Government moving to prevent radiation disasters

NEW DELHI – The government Tuesday assured parliament that all possible care was being taken to ensure that the country is prepared to handle any radiation emergency arising in the public domain.

“The Department of Atomic Energy has organised forces to train frontline officers on the issues of detection and response relating to radiation incidents,” Minister … Read more : Government moving to prevent radiation disasters.

Passengers cheer with relief as limited flights resume over Europe; volcanic ash still a worry

Whoops of joy as some flights resume over Europe

PARIS – Applause, cheers and whoops of joy rang out from Asia to New York to Paris on Tuesday as airplanes gradually took to the skies after five days of being grounded by the drifting volcanic ash that has crippled European air travel.
Only limited flights were allowed … Original source on Gaea Times at : Passengers cheer with relief as limited flights resume over Europe; volcanic ash still a worry.

Pakistan: Islamist blames US-Pakistan alliance for suicide bomb that killed colleagues

Pakistan: Islamist blames US for suicide bombing

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – An Islamist politician whose party lost several members in a suicide attack blamed Pakistan’s alliance with the U.S. for the violence and urged Islamabad on Tuesday to break ranks in the war on terror.
The comments showed the depth of anti-Americanism in Pakistan, whose support Washington considers … Read more >>.

European no-fly zone shrinks, but remains subject to change

LONDON/REYKJAVIK/COPENHAGEN – The no-fly zone over Europe caused by a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano was ratcheted back Tuesday, with flights able to operate over a swathe of southern Europe, the continent’s air-traffic control agency, Eurocontrol said.

Several countries reopened sections of their airspace, while others held off, pending the movement of a volcanic … Read this article on Gaea Times at : European no-fly zone shrinks, but remains subject to change.

Quake hits Australia’s historic goldmining town

SYDNEY – Some of Kalgoorlie’s most famous hotels were damaged Tuesday by the biggest earthquake to hit the Western Australia tourism and goldmining town in 50 years.

The quake, measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale, caused buildings to shake in Kalgoorlie and neighbouring Boulder.
But there were no reports of buildings collapsing or injuries, Geoscience Australia …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Quake hits Australia’s historic goldmining town.

Student attempts suicide after being denied scholarship

BHOPAL – A backward class student who attempted suicide here allegedly after being denied a scholarship is in stable condition, police said Tuesday.

Alleging harassment by the management of the NRI Institute of Pharmacy, final year student Mahendra Singh Kirar consumed poison at the campus Monday. The boy was taken to a private nursing home.
According …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mines evacuated as 5.0-magnitude quake strikes western Australia, damaging hotels, schools

Quake hits western Australian mining town
PERTH, Australia – A powerful earthquake struck Australia’s major gold-mining region in the west Tuesday, collapsing roofs of several buildings and prompting the evacuation of mines, schools and hospitals.

Two people were treated for minor injuries, including a teenage girl who was hit by falling rubble, news reports and police said.
The …. Read the original article  : here.

eBay seller convicted for bidding on his own goods

LONDON – An eBay seller has become the first person in Britain to be convicted for bidding on his own items to raise prices.

Paul Barrett, who faces a fine of up to 50,000 pounds, hiked the value of the items he was selling by bidding on them after operating a separate user name. It’s a …. Read the original article  : here.

Decisions on volcanic ash and planes presents society one of hardest risk choices in years

To fly through ash or not? That’s no easy question

To fly, or not? There’s no right answer about when it’s safe to fly through a cloud of volcanic ash. But it’ll be all too obvious if there’s a wrong answer, experts say.
With the volcano in Iceland, Mother Nature is giving high-flying Europe a lesson in …. Read the original article  : Decisions on volcanic ash and planes presents society one of hardest risk choices in years.

Father questions suicide angle in doctor’s death

CHANDIGARH – The father of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) doctor, who died after falling from the fourth floor of the building here, said he was being harassed by some seniors and his death could not be a case of suicide.

The body of the doctor, Nagender Reddy, who hailed from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Father questions suicide angle in doctor’s death.

Ex-boyfriend murders British woman by stabbing 130 times

LONDON – A British woman was killed in a frenzied knife attack by her jealous ex-boyfriend who stabbed her 130 times and gouged out her right eyeball. The assailant has been sentenced to a jail term.

Thirtyfive-year-old Katie Cullen, a nurse, was repeatedly knifed in the face and neck by Iranian born Iman Ghaefelipour in Cheshire, …. Source article  : Ex-boyfriend murders British woman by stabbing 130 times.

Over 6,000 people arrested in Shanghai

BEIJING – Over 6,000 people, including 31 foreigners, have been arrested in Shanghai ahead of an international expo for their alleged involvement in theft, pornography and prostitution.

Police launched a 12-day crackdown in an effort to make Shanghai city safer during the upcoming international expo to be held from May 1.
More than 30,000 police officers … Read more : Over 6,000 people arrested in Shanghai.

Bihar police beat NRI, father for overtaking vehicle

PATNA – An NRI businessman from Russia and his elderly father were allegedly beaten by policemen in Bihar’s Patna district for overtaking the vehicle of a probationer Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. A probe has been ordered, authorities said Tuesday.

Shajendra Bihari Singh, in his early 40s, was beaten Sunday after he overtook the car of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Bihar police beat NRI, father for overtaking vehicle.

African national critical after freak accident

NEW DELHI – A Nigerian, seriously injured in a freak accident when iron rods jutting out of a truck pierced his body, continued to be in a critical condition Tuesday, doctors said. His friend who was with him at the time is “comparatively stable”.

“The condition of one of the two victims who was in the … Read more »».

Indian-origin solicitor murdered for insurance in Britain

LONDON – An Indian-origin solicitor was murdered in Britain by a hitman who was hired by her business partner in a plan to claim a 1.5 million pound insurance payout, a court was told.

Vina Patel, 51, died of asphyxiation and a broken neck in a contract killing allegedly arranged by John Cort, her colleague who …. Read the original article  : Indian-origin solicitor murdered for insurance in Britain.

Kidnappings in Mexico rise by 90 percent

Mexico City, April 20 (IANS/EFE) The number of kidnappings in Mexico in the first three years of President Felipe Calderon’s regime have risen by 90 percent, official statistics reveal.

A total of 2,593 kidnapping complaints were filed during former president Vicente Fox’s 2000-2006 term, while 2,455 kidnappings were reported in 2007-2009, the first three years …. Read the original article  : Kidnappings in Mexico rise by 90 percent.

Drunk-driving in Barbie car costs man licence

LONDON – A Briton caught drunk while driving a toy Barbie car, whose top speed is barely four miles per hour, has been banned from driving.

Forty-year-old Paul Hutton received a three-year ban as he had received another drink-drive ban within the past 10 years.
He was pulled over by police when he was driving an … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Drunk-driving in Barbie car costs man licence.

Sex abuse victims described emotional meeting with pope

Rome, April 20 (IANS/AKI) Victims of clerical sex abuse have described their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI as “emotional” and “great”, though the pontiff did not offer a formal apology.

“It was emotional, I saw tears in his eyes,” a victim said Monday referring to his Sunday meeting with the pope in Rabat town in Malta. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sex abuse victims described emotional meeting with pope.

1,577 kg cocaine seized in Mexico

Mexico City, April 20 (IANS/EFE) Over 1,500 kg of cocaine that came in containers aboard a Colombian vessel have been seized in Mexico, officials said.

The cocaine was inside several containers unloaded in Veracruz port by a Liberian-flagged ship that arrived from Cartagena in Colombia over the weekend, the Attorney General’s Office said Monday.
Acting on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 1,577 kg cocaine seized in Mexico.

Two Canadians desecrate American flag

TORONTO – Two Canadians face the music for lowering an American flag, maintained in honour of the Sep 11, 2001 victims, in California and replacing it with a Canadian flag.

The incident took place after the Canadian men’s hockey team beat the US to win the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The two Canadians … Read more »».