Gunmen attack Western aid group in northwest Pakistan, killing 6 people

Aid group attacked in northwest Pakistan; 6 dead

ISLAMABAD – Suspected militants armed with grenades attacked the offices of an international aid group helping earthquake survivors in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six employees and wounding several others, police and the organization said.
All the victims of the assault on World Vision, a large Christian humanitarian group, … Original article on : Gunmen attack Western aid group in northwest Pakistan, killing 6 people.

Taliban claim responsibility for attack on NATO-Afghan base that killed 2 NATO personnel

Taliban claim suicide attack on NATO-Afghan base
KHOST, Afghanistan – The Taliban claimed responsibility Wednesday for a suicide bombing inside a U.S.-Afghan base in eastern Afghanistan that killed two NATO service members.
A Taliban operative wearing an Afghan police uniform infiltrated the base Tuesday night and detonated his explosive vest next to a group of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Taliban claim responsibility for attack on NATO-Afghan base that killed 2 NATO personnel.

Indonesian president says suspected Bali bomb mastermind shot dead by police on Java

Bali bombing suspect confirmed dead in police raid
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian counterterror authorities won international praise on Wednesday for killing a top-ranked Southeast Asian militant wanted for planning the deadly 2002 Bali bombings.
Police also revealed that bomb-making materials were found in one of two raids near Jakarta on Tuesday …. Read the original article  : Indonesian president says suspected Bali bomb mastermind shot dead by police on Java.

US hospital ship Comfort leaving Haiti as military scales back in quake-ravaged country

US hospital ship Comfort leaving Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The U.S. military hospital ship Comfort has completed its relief mission in Haiti and is heading home.

The Comfort has been stationed off the country’s coast for seven weeks treating victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake.
But the U.S. military is scaling back in Haiti and it’s time for … Read more >>.

Authorities say the 6 passengers killed in Arizona bus crash were Mexican citizens

All 6 dead in Ariz. crash were Mexican citizens

PHOENIX – Authorities say all six people killed in last week’s pre-dawn bus crash on an Arizona interstate were Mexican citizens.
The bus – operated by Van Nuys, Calif.-based Tierra Santa Inc. – was traveling from the central Mexican state of Zacatecas to Los Angeles. It was headed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Authorities say the 6 passengers killed in Arizona bus crash were Mexican citizens.

Driver of runaway Prius tells 911 operator ‘my car can’t slow down’

Prius driver’s 911 call: ‘My car can’t slow down’

EL CAJON, Calif. – The driver of a Toyota Prius that sped out of control on a San Diego County freeway sounded panicked at times as he told a dispatcher about a stuck accelerator.
A 23-minute 911 call the California Highway Patrol released Tuesday details James Sikes’ attempts … Read more : Driver of runaway Prius tells 911 operator ‘my car can’t slow down’.

No sticker shock expected at the pump: gasoline prices will rise, but not much above $3

Gas price rises seen gentler on consumer wallets

As the economy recovers, energy prices are rising and that is placing extra strain on families’ budgets.
Each spring brings a familiar ritual in gasoline markets – rising prices – and this year won’t be an exception. But motorists aren’t likely to pay much more than $3 a gallon, …. Original source  : No sticker shock expected at the pump: gasoline prices will rise, but not much above $3.

Eritrean pleads not guilty in NYC to aiding Somali terrorist group linked to al-Qaida

Eritrean pleads not guilty to aiding terrorists

NEW YORK – Evidence collected by the United States against an East African charged with providing support to a Somali terrorist organization linked to al-Qaida includes lengthy statements he made to authorities, a prosecutor told a judge Tuesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher LaVigne made the revelation during a plea proceeding … Read more : Eritrean pleads not guilty in NYC to aiding Somali terrorist group linked to al-Qaida.

UK crackdown on dangerous dogs could make insurance, microchips mandatory for all

Mandatory insurance proposed for UK dogs
LONDON – A chip for Spot? In a country where guns are tightly controlled and even carrying a kitchen knife can bring prison time, some thugs use dogs to menace their victims. Now the British government is proposing that dog owners be forced to get microchips and take out insurance … Original article on : UK crackdown on dangerous dogs could make insurance, microchips mandatory for all.

Mass. scientists’ pioneering $1M submersible robot lost at sea exploring coast off Chile

Pioneering Mass. robot lost at sea off Chile coast

FALMOUTH, Mass. – A pioneering deep-sea robot made by Massachusetts researchers has been lost off the coast of Chile.
Researchers abruptly lost contact with the $1.1 million robot Friday after it reached the Pacific Ocean floor, nearly 2 miles down.
Scientists believe a glass sphere that helped keep the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mass. scientists’ pioneering $1M submersible robot lost at sea exploring coast off Chile.

Carl Edwards put on probation for 3 races by NASCAR for wrecking Keselowski’s car in Atlanta

NASCAR puts Carl Edwards on probation for 3 races

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sticking with its “boys, have at it” attitude, NASCAR won’t force Carl Edwards to miss any races after he deliberately wrecked Brad Keselowski’s car last weekend in Atlanta.
Edwards will be on probation for three races and monitored by NASCAR through the April 10 race … Original article on : Carl Edwards put on probation for 3 races by NASCAR for wrecking Keselowski’s car in Atlanta.

Ohio doctor convicted of wife’s 2005 cyanide poisoning death gets 20-years-to-life in prison

Ohio doctor gets 20-to-life in wife’s poison death

CLEVELAND – Relatives of the victim sobbed and held each other as a judge handed down a life prison term Tuesday for a doctor convicted of killing his wife by lacing her calcium supplement with cyanide so he could be with his mistress.
Yazeed Essa, 41, won’t be eligible … Original source on Gaea Times at : Ohio doctor convicted of wife’s 2005 cyanide poisoning death gets 20-years-to-life in prison.

Federal investigators sent to determine cause of reported runaway Prius on California freeway

Feds to probe cause of runaway Prius in California

EL CAJON, Calif. – A Toyota Prius that sped out of control on a California freeway was towed to a dealership Tuesday while federal and company inspectors converged on the car to determine whether a stuck gas pedal was to blame.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent … Read more »»».

Summary Box: Snow storms in Jan., Feb. eat into important sales figure at Burger King

Summary Box: Snowy weather cuts into BK sales

SNOWY SALES: Burger King said back-to-back months of winter weather will drag down its fiscal third quarter results. The weather cut a key sales measure by 8.2 percent in January and February as storms buried much of the central and eastern U.S. in snow.
LAST YEAR: During the same …. Source article  : Summary Box: Snow storms in Jan., Feb. eat into important sales figure at Burger King.

Coast Guard begins hearing into collision that caused worst Texas oil spill in 15 years

Coast Guard begins hearing on Texas oil spill

PORT ARTHUR, Texas – An 800-foot tanker struggling with poor visibility and strong winds apparently failed to center itself in a narrow waterway off the Gulf of Mexico, possibly contributing to a collision with a tugboat that caused the largest oil spill in Texas in 15 years, according …. Original source  : Coast Guard begins hearing into collision that caused worst Texas oil spill in 15 years.

Oklahoma tornado destroys homes, kicks off action in Tornado Alley after slow start to season

After slow start, tornado season under way

OKLAHOMA CITY – Forecasters say a wetter-than-usual winter and a jet stream ripping over the part of the country known as “Tornado Alley” could lead to an active spring – perhaps starting with the strong twister that nicked a small western Oklahoma town Monday night.
“It’s time to get ready,” …. Source article  : Oklahoma tornado destroys homes, kicks off action in Tornado Alley after slow start to season.

Delta Air Lines says winter storms in February reduced revenue by $65 million

Delta says Feb. storms cut revenue by $65M

ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines says it lost $65 million in revenue because of the repeated winter storms in February, which forced it to cancel roughly 7,000 flights.
The airline provided the figures in a regulatory filing ahead of an investor conference on Tuesday.
Other airlines also have reported large … Read more : Delta Air Lines says winter storms in February reduced revenue by $65 million.

Turkey earthquake: leaders pledge safer homes, but past promises have had limited impact

Turkey pledges safer homes after quake
OKCULAR, Turkey – Turkey’s leaders pledged Tuesday to build quake-proof homes after a magnitude 6 temblor shattered mud-brick homes in the eastern part of the country, killing 51 people. Still, similar promises after devastating earthquakes in the west in 1999 have had limited impact.

The quake near the remote village of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Turkey earthquake: leaders pledge safer homes, but past promises have had limited impact.

Authorities say fire sparked by static kills Pa. man as he fills tank at gas station

Fire sparked by static kills gas pumper in Pa.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Authorities in Pennsylvania say a gas station patron died when static electricity ignited a fire as he filled up his tank.
Authorities say 19-year-old L. David Byers of central Pennsylvania died early Friday at the gas station in Camp Hill.
A gas station equipment expert says …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

UN pays tribute to 101 staff killed in Haiti earthquake, the single greatest UN loss

UN pays tribute to 101 staff killed in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS – An emotional Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute Tuesday to “the 101 heroes” working for the United Nations who were killed in the Haiti earthquake, the single greatest loss for the world body in its 64-year history.
Hundreds of U.N. staff joined relatives of those who …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UN pays tribute to 101 staff killed in Haiti earthquake, the single greatest UN loss.