Amid concerns about ash cloud and state funeral, Polish investigators examine black boxes

Poland closes most air space due to volcanic ash
WARSAW, Poland – Polish investigators have begun examining the one of three black boxes from the plane crash that killed the president and 95 others, after Russian officials said their study of the boxes suggested pilot error was to blame.
Poland is preparing for a state … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Amid concerns about ash cloud and state funeral, Polish investigators examine black boxes.

South Korean investigator says ‘high possibility’ that external explosion sank naval ship

SKorea: External explosion probably sank navy ship

SEOUL, South Korea – An external explosion most likely caused a South Korean navy ship to split apart and sink three weeks ago, officials said Friday, leaving open the possibility that a North Korean torpedo or mine may have caused the disaster.
The 1,200-ton Cheonan broke into two pieces after …. Source article  : South Korean investigator says ‘high possibility’ that external explosion sank naval ship.

Volcanic ash cloud drifts east, flight disruptions get even worse in Europe

Flight disruptions in Europe get even worse

LONDON – Ice chunks the size of houses tumbled down from a volcano in Iceland as hot gases melted a glacier, and the skies over Europe remained eerily quiet for a second day Friday as thousands of planes stayed on the tarmac to avoid volcanic ash.
Eurocontrol, the European air …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Volcanic ash cloud drifts east, flight disruptions get even worse in Europe.

Maoists suspected to have killed Bengal villager

KOLKATA – Maoists are suspected to have killed a former Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) worker who had later joined the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal’s Purulia district, police said Friday.

The incident took place in Dulaghati of Bandwan area where residents saw the blood-splattered body of Mansaram Singh lying in a shrub near to his [..] Read the original article: here.

IT raids at builders’ premises in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL – Income Tax (IT) raids were conducted at the premises of over 10 builders in seven cities across Madhya Pradesh for alleged tax evasion, IT officials said Friday.

“Incriminating documents indicating tax evasion worth crores of rupees have been seized during the IT raids conducted at 19 premises in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Rewa …. Original article  : IT raids at builders’ premises in Madhya Pradesh.

Navy to speed up probe against officer in Gorkshov project: Antony

NEW DELHI – Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday said he has asked the Indian Navy to speed up the probe into allegations against an officer accused of “loose moral conduct” during his posting in Russia to oversee the re-fit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

He said the navy has completed one part of the investigation against …. Original source  : Navy to speed up probe against officer in Gorkshov project: Antony.

Attacks in southern Afghanistan show need for better intelligence, official says

South Afghan attacks show need for intelligence

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – An Afghan official called Friday for better intelligence on insurgent activities to help prevent attacks like the dual bombings in the southern city of Kandahar that killed at least three people.
Thursday’s attacks on a hotel and compound housing foreign companies showed how vulnerable targets remain in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Attacks in southern Afghanistan show need for better intelligence, official says.

UK aviation authorities say no flights over English airspace through Saturday

UK flight restrictions continue through Saturday

LONDON – British civil aviation authorities say there will be no flights over England until Saturday morning at the earliest, as a huge ash cloud from Iceland’s erupting volcano disrupts air traffic around the world.
The National Air Traffic Services says some flights could start leaving and arriving at airports in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : UK aviation authorities say no flights over English airspace through Saturday.

European air navigation agency: ash cloud will disrupt air traffic for at least another day

Eurocontrol: flights disrupted at least 1 more day

BRUSSELS – The European air navigation agency says air traffic disruptions from the volcanic ash cloud will last at least another day.
Eurocontrol says the cloud’s impact “will continue for at least the next 24 hours.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier … Read more >>.

Passengers stuck as volcanic ash spreads across Europe

REYKJAVIK/BERLIN/LONDON – Tens of thousands of passengers remain stuck at European airports as ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland causes flight disruptions and airport closures across the continent.

Airport authorities in Germany predicted the ash from the volcano under the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, which is spreading to the east and south-east, would affect air traffic for …. Read the original article  : Passengers stuck as volcanic ash spreads across Europe.

$25,000 award for missing Sikh woman, family suspect

TORONTO – A Sikh family here is under investigation after the disappearance of its daughter-in-law in February. Her husband has meanwhile announced an award of $25,000 for clues about her whereabouts.

Poonam Litt, who worked as a receptionist with a dentist, went missing Feb 5 on her way to work. She has never been heard of …. Read the original article  : $25,000 award for missing Sikh woman, family suspect.

Police say suicide bomber kills 8 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta

Police: Bomber kills 8 at SW Pakistan hospital

QUETTA, Pakistan – A suicide bomber attacked a hospital emergency room where Shiite Muslims were mourning a slain bank manager on Friday, killing eight people including a journalist and two policemen in Pakistan’s main southwest city, police said.
The explosion in Quetta underscored the poor security conditions in Pakistan, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Police say suicide bomber kills 8 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta.

Help floods into China quake zone; rescuers dig for survivors, struggle with altitude

Soldiers, monks clear rubble in quake-hit China
JIEGU, China – Rescuers probed the rubble for sounds or movement Friday in a rush to find anyone buried alive more than 48 hours after an earthquake hit western China, killing at least 791 people. Many survivors shivered through a second night outdoors as they waited …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Help floods into China quake zone; rescuers dig for survivors, struggle with altitude.

Mumbai school CEO held for cyber crime

THANE – The CEO designate of Ecole Mondiale International School has been arrested after a two-year search for allegedly hosting a defamatory blog about a school in Singapore of which he was the principal, police said Friday.

Nandakumar Venkataraman, former principal of the Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Singapore, was taken into custody by … Read more >>.

Thunderstorm lashes Assam, 300 homes destroyed

GUWAHATI – At least 300 homes were flattened in a thunderstorm that lashed parts of Assam and uprooted trees, electric and telephone poles, officials Friday said.

Heavy rains accompanied by gushing winds swept many parts of Assam, including the main city of Guwahati, late Thursday. The damage was reported to be extensive in the riverine [..] Read the original article: here.

Police say suicide bomber kills 7 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta

Police: Bomber kills 7 at SW Pakistan hospital

QUETTA, Pakistan – A suicide bomber attacked a hospital emergency room where Shiite Muslims had gathered Friday to mourn a slain bank manager, killing at least seven people including a journalist in Pakistan’s main southwest city, police said.
The explosion in Quetta underscored the poor security conditions in Pakistan, …. Original source  : Police say suicide bomber kills 7 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta.

Police say suicide bomber kills 4 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta

Police: Bomb kills 4 at SW Pakistan hospital

QUETTA, Pakistan – A suicide bomber attacked a hospital emergency room where Shiite Muslims had gathered Friday to mourn a slain bank manager, killing at least four people in Pakistan’s main southwest city, police said.
The explosion in Quetta underscored the poor security conditions in Pakistan, a U.S. ally …. Read the original article  : Police say suicide bomber kills 4 at hospital in southwest Pakistani city of Quetta.

Utah Earthquake Reports Minor Damages

SALT LAKE CITY (GaeaTimes.com)- Utah earthquake which measured a magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale is said to be the biggest Utah earthquake in many years now. Although the magnitude of earthquake wasn’t as heavy as the recent earthquake in China, it did manage to cause disturbances in the houses back in the city. …. Source  : Utah Earthquake Reports Minor Damages.

12-year-old Dalit killed for stealing wheat

LUCKNOW – A 12-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly beaten to death by a group of villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district for stealing wheat from the fields, police said Friday.

Three men have been booked for killing the Dalit boy, police said.
Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Kashipur village in Hardoi, about 110 km from … Original source on Gaea Times at : 12-year-old Dalit killed for stealing wheat.

Now poachers go for leopards

NEW DELHI – The hunter has once again become the hunted.
But this time it’s the agile leopard that is on the radar of poachers as vigilance has tightened around the illegal trade in tiger parts across India, say wildlife experts.

The leopard’s skin and bones are equally in demand in the international market and wildlife …. Read the original article  : Now poachers go for leopards.