China says weighing evidence in sinking of South Korean warship Seoul blames on North Korea

China weighing evidence in SKorea ship sinking
BEIJING – China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it was still weighing the evidence over the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship that Seoul blames on North Korea.
China is North Korea’s most important ally, and allegations that Pyongyang is behind the incident have tested Beijing’s ability to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : China says weighing evidence in sinking of South Korean warship Seoul blames on North Korea.

Turbulence injures 10 aboard London to Los Angeles flight; pilot lands plane in Montreal

Turbulence injures 10 on London to LA flight

LOS ANGELES – Authorities say 10 people suffered injuries, including broken bones, during severe turbulence on a flight from London to Los Angeles that was diverted to Montreal.
United Airlines spokeswoman Sarah Massier says United Flight 935 reported severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday and landed in Montreal …. Original article  : Turbulence injures 10 aboard London to Los Angeles flight; pilot lands plane in Montreal.

Oil patches spotted near Singapore coast

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s port authority Wednesday said that patches of oil and sheen have been sighted at a naval base on its coast after 2,500 tonnes of crude oil leaked from a damaged tanker following a collision.

However, “other than this, the oil slick has not affected Singapore’s coastlines”, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore …. Read the original article  : Oil patches spotted near Singapore coast.

100 clerical sex abuse cases reported in Italy

Vatican City, May 26 (IANS/AKI) There have been at least 100 cases of clerical sex abuse reported in Italy in the past 10 years, a top ranking church official has said.

Mariano Crociata, the second-highest ranked official in the Italian bishops conference, however, declined to say how many of the cases resulted in any action against … Read more »»».

Rathore not first Haryana DGP behind bars

CHANDIGARH – Former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore, who woke up in jail Wednesday after being held for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, has joined a select band of top police officers of the state who ended up on the wrong side of the law they were supposed to protect.

It took the country’s legal system nearly … Original article on : Rathore not first Haryana DGP behind bars.

Rathore seeks bail from high court

CHANDIGARH – Disgraced former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore filed a bail petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court through his lawyer and wife Abha Rathore Wednesday, a day after he was convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

According to court sources, Rathore, who was arrested Tuesday and sent to jail after he was sentenced … Read more »»».

Conmen found selling passes to Russian parliament

Moscow, May 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Two fraudsters were Wednesday caught selling entry passes to the Russian parliament at 150,000 rubles ($4,765) each, police said.

The two conmen were caught selling seats in an expert council committee on construction and land affairs in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, police spokesperson Filipp Zolotnitsky said.
The …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Conmen found selling passes to Russian parliament.

With future of oil drilling in question, Obama pivots to alternative energy

As oil spills, Obama touts alternative energy
SAN FRANCISCO – President Barack Obama will promote the benefits of alternative energy Wednesday as a way to strengthen the economy and relieve the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
Obama will tour a solar panel manufacturing facility in northern California that has added jobs as a result of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : With future of oil drilling in question, Obama pivots to alternative energy.

BP says it hasn’t decided whether to cut live video feed when it tries to plug Gulf well

BP says it hasn’t decided on video of plug attempt

COVINGTON, La. – BP says it hasn’t decided yet whether to cut off a live video feed when it begins trying to cut off the Gulf oil leak by injecting heavy drilling mud into the well.
Democratic Congressman Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts said Tuesday the company … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : BP says it hasn’t decided whether to cut live video feed when it tries to plug Gulf well.

Man on motorised wheelchair fined for speeding

Rio de Janeiro, May 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Traffic police in Brazil fined a disabled man on a motorised wheelchair for “speeding” down a busy highway. The man said he “simply wanted to test his new invention”.

An elderly man with disabilities, whose name was not disclosed, was found speeding down a busy highway in his self-made …. Source article  : Man on motorised wheelchair fined for speeding.

First death in Jhansi chimney mishap, one still missing

LUCKNOW – The body of a labourer was dug out Wednesday from the debris of the chimney collapse in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh, confirming the first death in the accident that occurred two days ago.

“The body was taken out of the rubble early today (Wednesday). A person is still missing and could be …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP source: Interior report to call for tougher rules on drilling, inspections

AP source: Report to call for tougher drill rules
WASHINGTON – An administration official says a report ordered by President Barack Obama is expected to call for tougher safety requirements for offshore drilling and a stronger inspections regime.
The Interior Department report will be delivered to Obama on Thursday and he will discuss its findings. … Read more >>>.

Rathore’s first night in jail like normal prisoner

CHANDIGARH – Disgraced former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore, convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, spent his first night in Burail jail here with authorities maintaining that he was not given any additional services and was treated just like a normal prisoner.

“He is just like any other prisoner for us. We have not given him … Read more >>>.

Coast Guard: About 100 tar balls found throughout Fla. Keys, but none linked to Gulf spill

Tar balls in Fla. Keys not linked to Gulf spill

KEY WEST, Fla. – The Coast Guard says around 100 tar balls have been recovered throughout the Florida Keys in the last week, but none have been linked to the massive Gulf of Mexico spill.
Capt. Pat DeQuattro said Tuesday an early analysis has been able to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BP says equipment in place for ‘top kill’ effort to plug Gulf oil spill; testing for Weds. try

BP: Equipment in place for Gulf ‘top kill’ try

COVINGTON, La. – BP engineers say they have the equipment in place to try a complicated procedure that they hope will seal the blown-out Gulf of Mexico oil well.
BP PLC senior vice president Kent Wells said Tuesday the company hopes to launch the “top kill” on Wednesday … Read more »»».

32 arrested in trans-European anti-drug operation

London, May 26 (IANS/EFE) At least 32 people have been arrested in an anti-drug and anti-trafficking operation across Europe conducted by 750 police officials from Europol, the European Union’s criminal intelligence agency.

Twenty people were arrested in Spain and 12 in Britain Tuesday, in a joint operation in London and Spain’s Costa del Sol. The operation … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 32 arrested in trans-European anti-drug operation.

BP agrees to show live feed of ‘top kill’ effort to plug oil spill in Gulf of Mexico

BP agrees to show ‘top kill’ video
WASHINGTON – BP has agreed at the request of the Obama administration to show video of the “top kill” designed to choke off the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The company plans to try to execute the tricky procedure as early as dawn Wednesday. It’s the latest attempt … Original article on : BP agrees to show live feed of ‘top kill’ effort to plug oil spill in Gulf of Mexico.

The mobile number that rang the death knell

LONDON – The Bulgarian mobile phone number – 0888 888 888 – has been suspended after every person who used it in the past 10 years died. The last man to own it was gunned down outside an Indian restaurant in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

Vladimir Grashnov, former CEO of Bulgarian mobile phone company Mobitel, was …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : The mobile number that rang the death knell.

Sanatan Sanstha members Googled bomb circuit diagrams

PANAJI – Members of the Hindu rightwing group Sanatan Sanstha (SS), accused of carrying out the 2009 Diwali eve blast in Goa, ‘Googled’ circuit diagrams from the internet and later used them to build improvised explosive devices (IED), National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials said.

“In furtherance of the said conspiracy, accused Dhananjay Ashtekar downloaded circuit … Read more »»».

No quick decision from US judicial panel on consolidating oil spill lawsuits

No quick decision on consolidating oil lawsuits

MIAMI – There will be no quick decision from a federal judicial panel on whether to consolidate more than 130 lawsuits filed over the Gulf oil spill.
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation rejected requests from attorneys to issue a ruling this month. The panel said in an order …. Original source  : No quick decision from US judicial panel on consolidating oil spill lawsuits.