Kindergarten teacher jailed for pricking students with needle

BEIJING – A teacher in a kindergarten school in China was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday for pricking more than 60 children with a hypodermic needle.

A county court in Yunnan province announced its verdict after Sun Qiqi, a teacher at Xihu Kindergarten in Jianshui county, pleaded guilty to pricking 63 children, aged from …. Source article  : Kindergarten teacher jailed for pricking students with needle.

Somali pirates hijack Bermuda-flagged ship

NAIROBI – Somali pirates have hijacked a Bermuda-flagged ship in the Gulf of Aden with 25 crew members including 23 Sri Lankans on board, an official said Wednesday.

The Virgin Islands-owned cargo ship MV Talca also has a Filipino and a Syrian on board, Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Programme, told Xinhua … Original article on : Somali pirates hijack Bermuda-flagged ship.

Buddhadeb visits Stephen Court

KOLKATA – West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Wednesday briefly visited the Stephen Court building, which was devastated by a fire that left 24 people dead.

Bhattacharjee entered the gutted building and spoke to city Police Commissioner Goutam Mohan Chakraborty and fire department officials. He did not speak to the media.
Twenty people have been injured … Read more >>.

Bullet hits Punjabi singer during performance

CHANDIGARH – Punjabi singer Surjit Khan and his associate had a narrow escape when bullets hit them while they were performing in a Punjab village, police said Wednesday.

The bullets were fired by a drunken man Tuesday evening while the musical troupe was performing at a pre-marriage function in Jameetgarh Bhalla village in Nawanshahar district, 180 … Read more : Bullet hits Punjabi singer during performance.

GM, China partner launch EN-V concept car, rethinking the automobile for greener future

GM’s EN-V concept car: auto redo for green future

SHANGHAI – It’s not quite as foldable as the space vehicle that cartoon figure George Jetson pops into his briefcase as he bops into the office.
But the EN-V concept car, GM’s “automobile solution” for the future, just might fit into an apartment foyer.
General Motors and its Chinese … Read : GM, China partner launch EN-V concept car, rethinking the automobile for greener future.

Teen commits suicide after losing battle over remote

AGRA – The war of the remote, played out in households all over the country, took a fatal turn when a 16-year-old here committed suicide allegedly because she couldn’t get the TV from her brother who was watching the IPL match, police said Wednesday.

Geeta was found hanging from the ceiling of her room late Tuesday, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Teen commits suicide after losing battle over remote.

Kerala house adjourned after tribute to accident victims

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The Kerala assembly was adjourned Wednesday after legislators paid tribute to the 11 people killed in a bus accident near Kottayam the day before.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan moved a resolution, which was immediately accepted by the treasury and ruling benches and the house adjourned without going into any other business.
Chief Minister V.S. …. Original source  : Kerala house adjourned after tribute to accident victims.

School in China reopens after stabbing incident

BEIJING – Classes resumed at the primary school in China’s Fujian province Wednesday, a day after a mentally unstable man stabbed eight children to death.

Schoolchildren returned to the Nanping Experimental Primary School accompanied by their parents, where they were welcomed by their teachers and psychological therapists.
“We’ll always protect you,” the teachers assured the …. Read the original article  : School in China reopens after stabbing incident.

India-born doctor ‘failed to investigate’ cancer concerns

BRISBANE – India-born doctor Jayant Patel “failed to adequately investigate” cancer concerns in a patient before he removed his colon, an Australian court was told Wednesday.

A local doctor, Marthinus Nel, referred one of his patients, Mervyn John Morris, 75, to the Bundaberg Base Hospital, where 59-year-old Patel was director of surgery, for further tests after … Read : India-born doctor ‘failed to investigate’ cancer concerns.

Park Street fire throws up heroes

KOLKATA – Amid the devastation and the loss of lives, the fire at the Stephen Court building here has also thrown up heroes who staked their lives to save fellow beings, whom they did not even know personally.

The milk of human kindness prompted Pervez Akhtar, a car driver, to enter the towering inferno on Park … Original article on : Park Street fire throws up heroes.

Cold case thaws: 2 men charged with murder, arson in case of 5 NJ teenagers last seen in 1978

Murder charges filed in case of 5 missing NJ teens

NEWARK, N.J. – One night in 1978, five teenage boys disappeared without a trace in what would become one of the longest and most baffling missing-persons cases New Jersey has ever seen.
Thirty-two years later, prosecutors announced the arrests of two men and disclosed the victims’ gruesome …. Original source  : Cold case thaws: 2 men charged with murder, arson in case of 5 NJ teenagers last seen in 1978.

NYC’s former chief crane inspector admits taking payoffs to fake inspection results

Ex-NYC top crane inspector admits taking bribes

NEW YORK – The city’s former chief crane inspector admitted taking more than $10,000 in payoffs to fake inspection and crane operator licensing exam results, selling out a 26-year career bit by bit over nearly a decade.
James Delayo showed no emotion Tuesday as he pleaded guilty to receiving bribes … Read more >>>.

Former New York City chief crane inspector admits taking payoffs to fake inspection results

Ex-NYC crane inspector pleads guilty to bribery

NEW YORK – New York City’s former chief crane inspector has admitted taking more than $10,000 in payoffs to fake inspection and crane operator licensing exam results.
James Delayo pleaded guilty Tuesday to receiving bribes. He showed no emotion as he read a short statement in court acknowledging his crime.
Delayo … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Former New York City chief crane inspector admits taking payoffs to fake inspection results.

Stephen Court death count soars to 16

KOLKATA – The death count shot up to 16 in the devastating fire that swept through two floors of the sprawling Stephen Court Building in Kolkata’s glamorous address Park Street Tuesday.

While four bodies were found late Tuesday night, six other charred bodies were discovered early Wednesday from the sixth floor of the highrise, an officer … Read : Stephen Court death count soars to 16.

8 hurt, 1 seriously, when tour bus rear-ends another near Epcot at Walt Disney World

Tour bus rear-ends another near Epcot; 8 hurt

ORLANDO, Fla. – Officials say a Walt Disney World bus rear-ended a charter bus near the entrance to the Epcot theme park, seriously injuring the Disney bus driver.
Deputy Fire Chief Bo Jones of the Reedy Creek Fire Department says seven passengers were taken to nearby hospitals with minor …. Original source  : 8 hurt, 1 seriously, when tour bus rear-ends another near Epcot at Walt Disney World.

Cold case thaws: Murder, arson charges announced in 1978 report of missing NJ teenagers

Tip from witness helps thaw 1978 cold case in NJ

NEWARK, N.J. – One night in 1978, five teenage boys disappeared without a trace in what would become one of the longest and most baffling missing-persons cases New Jersey has ever seen.
Thirty-two years later, prosecutors announced the arrests of two men and disclosed the victims’ gruesome … Read more >>>.

Philadelphia music execs mull museum to replace torched offices; man ordered to stand trial

Philly music-makers mull museum at torched offices

PHILADELPHIA – Longtime record producers Leon Huff and Kenneth Gamble say they are considering whether to rebuild their fire-damaged Philadelphia offices into a music museum.
The duo’s comments came Tuesday after a court hearing for the man accused of setting the fire at Philadelphia International Records.
A judge ordered 29-year-old Christopher … Original source on Gaea Times at : Philadelphia music execs mull museum to replace torched offices; man ordered to stand trial.

8 hurt, 1 seriously, when 2 tour buses crash near Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida

2 tour buses crash near Epcot at Disney; 8 hurt

ORLANDO, Fla. – Officials say two buses have crashed near Epcot at Walt Disney World, critically injuring a bus driver and sending seven passengers to the hospital with minor injuries.
Deputy Fire Chief Bo Jones of the Reedy Creek Fire Department says the seven were taken to … Original article on : 8 hurt, 1 seriously, when 2 tour buses crash near Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Emergency worker being fired, 3 suspended in death of Pa. man who waited 30 hours for help

4 EMS workers being punished in Pa. storm death

PITTSBURGH – An emergency worker is facing termination and three others suspensions in connection with the death of a Pittsburgh man who waited 30 hours for an ambulance during a snowstorm last month.
Public safety director Michael Huss says radio transmissions indicate emergency personnel showed a lack of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Emergency worker being fired, 3 suspended in death of Pa. man who waited 30 hours for help.

Britain to expel Israeli diplomat over Hamas killing

LONDON – Britain is to expel an Israeli diplomat over the use of fake British passports by the killers of a Hammas official in Dubai, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Tuesday.

Miliband told parliament there were “compelling reasons” to believe Israel was behind the passports used in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh Jan 19.
The foreign [..] Read the original article: here.