ocean resort town and … Read more »».

Suspected insurgents target banks in southern Thailand with 8 bombs, wounding 2

Bombs in southern Thailand target banks, wound 2

BANGKOK – Five small bombs planted by suspected insurgents exploded Tuesday outside banks and ATMs in Thailand’s restive south, wounding two people, police said. Another three bombs were defused.
The attacks targeted state-run banks in Narathiwat province, one of three southern provinces gripped by a Muslim insurgency that has … Read : Suspected insurgents target banks in southern Thailand with 8 bombs, wounding 2.

Pakistani cabbie takes New Yorkers for a ride!

NEW YORK – A Pakistani-origin taxi driver literally took New Yorkers for a ride.

By tampering with his fare meter, Wasim Khalid Cheema fleeced hundreds of passengers to extra $40,000 over six months, causing what officials describe as the biggest rip-off in New York’s cab history.
Starting in July last year, the rip-off earned him $11,499 … Original article on : Pakistani cabbie takes New Yorkers for a ride!.

Chile Earthquake Facts And Figures

CHILE (GaeaTimes.com)- The devastating earthquake that rocked Chile on Saturday wrecked havoc with the public life and with time the death toll is only going up. It has been learnt that the severe earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale. It made a mess of the region and was followed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chile Earthquake Facts And Figures.

Senior Chinese police official sacked over torture death

BEIJING – A senior Chinese police officer was sacked after a man was allegedly tortured to death at a detention centre in Henan province, a media report said Tuesday.

Two other senior police officers were removed from their posts while four policemen were placed under investigation after the suspect died Feb 21.
Zhang Guanjun, director of … Read more : Senior Chinese police official sacked over torture death.

Scientists say tsunami models should be re-examined to weed out inaccurate assumptions

Scientists say tsunami models should be tested

HONOLULU – In the coming months and years, scientists will pore over reams of data from what turned out to be the minuscule tsunami that reached Hawaii on Saturday.
But already, some scientists are saying there is less need for additional measuring equipment of the kind that was placed in … Read more »»».

Curfew continues in riot-hit Karnataka town

BANGALORE – Curfew continued in Karnataka’s riot-hit Shimoga town as did prohibitory orders banning crowds in Hassan, police said Tuesday, a day after two people were killed following protests against an article on the veil by Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen.

“The situation in the town is peaceful and under control. No untoward incident has been …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Curfew continues in riot-hit Karnataka town.

Holi revelry kills two in Delhi

NEW DELHI – Two people died while over 180 were injured during Holi revelry in the national capital, health officials said Tuesday.

The All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) trauma centre Monday received as many as 180 injured in Holi revelry.
“During the day we received 180 injured people and of these …. Read the original article  : Holi revelry kills two in Delhi.

18 killed in Yemen explosion

SANA’A – At least 18 people were killed and several others injured in an explosion at a dynamite warehouse in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz Tuesday, witnesses said.

Witnesses told DPA that the early morning explosion destroyed three buildings near the warehouse in Yemen’s second-biggest city.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : 18 killed in Yemen explosion.

Iraqi police: Triple suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 30, wound 48 ahead of key elections

Iraqi police: Suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 30

BAGHDAD – A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed at least 30 people in the former insurgent stronghold of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before blowing himself up at a hospital, police said.
The bombings … Read more >>.

Ugandan rescue efforts slowed by use of hand tools; death toll at 86, 3 villages buried

Ugandans use hand tools to dig out mud; 86 dead

NAMETSI, Uganda – Rescuers used hand tools Wednesday to dig through thick rivers of mud that had engulfed three villages, burying church worshippers alive and leaving dozens of students missing who had sought refuge at a hospital.
People wailed and wept in the village of Nametsi as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ugandan rescue efforts slowed by use of hand tools; death toll at 86, 3 villages buried.

Iraqi police: Triple suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 29, wound 40 ahead of key elections

Iraqi police: Suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 29

BAGHDAD – A police spokesman in Iraq’s volatile Diyala province says three suicide bombings have killed at least 29 and wounded more than 40 people in the city of Baqouba.
Capt. Ghalib al-Karkhi says the bombings in the mixed Shiite-Sunni city, which is the province’s capital, targeted a local … Original article on : Iraqi police: Triple suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 29, wound 40 ahead of key elections.

Official: Landslides in eastern Uganda bury 3 villages, kill 86 with hundreds still missing

Official: Uganda landslides kill 86; 250 missing

BUDUDA, Uganda – Landslides swamped three villages in Uganda, killing at least 86 people and leaving hundreds missing after the rivers of mud swept through a church and hospital, officials said Wednesday.
Uganda’s minister of state for disaster preparedness said that 50 students who had taken refuge in a hospital … Read more >>.

Bus slips off road into reservoir in central China, killing 19 and injuring 7

Bus plunges into reservoir in China, killing 19

BEIJING – China’s government says a bus crash in central Henan province has killed 19 people and injured seven others.
The report Wednesday on the State Administration of Work Safety’s Web site did not give any further details.
An earlier Xinhua News Agency report said the bus veered off a … Read more »»».

Earthquake ravages infrastructure lifeline for Chile’s important fish and wine sectors

Quake threatens important Chile fish, wine sectors
TALCAHUANO, Chile – The tsunami that hit this coastal city sent 50-ton fishing boats crashing onto land and demolished its port – wiping out the $40 million in business that courses through the local economy from the annual anchovy and sardine catch.
Less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Earthquake ravages infrastructure lifeline for Chile’s important fish and wine sectors.

Iraqi police: 3 suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 6, wound 20 ahead of key elections

Iraqi police: Suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 6

BAGHDAD – Three suicide bombings killed six and wounded 20 people in the city of Baqouba on Wednesday, police said, just days before Iraqis head to the polls in key parliamentary elections.
Police spokesman Capt. Ghalib al-Karkhi in the capital of the volatile Diyala province said the blasts struck …. Original source  : Iraqi police: 3 suicide blasts in Baqouba kill 6, wound 20 ahead of key elections.

China activist sues government for not revealing Sichuan quake recovery budget, other details

China activist demands quake recovery budget info

BEIJING – A prominent Chinese artist and activist has filed a suit against the Ministry of Civil Affairs for allegedly failing to respond to his request for information about the toll and cost of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Ai Weiwei told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he filed a … Read more : China activist sues government for not revealing Sichuan quake recovery budget, other details.

Family of California Highway Patrol officer killed in Lexus crash sues Toyota

Family of officer killed in crash sues Toyota

SAN DIEGO – Relatives of a family killed in a high-speed crash that galvanized attention around safety flaws of Toyotas and led to the recalls of millions of cars have sued the world’s largest automaker for product liability and negligence, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit filed … Read more : Family of California Highway Patrol officer killed in Lexus crash sues Toyota.

New data: Snowstorms hurt clothing sales, but many sectors gained in February

New data: Feb. retail sales rose in many sectors

NEW YORK – Snowstorms that shut in East Coast shoppers last month also chilled sales at women’s clothing stores but most retail sectors saw gains in February compared with a year earlier, data released Wednesday show.
The latest numbers from MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse show footwear, men’s clothing, consumer …. Original source  : New data: Snowstorms hurt clothing sales, but many sectors gained in February.

Gujarat riot victim seeks to present more evidence

AHMEDABAD – A plea for direction to the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to consider some more evidence in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots will come up for ruling Thursday.

Salim Sheikh, an eyewitness and victim in the riots at the Naroda Patia neighbourhood here, had approached the Special Trial Court hearing the case … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Gujarat riot victim seeks to present more evidence.

2 employees killed, 2 others injured after storage tank explodes at New Mexico oil refinery

2 employees killed in New Mexico oil refinery fire

ARTESIA, N.M. – Authorities say two employees at an oil refinery in southeast New Mexico are dead and two others critically injured after a storage tank exploded into flames.
Artesia police say warning sirens sounded just before 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Navajo Refinery. Emergency crews arrived and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 2 employees killed, 2 others injured after storage tank explodes at New Mexico oil refinery.

Australian police detonate suspected bombs at dead man’s home, find they’re fake

50 fake bombs found in dead Australian’s house

SYDNEY – Sydney police used explosives to blow up suspected bombs found throughout a dead man’s house but then discovered they were fake, officials said Wednesday.
More than 50 bomb-like devices were found in the house and in the man’s car, New South Wales state Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Australian police detonate suspected bombs at dead man’s home, find they’re fake.

Tsunami response costs Honolulu taxpayers $330,000; mayor says it was well worth it

Tsunami response costs Honolulu taxpayers $330,000

HONOLULU – Although the tsunami that dealt a glancing blow to Hawaii on Saturday caused no physical damage or injuries, it did manage to hit Honolulu taxpayers’ pocketbooks.
But Mayor Mufi Hannemann says the $330,000 the city spent responding to the tsunami was well worth it.
He says the human and financial … Original article on : Tsunami response costs Honolulu taxpayers $330,000; mayor says it was well worth it.

Wife of Philadelphia International Records arson suspect says he’s sorry and drank too much

Wife of ‘Philly Sound’ arson suspect apologizes

PHILADELPHIA – The wife of a man accused of setting a fire that badly damaged the home of a famous Philadelphia recording company says he is sorry.
Deanna Cimini tearfully said Tuesday that her husband, Christopher, had too much to drink and cannot remember anything about the Feb. 21 fire … Original article on : Wife of Philadelphia International Records arson suspect says he’s sorry and drank too much.

Security top priority after quake: Chilean president

SANTIAGO – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet ordered nearly 14,000 military forces Tuesday to the regions hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, vowing not to tolerate looting that followed the disaster.

The official toll from Saturday’s quake was raised Tuesday to 795, with most of the fatalities reported in the southern Chilean region of Maule. Bachelet …. Source  : Security top priority after quake: Chilean president.

February US auto sales better than expected despite snow, Toyota; Ford bests GM

Feb. US auto sales plow ahead despite snow, Toyota

DETROIT – Automakers plowed through a snowy February to better-than-expected sales, and new incentives led by beleaguered Toyota will keep the momentum going into spring.
Despite some analysts’ predictions of single-digit gains, sales rose 13 percent over last February and all major automakers but Toyota Motor Corp. reported … Read more >>>.

Chile’s pride in orderliness, economy suffers as looters plunder, quake victims wait for help

Post-quake chaos, looting wound Chile’s pride

CONCEPCION, Chile – Chile’s president defended herself Tuesday against charges of government incompetence in a disaster that not only shattered lives and property but challenged the nation’s very identity.
A society built on pride in its wealth and orderliness found itself suddenly facing gangs of rioters, a wounded economy and a … Read more »».

Workers at Venezuela-run Curacao refinery protest after latest power outage halts operations

Power outage halts operations at Curacao refinery

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – Hundreds of workers at a Venezuela-run oil refinery in Curacao demonstrated Tuesday over another halt in operations caused by a power outage.
The latest blackout occurred Sunday evening at the Isla oil refinery, where problems with electricity and water supplies led to at least five temporary shutdowns … Read more >>.

GOP’s Mitt Romney, a potential presidential candidate, unveils a book critical of Obama

Romney accuses Obama of wrongly apologizing for US
BOSTON – Once and possibly future Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney says in a new book that President Barack Obama’s international outreach efforts during his first year in office have been “kindling” to the “anti-American fires burning all across the globe.”
In a wide-ranging policy … Read more »».

Iraqi police: Bombing in Baghdad market kills 6 in run-up to key election

Iraqi police: Bombing in Baghdad market kills 6

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi police official says six people were killed by a roadside bomb in northwestern Baghdad as early voting for parliamentary elections takes place across the country.
The official says the bomb was hidden in a garbage heap at the entrance to an outdoor market in a …. Source article  : Iraqi police: Bombing in Baghdad market kills 6 in run-up to key election.

Coast Guard crew heading home after Olympics survives helicopter crash in Utah mountains

Coast Guard crew survives crash in Utah mountains

SALT LAKE CITY – Authorities say snow and wind affected visibility in remote Utah mountains where a Coast Guard helicopter went down as it returned home from the Olympics, but they still don’t know if that’s what caused the crash. All five people aboard survived.
Two were in critical … Read more : Coast Guard crew heading home after Olympics survives helicopter crash in Utah mountains.

4 convicted over foiled plot to attack US targets in Germany

4 convicted in German terror trial
DUESSELDORF, Germany – A court has convicted four men over a foiled 2007 plot to attack U.S. targets in Germany and given them prison sentences of up to 12 years.

Three of them – Fritz Gelowicz and Daniel Schneider, both German converts to Islam, and Turkish citizen Adem Yilmaz – were … Original source on Gaea Times at : 4 convicted over foiled plot to attack US targets in Germany.

Wave Hits Cruise Ship

BARCELONA, SPAIN (GaeaTimes.com)- Massive waves created a rampage on a cruise ship in western Mediterranean on Wednesday evening when the ship was struck with 26-foot waves, resulting in the death of two individual on board the vessel. Although initial reports were claiming that six people received minor injuries in the tragic incident, the number … Read : Wave Hits Cruise Ship.

Strong earthquake hits southern Taiwan, causing damage, injuries

Strong earthquake hits Taiwan; 12 people injured

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, terrifying residents, disrupting communications and triggering at least one large fire. Twelve people were injured, the National Fire Agency said.
No tsunami alert was issued. The quake was centered in the same mountainous region of rural Kaohsiung county …. Source article  : Strong earthquake hits southern Taiwan, causing damage, injuries.

Safety experts: Air traffic control incidents point to complacency, signal wider problems

Controller complacency could jeopardize air safety

WASHINGTON – For the third time in seven months, the judgment of those who operate the nation’s air traffic control system has been called into question and raised concerns that the system may not be as safe as officials claim.
While major air crashes have declined sharply over the last decade, … Read more >>>.

Chile’s army rolls out massive disaster aid, marking shifting role for military

Chile military rolls out post-quake aid effort

CONCEPCION, Chile – The Chilean military’s humanitarian aid effort hit the streets, carrying food and water to some areas that had seen little of either since a mammoth earthquake struck five days ago.
Soldiers filled trucks with plastic bags of cooking oil, flour and canned beans, and municipal crews delivered … Read more »»».

Avalanche score 3 power-play goals, end Ducks’ 11-game home winning streak with 4-3 victory

Avs snap Ducks’ 11-game home winning streak

ANAHEIM, Calif. – When Peter Mueller’s looping shot from the blue line somehow eluded Jonas Hiller, the Colorado Avalanche’s newest forward had trouble believing he could celebrate.
For a guy who felt he hadn’t got a break all season in Phoenix, Mueller’s goal was a breakthrough – and a key … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Avalanche score 3 power-play goals, end Ducks’ 11-game home winning streak with 4-3 victory.

Powerful earthquake hits southern Taiwan; injuries reported as buildings sway in Taipei

Strong earthquake hits Taiwan; injuries reported

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, terrifying residents, disrupting communications and triggering at least one large fire. Twelve people were injured, the National Fire Agency said.
No tsunami alert was issued. The quake was centered in the same mountainous region of rural Kaohsiung county that … Read more >>>.

Powerful earthquake hits southern Taiwan; 1 injury reported as buildings sway in Taipei

Strong earthquake hits Taiwan, 1 injury reported

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday morning causing buildings to sway hundreds of miles (kilometers) to the north. Local news reports said at least one person was injured.
The quake was centered in the county of Kaohsiung, and struck at a depth of about … Original source on Gaea Times at : Powerful earthquake hits southern Taiwan; 1 injury reported as buildings sway in Taipei.

Major earthquake hits southern Taiwan; no injuries reported as buildings sway in Taipei

Major earthquake hits Taiwan, no injuries reported

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A powerful earthquake has hit southern Taiwan.
The Central Weather Bureau says Thursday’s 6.4-magnitude quake was centered in Kaohsiung county at a depth of 3.1 miles (5 kilometers). No injuries have been reported.
Buildings swayed as far north as the capital Taipei where the temblor has caused power …. Read the original article  : Major earthquake hits southern Taiwan; no injuries reported as buildings sway in Taipei.

Family blames helicopter operator for 2008 crash that killed 4 in Alaska, not chopper design

Family blames helicopter operator for Alaska crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The family of a teen who may have bumped a fuel lever on a helicopter that led to a fatal crash in Alaska says the operator should have installed an inexpensive guard to keep the lever from moving accidentally.
Quinn Ellington’s family put out a statement Wednesday … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Family blames helicopter operator for 2008 crash that killed 4 in Alaska, not chopper design.

FAA suspends controller, boss after children allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport

FAA suspends pair after kids radio pilots at JFK

NEW YORK – As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy’s voice: “JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff.”
An air traffic controller who brought his son to work let the youngster read a few …. Source article  : FAA suspends controller, boss after children allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport.

FAA suspends controller, boss after children were allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport

2 suspended after children radioed pilots at JFK

NEW YORK – As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy’s voice: “JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff.”
An air traffic controller who brought his son to work let the youngster read a few routine …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Investigators search for cause of New Mexico oil refinery fire that killed 2, injured 2 others

Investigators search for cause of NM refinery fire

Federal and state investigators were probing blackened debris Wednesday at a southeastern New Mexico oil refinery where a storage tank explosion killed two Texas men and critically injured two others.
Authorities say warning sirens sounded just before 1 p.m. Tuesday at Navajo Refinery, which sits at the intersection of …. Original source  : Investigators search for cause of New Mexico oil refinery fire that killed 2, injured 2 others.

FAA suspends controller, boss after child was allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport

FAA suspends pair after boy radios pilots at JFK

NEW YORK – As planes waited to take off from Kennedy Airport, the jargon-packed radio chatter between controllers and pilots was interrupted by a young boy’s voice: “JetBlue 171, cleared for takeoff.”
An air traffic controller who brought his son to work let the youngster read a few …. Read the original article  : FAA suspends controller, boss after child was allowed to radio pilots at Kennedy Airport.

NTSB says bump of fuel lever likely led to fatal Alaska helicopter crash; report faults design

Report faults copter design in fatal Alaska crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal report on a 2008 helicopter crash in Alaska that killed four people says the design of its floor-mounted fuel controls was likely a contributing factor.
A National Transportation Safety Board probable cause report released Wednesday says an unauthorized teenage passenger onboard the aircraft likely …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NTSB says bump of fuel lever likely led to fatal Alaska helicopter crash; report faults design.

Summary Box: Fed says economy grows but snowstorms hurt business activity along the East Coast

Summary Box: Economy grows; snowstorm impact felt

THE BIG CHILL: The economy continues to grow slowly, but snowstorms crimped activity along the East Coast, the Federal Reserve reported.
REGIONAL SNAPSHOT: Nine of the Fed’s 12 regions reported improvements in economic activity during January and February. Two areas – Atlanta and St. Louis – mostly described conditions as … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Summary Box: Fed says economy grows but snowstorms hurt business activity along the East Coast.

Highlights from the latest Beige Book economic survey of the Fed’s 12 regional bank districts

Highlights from the Fed’s latest economic survey

WASHINGTON – Highlights from the Federal Reserve’s survey of economic conditions nationwide. The survey, released Wednesday and known as the Beige Book, is based on information collected from the Fed’s 12 regional bank districts.
BOSTON
(This region covers Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and part of Connecticut.)
Economic conditions showed …. Read the original article  : Highlights from the latest Beige Book economic survey of the Fed’s 12 regional bank districts.

Officer: Canadians waited 40 hours for Brazil rescue with boat 4 hours away

Canada officer says Brazil navy remiss
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – The first officer of a sailing ship that capsized off Brazil’s coast said Wednesday he and 63 others on board could have been rescued within hours if Brazilian officials had ordered planes and other boats to assist the ailing vessel sooner.

Kim Smith said there was at [..] Read the original article: here.

Aftershock with magnitude of 6.3 hits Chile’s rattled quake zone

Strong aftershock hits Chile quake zone
CONCEPCION, Chile – A strong aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 has struck Chile’s quake-stricken city of Concepcion, sending people running into the streets.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the aftershock hit at 6:19 a.m. (0939 GMT, 4:19 a.m. EST) Friday. People in Concepcion, ran out of buildings in their … Original source on Gaea Times at : Aftershock with magnitude of 6.3 hits Chile’s rattled quake zone.

Chilean president says it could take years to rebuild region destroyed by quake and tsunami

Chile says rebuilding after quake could take years

DICHATO, Chile – Chile’s president says it will take three years to rebuild the region wracked by an earthquake and tsunami, something all too clear to the people cleaning up this splintered tourist town.
Dichato is nestled between pine-forested hills and a lovely sheltered bay where colorful fishing boats …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Building owner, manager charged with murder in apartment fire that killed 7 near Chicago

2 men charged with murder after Ill. fire kills 7

CICERO, Ill. – Murder and arson charges have been filed against the owner and manager of a suburban Chicago apartment house where seven people were killed in a fire on Valentine’s Day.
Cicero police said 60-year-old Lawrence Myers and 47-year-old Marion Comier were charged Thursday with seven …. Source article  : Building owner, manager charged with murder in apartment fire that killed 7 near Chicago.

It’s a snow job: Unemployment report, distorted by storms, likely to be hard to interpret

Snow expected to cloud February employment report

WASHINGTON – The government’s closely watched monthly employment report will be unusually hard to read this time.
That’s because the snowstorms that hammered the East Coast last month occurred on the same week that the government surveys businesses about their payrolls. Employees who couldn’t make it to work and weren’t …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : It’s a snow job: Unemployment report, distorted by storms, likely to be hard to interpret.

Mother urges fellow Chileans to cling to hope after long trek to find son

Woman’s trek to find son inspires
SANTIAGO, Chile – A woman who hitchhiked 400 kilometers (250 miles) to find her 8-year-old son safe after Chile’s earthquake and tsunami is urging her fellow citizens to persevere as the country struggles to recover.

Denisse Quezada, 32, had left her son, Matias, with his grandparents for summer vacation in the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mother urges fellow Chileans to cling to hope after long trek to find son.

Stewart tackles decorating disasters, party planning problems in new show, ‘Help Me, Martha’

Stewart pitches new show called ‘Help Me, Martha’

NEW YORK – Ever wonder how Martha Stewart might tackle your decorating disaster or party planning nightmare? Some folks will soon get the chance to find out.
Stewart announced Thursday that she and producer Mark Burnett are teaming up for a new television series, “Help Me, Martha.” It’s being …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Stewart tackles decorating disasters, party planning problems in new show, ‘Help Me, Martha’.

2 felons charged in Milwaukee slayings of 2 women, 2 kids and ensuing fire after $800 robbery

Police: $800 robbery preceded Wis. slayings, fire

MILWAUKEE – Two felons were charged Thursday with homicide and arson in the deaths of a mother, her two young children and a woman who also was the men’s alleged accomplice in a case that began with an $800 robbery.
Desmond Laster, 21, and Anthony Edward Barnes, 23, of Milwaukee …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 2 felons charged in Milwaukee slayings of 2 women, 2 kids and ensuing fire after $800 robbery.

Senior Democrat says Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater from $1B deal

Senator warns against $1B deal with Blackwater

WASHINGTON – A senior Senate Democrat said Thursday the Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater, now called Xe Services, from a new $1 billion deal to train Afghan police because of “serious questions” about the contractor’s conduct.
The comments by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin suggests thinning patience in …. Source article  : Senior Democrat says Pentagon should consider barring Blackwater from $1B deal.

Imam pleads guilty to lying to feds investigating terrorism plot against NYC subway

Imam pleads guilty in NYC terror case
NEW YORK – An imam linked to the suspects in an aborted suicide bomb plot against New York City pleaded guilty on Thursday to lying to the FBI – a deal sparing him serious jail time but forcing him to leave the country.

A tearful Ahmad Afzali told a judge … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Imam pleads guilty to lying to feds investigating terrorism plot against NYC subway.

In Chile, many survivors will build from ground up _ and count on billionaire president-elect

Many quake survivors pin hopes on new president

DICHATO, Chile – Chile’s earthquake and tsunami smashed this pretty little tourist town into splinters, leaving immense piles of wreckage and an awful stench. Rooting through the remains Thursday, Dichato’s residents said they are pinning their hopes for renewal on the new president, a conservative billionaire who takes …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : In Chile, many survivors will build from ground up _ and count on billionaire president-elect.

Questions and answers on vehicle event data recorders, or ‘black boxes’

Some questions and answers on ‘black boxes’

Q: What is an Event Data Recorder?
A: Event Data Recorders, or EDRs, are devices located within most vehicles produced today that record information prior to an accident. The information and its sophistication varies, but it generally includes data on the position of the gas and brake pedals, vehicle speed, …. Source article  : Questions and answers on vehicle event data recorders, or ‘black boxes’.

Experts: Mating season may explain red-tailed hawk’s dive-bomb attacks in Conn. town

Experts: Mating season may explain hawk attacks

STONINGTON, Conn. – Wildlife experts say love could be in the air for a red-tailed hawk with a penchant for dive-bombing people in a Connecticut town.
The belligerent bird is probably trying to impress potential mates and protect its nest as it enters its mating season, they say – and …. Source  : Experts: Mating season may explain red-tailed hawk’s dive-bomb attacks in Conn. town.

AP IMPACT: Toyota secrets in auto ‘black box’ data emerging in sudden acceleration lawsuits

AP IMPACT: Toyota secretive on ‘black box’ data

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline “black boxes” that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts.
The AP investigation found that Toyota …. Source article  : AP IMPACT: Toyota secrets in auto ‘black box’ data emerging in sudden acceleration lawsuits.

Another worker injured in Connecticut power plant explosion that killed 6 sues companies

Another worker injured in Conn. explosion sues

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Another worker injured in a Connecticut power plant explosion last month that killed six workers has filed a lawsuit accusing the companies handling the project of negligence.
Authorities say the Feb. 7 explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown happened as workers were using … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Another worker injured in Connecticut power plant explosion that killed 6 sues companies.

Airlines adding up losses from February storms; analyst says it could be $100 million

Airlines adding up losses from February storms

The snow from last month’s storms along the East Coast has melted in most places, but not where it matters most for airlines – their financial ledgers.
US Airways and Continental Airlines say the storms cost them a combined $55 million in lost revenue. Other airlines, including the U.S.’s two … Original source on Gaea Times at : Airlines adding up losses from February storms; analyst says it could be $100 million.

UN envoy to Afghanistan says it’s ‘time to talk’ to Taliban, find political resolution to war

UN envoy says it’s ‘time to talk’ to the Taliban

KABUL – The head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said Thursday that it’s “high time” a political solution is found with the Taliban to resolve the more than 8-year-old conflict.
“It’s time to talk,” Kai Eide said.
In his last news conference as the U.N. representative, Eide …. Original source  : UN envoy to Afghanistan says it’s ‘time to talk’ to Taliban, find political resolution to war.

Twin-engine plane crashes into house in central Virginia; resident escapes, no word on pilot

Officials: Small plane crashes into Va. house

LOUISA, Va. – Officials say a plane crashed into a house in central Virginia, killing the pilot and setting the building on fire.
Authorities say the owner of the one-and-a-half story house was in the basement and was able to escape.
Virginia state police say the plane landed around noon Thursday …. Original article  : Twin-engine plane crashes into house in central Virginia; resident escapes, no word on pilot.

Lawsuit filed by injured plaintiff says cause of refinery explosion was a welding accident

Lawsuit details cause of NM oil refinery explosion

A survivor of a deadly explosion and fire at a southeastern New Mexico oil refinery has filed a lawsuit, saying the cause was a welding accident and that the plant operator failed to follow safety procedures.
Juan Carlos Hermosillo, also known as Elias Aleman, remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries … Read more »».

LA woman gets life sentence for setting bikini dancer on fire at San Fernando Valley club

LA woman gets life sentence for burning dancer

LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley woman was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for dousing a bikini dancer with gasoline and setting her on fire at a club called “Babes & Beer.”
Rianne Theriault-Odom, 28, was sentenced in Van Nuys Superior Court for the Feb. 5, 2009 …. Read the original article  : LA woman gets life sentence for setting bikini dancer on fire at San Fernando Valley club.

Cruise turns to nightmare off Spain as killer waves hit ship

Cruise travelers tell of deadly waves off Spain

BARCELONA, Spain – The Mediterranean was heaving as the 68-year-old Italian stood in the cruise ship lounge. A moment later a monstrous wave shattered the windows and sent shards into her head, leaving her bleeding on the floor and calling out for her husband.
Torrents of water gushed into … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Cruise turns to nightmare off Spain as killer waves hit ship.

Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city in Iraq, killing 3 people on eve of elections

Iraq: Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city, killing 3

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded near a bus for pilgrims in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Saturday, killing at least three people, including two Iranians, on the eve of key national elections, officials said.
Blasts in other Iraqi cities have killed dozens this week, underscoring …. Source article  : Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city in Iraq, killing 3 people on eve of elections.

Doctors warn of health threats from wreckage and rotting debris left by Chile quake, tsunami

Doctors warn of health threat from Chile wreckage

CONCEPCION, Chile – Huge piles of wreckage and tons of rotting fish and other debris blanketing the ground are turning the coastal towns shattered by Chile’s earthquake and tsunami into nests of infection, doctors warned.
As Chileans lined up for hepatitis and tetanus shots Friday on the opening day … Read more »»».

Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city, killing 3 people on eve of elections

Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city, killing 3

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded near a bus for pilgrims in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Saturday, killing at least three people, including two Iranians, on the eve of key national elections, officials said.
Blasts in other Iraqi cities have killed dozens this week, underscoring warnings … Original article on : Car bomb strikes Shiite holy city, killing 3 people on eve of elections.

Woman trying to feed bear at Wis. zoo bitten, loses fingers after ignoring barriers, warnings

Woman bitten by bear at Wis. zoo, fingers severed

MANITOWOC, Wis. – Police say a bear bit off a woman’s fingers at a Wisconsin zoo after she ignored barriers and warning signs to try to feed the animal.
The Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc closed after the incident Friday morning. Police say the 47-year-old woman lost a …. Original article  : Woman trying to feed bear at Wis. zoo bitten, loses fingers after ignoring barriers, warnings.

Iraqi police: Car bomb blast in holy city of Najaf kills at least 3 day before key elections

Iraqi police: Blast in holy city kills at least 3

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi police official says a car-bomb blast in the holy city of Najaf killed at least three people and injured more than 50.
The official says the blast occurred Saturday near a bus carrying pilgrims, killing one Iraqi and two Iranians. The official spoke …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Iraqi police: Car bomb blast in holy city of Najaf kills at least 3 day before key elections.

Ind. Workforce Development employee fires shotgun twice into office after review, no injuries

Ind. worker fires shotgun into office, no injuries

PORTAGE, Ind. – Police say a state Department of Workforce Development auditor who had just received a poor job review shot at co-workers at an agency office in the northwest Indiana city of Portage.
No one was injured.
Sgt. Keith Hughes says the 60-year-old man became upset during his job … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Ind. Workforce Development employee fires shotgun twice into office after review, no injuries.

AP Source: Crane co. owner expected to face manslaughter charges in NYC collapse that killed 2

AP Source: Charges expected in NYC crane collapse

NEW YORK – A crane company owner is expected to be charged with manslaughter in a 2008 accident that killed two workers as the top of a 200-foot-tall crane crashed down, a person with knowledge of the investigation said Friday.
James Lomma and his company, New York Crane & …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chile begins vaccinations, emphasizes health threats a week after deadly quake

Foreign hospitals help quake-damaged health system

CONCEPCION, Chile – Chile launched a hepatitis and tetanus vaccination campaign Friday and doctors warned of outbreaks of diarrhea and infection among thousands of people displaced by the earthquake and the tsunami that heavily damaged or destroyed 36 hospitals and made garbage dumps of coastal towns and cities.
With many pharmacies … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chile begins vaccinations, emphasizes health threats a week after deadly quake.

Snow job: Economists’ estimates that snow would cost 100K or more jobs miss mark

Snow job: Estimates of weather’s impact miss mark

WASHINGTON – Armed with spreadsheets, mathematical formulas and historical comparisons, legions of economists sought to forecast the impact of last month’s snowstorms on the government’s employment report.
They mostly got it wrong.
Macroeconomic Advisers, a leading forecasting firm, calculated the storms would cost 150,000 to 220,000 jobs.
IHS Global Insight pegged …. Source article  : Snow job: Economists’ estimates that snow would cost 100K or more jobs miss mark.

Donations from Americans for Haiti earthquake relief pass $1 billion mark

Donations from Americans for Haiti top $1 billion

NEW YORK – Experts who track charitable giving say donations from Americans for earthquake relief in Haiti have passed the $1 billion mark.
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University has been monitoring donations received by 91 charities engaged in Haiti relief since the quake on Jan. 12. The …. Read the original article  : here.

Ohio jury convicts doctor of wife’s 2005 cyanide poisoning death

Ohio jury: Doctor guilty of wife’s cyanide death

CLEVELAND – An Ohio doctor accused of lacing his wife’s calcium supplement with cyanide so he could be with his mistress was convicted Friday of aggravated murder.
The jury heard weeks of testimony before returning the verdict against Dr. Yazeed Essa, 41. His wife, Rosemarie Essa, collapsed while driving … Read more >>>.

15 injured in pileup on foggy highway in Wisconsin; nearly 40 vehicles involved in crash

15 injured in pileup on foggy road in Wis.

KAUKAUNA, Wis. – Fifteen people have been injured in a pileup involving nearly 40 vehicles on a foggy Wisconsin highway.
WLUK-TV reports that Appleton Medical Center had 14 patients in fair or good condition and one in serious condition following the accidents Friday morning. Foggy conditions are believed …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 15 injured in pileup on foggy highway in Wisconsin; nearly 40 vehicles involved in crash.

The torrents of spring: Folks in the Upper Midwest brace for severe flooding _ again

Upper Midwest braces for severe spring flooding

FARGO, N.D. – Salesmen in Fargo are hawking products with names like the Muscle Wall and the Sandbagging Buddy. Emergency workers in Keokuk, Iowa, are planning to barricade the water treatment plant with limestone boulders. The farmers’ cooperative in Quincy, Ill., is moving grain inland to keep it dry.
Spring … Read more : The torrents of spring: Folks in the Upper Midwest brace for severe flooding _ again.

Billions raised for Haiti relief leaving needs unmet, fostering criticism from all sides

Billions for Haiti, a criticism for every dollar
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The world’s bill for the Haitian earthquake is large and growing – now $2.2 billion – and so is the criticism about how the money is being spent.
A half-million homeless received tarps and tents; far more are still waiting under soggy bed sheets … Read : Billions raised for Haiti relief leaving needs unmet, fostering criticism from all sides.

Prosecutor: Owner had Chicago-area building set on fire, killing 7, for insurance money

Prosecutor: Greed prompted Ill. fire that killed 7

MAYWOOD, Ill. – The owner of a suburban Chicago apartment house had his maintenance man set fire to the building, killing seven people including a newborn, because he wanted to cash in on a $250,000 insurance policy, prosecutors said Friday.
The landlord told police he wanted the house burned …. Original article  : Prosecutor: Owner had Chicago-area building set on fire, killing 7, for insurance money.

Chicago-bound United Airlines flight lands in Buffalo after water pump burns in lavatory

Small fire on plane forces stop in Buffalo

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – Authorities say a Chicago-bound flight made an unscheduled stop in Buffalo after a water pump caught fire in a lavatory.
United Airlines Flight 769 had taken off from nearby Rochester shortly before the incident at about 8 a.m. Friday.
A Buffalo Niagara International Airport spokesman says a …. Original source  : Chicago-bound United Airlines flight lands in Buffalo after water pump burns in lavatory.

6.5 earthquake shakes Indonesia’s Sumatra island; no reports of tsunami, casualties or damage

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake shakes Indonesian Sumatra

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A magnitude-6.5 undersea earthquake shook the western shore of Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Friday, causing panic but no casualties or damage, an official said.
The quake struck late at night 74 miles (119 kilometers) southeast of Pagai Selatan, an island off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesian Meteorology … Original source on Gaea Times at : 6.5 earthquake shakes Indonesia’s Sumatra island; no reports of tsunami, casualties or damage.

Strong aftershocks hit quake-stunned Chile; hospital evacuates some patients

Strong aftershocks hit quake-stunned Chile

CONCEPCION, Chile – The most powerful aftershock in six days sent terrified Chileans fleeing into quake-shattered streets and forced doctors to evacuate some patients from a major hospital on Friday as the nation struggled to comprehend the scope of the disaster that hit it.
People raced into the streets in pajamas as … Read more >>>.

Weather service predicts major flooding for North Dakota’s Red River, residents try to prepare

Forecasters predict major flooding in North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. – The National Weather Service says there’s a high risk for major flooding along North Dakota’s Red River in the same area where residents held off record high waters last year.
The flood outlook released Friday shows a 90 percent chance for major flooding in Fargo because snow … Read more : Weather service predicts major flooding for North Dakota’s Red River, residents try to prepare.

House committee asks Toyota for more details on sudden acceleration reports

House panel wants more Toyota acceleration details

WASHINGTON – A House committee on Friday questioned the rigor of Toyota’s sudden acceleration tests, challenging the automaker’s commitment to finding the causes of safety problems that have led to millions of recalled vehicles. Other lawmakers zeroed in on federal investigators’ response.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee told Toyota …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

25 die in Iraq as nation votes in historic election amid insurgent attacks

25 die as Iraqis defy violence to vote in election

BAGHDAD – Iraqis voted Sunday in an election testing the mettle of the country’s still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed 25 people across the Iraq, unleashing a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the historic day.
About 19 million Iraqis are eligible to vote for who will lead … Original article on : 25 die in Iraq as nation votes in historic election amid insurgent attacks.

19 die in Baghdad as Iraqis around the country defy violence to vote in historic election

19 die in Baghdad as Iraqis defy violence to vote

BAGHDAD – Iraqis voted Sunday in an election testing the mettle of the country’s still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed 19 people in the capital and sending down a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the day.
About 19 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the election …. Read the original article  : 19 die in Baghdad as Iraqis around the country defy violence to vote in historic election.

Quake-damaged building is demolished in Chile after father calls for missing son one last time

Symbolic building demolished in quake-hit Chile

CONCEPCION, Chile – Workers demolished a fallen 15-story apartment building that has come to symbolize Chile’s earthquake after officials said there was no more hope for finding survivors inside.
The only known remaining victim not recovered from the Alto Rio building was 21-year-old Jose Luis Leon, whose father on Saturday shouted … Read more : Quake-damaged building is demolished in Chile after father calls for missing son one last time.

Coast Guard finds body of neurosurgeon killed in small plane crash off Florida Panhandle

Neurosurgeon dies in plane crash off Florida Coast

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – A neurosurgeon has died after the plane he was flying crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle. His passenger also was killed in the incident.
WKRG-TV says Dr. Evan Zeiger was flying a World War II era plane in formation with several … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Coast Guard finds body of neurosurgeon killed in small plane crash off Florida Panhandle.

Iraqis head to polls in historic election as blasts kill 8 across capital

8 die as Iraqis defy violence to vote
BAGHDAD – Iraqis voted Sunday in an election testing the mettle of the country’s still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed eight people across the capital with a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the day.
About 19 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the election which will … Read more : Iraqis head to polls in historic election as blasts kill 8 across capital.

Wendell August Forge Fire

GROVE CITY, PENNSYLVANIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Wendell August Forge, in Grove City, Pennsylvania, was almost completely destroyed in a fire that broke out in the historic factory sometime around 3 in the afternoon on Saturday. The actual cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but it is being speculated that it was possibly … Original source on Gaea Times at : Wendell August Forge Fire.

Philippine marines kill 7 suspected al-Qaida-linked militants in coastal raid

Philippine marines kill 7 suspected militants

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine marines killed at least seven al-Qaida-linked militants Sunday in a raid on a coastal hide-out but failed to capture a Malaysian terror suspect long wanted by Washington, officials said.
Government forces, backed by intelligence from captured militants and U.S. military surveillance, have staged a series of offensives … Read more : Philippine marines kill 7 suspected al-Qaida-linked militants in coastal raid.

New mortar attack in Baghdad kills 4, brings death toll to 7 as Iraqis vote

7 killed in Baghdad as Iraqis go to polls
BAGHDAD – Iraqi police and hospital officials say a mortar attack in Baghdad has killed four people in western Baghdad bringing the number of people who’ve died as Iraqis go to the polls Sunday to seven.
Officials said part of the building was destroyed, and ten …. Read the original article  : here.

Rescuers say little chance of survival for 31 trapped a week ago in mine in northern China

No signs of life from 31 trapped in Chinese mine

BEIJING – No signs of life have been detected from 31 coal miners trapped underground for a week by a flood in northern China, state media reported Sunday.
The Mt. Camel Coal Mine in Wuhai city in the northern region of Inner Mongolia flooded on March 1, …. Source  : Rescuers say little chance of survival for 31 trapped a week ago in mine in northern China.

Paramedics hail ‘hero’ boy who translated for injured after deadly Arizona bus crash

Paramedics hail ‘hero’ boy from Arizona bus crash

SACATON, Ariz. – A bilingual 4th grader hurt in an Arizona bus accident that killed six people and injured more than a dozen others translated from an ambulance stretcher for busy rescue workers as they hurried to set up a triage center, authorities said Saturday.
Oscar Rodriguez of Las …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Paramedics hail ‘hero’ boy who translated for injured after deadly Arizona bus crash.

Fire destroys historic Pa. metal forge that made ashtrays for Hindenburg airship; no injuries

Fire ruins Pa. forge that made Hindenburg ashtrays

GROVE CITY, Pa. – A historic metal forge that made ashtrays for the ill-fated German airship the Hindenburg and did custom work for Walt Disney has been destroyed by a fire.
Saturday’s fire at the Wendell August Forge workshop and gift shop is believed to have started in the …. Original source  : Fire destroys historic Pa. metal forge that made ashtrays for Hindenburg airship; no injuries.

5 killed in Ala. mobile home fire, including 3 children; sheriff says blaze appears accidental

Fire kills 5 in Ala. mobile home, including 3 kids

MARION JUNCTION, Ala. – Authorities are saying five people, including three children, have been killed in a mobile home fire in central Alabama.
Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman tells The Selma Times-Journal that it appears the fire early Saturday was an accident. The fire occurred in Marion … Read more »».

Lawyers ask judge to toss out statement client made after Pa. fire killed WWII camp survivor

Lawyers ask judge to toss statement about Pa. fire

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Attorneys for a man accused of setting a fire that killed an elderly woman in an arson-plagued Pennsylvania town are asking a judge to toss out a videotaped statement he made.
George Donkewicz (DOHN’-kuh-witz) is charged with murder and arson in the December 2008 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP Top News at 5:12 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 5:12 p.m. EST
Obama turns up heat for health care overhaul planWASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to persuade a weary public and wavering Democrats to get behind his frantic, late-stage push on health care, while Republicans dig in and demand starting from scratch after a year’s worth of … Read more »».

AP Top News at 5:01 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 5:01 p.m. EST
Obama turns up heat for health care overhaul planWASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to persuade a weary public and wavering Democrats to get behind his frantic, late-stage push on health care, while Republicans dig in and demand starting from scratch after a year’s …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : AP Top News at 5:01 p.m. EST.

AP Top News at 4:53 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 4:53 p.m. EST
Obama turns up heat for health care overhaul planWASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to persuade a weary public and wavering Democrats to get behind his frantic, late-stage push on health care, while Republicans dig in and demand starting from scratch after a year’s … Read : AP Top News at 4:53 p.m. EST.

AP Top News at 4:41 p.m. EST

AP Top News at 4:41 p.m. EST
Obama turns up heat for health care overhaul planWASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is trying to persuade a weary public and wavering Democrats to get behind his frantic, late-stage push on health care, while Republicans dig in and demand starting from scratch after a year’s … Read more »»».

Haiti’s earthquake frees thousands from a dismal prison system, creating chance for reform

Haiti earthquake opens window on dismal prisons

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The skinny teenager appears nervous, and with reason: He is waiting for a tap on the shoulder that could send him back to the dismal prison where he spent four years without being charged or seeing a judge.
He is one of more than 5,000 prisoners who …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chile: After a father’s cry for his missing son, a quake-damaged building is demolished

Aftershocks weaken Chile’s quake-damaged buildings

CONCEPCION, Chile – A father’s unanswered cry for his missing son rang out Saturday from the wreckage of a fallen 15-story apartment building that has become a symbol of Chile’s devastating earthquake.
“Jose Luis! Jose Luis!” cried the man, Jose Leon, peering into holes in the concrete that had been carefully cut … Read more »»».

Fire chief dies of medical condition while driving to fatal snowmobile crash on Maine trail

Maine fire chief dies on way to fatal snow crash

THE FORKS, Maine – A man who crashed his snowmobile into a tree in Maine has died – along with a fire department chief who was on his way to rescue him.
The Maine Warden Service says Jason Dodge was snowmobiling with his brother Friday night when …. Source  : Gaea News Network.