Crashed passenger plane found in Afghanistan

KABUL – The wreckage of a commercial airliner that disappeared in Afghanistan with 43 people on board has been located by NATO forces, an official said Thursday.

Search aircraft found and photographed the wreckage in the mountainous region 40 km north of Kabul, said Nangiallay Qalatwal, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Crashed passenger plane found in Afghanistan.

Next Indian Ocean cyclone to be called Bandu

NEW DELHI – It might not be known when the next cyclone will hit the northern Indian Ocean, but what is already known is its name – Bandu, an official said Thursday.

Cyclones derive their names through a systematic procedure laid down by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social … Read : Next Indian Ocean cyclone to be called Bandu.

Cyclone Laila hits train services in coastal Andhra

HYDERABAD – The severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal has badly hit train services in coastal Andhra Pradesh with as many as 31 passenger trains being cancelled and some others diverted.

In view of heavy rains and gales in nine coastal districts, which are under the influence of cyclone Laila, the South Central Railway … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cyclone Laila hits train services in coastal Andhra.

Real Ninjas fight off muggers in Sydney

SYDNEY – Three men who targeted a student in a dark Sydney alley got the fright of their lives when five martial art experts, wearing their traditional all black Ninja uniforms, pounced on them. The muggers had to run for the lives and the victim escaped with minor injuries.

The German medical student probably looked like …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

25 killed in Karachi political-ethnic violence

KARACHI – The paramilitary Pakistan Rangers were called in after political-ethnic violence in this southern port city claimed 25 lives, a media report Thursday said.

The violence — which began late Tuesday, continued through the day Wednesday and spilled over to Thursday morning — targeted activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) the Awami National Party …. Original source  : 25 killed in Karachi political-ethnic violence.

Laila Cyclone To Hit Today

CHENNAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Weather Department of India has reported that a major cyclone, named Laila, is about to hit the east coast of the country on May 20. The areas of the country that are going to be hit the most by the Cyclone Laila are the coastal states, and among them, …. Original source  : Laila Cyclone To Hit Today.

Scientists say oil has arrived in loop current, posing broader environmental risk

Oil’s arrival in loop current has Fla. on edge

NEW ORLEANS – An outer edge of the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill has reached a powerful current that could take it to Florida and beyond, according to government scientists.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that a small portion of the slick from the …. Original article  : Scientists say oil has arrived in loop current, posing broader environmental risk.

More than 50,000 evacuated in southern India as region braces for worst cyclone in 14 years

Indian state braces for fierce storm; 15 killed

HYDERABAD, India – Cyclone Laila slammed into the south Indian coast on Thursday, battering the region with heavy rains and winds up to 90 kilometers (55 miles) per hour, and uprooting trees and electric lines, officials said.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said that the cyclone appeared to …. Source  : More than 50,000 evacuated in southern India as region braces for worst cyclone in 14 years.

Afghan officials say search craft have located the tail of missing passenger plane

Afghan officials: tail of missing plane spotted

KABUL, Afghanistan – Search craft on Thursday spotted the tail of a commercial airliner that disappeared Monday while flying over the Hindu Kush mountains with 44 people on board, Afghan officials said.
Air traffic controllers lost track of the Antonov-24, operated by Pamir Airways, when it was about 55 miles …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Debt-ridden couple commits suicide

AGRA – Burdened by huge debts, a businessman and his wife committed suicide in Chatta area here, police said Thursday.

Pankaj Agrawal, 35, and his wife Sarita ended their lives by consuming a poisonous ubstance late Wednesday. They have two daughters, five-year-old Suhani and
three-year-old Ashu, police said.
According to family members, Pankaj, who traded …. Source  : Debt-ridden couple commits suicide.

Chinese teacher jailed for holding group sex parties

BEIJING – An associate professor in a Chinese university was Thursday sentenced to a prison term for organising group sex parties.

The Qinhuai District People’s Court in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, handed down verdicts to 22 people, including associate professor Ma Yaohai, after convicting them on charges of group licentiousness.
Ma was given three-and-a-half years in …. Original source  : Chinese teacher jailed for holding group sex parties.

Five killed in accident, driver commits suicide

LUCKNOW – Five people were killed when a tractor-trolley overturned early Thursday in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur district, police said. The traumatised driver allegedly committed suicide after the incident.

Seven residents of Nailapur village in Lakhimpur were returning to their village after selling their wheat stocks when the tractor-trolley in which they were travelling spun out of … Read : Five killed in accident, driver commits suicide.

Father, son murdered in gurdwara premises

GHAZIABAD – A man and his father were stabbed to death inside the premises of a gurdwara in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh early Thursday, police said.

Sujan Singh was sleeping outside the main complex of the gurdwara in Govindpuri area of Modi Nagar township. At about 3.30 a.m. three people entered the premises and stabbed … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Father, son murdered in gurdwara premises.

Briton killed wife for overcooked dinner

LONDON – A Briton killed his wife with a single punch after she threw plates at him for complaining about overcooked dinner, a court was told.

Jonathan Wicks, 48, punched wife Sarah after she threw plates at him because he complained about the burned roast beef. The blow ruptured an artery in her neck and she …. Source  : Briton killed wife for overcooked dinner.

Woman charged with cheating stopped from taking India flight

KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian Indian woman executive charged with cheating was stopped from boarding a flight to India by officials who fear she could abscond.

Former Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) CEO P. Chithirakala had been charged last week with three counts of cheating involving a total of RM 4million ($1.22 million) by the …. Source  : Woman charged with cheating stopped from taking India flight.

Turkish energy minister says rescuers in mine hit by explosion have found 28 bodies

Rescuers find 28 bodies in Turkish mine
ANKARA, Turkey – Rescuers on Thursday found the bodies of 28 miners deep in a damaged coal mine, making the methane gas explosion three days earlier one of the deadliest mine accidents in Turkey in recent years.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said rescuers were still trying to find two miners … Read more »».

10 imprisoned on false charges to get compensation

PATNA – The Bihar Human Rights Commission has directed the government to pay 10 people, jailed on false charges of murder and kidnapping, compensation of Rs.40,000 each.

Commission chairman, Justice (retired) S.N. Jha, Thursday also recommended appropriate action be initiated against officials responsible for their wrongful confinement.
The order came after a senior police … Read more : 10 imprisoned on false charges to get compensation.

Thai government extends curfew in Bangkok, 23 other provinces by 3 more days

Curfew extended by 3 days in Bangkok, 23 provinces

BANGKOK – Thai authorities have extended the curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces by three more days.
Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kawekamnerd says the curfew would be in force from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Saturday night.
The curfew was imposed on Wednesday after widespread rioting in … Read more »»».

A look at past attacks blamed on North Korea

A look at NKorean attacks on rival South
A look at attacks blamed on North Korea:

- January 1967: North Korea fires on South Korean naval ship patrolling waters near maritime border, sinking warship. Thirty-nine of the 79 sailors on board are killed, 40 injured.
- January 1968: Thirty-one North Korean commandos try to storm South Korea’s presidential …. Source article  : A look at past attacks blamed on North Korea.

Troops moving against pockets of resistance after protesters torch Bangkok buildings

Troops move against protest holdouts in Bangkok

BANGKOK – The Thai government declared Thursday it had mostly quelled ten weeks of violent protests in the capital while buildings smoldered, troops rooted out small pockets of resistance and residents attempted a return to normal life.
But a nighttime curfew was extended in Bangkok and 23 other provinces for … Read : Troops moving against pockets of resistance after protesters torch Bangkok buildings.