No CBI probe into drug mafia nexus case, Goa tells court

PANAJI – Going against the recommendations of the police, the Goa government Friday told the Bombay High Court that it is not willing to hand over the probe into the police-politician-drug mafia nexus to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Panaji bench of the high court had directed the government to formally state if it … Original article on : No CBI probe into drug mafia nexus case, Goa tells court.

Man who studied Jack the Ripper charged with prostitutes’ murder

LONDON – A PhD student, who researched on serial killer Jack the Ripper, has been charged with the murders of three prostitutes in Britain.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, is alleged to have killed Suzanne Blamires, Susan Rushworth and Shelley Armitage within Bradford city’s red light district in the past 11 months, The Telegraph reported Friday.
A caretaker … Read : Man who studied Jack the Ripper charged with prostitutes’ murder.

Orissa-bound trains diverted

BHUBANESWAR – An Orissa-bound train was cancelled and several others, including the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani, were diverted Friday after the West Bengal railway accident.

The Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express from Howrah has been cancelled, railway official Nirakar Das told IANS.
The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Neelachal Express were diverted. They will run via … Read : Orissa-bound trains diverted.

Train driver heard explosion, felt vibrations

JHARGRAM – The driver of Gyaneshwari Express heard an explosion and then felt vibrations before the Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed near here Friday, killing at least 65 people, says a top police officer.

“As per the driver, when the train was passing, he heard the sound of an explosion. Then he also felt some vibrations. And …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Train driver heard explosion, felt vibrations.

Constable killed in Maoist blast

RANCHI – A police constable was killed and two critically injured when Maoists exploded a landmine in Jharkhand Friday shortly after the Palamau superintendent of police (SP) passed the area, police said.

“A landmine blast took between Manatau and Chak village in which one constable was killed and two were injured,” Jharkhand Director General of Police …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Constable killed in Maoist blast.

Chidambaram suspects sabotage behind train accident

NEW DELHI – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday said he suspected sabotage behind the derailment of a Howrah-Mumbai train in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district though it was unclear whether explosives were used.

“It appears to be a case of sabotage where a portion of the railway track was removed. Whether explosives were used is not …. Source  : Chidambaram suspects sabotage behind train accident.

Death, anxiety writ large over accident site

JHARGRAM – Children shocked into silence, survivors screaming for their missing kin, body upon mutilated body being taken out of mangled coaches… horrific scenes played out at the site of Friday’s train accident here that claimed at least 65 lives.

“They are all dead,” is all that a middle-aged man could say. He had boarded the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Death, anxiety writ large over accident site.

Maoist violence national problem, says BJP after train tragedy

NEW DELHI – Blaming Maoists for the train accident in West Bengal that killed 65 people, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday said violence by the guerrillas should be treated as a national problem.

Condemning the “unfortunate incident of attack on a train in West Bengal”, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was time the … Read : Maoist violence national problem, says BJP after train tragedy.

Railways a ’soft target’: Minister

NEW DELHI – The railways have become a “soft target” for “anti-national forces”, Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed said Friday, after suspected Maoists derailed a train in West Bengal.

“By targeting railways, anti-national groups are inflicting the greatest harm on innocent poor people,” the minister told IANS from Kozhikode in Kerala.
But he added … Original source on Gaea Times at : Railways a ’soft target’: Minister.

At least 50 trapped in mangled train coaches

JHARGRAM – More than 50 people remain trapped inside the mangled coaches of a Mumbai-bound passenger train that derailed Friday, a rescue worker estimated, hours after the accident blamed on Maoists.

“We think more than 50 people are still trapped inside. Most are inside S3 and S4 coaches,” said a rescue official from the accident site …. Read the original article  : At least 50 trapped in mangled train coaches.

73 killed in Jamaican drug violence

Kingston, May 28 (IANS/EFE) At least 73 people were killed and dozens wounded in clashes between security forces and drug gangs in Jamaica, authorities said.

Clashes erupted during raids Thursday to capture crime boss Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is wanted by the US on drug and weapons charges.
About 500 people have been arrested in the [..] Read the original article: here.

BP: Effort has started to try to stop leaking Gulf oil well by filling it with mud, cement

BP begins ‘top kill’ method to try to stop gusher

COVINGTON, La. – BP on Wednesday launched its latest bid to plug the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico by force-feeding it heavy drilling mud and cement.
The oil giant’s chief executive earlier gave the procedure a 60 to 70 percent chance of working, and President … Read more »»».

Helpline numbers for West Bengal train accident

JHARGRAM – The railways have opened the following helplines for information on the train accident near here Friday:

Howrah: 033-26382217
Kharagpur: 032-22255751, 032-22255735
Toll free: 10722
…. Original article  : Helpline numbers for West Bengal train accident.

Mexican court upholds emergency birth control pill for rape victims

Mexico City, May 28 (IANS/EFE) Mexico’s Supreme Court has upheld a federal regulation forcing public hospitals to offer the morning-after birth control pill to rape victims.

After six sessions of intense debate, 10 of the 11 magistrates Thursday backed regulation NOM-046, court sources told EFE.
The case began in June 2009, when the governor of Jalisco … Original article on : Mexican court upholds emergency birth control pill for rape victims.

Gyaneshwari Express Accident Sends Shock Wave

WEST MIDNAPORE, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- In what is being suspected as a case of sabotage by Maoists, a Mumbai bound express train full of passengers derailed in West Bengal and rammed into a goods train resulting in 30 deaths. The number of casualty may rise as it is being expected. The ill fated Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya … Read more >>.

Blast caused accident, probe ordered: Mamata Banerjee

JHARGRAM – Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday ordered a probe into the train accident in West Bengal that claimed 65 lives and said a bomb blast triggered by suspected Maoists caused the derailment of the coaches. She added that the army had been deployed for rescue operations.

Banerjee, who rushed to the accident spot, said rescue …. Source article  : Blast caused accident, probe ordered: Mamata Banerjee.

65 dead in Bengal train accident, Maoists sabotage suspected (Fifth Lead)

JHARGRAM – At least 65 people were killed and over 200 injured early Friday when a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed and was hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal, officials said, suspecting sabotage by Maoist guerrillas.

“Sixty-five bodies have been recovered. There may be many more,” West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh told …. Source  : 65 dead in Bengal train accident, Maoists sabotage suspected (Fifth Lead).

13 bodies recovered from Peru shipwreck

Lima, May 28 (IANS/EFE) Thirteen bodies have been recovered from a Peruvian ship that sank in the Amazon river near the border with Colombia, officials said.

A total of 220 passengers survived, including two Germans and an Italian, Iquitos harbormaster Gonzalo Meza told EFE Thursday. At least 18 people are still missing.
The Camila vessel sank … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 13 bodies recovered from Peru shipwreck.

No help from authorities, say kin of train accident victims

MUMBAI – Angry relatives trying to come to terms with the loss of their family members in the Mumbai-bound train accident in West Bengal that left at least 65 people dead and 200 injured Friday complained of little help from railway authorities.

A relative of one of the suspected victims of the accident at the Kurla …. Source article  : No help from authorities, say kin of train accident victims.

65 dead in train accident: Bengal home secretary

KOLKATA – At least 65 people have been killed and over 200 injured in a train accident in West Bengal early Friday, according to state Home Secretary Samar Ghosh.

Ghosh told NDTV news channel that 65 bodies have been recovered as per “the information I just receieved” from the mangled coaches of Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe … Original article on : 65 dead in train accident: Bengal home secretary.

Feds: La. plan for sand barrier to protect coast could push oil deeper and into Miss.

Feds: La. barrier plan could push oil onto Miss.

NEW ORLEANS – Federal officials say Louisiana’s request for a coastal sand barrier to block the oil slick pushing in from the Gulf of Mexico could inadvertently funnel oil deeper into unprotected areas and onto neighboring Mississippi.
Documents released Wednesday show federal officials are concerned the barrier could …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rs.500,000 for kin of dead; will increase patrolling: Mamata

JHARGRAM – The railways have announced compensation of Rs.500,000 to each of the families of those killed in the train accident in West Bengal early Friday and a job for one member of the family. About 65 people were killed and 200 injured.

“We will give compensation of Rs.500,000 as ex-gratia to all the families whose … Original article on : Rs.500,000 for kin of dead; will increase patrolling: Mamata.

PM grieves loss of lives in train accident

NEW DELHI – A “grieved” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday announced monetary assistance of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 each to the seriously injured in the train accident in West Bengal.

“The prime minister is grieved to learn of the tragedy today (Friday) morning,” a statement from … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PM grieves loss of lives in train accident.

20 die as train derails after suspected Maoist sabotage (Fourth Lead)

JHARGRAM – At least 20 people were killed and over 100 injured early Friday when the engine and 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal, officials said.

They said 20 bodies had been recovered from the derailed and badly damaged coaches of the Howrah-Kurla …. Original article  : 20 die as train derails after suspected Maoist sabotage (Fourth Lead).

Officials: Suspected terror blast in southern Russian city kills 5, wounds at least 20

Officials: Terror blast in southern Russia kills 5

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – An explosion tore through the center of a southern Russian city on Wednesday, killing five people and wounding at least 20 as locals gathered for a Chechen dance concert, officials said.
The blast bore the hallmarks of terrorist attacks that plague Russia’s North Caucasus region, though … Read : Officials: Suspected terror blast in southern Russian city kills 5, wounds at least 20.

Mamata announces Rs.5 lakh compensation for families of dead

JHARGRAM – The railways have announced a compensation of
Rs.500,000 to each of the families of the dead passengers and jobs for one member of the bereaved families following the train accident that left 20 dead and over 100 injured near here Friday.

“We will give compensation of Rs.500,000 as ex-gratia to all the families … Read more : Mamata announces Rs.5 lakh compensation for families of dead.

Sabotage may have caused train derailment: Railways

NEW DELHI – The Indian Railways said sabotage by suspected Maoist guerrillas may have caused the train derailment in West Bengal that left 20 people dead and over 100 injured early Friday.

“We suspect it is a case of sabotage. The driver (of the passenger train) has reported to have heard a large sound. There was …. Original source  : Sabotage may have caused train derailment: Railways.

Train derailment: IAF launches rescue efforts

NEW DELHI – The Indian Air Force (IAF) Friday launched a massive rescue operation after a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district, killing 20 people and injuring over 100.

Two air force helicopters were pressed into service and a medical team rushed in to carry out rescue operation for the hundreds of … Read more : Train derailment: IAF launches rescue efforts.

Chinese court orders suspended death sentence for Tibetan linked to 2008 Lhasa riots

Tibetan gets suspended death sentence for riots

BEIJING – A court in Lhasa has given a Tibetan a suspended death sentence for taking part in riots that erupted in the remote Himalayan region two years ago, an overseas Tibetan rights group said.
The Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy said in a statement late … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chinese court orders suspended death sentence for Tibetan linked to 2008 Lhasa riots.

Fifteen die as train derails in West Bengal (Third Lead)

KOLKATA – At least 15 people were killed and more than 100 injured early Friday when the engine and 12 coaches of a Kurla-bound passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, officials and witnesses said.

Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh said five bodies had been …. Source  : Gaea News Network.