Oil falls slightly to near $78 in Asia as traders eye possible Gulf of Mexico hurricane

Oil falls toward $78 as traders eye Gulf storm

SINGAPORE – Oil prices dropped slightly to near $78 a barrel Monday in Asia as traders kept a close eye on damage a possible hurricane could cause rigs in the Gulf of Mexico this week.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was down 25 cents to $78.61 a barrel … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Oil falls slightly to near $78 in Asia as traders eye possible Gulf of Mexico hurricane.

Truck carrying chemicals accidentally explodes in Pakistan, killing 18, say police

Accidental truck blast kills 18 in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan – A truck carrying chemicals accidentally exploded Monday in southern Pakistan after pressure built up in its storage tank, killing 18 people and wounding 40, police said.
Hundreds of people rushed to the truck depot in Hyderabad city to search through the rubble of destroyed shops for dead …. Original source  : Truck carrying chemicals accidentally explodes in Pakistan, killing 18, say police.

Delhi shootout accused to be produced in court

NEW DELHI – A Delhi Jal Board (DJB) employee, accused of shooting a man and injuring two others when denied entry to a brothel in the national capital, will be produced in court Monday, Delhi Police said.

Inebriated Kanta Prasad tried to enter the brothel on G.B. Road Sunday to meet his sister-in-law but was denied …. Read the original article  : here.

Gas truck accidentally explodes in southern Pakistan, killing 18, say police

Accidental gas truck blast kills 18 in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan – Police say a gas truck accidentally exploded in southern Pakistan, killing 18 people and wounding 40.
Mohammad Ali Baloch said the truck exploded Monday at a depot in Hyderabad city after gas pressure built up in a storage tank. Baloch is the top police official in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Tropical Storm Alex gaining strength over Gulf of Mexico; could become hurricane

Tropical Storm Alex gaining strength over Gulf

BELIZE CITY – Tropical Storm Alex was gaining strength as it swirled across the Gulf of Mexico Monday on a path toward Mexico’s northeastern coast – well clear of a massive oil spill.
The storm could become a hurricane by Tuesday and its heavy rains are expected to begin lashing …. Source  : Tropical Storm Alex gaining strength over Gulf of Mexico; could become hurricane.

Eight injured in clash with police at Tata Steel

RANCHI – Eight labourers were injured in a clash with the police at the main entrance of the Tata Steel plant at Jamshedpur near here Monday, police said.

According to a company official, the clash occurred after the security guards of the steel plant sought gate pass from a group of labourers.
“An altercation between contract …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Eight injured in clash with police at Tata Steel.

Oil giant may turn to Bill Clinton’s disaster chief to improve its response and public image

Ex-FEMA director could help BP out of its disaster
WASHINGTON – James Lee Witt, America’s go-to guy for disaster response, knows how to take an unpopular organization and turn it around. If BP hires the former Federal Emergency Management Agency director to help with community relations, it could further a makeover of the oil …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Oil giant may turn to Bill Clinton’s disaster chief to improve its response and public image.

Indian toddler drowns in jacuzzi on Nepal holiday

KATHMANDU – A summer vacation in Nepal turned into bleak tragedy for an Indian couple from Bihar with their three-year-old daughter drowning in a jacuzzi in an upmarket resort.

Vikash Agrawal, a Marwari trader based in Raxaul town in India’s Bihar state, had planned to take a summer break in Nepal with his family and friends. …. Source  : Indian toddler drowns in jacuzzi on Nepal holiday.

NATO says Taliban leader killed in Kandahar operation; residents claim troops killed civilians

NATO, civilians give 2 accounts of fatal operation

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – NATO said Monday that a Taliban commander was among several armed individuals killed during a search operation in Kandahar, but residents claim the troops killed eight innocent civilians, including two elderly men.
NATO said in a statement that coalition and Afghan troops went to a compound …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : NATO says Taliban leader killed in Kandahar operation; residents claim troops killed civilians.

Admiral to check on Gulf oil response in person; visit comes as oil washes ashore in Miss.

Admiral back on the Gulf Coast for spill
NEW ORLEANS – The admiral in charge of the spill response was headed back to the Gulf Coast a day after Mississippi’s governor said he would press BP and the federal government for more help because oil started washing up on the shoreline of his state.

On Sunday, oil …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Economic damage caused by oil spill may not go beyond the Gulf region

Oil spill’s economic damage may not go beyond Gulf
WASHINGTON – The BP oil spill has hammered the fishing and tourism industries along the Gulf of Mexico. But it appears the economic damage to the rest of the nation will be limited.
Analysts say the spill will reduce economic growth by only about one-half of … Original article on : Economic damage caused by oil spill may not go beyond the Gulf region.

Flotilla of barges _ ‘the Cajun navy’ _ to serve as oil barricade off Louisiana coast

Flotilla of barges used as oil barricade
GRAND ISLE, La. – Mired in a daily battle against the oil soiling Louisiana’s shorelines, marshes and wetlands, locals in this barrier island town are pushing ahead with a novel plan to block the crude’s path with a flotilla of barges.

“The Cajun navy,” Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle calls …. Read the original article  : Flotilla of barges _ ‘the Cajun navy’ _ to serve as oil barricade off Louisiana coast.

Roadside bombing in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 2 civilians in minivan

Roadside bomb kills at least 2 Afghans in minivan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Officials say a roadside bombing in eastern Afghanistan has killed at least two civilians in a minivan.
The vehicle was traveling down a main road in Ghazni province when it exploded Monday.
Andar district administrator Sher Khan Yasoufzai said two bodies of women were pulled from …. Source  : Roadside bombing in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 2 civilians in minivan.

28 dead, 44 hurt in Bolivia bus accident

La Paz, June 28 (IANS/EFE) At least 28 people were killed and 44 injured when a bus plunged into a ravine in Bolivia, police said.

The bus carrying 70 passengers was travelling from the central city of Cochabamba to the southwestern city of Potosi when it went off the road near the Pongo K’asa area … Original article on : 28 dead, 44 hurt in Bolivia bus accident.

Oil hovers below $79 in Asia as traders eye possible Gulf of Mexico hurricane

Oil hovers below $79 as traders eye Gulf storm

SINGAPORE – Oil prices hovered below $79 a barrel Monday in Asia as traders kept a close eye on damage a possible hurricane could cause rigs in the Gulf of Mexico this week.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was down 6 cents to $78.80 a barrel at early …. Original article  : Oil hovers below $79 in Asia as traders eye possible Gulf of Mexico hurricane.

Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4; confidantes say man briefly dated victim

Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4

NORTHAMPTON, Pa. – A man who served prison time for a 1992 murder was charged Sunday with fatally stabbing four people, including a woman described as the suspect’s former girlfriend and her 87-year-old grandfather.
Police charged Michael Eric Ballard, 36, with four counts of homicide for Saturday’s rampage …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage that killed 4; confidantes say man briefly dated victim.

Drunk driver injures five in Lucknow

LUCKNOW – A drunk youth lost control over his car here and hit five people, injuring four of them critically, police said Monday.

“Siddharth Katwani, 21, was driving a Maruti Zen late Sunday. He first hit a man on Gwyne road. He did not stop and hit four more people, including two minors, while trying to …. Read the original article  : here.

NKorea says it must bolster nuclear capability to deal with ‘hostile’ US policy

NKorea says it must bolster nuclear capability

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea said Monday it must bolster its nuclear capability in a “newly developed way” to cope with what it sees as hostile U.S. policy and military threats amid tensions over the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship.
Separately, the North’s military accused the U.S. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NKorea says it must bolster nuclear capability to deal with ‘hostile’ US policy.

Alex regains tropical storm status over Gulf of Mexico; could become hurricane

Alex grows back into tropical storm over Gulf

BELIZE CITY – Alex strengthened back into a tropical storm as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico late Sunday after dumping heavy rains on parts of Central America and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula that left four people dead.
Alex, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph), was …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Alex regains tropical storm status over Gulf of Mexico; could become hurricane.

Alex again a tropical storm; may become hurricane as it heads toward Mexico’s east coast

Tropical Storm Alex headed toward Mexican coast

MIAMI – Forecasters say Alex is again a tropical storm as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico and may become a hurricane as it swirls toward Mexico’s east coast.
Forecasters say the storm still is not on track to hit the oil spill on the northeastern end of the … Read more : Alex again a tropical storm; may become hurricane as it heads toward Mexico’s east coast.

Despite severe damage in some places, Gulf’s coastal wetlands mostly unscathed from oil spill

Gulf’s coastal wetlands surviving despite oil

BELLE CHASE, La. – From a seaplane 1,000 feet above Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, the places hit hardest by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are easy to spot – dark slashes marring a vast expanse of marshes and bayous.
Yet, after a recent flight over most of the affected sections, Paul …. Original source  : Despite severe damage in some places, Gulf’s coastal wetlands mostly unscathed from oil spill.

27 children fall ill after consuming mid-day meal

PATNA – At least 27 students of a school at Tajpur in Samastipur district of Bihar fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal in which a lizard was later found, officials said Tuesday.

“They are suffering from food poisoning. But after initial treatment, they are now out of danger,” said a doctor at a hospital.
According … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 27 children fall ill after consuming mid-day meal.

Spy thriller: US picks up 10 Russian agents

WASHINGTON – Less than a week after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama signalled the end of the Cold War with a burger lunch in Washington, the United States picked up ten people on charges of working as Russian spies. The arrests Sunday capped an almost surreal investigation that extended to the Clinton … Read more : Spy thriller: US picks up 10 Russian agents.

Six killed in Uttar Pradesh accident

LUCKNOW – At least six people, including two women, were killed and 16 injured after a head-on collision between a jeep and a mini bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad district Tuesday, police said.

The accident took place on the Allahabad-Rewa road in the Kaundhiyar area, about 200 km from Lucknow.
The injured were admitted to hospital … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Six killed in Uttar Pradesh accident.

Russia seeks explanation from US on spy scandal

Jerusalem, June 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia wants an explanation from the US over the arrest of a group of suspected Russian spies, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

The US Department of Justice said in a statement Monday that 11 people had been charged as “unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States”. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Russia seeks explanation from US on spy scandal.

Oil tumbles below $77 in Asia as fears ease tropical storm Alex will disrupt Gulf supplies

Oil tumbles below $77 as hurricane fears ease

SINGAPORE – Oil prices tumbled below $77 a barrel Tuesday in Asia on signs Tropical Storm Alex would likely miss most of the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving supplies undisrupted.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was down $1.69 to $76.56 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oil tumbles below $77 in Asia as fears ease tropical storm Alex will disrupt Gulf supplies.

Youth Congress leader arrested in Jharkhand

RANCHI – A Youth Congress leader was arrested in the company of a woman in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district, but his supporters said he had been framed.

Sanjay Marethia, who came from New Delhi to conduct Youth Congress elections in the district, about 90 km from here, was arrested after his hotel room was raided Monday night, …. Read the original article  : Youth Congress leader arrested in Jharkhand.

Search for missing airplane with 2 reporters on board focuses on Montana bison range

Search for missing airplane focuses on bison range

MOIESE, Mont. – Authorities focused on an 18,500-acre bison range Tuesday in their search for a single-engine airplane carrying two Montana newspaper reporters who were on a sightseeing tour that disappeared two days ago.
Reporters Melissa Weaver and Erika Hoefer of the Daily Inter Lake of Kalispell were going …. Source article  : Search for missing airplane with 2 reporters on board focuses on Montana bison range.

Man kills girl for crying during World Cup

WASHINGTON – A man beat his two-year-old stepdaughter then suffocated her to death in an American town for crying during a World Cup football match between the US and Ghana which the latter won. To make the killing look accidental, he jammed a screw down her throat.

Hector Castro, 28, has been arrested for murdering in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Man kills girl for crying during World Cup.

Rescuers use heavy equipment to search for 107 trapped in China landslide

Rescuers search for 107 in China landslide

BEIJING – Hope of finding survivors was dimishing Tuesday as rescuers used heavy machinery including bulldozers to search for at least 107 people trapped under a landslide in rain-hit southwestern China.
Villagers huddled in tents set up at the site as rescuers searched for their family members.
But there appeared to [..] Read the original article: here.

Police case against Gurgaon pub

GURGAON – Police have slapped a case against a pub here after a Delhi-based businessman alleged that he was beaten up by the staff when he ordered a third drink, police said Tuesday.

Gurbachan Singh filed a complaint against Addiction bar at MGF Mall following the incident Sunday night. “After verifying it, we registered a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Police case against Gurgaon pub.

Key incidents and events involving cockpit window fires in some Boeing airliners

Incidents, events involving Boeing cockpit fires

The Federal Aviation Administration has known for at least six years that a loose screw in the cockpit window heaters of some Boeing planes has caused electrical arcing and fires. The agency has been promising for nearly as long to order airlines to fix the problem, but no order has [..] Read the original article: here.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Despite complaints, FAA has yet to order airlines to act on cockpit fires

PROMISES, PROMISES: FAA slow on cockpit fires

WASHINGTON – Federal aviation officials have known for years that cockpit window heaters in some Boeing planes catch fire. But they haven’t required airlines to fix the problem, even after dozens of incidents that unnerved pilots and, in some cases, forced emergency landings.
Pilots have complained about heaters that burned, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PROMISES, PROMISES: Despite complaints, FAA has yet to order airlines to act on cockpit fires.

Priest removed in Italy after confessing to child abuse

Bolzano (Italy), June 29 (IANS/AKI) A 74-year-old priest has been removed from his position in northern Italy after confessing he sexually abused minors.

Alois Kranebitter, parish priest in the Alto Adige region’s Bolzano-Brixen diocese, will no longer be allowed to celebrate mass in public and will be obliged to live in a place where he has …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Strengthening Alex expected to become hurricane as it moves toward US-Mexico border area

Strengthening Alex expected to become hurricane

VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico – A strengthening Tropical Storm Alex was expected to become a hurricane Tuesday as it swirled toward the Gulf coast of northern Mexico and southern Texas, where authorities were readying emergency shelters and distributing sandbags.
Forecasters said the storm’s likely path would take it away from the site of … Original article on : Strengthening Alex expected to become hurricane as it moves toward US-Mexico border area.

China, US open Shanghai field epidemiology center, to train disease sleuths, boost prevention

China, US open disease study center in Shanghai

SHANGHAI – American and Shanghai health authorities opened an epidemiology center in the Chinese city Tuesday to train experts in sleuthing out ways to prevent chronic and epidemic diseases.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is helping with training and technical assistance at the center that will …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : China, US open Shanghai field epidemiology center, to train disease sleuths, boost prevention.

Wrestler pins down burglar in Britain

LONDON – A burglar got more than he bargained for when he broke into a wrestler’s home in Britain. When he saw the heavily muscled home owner, the thief begged for mercy.

Adam Kalinowski, a 37-year-old former professional wrestler from Poland, caught Lee Christie stealing a laptop.
An angry Kalinowski grappled with the thief, gripped …. Original article  : Wrestler pins down burglar in Britain.

Oil falls below $78 in Asia as fears ease that tropical storm Alex will disrupt Gulf supplies

Oil falls below $78 as hurricane fears ease

SINGAPORE – Oil prices fell below $78 a barrel Tuesday in Asia on signs Tropical Storm Alex would likely miss most of the rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving supplies undisrupted.
Benchmark crude for August delivery was down 53 cents to $77.72 a barrel at midday Singapore time … Read more >>>.

Catholic priest shot at in Bihar

PATNA – An unidentified man shot at a Catholic priest and seriously injured him in a Bihar town, police said Tuesday.

Father Michael Ignatius was shot at late Monday near Nazarath Hospital at Mokama, about 100 km from here. He was shifted to a hospital here.
“A person has been arrested in this connection. We are …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Catholic priest shot at in Bihar.

Chandigarh to have tourism police

CHANDIGARH – With Chandigarh fast turning into a favourite of tourists, authorities of the union territory are planning to have a special tourism police with knowledge of English and some other foreign languages to help the visitors.

Chandigarh, considered as the gateway to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, got nearly one million tourists …. Source  : Chandigarh to have tourism police.

20 hurt as garment workers clash with police in Dhaka

DHAKA – Twenty people were hurt Wednesday morning as industrial violence erupted at a factory here which was closed for five days after an official slapped a woman employee for faulty work.

Police charged with batons on the workers, lobbed teargas shells and also used a water cannon to disperse them.
The workers pelted brick …. Original article  : 20 hurt as garment workers clash with police in Dhaka.

Magnitude 6.5 quake reported in southern Mexico

Magnitude 6.5 quake hits southern Mexico
MEXICO CITY – A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca Wednesday, and was felt at least as far away as Mexico City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered in a sparsely populated, mountainous area of Oaxaca near the southern Pacific coast.
Gilberto Lopez of the … Read more : Magnitude 6.5 quake reported in southern Mexico.

12-year-old killed in firing at wedding

NEW DELHI – A 12-year-old boy has been killed in celebratory firing at a wedding party here, police said Wednesday. The accused has been arrested.

People from the groom’s family began firing in the air at Shahbad area at around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
A bullet hit Amit Singh, who had come to attend his … Original article on : 12-year-old killed in firing at wedding.

Australians who blinded Indian get away lightly

MELBOURNE – None of the Australians who thrashed an Indian student leaving him partially blind has got custodial sentences, with the last of the teenagers getting a suspended jail term Wednesday.

The teenagers who viciously attacked the Indian in March 2008 outside a Melbourne suburban train station have not even been locked up, the Herald Sun … Original article on : Australians who blinded Indian get away lightly.

Skimming, booming, other spill work idled by Gulf storms; relief well still being drilled

Wind, waves from hurricane dock oil skimming boats

GRAND ISLE, La. – Dozens of small skiffs, huge shrimp boats and even a swamp tour boat were tied to docks, winds whipping their flags and waves rocking them even in the sheltered marina.
Most days, the fleet would be skimming oil from the Gulf of Mexico and ferrying …. Original source  : Skimming, booming, other spill work idled by Gulf storms; relief well still being drilled.

Alex becomes Atlantic’s 1st hurricane of season as it rumbles toward Mexico, Texas coastlines

Hurricane Alex churns toward Mexico, Texas coasts
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Hurricane Alex churned westward through the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday, far from oil spill cleanup efforts but on a collision course with Mexico and the southern Texas coastline.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami upgraded the storm to a Category … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Alex becomes Atlantic’s 1st hurricane of season as it rumbles toward Mexico, Texas coastlines.

Canada geese that forced plane’s Hudson River landing still flying near NY airport runways

Geese behind plane’s NY river landing still around

NEW YORK – A year and a half after Canada geese forced an airliner to splash down in the Hudson River, officials are rounding them up in almost every part of the city – but flocks are still free to take off around John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The …. Source article  : Canada geese that forced plane’s Hudson River landing still flying near NY airport runways.

Businessman shot dead in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A 36-year-old businessman was shot dead here Wednesday by two unidentified motorcyclists as he prepared to enter a park for his morning walk, police said.

Jasbir of Narela was going to the park near his residence when he was killed around 6.35 a.m., a police officer said.
“He had parked his scooter and … Read more »».

Scientists to whisk some 70,000 turtle eggs away from oil spill in rare effort to save species

Some 70,000 turtle eggs to be whisked far from oil

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. – An effort to save thousands of sea turtle hatchlings from dying in the oily Gulf of Mexico will begin in the coming weeks in a desperate attempt to keep an entire generation of threatened species from vanishing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service …. Original source  : Scientists to whisk some 70,000 turtle eggs away from oil spill in rare effort to save species.

Indian minister held for flouting currency ban

KATHMANDU – In a potentially embarrassing situation for the Indian government, Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen was detained here Wednesday for flouting a currency ban that is punishable with a fine and imprisonment.

Imchen was detained at the Tribhuvan International Airport while trying to catch a Jet Airways flight to New Delhi.
Imchen, who won …. Original article  : Indian minister held for flouting currency ban.

8 militants killed in fighting at airport outside Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan

8 militants killed in gunbattle at Afghan airport

KABUL, Afghanistan – Militants set off a car bomb and stormed the entrance to an airport in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday in a failed attempt to enter the air field used by Afghan and international forces, authorities said. Eight insurgents died in the ensuing gunbattle.
The Taliban claimed responsibility … Read more »»».

NRI arrested for suspected honour killing in Punjab

AMRITSAR – A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) will be produced in a court here Wednesday following his arrest Tuesday night for allegedly murdering his teenaged step-daughter in a suspected case of honour killing.

Mehtab Singh was arrested after the police got a tip-off that he had brought his step-daughter Amritpal Kaur, 17, from Brussels, Belgium, earlier this … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : NRI arrested for suspected honour killing in Punjab.

Indian American’s death: Three teenagers charged with murder

NEW YORK – The US authorities have charged three teenagers with murder and conspiracy to commit murder after an Indian American professor died of injuries suffered in an attack near his home in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Divyendu Sinha, 49, succumbed to his injuries at 4 a.m. in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick Monday, … Original article on : Indian American’s death: Three teenagers charged with murder.

SKorea’s Defense Ministry seeking sharp budget increase amid tension over warship sinking

SKorea’s military wants budget increased sharply

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s Defense Ministry is seeking a sharp increase in next year’s budget to improve its fighting capability due to tensions over the deadly sinking of a warship blamed on North Korea, an official said Wednesday.
Defense Ministry officials have agreed to request about 31.6 trillion won …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : SKorea’s Defense Ministry seeking sharp budget increase amid tension over warship sinking.

Three arrested for attack on Catholic priest

PATNA – Three people have been arrested in connection with an attack on a Catholic priest in a Bihar town, police said Wednesday.

Father Michael Ignatius was shot at late Monday near Nazarath Hospital at Mokama, about 100 km from here. He was shifted to the Kurji Holy Family Hospital here. His condition is stated to …. Source  : Three arrested for attack on Catholic priest.

Indefinite curfew in south Kashmir after mob violence

SRINAGAR – An indefinite curfew was imposed Wednesday in south Kashmir towns of Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama while it continued without any relaxation for the fifth day in north Kashmir’s Sopore town and for the second day in Old City areas here to curb widespread violence.

Following the deaths of three teenagers in Anantnag town Tuesday, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Four killed in Uttar Pradesh accident

LUCKNOW – Four people were killed and eight critically injured when a car ran over them in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district while they were attending to a motorcyclist injured in an accident, police said Wednesday.

The Tavera car late Tuesday ran into the group of men attending to the motorcyclist who was hurt after colliding with …. Read the original article  : Four killed in Uttar Pradesh accident.

Police: Fighting erupts in eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, explosions heard at airport

Fighting erupts at airport in eastern Afghan city

KABUL, Afghanistan – Fighting has erupted in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad where police say they heard explosions at the airport.
Ghafor Khan, a spokesman for the provincial police chief in Nangarhar province, said Wednesday that police heard blasts and gunshots from inside the airport. He says international … Read : Police: Fighting erupts in eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, explosions heard at airport.

Amusement park accident in southern Chinese city kills 6, injures 10

Amusement park accident kills 6 in southern China

HONG KONG – An accident on a space-themed ride at a southern Chinese amusement park has killed six people and injured 10.
A statement Wednesday from the city government in Shenzhen said the accident occurred on the Space Journey ride at OCT East theme park Tuesday afternoon. It said …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Amusement park accident in southern Chinese city kills 6, injures 10.

As storms rattle Gulf Coast region, crews aboard ships cleaning spill become spectators

Cleanup ships idled as storm rattles Gulf region

GRAND ISLE, La. – The crashing waves and gusting winds churned up by now Hurricane Alex put the Gulf oil spill largely in Mother Nature’s hands Tuesday. Regardless of whether the storm makes things worse or even better, it has turned many people fighting the spill into spectators.
Oil-skimming … Original source on Gaea Times at : As storms rattle Gulf Coast region, crews aboard ships cleaning spill become spectators.

Kurla psycho killer arrested

MUMBAI – A psycho-killer wanted in the rape and murder of three minor girls in Kurla suburb of north-east Mumbai was arrested Thursday, police said.

“We arrested 19-year-old Javed Shaikh and presented him in the Vikhroli Court. He has been remanded to police custody for 14 days,” said zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Dilip Sawant. … Read more : Kurla psycho killer arrested.

Maoists mutilated bodies of slain securitymen

RAIPUR – Doctors, who performed autopsies of the 26 security personnel killed in a Maoist ambush in Chhattisgargh Tuesday, were stunned to find that at least 10 men had their hands and legs chopped off and throats slit.

“All the 26 bodies were bullet-ridden, but we found some 10 bodies with heads smashed, legs and hands … Read more >>>.

Hearing adjourned on Rathore plea till Friday

CHANDIGARH – The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday adjourned till Friday the hearing on the bail plea and revision petition of disgraced former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore, convicted for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra who later committed suicide.

Rathore was sentenced to 18 months rigorous imprisonment by the district and sessions court of Chandigarh. He …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Hearing adjourned on Rathore plea till Friday.

BP oil spill, gushing more than 2 months, nears somber record as Gulf of Mexico’s biggest ever

BP spill nears a somber record as Gulf’s biggest

NEW ORLEANS – BP’s massive oil spill will become the largest ever in the Gulf of Mexico by Thursday based on the highest of the federal government’s estimates, an ominous record that underscores the oil giant’s dire need to halt the gusher.
The oil that’s spewed for two …. Read the original article  : BP oil spill, gushing more than 2 months, nears somber record as Gulf of Mexico’s biggest ever.

Controlled release of water from swollen Iowa lake to test vulnerable Des Moines levee

Flood-wary Iowa residents plan for water release

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to slowly lower an inflatable dam Thursday to release some of the water that’s been building in a lake threatening to overflow and flood a Des Moines neighborhood.
The dam was installed as a temporary fix for the rapidly … Original source on Gaea Times at : Controlled release of water from swollen Iowa lake to test vulnerable Des Moines levee.

Scientist studying Indonesia’s last glacier says it will disappear in years, not decades

Indonesia’s last glacier will melt within years

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Lonnie Thompson spent years preparing for his expedition to the remote, mist-shrouded mountains of eastern Indonesia, hoping to chronicle the affect of global warming on the last remaining glacier in the Pacific. He’s worried he got there too late.
Even as he pitched his tent on top … Read more »»».

National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Alex weakens to Category 1 storm over Mexico

Hurricane Alex downgraded to Category 1 storm

MIAMI – The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Alex has weakened from a Category 2 to a Category 1 storm as it moves inland over northeastern Mexico.
The hurricane center reported early Thursday that the storm had sustained winds of 85 mph (137 kph). It says Alex is expected to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Alex weakens to Category 1 storm over Mexico.

Former Goa minister denied anticipatory bail

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Thursday rejected a petition by former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the death of his alleged lover, 28-year-old Nadia Torrado.

Nadia died at a Chennai hospital May 30, 15 days after she allegedly consumed rat poison.
The vacation bench of the apex …. Source article  : Former Goa minister denied anticipatory bail.

Hurricane Alex drenches northern Mexico as it pushes inland; largely spares nearby Texas

Hurricane Alex drenches Mexico’s northern coast
SAN FERNANDO, Mexico – Hurricane Alex ripped off roofs, flooded streets and forced thousands of people to flee coastal fishing villages as it pushed into northern Mexico.
The Atlantic season’s first hurricane largely spared nearby Texas, which had prepared for a possible direct hit. While …. Source  : Hurricane Alex drenches northern Mexico as it pushes inland; largely spares nearby Texas.

Jail for man who threw shoe at Turkish PM

Seville (Spain), July 1 (IANS/EFE) The Kurdish man who threw a shoe at Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after an event in this southern Spanish city has been sentenced to three years in prison, the prosecutor’s office said.

The court “has not agreed to the … expulsion requested by the prosecutor, in view of his …. Original article  : Jail for man who threw shoe at Turkish PM.

Private tutor held for raping student

MUMBAI – A private tutor, who had been absconding for over a month, has been arrested for allegedly raping his minor student, police said Thursday.

Rajendra Nadar, 52, had been absconding since the victim’s family lodged a complaint against him with Khar Police, investigating officer B. Mukhedkar told IANS.
“According to the complaint, the accused had … Read : Private tutor held for raping student.

Punjab does a reality check as a ‘drugged’ state

CHANDIGARH – With Punjab emerging as a major transit and destination point for drugs coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the state government has begun a new campaign against drugs to check addiction and abuse among youth.

The state’s health department has commissioned a study on drug abuse in the border districts of Punjab to know …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Punjab does a reality check as a ‘drugged’ state.

Alex, Atlantic’s 1st hurricane of season, pounds Mexico’s Gulf coast as Category 2 storm

Alex hits Mexico’s Gulf coast as Cat 2 hurricane
SAN FERNANDO, Mexico – Hurricane Alex made landfall on Mexico’s Gulf coast as a powerful Category 2 storm Wednesday, spawning tornadoes in nearby Texas, forcing evacuations in both countries and whipping up high waves that frustrated oil-spill cleanup efforts and pushed …. Read the original article  : Alex, Atlantic’s 1st hurricane of season, pounds Mexico’s Gulf coast as Category 2 storm.

Forecasters: Hurricane Alex makes landfall in northeastern Mexico; winds about 105 mph.

Hurricane Alex makes landfall along Mexican coast
MIAMI – Forecasters say the first Atlantic hurricane of the season has made landfall in northeastern Mexico.
The Category 2 storm churning in the Gulf of Mexico has sustained winds of near 105 mph (155 kph). The National Hurricane Center says it made landfall about 10 p.m. EDT … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Forecasters: Hurricane Alex makes landfall in northeastern Mexico; winds about 105 mph..

Calif. man arrested in 1989 NH arson that killed family of 4, including 2 kids, in apartment

Calif. man arrested in 1989 NH fire that killed 4

CONCORD, N.H. – A recently created Cold Case Unit has brought criminal charges against a California man in the 1989 deaths of four family members in a New Hampshire apartment house arson, authorities said.
David McLeod was arrested Wednesday in California on four counts of second-degree murder …. Source article  : Calif. man arrested in 1989 NH arson that killed family of 4, including 2 kids, in apartment.

Alex, Atlantic’s 1st hurricane of season, nears Mexico, Texas coasts as Category 2 storm

Powerful hurricane Alex nears Mexico, Texas coasts
SAN FERNANDO, Mexico – Powerful Hurricane Alex neared landfall on Mexico’s northern Gulf coast Wednesday, spawning tornados in Texas, forcing evacuations in both countries and whipping up high waves that frustrated oil-spill cleanup efforts and pushed globs of crude onto beaches.
Alex strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Wildfire burning north of Flagstaff, Ariz., now fully contained after charring 15,000+ acres

Wildfire near Flagstaff, Ariz., fully contained

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – A wildfire burning four miles north of Flagstaff is fully contained after charring more than 15,000 acres.
U.S. Forest Service officials say the so-called Schultz Fire has burned an estimated 15,075 acres, or more than 23 square miles of scenic northern Arizona forest. It has cost more than … Read : Wildfire burning north of Flagstaff, Ariz., now fully contained after charring 15,000+ acres.

Jimmy Buffett puts on free show at sister’s restaurant on Ala. coast; hundreds show up

Free show by Jimmy Buffett along Alabama coast

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Oil weary residents on Alabama’s coast got a boost from Jimmy Buffett, who put on an impromptu free show at his sister’s restaurant Wednesday evening, bringing in hundreds of fans.
He sang crowd favorites including “Fins,” ”Pascagoula Run” and “Volcano” during a more than two-hour … Read : Jimmy Buffett puts on free show at sister’s restaurant on Ala. coast; hundreds show up.

New set of key straps were supplied before NYC crane collapse, witness says at rigger’s trial

Witness: New straps supplied before NYC crane fell

NEW YORK – The criminal trial surrounding one of the nation’s deadliest construction-crane collapses has honed in on claims that a worn polyester strap was used and broke at a key point in securing the towering crane. But the crane rigger had been provided with brand-new straps, a … Original source on Gaea Times at : New set of key straps were supplied before NYC crane collapse, witness says at rigger’s trial.

Searchers find 4 bodies inside wreckage of plane missing since Sunday in northwestern Montana

4 bodies found inside wreckage of missing plane

MOIESE, Mont. – Authorities found four bodies inside the wreckage of a small plane Wednesday on a rugged hillside in northwestern Montana, bringing a tragic end to a 2??-day search for a group of friends who went out for an afternoon sightseeing trip and never returned.
Family members awaiting … Original article on : Searchers find 4 bodies inside wreckage of plane missing since Sunday in northwestern Montana.

Malaysian Indian searches for missing daughter

KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian Indian man and his Chinese wife have given up work to search for their two-year-old daughter who went missing about a month ago while on a walk with her mentally-ill grand-aunt.

G. Chandramohan, 24, and his wife Wong Lai Lan, 21, have said their daughter Nisha could have been … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Malaysian Indian searches for missing daughter.

War crimes trial: Dhaka fears ‘undue pressure’ from Middle East

DHAKA – The Bangladesh government fears “undue pressure” from Middle East countries, including a risk to jobs of millions of its citizens working there, as it prepares to try Islamists accused of “war crimes” during the 1971 freedom movement, says a report.

“A number of middle and top-ranking leaders said the government made the move (on …. Original source  : War crimes trial: Dhaka fears ‘undue pressure’ from Middle East.

29 killed in Mexico violence

MEXICO CITY – Twentynine people were killed in fights between rival drug gangs in Mexico, officials said.

Police have arrested nine people who were injured during the clashes that spread across the towns of Tubutama and Caborca in norhtern Mexico, Xinhua reported Friday.
Seven weapons and eight trucks were seized on the battle scenes, Jose Larrinaga [..] Read the original article: here.

Precious idol stolen from Jharkhand temple

RANCHI – A three-century-old idol of goddess Chhinmastika was stolen from Rajrappa temple of Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district Friday, police said.

According to police, the idol, made of precious stones was missing when the priests opened the temple at 4 a.m. Friday to perform Aarti (prayers).
“The priest had closed the temple at 10 p.m. Thursday night. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Precious idol stolen from Jharkhand temple.

Volunteers, boat pilots ready to help clean up Gulf oil but left out; criticism mounts

Volunteers ready but left out of spill cleanup

NEW ORLEANS – BP and the Obama administration face mounting complaints that they are ignoring foreign offers of equipment and making little use of the fishing boats and volunteers available to help clean up what may now be the biggest spill ever in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Coast … Original article on : Volunteers, boat pilots ready to help clean up Gulf oil but left out; criticism mounts.

Four killed in Bihar boat capsize

PATNA – Four people drowned and around 40 were missing after a boat capsized in Gandak river in Bihar’s Bettiah district Friday morning, an official said.

Local people have recovered four bodies from the river and district administration officials have begun rescue operations, an official said.
Bettiah district is around 280 km from state capital Patna.
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Four killed in Bihar boat capsize.

Authorities to closely inspect leak in Des Moines levee; residents not told to leave

Des Moines Levee springs small leak; no evacuation

DES MOINES, Iowa – Authorities on Friday plan to closely inspect a leak in a vulnerable levee that protects a Des Moines’ Birdland neighborhood from a swollen river that swamped the downtown area two years ago.
Officials spotted the leak late Thursday, but declined to order residents of the … Read more : Authorities to closely inspect leak in Des Moines levee; residents not told to leave.

Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight headliner 2010 Essence Music Festival

Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys headline Essence fest

NEW ORLEANS – Celebrities and fans arrive en masse for the start of the annual Essence Music Festival, which is held over the Fourth of July weekend in New Orleans.
Grammy Award-winning singer Janet Jackson is among Friday’s opening night headliners for the ticketed concerts in the Louisiana Superdome, while …. Source article  : Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight headliner 2010 Essence Music Festival.

Paedophile priest gets 20-year jail

SYDNEY – A catholic priest was sentenced to 20 years in jail Friday by an Australian court which convicted him of sexually abusing children over a period of 18 years.

John Sidney Denham, 67, was jailed for 19 years and 10 months by Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, with the judge saying many victims were left … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Paedophile priest gets 20-year jail.

Tamil Nadu school principal arrested in molestation case

CHENNAI – The principal of Kodaikanal Public School has been arrested for being an accomplice to school correspondent M.L. Bright who is absconding after a sexual harassment complaint filed by a Class Nine girl student, police said Friday.

“Sheeba Paul, 36, was arrested Thursday afternoon at Kodaikanal (520 km from here) and was remanded to custody. …. Source  : Tamil Nadu school principal arrested in molestation case.

One dead in Bangladesh in police firing

DHAKA – One person was killed and 33 were injured as police opened fire on agitating locals who were demanding a highway speed breaker in northern Bangladesh.

The police officer in charge of the area was suspended after Thursday’s incident on Dhaka-Mawa highway at Kuchiamora in Munshiganj district.
The locals demanded …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : One dead in Bangladesh in police firing.

After twin suicide bombs kill 42 at a Sufi shrine, some Pakistanis blame United States

Pakistanis blame US after shrine attack kills 42

LAHORE, Pakistan – Two suicide bombings that killed 42 at a popular Sufi shrine in Pakistan’s east stirred outrage in this terror-scarred nation Friday. Several people blamed the U.S. presence in Afghanistan for spurring the attacks, while some faulted a minority sect that itself was viciously targeted weeks …. Read the original article  : After twin suicide bombs kill 42 at a Sufi shrine, some Pakistanis blame United States.

Ballia boat accidents expose negligence of authorities

LUCKNOW – Could the lives of over 70 people who died when their boats capsized in Uttar Pradesh last month been saved? Yes, say officials, if civic agencies had seriously conducted the exercises meant for the safe operation of the boats.

On June 14, a boat capsized in the Ganga in Ballia district, killing 61 people …. Original article  : Ballia boat accidents expose negligence of authorities.

Small leak found at levee protecting Des Moines, Iowa, neighborhood; no evacuation planned

Leak found at levee guarding area of Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa – Authorities late Thursday found a small leak in a levee near downtown Des Moines, but officials said there was no imminent danger to a flood-prone neighborhood it protects and that residents had not been asked to leave.
The leak was discovered about 9 p.m. …. Read the original article  : Small leak found at levee protecting Des Moines, Iowa, neighborhood; no evacuation planned.

Seepage found at levee protecting Des Moines, Iowa, neighborhood; no evacuation planned

Seepage found at levee guarding part of Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa – Authorities say they found a small leak in a vulnerable levee near downtown Des Moines, Iowa, but that the neighborhood it is helping protect from flooding is not in imminent danger.
City Public Works Director Bill Stowe says authorities have not ordered residents to …. Source  : Seepage found at levee protecting Des Moines, Iowa, neighborhood; no evacuation planned.

Suicide bomb blasts at shrine in Pakistan’s Lahore city kill at least 37 people, wound 180

37 people killed in bomb blasts at Pakistan shrine

LAHORE, Pakistan – Two suicide bombers struck a popular Muslim shrine in Pakistan’s second largest city, killing 37 people and wounding 180 in the second major attack in Lahore in a month.
The bombers attacked late Thursday as thousands of people visited the Data Darbar shrine, where a …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Don Coryell, innovative coach who redefined passing game in NFL, dies at 85

Innovative football coach Don Coryell dies at 85

SAN DIEGO – Don Coryell, one of the founding fathers of the modern passing game, has died. He was 85.
The San Diego Chargers confirmed Coryell died Thursday at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in suburban La Mesa. The team did not release the cause of death, but Coryell had been [..] Read the original article: here.

Afghan governor: 4 suicide attackers strike small inn in Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan

Afghan governor: Suicide attackers strike Kunduz

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan provincial governor says four suicide bombers have attacked a small inn in northern Afghanistan.
Kunduz provincial governor Mohammad Omar said Friday that two suicide bombers blew themselves up and two others entered the guest house Friday morning in Kunduz city.
He says one Afghan policeman was killed … Read : Afghan governor: 4 suicide attackers strike small inn in Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan.

Argentinean survives fall from eighth floor

Buenos Aires, July 2 (IANS/EFE) An Argentinean plumber fell from the eighth floor of an under-construction building but survived with only a broken arm, a media report said.

Raul Lopez, 37, who has been dubbed “the miracle man”, suffered the fall Wednesday while he was working on an air conditioning duct in a building in Cordoba …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Volunteers, boat pilots complaint: BP not enlisting our help to clean up massive Gulf spill

Volunteers ready but left out of oil spill cleanup

NEW ORLEANS – Many fishing boats signed up to skim oil sit idle in marinas. Some captains and deckhands say they have been just waiting around for instructions while drawing checks from BP of more than $1,000 a day per vessel. Thousands of offers to clean beaches … Original source on Gaea Times at : Volunteers, boat pilots complaint: BP not enlisting our help to clean up massive Gulf spill.

Congo: Red Cross says 204 dead in oil tanker truck explosion

Congo: Red Cross says 204 dead in oil explosion

KINSHASA, Congo – At least 204 people were killed in Congo when a tanker truck transporting oil flipped over and exploded overnight in the east of the country, a Red Cross official said Saturday.
The truck was carrying fuel from neighboring Tanzania when it overturned at high speed … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Congo: Red Cross says 204 dead in oil tanker truck explosion.

200 killed in Congo explosion

KINSHASA – At least 200 people, including five UN peacekeepers, were killed Friday night when an oil tanker exploded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, media reports said Saturday.

According to the France 24 television, the deaths took place when the tanker overturned and exploded, Xinhua reported. The UN said Saturday that five peacekeepers were … Original source on Gaea Times at : 200 killed in Congo explosion.

Pacheco surrenders in court

PANAJI – Former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco surrendered before a court in Margao Saturday in connection with the mysterious death of his alleged lover,

Pacheco’s interim bail plea was being heard in the court of Margao district and sessions judge U.V. Bakre, with a Crime Branch contingent waiting outside the court premises to arrest him. …. Read the original article  : here.

Congo: UN radio says 190 dead in oil truck explosion

Congo: UN radio says 190 dead in oil explosion

KINSHASA, Congo – A U.N.-funded radio station in Congo says 190 people have been killed when a truck carrying oil flipped over and exploded overnight in the east of the country.
Radio Okapi reported that the truck was carrying fuel from neighboring Tanzania when it overturned at high … Read : Congo: UN radio says 190 dead in oil truck explosion.

Lecturer poses as Maoist, held

RAIPUR – A lecturer has been arrested in Chhattisgarh for pretending to be a Maoist and seeking Rs.10 crore from the director of an engineering college where he works, police said Saturday.

Premshankar Sharma, 25, was arrested in Durg late Friday after he demanded the money in four instalments from Sourabh Rungta, director of the Rungta … Original source on Gaea Times at : Lecturer poses as Maoist, held.

100 killed in Congo explosion

KINSHASA – At least 100 people were killed Friday night when an oil tanker exploded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Xinhua reported Saturday.
… Read this article on Gaea Times at : 100 killed in Congo explosion.

Sulfuric Acid Endangers Sudbury Residents

Sudbury, Canada, (GaeaTimes.com)- The city of Sudbury in the Ontario region of Canada experienced one of the worst material leaks the past Thursday, a leak which could have caused immense harm to the inhabitants of the city. What is more scary is the fact that the leak in one of the city’s chemical plants …. Original source  : Sulfuric Acid Endangers Sudbury Residents.

Diver dies in possible underwater explosion while working on Gulf rig, unrelated to oil spill

Diver dies while working on rig unrelated to spill

CHICAGO – A waste services company says a diver performing maintenance on a client’s rig in the Gulf of Mexico, unrelated to the massive oil spill, has died after an underwater accident.
A statement from Chicago-based Veolia Environmental Services North America says the diver was working at a … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Diver dies in possible underwater explosion while working on Gulf rig, unrelated to oil spill.

13 killed in Pakistan accident

ISLAMABAD – At least 13 people were killed and five injured when a van packed with tourists fell into a ravine in northern Pakistan Saturday.

The accident occurred at Nousehri in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir, Xinhua said.
…. Original article  : 13 killed in Pakistan accident.

Former Goa minister surrenders

PANAJI – Former Goa Minister Mickky Pacheco Saturday surrendered to a court here in connection with the death of his alleged lover.

Pacheco, charged with culpable homicide following the death in Chennai of 28-year-old woman Nadia Torrado, was underground for nearly a month as the police began to look for him.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Former Goa minister surrenders.

Search to resume Saturday for climber missing near Mount Rainier summit

Climber missing near Mount Rainier summit
ASHFORD, Wash. – A day of searching for a 57-year-old climber who unclipped his rope and vanished near Mount Rainier’s summit has ended without locating the man, a National Park Service spokeswoman said Friday night.

The search for Eric Lewis of Duvall, Wash., involved teams of Park Service climbing rangers and … Read more >>>.

Man arrested in fatal boat crash near Statue of Liberty; his 3 young kids emerge unscathed

Dad arrested in fatal crash near Statue of Liberty

NEW YORK – A boater has been arrested in a fatal crash near the Statue of Liberty that left his wife and three young children unscathed.
Police say that charges against the 39-year-old man are still pending, and they haven’t yet released his name. He was out on … Original source on Gaea Times at : Man arrested in fatal boat crash near Statue of Liberty; his 3 young kids emerge unscathed.

Eight killed in Colombia shooting

BOGOTA – At least eight people were killed and nine seriously injured when a group of armed men opened fire at a bar in Colombia, officials said.

The armed men arrived Friday morning at a bar in Envigado in northwest Colombia and shot at the people inside, police official Edgar Munoz said.
Antioquia district governor Luis … Original article on : Eight killed in Colombia shooting.

Los Angeles City Council approves $2.5M payment to fire captains in racial discrimination case

City approves $2.5M payout to fire captains

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council has approved a $2.5 million payment to two white fire captains who won a racial discrimination case in 2008 involving a black firefighter who was fed dog food.
The City Council approved the payment Friday for fire Capt. Chris Burton and Capt. … Read more »».

Bureau of Land Management revises size estimates of wildfire northeast of Las Vegas

BLM officials revise estimates of Moapa wildfire

LAS VEGAS – A spark from a wood chipper started a wildfire that destroyed 15 buildings in a ranch community northeast of Las Vegas, and an illegal campfire was blamed for another blaze that forced the evacuation of mountain hamlets northwest of the city, officials said Friday.
No serious injuries …. Read the original article  : here.

Boat collision kills 1, injures 2 near Statue of Liberty; NYPD investigating

Boat collision kills 1 near Statue of Liberty

NEW YORK – Two pleasure boats have collided near the Statue of Liberty, killing one person and injuring two others.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Thomas McKenzie says the Friday evening crash in New York Harbor near Liberty Island killed a boater. Two other boaters have been taken to …. Original article  : Boat collision kills 1, injures 2 near Statue of Liberty; NYPD investigating.

Death toll in Mexico flooding from former Hurricane Alex rises to 6

6 dead in Mexico in floods caused by Alex
MEXICO CITY – The death toll in Mexico from flooding caused by former Hurricane Alex has risen to six, authorities said Friday.

Nuevo Leon state Civil Defense Director Jorge Camacho said the victims died in and around the northern city of Monterrey.
President Felipe Calderon toured damaged areas of … Read more >>>.

2 pleasure boats collide near Liberty Island in NYC, at least 2 injured but conditions unknown

2 boats collide near Liberty Island in NYC

NEW YORK – New York City police say two pleasure boats have collided in the waters near the Statue of Liberty, and at least two people were injured.
Police and U.S. Coast Guard emergency crews transported two patients to hospitals in New Jersey on Friday. Their conditions weren’t immediately …. Original source  : 2 pleasure boats collide near Liberty Island in NYC, at least 2 injured but conditions unknown.

Serbian state TV website hacked

BELGRADE – Suspected Kosovo Albanian hackers attacked the website of Serbia’s state-run Radio Television Serbia (RTS) and uploaded headlines and bylines related to Kosovo, a media report said.

The hackers gained access to the website thrice Friday evening, twice during news reports pertaining to Kosovo and a third time when the recent diplomatic activities of Serbian …. Original source  : Serbian state TV website hacked.

Chavez says Salvadoran man detained in Venezuela is suspect in Cuba bombings

Chavez: Detained Salvadoran wanted in Cuba

CARACAS, Venezuela – A Salvadoran man wanted by Cuba as a suspect in a series of bombings was arrested with a false passport at Caracas’ airport, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday.
Chavez said the suspect, Francisco Chavez Abarca, was detained upon arrival Thursday by Venezuelan intelligence agents and is accused … Read : Chavez says Salvadoran man detained in Venezuela is suspect in Cuba bombings.

42 bodies pulled from landslide in SW China, 57 still missing with no signs of life detected

42 bodies recovered from landslide in SW China

BEIJING – Rescuers pulled 42 bodies from a landslide in southwest China, and 57 people remained missing nearly a week after the disaster with no signs of life detected, the Xinhua News Agency said Sunday.
More than 700 rescuers and 26 excavators were digging at the site of the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 42 bodies pulled from landslide in SW China, 57 still missing with no signs of life detected.

Controversial question paper: Professor’s hand cut off

MUVATTUPUZHA – A college professor, currently on bail for preparing a inflammatory question paper, had his right palm chopped off by a group of eight unidentified people Sunday morning, police said.

T.J. Joseph was returning home with his family after attending morning prayers when a group of people in a van pulled him out of his … Original source on Gaea Times at : Controversial question paper: Professor’s hand cut off.

World Cup replica filled with cocaine seized

BOGOTA – Colombian police confiscated a replica of the World Cup trophy filled with 11 kg of cocaine that was being sent by mail to Spain, officials said.

Anti-narcotics police commander General Francisco Patino said Saturday that agents had inspected the package at a postal warehouse after a scan showed a design imperfection.
“It is the … Original article on : World Cup replica filled with cocaine seized.

Scribe murder case: Accused alleges torture in jail

NEW DELHI – One of the four accused in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan has alleged that he was beaten up inside the Rohini jail as he refused to bribe the prison authorities.

Amit Shukla approached a court June 25, alleging that he was beaten up for several days.
“An application has been moved before …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Scribe murder case: Accused alleges torture in jail.

Couple found dead in Haryana, police suspect honour killing

FATEHABAD – A teenaged boy and a girl were found dead under mysterious circumstances at Smain village of Haryana’s Fathehabad district Sunday morning, police said, suspecting it to be an another case of “honour killing”.

“Shyam Mohammed and Reena, around 17 to 18 years of age, were found dead in the open fields. Poison tablets were …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Giant oil skimmer being tested, offers latest hope to scoop millions of gallons of oiled water

Hopes ride on giant oil skimmer in Gulf of Mexico

NEW ORLEANS – The latest hopes are riding on a massive new skimmer to clean oil from near the spewing well in the Gulf of Mexico, while a local Louisiana parish’s plan to block the slick has been rejected by federal officials.
A 48-hour test of the …. Original article  : Giant oil skimmer being tested, offers latest hope to scoop millions of gallons of oiled water.

12 killed by gunmen in Pakistan

KARACHI – At least 12 people were killed by unknown gunmen overnight in Pakistan’s Karachi city, a media report said Sunday.

Assailants gunned down 12 people including a security guard in different parts of the city, DawnNews reported.
Targeted killings in Karachi take place almost every day over the past two months. Earlier last week, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 12 killed by gunmen in Pakistan.

Exhibition in China is all about corruption

BEIJING – A city in China has come up with a unique exhibition, which it hopes will lead to a decrease in corruption in government offices.

Chongqing city has put up this exhibition dedicated to clean government, which cost the local government more than 23 million yuan ($3.4 million). The exhibition shows actual bribes – in … Read more : Exhibition in China is all about corruption.

Gen. Petraeus formally assumes command in Afghanistan; says ‘we are in this to win’

Petraeus: ‘We are in this to win’ in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Gen. David Petraeus formally assumed command of the 130,000-strong international force in Afghanistan on Sunday, telling NATO and Afghan officials “we are in this to win” despite rising casualties and growing skepticism about the direction of the nearly 9-year-old war.
Petraeus received two flags – …. Original article  : Gen. Petraeus formally assumes command in Afghanistan; says ‘we are in this to win’.

15 killed in Philippines accident

MANILA – Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured when an overloaded bus crashed into a wall in the central Philippines, police said Sunday.

Police said the brakes of the bus failed, forcing the driver to slam the vehicle into the wall along a highway in Toledo City in Cebu province, 585 km south of Manila. …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 15 killed in Philippines accident.

Carjackers growing net savvy

WELLINGTON – Beware before clicking pictures of your car as it may become the next target of carjackers.

Thieves are using Trade Me and other online shopping networks as catalogue where vehicles are displayed along with number plates, according to New Zealand police.
The carjackers track down owners of desirable vehicles from number plates before making … Original source on Gaea Times at : Carjackers growing net savvy.

Kevin Harvick leads RCR charge to win at Daytona

Harvick wins wild race at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick lined up next to his Richard Childress Racing teammate for a two-lap sprint to the finish at Daytona International Speedway.

He and Clint Bowyer didn’t bother to talk strategy.
“It was every man for himself at that point,” Harvick said.
The Sprint Cup points leader sailed to …. Source article  : Kevin Harvick leads RCR charge to win at Daytona.

Poles choose between acting leader and dead president’s twin brother in presidential runoff

Poles pick president in final round of voting

WARSAW, Poland – Poles voted in a presidential runoff election on Sunday that pits the identical twin brother of the last head of state, who was killed in a plane crash, against the acting president.
Both men, Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Bronislaw Komorowski, are former anti-communist activists with conservative, Catholic … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Poles choose between acting leader and dead president’s twin brother in presidential runoff.

15 killed, 48 injured in bus crash in central Philippines; 2nd deadly recent accident in area

15 killed, 48 injured in bus crash in Philippines

CEBU, Philippines – Fifteen people were killed after the brakes on a speeding bus packed with passengers failed and the vehicle slammed into a concrete barrier in the central Philippines. Another 48 people were injured, police said Sunday.
The bus carrying mostly homebound factory workers was traveling at … Read more : 15 killed, 48 injured in bus crash in central Philippines; 2nd deadly recent accident in area.

Six of family murdered in Bihar

PATNA – Six members of a family were murdered in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur town early Sunday, police said.

They were shot dead in Kharbar residential locality in Muzaffarpur, about 70 km from here, by unidentified assailants.
The murders have led to panic among the residents of the area who demanded that the culprits be caught soon.
… Original article on : Six of family murdered in Bihar.

Child survives five-storey fall

BELGRADE – A four-year-old boy miraculously survived a five-storey fall from a balcony in Croatia, a media report said.

The child followed his mother onto the balcony and then fell over in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, Saturday. He only sustained a broken leg. He apparently landed on a bush, which cushioned his fall, Xinhua reported.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : Child survives five-storey fall.

Three of family commit suicide after panchayat boycott

UDAIPUR – Three members of a family committed suicide in a Rajasthan village after a panchayat boycotted them for allegedly practising witchcraft, police said Sunday.

Khetnath, 60, his wife Nathibai, 55, and their son Naresh, 27, killed themselves late Friday. They were residents of Gaamdapal village near Salumber town, over 60 km from here.
“We came …. Source article  : Three of family commit suicide after panchayat boycott.

Andy Najar’s goal helps DC United draw 1-1 with Earthquakes

Najar scores to help United draw Earthquakes

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Rookie Andy Najar scored in the 54th minute to help D.C. United tie 1-1 with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
Najar beat his marker and volleyed home a cross from Stephen King at the far post for his second career MLS goal. The 17-year-old joined … Read more : Andy Najar’s goal helps DC United draw 1-1 with Earthquakes.

One sex abuse a week in Australian taxis

SYDNEY – At least one complaint of a “sexual nature” is lodged every week against a taxi driver in Australia’s southeastern state of New South Wales despite the cabs being tracked with CCTV cameras and global positioning radio devices, media reports have said.

Even though taxis are regarded as the safest form of public transport, 20 … Read more : One sex abuse a week in Australian taxis.

South Korean police say 12 dead after bus plummets off elevated road on way to airport

12 dead as bus plunges off elevated road in SKorea

SEOUL, South Korea – A bus plunged off an elevated road as it headed to South Korea’s main airport, killing 12 passengers and injuring another dozen people.
The bus struck a guardrail as it tried to avoid a broken-down car and plummeted about 30 feet (10 meters) … Original source on Gaea Times at : South Korean police say 12 dead after bus plummets off elevated road on way to airport.