Airlines group says industry lost over $1.7 billion from ash cloud disruptions over Europe

IATA: airlines lost over $1.7BN in ash chaos

BERLIN – The International Air Transport Association says disruptions to European air travel from the volcanic ash cloud have cost the industry at least $1.7 billion.
IATA says airlines lost revenues of $400 million each day during the first three days of grounding.
The group’s chief executive says the scale … Original article on : Airlines group says industry lost over $1.7 billion from ash cloud disruptions over Europe.

Goa police on lookout for LTTE cadres, sympathisers

PANAJI – Police are keeping an eye on Sri Lankan Tamils possibly working on fishing trawlers and in the mushrooming hotel industry in coastal Goa after the union home ministry warned of infiltration by surviving cadres of the decimated Tamil Tigers.

“The home ministry circular was forwarded to us by the state home department Monday. … Read : Goa police on lookout for LTTE cadres, sympathisers.

Chinese media turns black-and-white to mourn quake victims

BEIJING – Print and online versions of major Chinese newspapers including China Daily, Global Times, People’s Daily and Shanghai Daily wore a black-and-white look Wednesday to mourn the more than 2,000 victims of the devastating quake in northwestern Qinghai province.

The banner on top of the China Daily website read “Sharing Sorrow, Moving Forward”, while that …. Original source  : Chinese media turns black-and-white to mourn quake victims.

Thief lynched in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A man was lynched for attempting to burgle a businessman’s house in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, police said Wednesday.

The man, in his early 30s, was caught Tuesday night by the locals of Ganeshpuri colony in Meerut, some 350 km from Lucknow, while he was attempting to burgle the house.
“The locals assaulted … Original source on Gaea Times at : Thief lynched in Uttar Pradesh.

12 girl students ‘poisoned’ in Afghanistan

KABUL – At least 12 girl students were Wednesday hospitalised after they fell unconscious after inhaling some poisonous substance sprayed in a school in Afghanistan, a media report said.

The 12 students of the Fatima Zahra Girl School, a teacher and an assistant were mysteriously poisoned, Hamayon Khamush, director of the hospital in Kunduz city, was [..] Read the original article: here.

Man killed in water row

BHOPAL – A man was killed in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha town after a scuffle over a water pipeline, police said Wednesday. It is the fifth murder in three weeks over water disputes in the state.

Shivcharan Yadav, 55, had an altercation with his relative Virsingh Yadav over the shifting of a water pipeline Tuesday. … Read more >>.

Six coaxed to hang in sex games in China

BEIJING – A former pub singer in China’s Hunan province is suspected of coaxing six men to hang themselves while playing sex games.

Thirtyeight-year-old Zhou Youping is awaiting prosecution and facing murder charges regarding a series of hangings between October and November in Hunan’s capital Changsha, Shanghai Daily reported Wednesday.
At least six of the …. Read the original article  : here.

Seattle fisherman dies when boat sinks in Gulf of Alaska; 3 other crew members rescued

Seattle fish boat crewman dies in Gulf of Alaska

KODIAK, Alaska – One of four crew members on a Seattle-based fishing boat died Tuesday when the 75-foot vessel sank in the Gulf of Alaska.
The crewman who died suffered a head trauma while exiting the boat and was already deceased when rescuers arrived, but it’s not clear … Read : Seattle fisherman dies when boat sinks in Gulf of Alaska; 3 other crew members rescued.

Fire destroys 60 shops

RANCHI – Around 60 shops were burnt and goods worth Rs.30 lakh destroyed early Wednesday when a fire broke out in the busiest market of this Jharkhand capital, police said.

The fire, caused by a short circuit, enveloped the Daily Market on Main Road. Seven fire engines battled the flames.
…. Source  : Fire destroys 60 shops.

Poland sets early presidential election for June 20 after incumbent dies in plane crash

Poland sets new presidential election for June 20

WARSAW, Poland – Poland’s parliament speaker has set the date for an early presidential election after the death of President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash 11 days ago.
Bronislaw Komorowski, who is the acting president and will be a candidate, set June 20 as the date for the …. Read the original article  : Poland sets early presidential election for June 20 after incumbent dies in plane crash.

Two killed as CPI-M, Trinamool workers clash

KOLKATA – Two people were killed early Wednesday when Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Trinamool Congress supporters clashed in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, police said.

The clash occurred at Chanuch village in Dubrajpur block with the rival groups using sharp weapons and firearms following a dispute, Birbum superintendent of police Rabindranath Mukherjee told IANS.
He …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Two killed as CPI-M, Trinamool workers clash.

Skies opening for aviation over Europe

LONDON/COPENHAGEN/HAMBURG – More airports in Europe, including many in Britain and Germany, reopened Wednesday, almost a week after airspace over large parts of Europe was shut down over ash clouds from a volcano in Iceland.

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority said flight bans had been lifted late Tuesday after a reassessment of risks.
British Airways said on …. Original source  : Skies opening for aviation over Europe.

Goan drug dealer’s assets worth Rs.2 crore frozen

PANAJI – Goa police has frozen all the assets, including cash, properties and investments, of a notorious drug peddler, a senior police officer said. It is the first time that such action has been taken against a drug peddler.

Cash, several properties and assets worth Rs.2 crore belonging to Sadanand Chimulkar were frozen under the …. Read the original article  : Goan drug dealer’s assets worth Rs.2 crore frozen.

Flags at half-staff in China as country mourns 2,000 quake victims

China mourns earthquake victims
BEIJING – Bowing their heads in silent tribute, thousands of officials, soldiers and civilians gathered Wednesday in ceremonies across China to mourn the 2,064 victims killed in a devastating quake that hit one week ago in a remote Tibetan region.
At the quake’s epicenter in Yushu County in western Qinghai province, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Flags at half-staff in China as country mourns 2,000 quake victims.

Cops to criminal – stay away from all rooftops

LONDON – A petty criminal who routinely escapes the police by getting on the roof of his house in Britain has been barred from every rooftop in his area as officials fear he may sue them if he falls.

Adam Paul Corbett has forced 10-hour rooftop stand-offs when police officials came to arrest him and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Cops to criminal – stay away from all rooftops.

Briton goes to jail over kiss in Dubai

LONDON – A 26-year-old British woman, who was convicted of indecency for kissing a man in Dubai, waived her right to a final appeal and has begun a month-long prison term.

Charlotte Adams gave up the effort to prove her innocence Tuesday and went to the Dubai Central Prison as she believes she will get back …. Source  : Briton goes to jail over kiss in Dubai.

Woman killed as sex session goes wrong

LONDON – A British woman was strangled by her boyfriend during a sex session that went wrong. The man claims that the victim encouraged him to squeeze her throat during sex, a court was told.

Jason O’Malley, 39, told the police that his girlfriend Kerry Sneddon liked him to apply “a little bit of pressure” and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Goods train derails, Delhi-Howrah traffic disrupted

LUCKNOW – Rail traffic on the busy Delhi-Howrah route was disrupted Wednesday when three wagons of a goods train derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district early Wednesday. No one was injured, authorities said.

The accident took place near Amiapur railway station in Kanpur, some 80 km from Lucknow, when the train was headed for Delhi from … Original article on : Goods train derails, Delhi-Howrah traffic disrupted.

150 gold coins seized from American in Mexico

Mexico City, April 21 (IANS/EFE) At least 150 gold coins were found in the baggage of a US citizen as he awaited a flight to Panama here at the Mexico City airport, officials have said.

Thomas Arnold Martin, 58, “appeared visibly nervous”, prompting agents to run his suitcase through a scanner, which detected several containers inside, … Original article on : 150 gold coins seized from American in Mexico.

Hollywood film on murdered Indian-origin girl

VANCOUVER – Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon will produce a film on the murder of Indo-Canadian girl Reena Virk who was beaten and then drowned in Victoria city near here in 1997.

The murder of Reena Virk by white teenagers had made international headlines 13 years ago, leading to calls for stricter juvenile justice laws in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.