Marwari don becomes Nepal’s most wanted

KATHMANDU – A 30-year-old from the Marwari community, the clan with the Midas touch in both India and Nepal, is now among Nepal’s most wanted, after a series of murders and kidnaps by his gang that includes both Indians and Nepali henchmen.

Nepal police are searching for Rohit Paliwal Agarwal, a Nepali of Indian origin whose … Original source on Gaea Times at : Marwari don becomes Nepal’s most wanted.

Six killed as trailer rams autorickshaw in Bengal

KOLKATA – Six people were killed and two others injured when an autorickshaw collided head-on with a speeding trailer near Raiganj in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district Friday, police said.

Superintendent of Police Milan Kanti Das told IANS that five people, including a woman, died on the spot in the early hours of the day. … Read more »»».

Pa. duck boat company says it followed NTSB recommendations after 1999 sinking, added buoyancy

Philly duck boat company says it made NTSB fixes

PHILADELPHIA – Tina Rosebrook was sitting at the stern of a stalled amphibious sightseeing boat when the screams began. A barge towering three stories above was speeding toward her.
“It felt like we were all just waiting for the boat to turn or stop,” Rosebrook told The Associated …. Source article  : Pa. duck boat company says it followed NTSB recommendations after 1999 sinking, added buoyancy.

Shutdown in Jharkhand against theft of idol

RANCHI – Several parts of Jharkhand, including this state capital, shut down Friday in response to religious groups calling for a dawn to dusk strike to protest the theft of a three-century-old idol of a Hindu goddess from a temple in Ramgarh district.

The strike has been called by the Mahaveer Madal Samiti, supported by … Read more »».

US-Mexico border communities prepare for floodwaters moving down Rio Grande

Rio Grande communities brace for floodwaters

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – As a strong storm dumped rain on the already high Rio Grande, those living downstream braced for a torrent of water that already had closed two international bridges and led to evacuations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border further up the river.
Residents of some …. Original source  : US-Mexico border communities prepare for floodwaters moving down Rio Grande.

Suicide bomber strikes Iraqi army check point in Baghdad, killing 6 people, officials say

Iraq: Suicide bomber kills 6 in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into an Iraqi army check point in western Baghdad, killing six people and injuring 20 on Friday morning, officials said.

Although violence in Iraq has subsided significantly in the past years, members of the security forces are still frequently targeted by …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Suicide bomber strikes Iraqi army check point in Baghdad, killing 6 people, officials say.

Backup plan to halt Gulf gusher: Transfer oil from blown-out well to others miles away

Transferring oil from broken well an option for BP

THEODORE, Ala. – The first of two relief wells being drilled to stop the Gulf oil gusher could be done by the end of the month, BP officials say, but if that doesn’t succeed, one backup being considered is transferring the crude to non-producing underwater wells that …. Source article  : Backup plan to halt Gulf gusher: Transfer oil from blown-out well to others miles away.

At least 14 killed, nearly 100 wounded in blast in Pakistani tribal area

Large blast kills at least 14 in Pakistan
KHAR, Pakistan – A suicide bomber struck outside a government office in a tribal region where Pakistan’s army has fought the Taliban, killing at least 14 people and wounding nearly 100 others Friday.

The attack indicated that militants remain a potent force in Pakistan’s tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, despite … Read more >>>.

Six dead in China rains

BEIJING – At least six people were killed and 56,000 relocated as torrential rain hit central China’s Hunan province, authorities said Friday.

Two people were missing and 760,000 affected due to the rain since Thursday night, Xinhua reported.
The rain inflicted direct economic losses of $147 million, as rain-triggered landslides and debris flows breached dams, …. Original source  : Six dead in China rains.

Official says at least 5 killed, nearly 100 wounded in blast in Pakistani tribal area

Official: Large blast kills at least 5 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck outside a government office in a tribal region where Pakistan’s army has fought the Taliban, killing at least five people and wounding nearly 100 others Friday.
The attack indicated that militants remain a potent force in Pakistan’s tribal … Read more >>.

Seven shot dead on Colombian highway

Bogota, July 9 (IANS/EFE) Seven members of a family, including two minors, were killed when gunmen attacked their vehicle in the northwestern Colombia, authorities said.

The assailants struck Wednesday afternoon in the province of Antioquia, firing on a group of 17 people returning from a funeral, a government official said Thursday.
The Antioquia provincial government attributed … Original article on : Seven shot dead on Colombian highway.

Twelve members of marriage party killed in West Bengal

KOLKATA – Twelve members of a marriage party were killed and one person was seriously injured when their car collided head-on with a speeding lorry at Barjora in West Bengal’s Bankura district.

Bankura police superintendent Vishal Garg told IANS that 10 people died on the spot when the accident occurred around 11.30 p.m. Thursday. Two people …. Original article  : Twelve members of marriage party killed in West Bengal.

Former transit officer convicted of involuntary manslaughter in train station killing

Officer convicted in Calif. train station killing

LOS ANGELES – A white former transit officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter Thursday in the videotaped shooting death of an unarmed black man on an Oakland train platform in an encounter that set off days of rioting in the city.
After the verdict, a mostly calm protest in Oakland [..] Read the original article: here.

Woman kills self, two children

LUCKNOW – A woman allegedly set herself on fire along with her two minor children in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad district following a heated argument with her husband, police said Friday. All three were killed.

Kanti, 35, a resident of the Isrikipura village in Allahabad, some 200 km from Lucknow, set herself ablaze late Thursday along …. Source  : Woman kills self, two children.

Mother, son found murdered at their Delhi home

NEW DELHI – A 40-year-old woman and her five-year-old son were found brutally murdered at their home in west Delhi’s Patel Nagar area early Friday.

Property dealer Pawan Nagia returned home at about 3 a.m. to find the bodies of his wife Anuradha and son Cherish.
“The entry into the house seems to be … Read more : Mother, son found murdered at their Delhi home.

Official says large explosion hits Pakistan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, several killed

Official: Deadly blast hits Pakistan tribal area

ISLAMABAD – A large explosion ripped through a village in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan where the Pakistani army has fought the Taliban, killing several people Friday, an official said.
Dozens more were wounded in the blast, whose exact cause was unclear, said Noor Mohammad, an official in the Mohmand …. Read the original article  : here.

Catholic monk arrested on murder charges in China

BEIJING – Police have arrested a Catholic monk in connection with the murders of a priest and a nun in a church in north China.

Zhang Wenping, 43, was arrested Thursday in Hohhot city. He had confessed to the crime, Xinhua reported Friday.
Priest Zhang Shulai and nun Wei Yanhui were found dead July 6 in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Catholic monk arrested on murder charges in China.

Flood extensively damages crops in Haryana, Punjab

CHANDIGARH – Freshly sown paddy crop in thousands of acres of fertile agricultural land has been destroyed in nearly four days of flood fury in some districts of Haryana and Punjab – the states that are the biggest food grain contributors to the national kitty.

Eleven deaths have been reported so far — six in Punjab …. Original source  : Flood extensively damages crops in Haryana, Punjab.

Teenager dies in floodwaters as more heavy rains pounds Oklahoma; third child killed in 1 week

Teenager drowns in Oklahoma floodwaters
OKLAHOMA CITY – Officials say a teenager was swept to her death in Oklahoma when heavy rain fueled by persistent tropical moisture pounded parts of the state.

Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state Medical Examiner’s office, says the girl was playing with friends around a drainage ditch Thursday near Durant in … Original article on : Teenager dies in floodwaters as more heavy rains pounds Oklahoma; third child killed in 1 week.

US, Russia complete massive spy swap (Second lead)

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON/MOSCOW – The US and Russia have completed arrangements for one of the largest spy swaps in history as 10 Russian spy suspects and four prisoners in Russian custody pleaded guilty to charges against them.

In New York, the 10 Russian spies, who included a Peruvian-born US citizen, pleaded guilty in federal court to lesser …. Read the original article  : here.