60 dead, 150 injured in West Bengal train accident (Afternoon Lead)

SAINTHIA – At least 60 people were killed and 150 injured when a speeding passenger train ploughed through a train standing at a station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district in the early hours of Monday.

The Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed into three coaches, one luggage van and two unreserved general second class coaches, of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 60 dead, 150 injured in West Bengal train accident (Afternoon Lead).

Bengal announces Rs.3 lakh compensation for train victims

KOLKATA – The West Bengal government has announced compensation of Rs.3 lakh each for the families of those killed in the railway accident at Sainthia in Birbhum district Monday.

Announcing this, Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said the state government would also bear the entire expenses for treatment of the injured in the accident that occurred at …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

BP, feds disagree over what to do next with capped oil, seep near well causes new concerns

Spill success marred by BP, government bickering

NEW ORLEANS – With a newly installed cap keeping oil from BP’s busted well out of the Gulf during a trial run, this weekend offered a chance for the oil company and government to gloat over their shared success – the first real victory in fighting the spill. Instead, …. Read the original article  : BP, feds disagree over what to do next with capped oil, seep near well causes new concerns.

Student’s suicide: police to question friend’s father

NEW DELHI – Delhi Police will question the man, who scolded a 17-year-old student for being friends with his daughter, leading to the teenager committing suicide, an official said Monday.

“The victim’s family has registered a complaint against the girl’s father, alleging that his behaviour incited the teenager to commit suicide. We will interrogate the girl’s …. Source article  : Student’s suicide: police to question friend’s father.

At least 61 people killed in train collision in eastern India, more than 100 others injured

61 people killed as trains collide in east India
CALCUTTA, INDIA (ap) – A speeding express train plowed into a stationary passenger train in eastern India on Monday, killing 61 people in a crash so powerful it sent the roof of one car flying onto an overpass. Officials said they could not rule out … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : At least 61 people killed in train collision in eastern India, more than 100 others injured.

Train Accident Victim In Trinidad Identified

TRINIDAD, CARIBBEAN ISLAND (GaeaTimes.com)- Police have been able to identify a man who was killed in a train accident at Las Animas County in Trinidad last Friday. According to the Colorado State Patrol officials the man was killed when his truck accidentally struck against an Amtrak train in Trinidad. The accident which took place on … Read more >>.

Train passengers’ kin desperately seek information

KOLKATA – Worried relatives of the passengers in the Vananchal Express and the Uttar Banga Express involved in an accident Monday dashed from one station to another to know whether their near and dear ones were dead or alive.

“My mother-in-law Mala Roy and my wife were coming from Coochbehar. They were in the Uttar Banga …. Original source  : Train passengers’ kin desperately seek information.

RICO lawsuits accuse BP, Transocean of running longterm criminal racket in Gulf operations

RICO law made to combat Mafia used in BP lawsuits

MIAMI – Using a law originally enacted to combat the Mafia, attorneys are filing lawsuits accusing BP PLC and Transocean Ltd. of committing a longterm series of crimes by concealing flaws in deepwater drilling plans and lacking safeguards to contain a catastrophic Gulf of Mexico spill.
BP … Read more »».

With Gulf’s underwater buffet closed by oil spill, fishing families turn to fast food, burgers

Fishing families turn to fast food, ‘grind meats’

POINTE A LA HACHE, La. – Grow up on the water, the children of southern Louisiana learn, and you’ll never go hungry. As long as you can toss a line, a net or a trap, you can eat – and eat well.
Or you could, until now.
Millions of gallons … Read more : With Gulf’s underwater buffet closed by oil spill, fishing families turn to fast food, burgers.

BP says cost of Gulf of Mexico oil leak reaches nearly $4 billion

BP puts Gulf oil spill cost at nearly $4 billion

LONDON – Oil company BP says that the cost of dealing with the Gulf of Mexico spill has now reached nearly $4 billion.
The company, which last week managed to place a temporary cap on the leak, said Monday it has made payments totaling $207 million to … Read more »».

Sonia anguished over train tragedy

NEW DELHI – Congress president Sonia Gandhi Monday expressed “her deep grief and anguish” over the train tragedy in West Bengal in which at least 60 people were killed.

“While conveying her deep condolences to the bereaved families, she also wished speedy recovery for the injured,” said an All India Congress Committee (AICC) statement.
About …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Train Accident In West Bengal: Railway Minister Expresses Doubt

KOLKATA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- In the wake of the another train accident in West Bengal on Monday morning, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has revealed to the media that she is still ’suspicious’ about the circumstances that led to the tragedy. When asked about the probable causes that might have resulted in the mishap, the … Original article on : Train Accident In West Bengal: Railway Minister Expresses Doubt.

West Bengal train accident toll rises to 60

SAINTHIA – The toll in Monday’s train accident at Sainthia in West Bengal’s Birbhum district has shot up to 60, railway sources said.

The 60 victims include 57 passengers and three railway employees, an Eastern Railway release said here.
Over 150 people have been injured.
The accident occurred when the speeding Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : West Bengal train accident toll rises to 60.

West Bengal train accident sixth major one in past year

NEW DELHI – The train accident in West Bengal’s Birbhum district Monday in which at least 60 people were killed and 150 injured is the sixth major one in the past one year and the second in less than two months in the state:

- On May 28, 148 people died as Maoists cut open the … Original source on Gaea Times at : West Bengal train accident sixth major one in past year.

Fire in Washington state burns 3 homes, endangers others and covers city in smoke

Wash. state fire burns 3 homes, endangers others

YAKIMA, Wash. – A wildfire in central Washington covered parts of nearby Yakima in smoke, destroyed at least three homes and threatened others late Sunday night, authorities said.
The fire started in the afternoon about 10 miles west of the city’s downtown and grew to 10,000 acres by 11 …. Read the original article  : Fire in Washington state burns 3 homes, endangers others and covers city in smoke.

Massacre of 17 at party in northern Mexico the latest in string of mass killings

Officials say gunmen kill 17 at party in Mexico

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico – The gunmen did not say a word as they jumped from their cars and stormed the private party. They simply opened fire. When they were done, 17 people lay dead and 18 wounded.
Sunday’s massacre in the city of Torreon was ghastly, but no … Original article on : Massacre of 17 at party in northern Mexico the latest in string of mass killings.

From Facebook with love: Status updates from behind prison bars

PANAJI – Prison bars brook no stopping for suspected Israeli drug dealer David Driham alias Dudu as far as updating his latest developments on social networking portal Facebook is concerned.

Arrested for possessing a narcotics cocktail of ecstacy, cocaine, heroine, LSD and charas of Rs.3.81 lakh (about 8,000 USD) Feb 21, Dudu has been updating … Read more : From Facebook with love: Status updates from behind prison bars.

Helpline numbers for West Bengal accident

KOLKATA – Following is a list of helpline numbers started by the railway authorities for information on Monday’s train accident at Sainthia in West Bengal.

At least 60 people were killed and over 150 injured when the speeding Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed into three coaches of the stationary Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Rs.5 lakh, job to kin of dead in accident: Mamata

KOLKATA – Compensation of Rs.5 lakh will be paid to the kin of those killed in the train accident in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday.

She said a job will also be provided to the kin of the dead.
At least 49 people were dead and 150 injured when the … Read more »».

Train Accident Kills 19 Year Old

ELTON, LOUISIANA (GaeaTimes.com)- A teenage boy was killed this weekend in the Jeff Davis Parish near Elton when the truck that he was driving struck against a train, thus crushing him and his vehicle. The police authorities who appeared at the scene of the train accident reported that the 19 year old had died … Read more »»».

Tides bring oil _ and resentment _ to Florida, lone Gulf holdout on offshore drilling

In Fla., resentment washes ashore along with oil

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. – For decades, billions poured into Gulf Coast states that allowed oil drilling off their shores. Economies grew, jobs were created and millionaires were born all along the waterfront. Everywhere, that is, except Florida.
People of all political stripes largely banded together in the Sunshine State, …. Original article  : Tides bring oil _ and resentment _ to Florida, lone Gulf holdout on offshore drilling.

Sainthia train accident throws up real life heroes

SURI – The horrific train accident at Sainthia that has claimed at least 63 lives also brought out the undying human spirit among ordinary people, among them an 80-year-old woman who walked a long distance to donate blood for victims.

Khojtaba Bibi has become an icon in Suri, the headquarters of Birbhum district where Sainthia is … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Sainthia train accident throws up real life heroes.

Feds say oil and gas leaking from cap on BP’s well of minor concern, focus instead on big fix

Feds look past oil leaking from BP’s cap
NEW ORLEANS – Oil from BP’s blown out well is again seeping into the Gulf of Mexico, but this time, more slowly and scientists aren’t convinced the cap that stopped the flow last week is making things worse.

The government said Monday that oil was seeping into the Gulf …. Read the original article  : Feds say oil and gas leaking from cap on BP’s well of minor concern, focus instead on big fix.

China’s Three Gorges dam withstands peak flood test

BEIJING – The Three Gorges Dam, China’s main reservoir built on Yangtze river last year, Tuesday passed its biggest flood control test by sustaining a massive water flow, greater than the 1998 floodings which claimed over 4,000 lives.

According to Xinhua, the flow on the river’s upper reaches topped 70,000 cubic metres a second Tuesday — …. Original source  : China’s Three Gorges dam withstands peak flood test.

Floods, landslides kill 37 in central China as world’s largest dam at its highest level ever

Floods, landslides kill 37 in central China

BEIJING – Rescuers in China were searching Tuesday for 30 people buried in landslides as flood waters from days of heavy rain surged past the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest.
Soldiers used bulldozers to plow through debris in search of survivors on Tuesday in Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces, while …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Floods, landslides kill 37 in central China as world’s largest dam at its highest level ever.

Karzai reaffirms goal of having Afghan security forces take lead by 2014

Karzai reaffirms 2014 goal for Afghan-led security
KABUL, Afghanistan – President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment for Afghan police and soldiers to take charge of security throughout the nation by 2014 and urged his international partners to spend their money on Afghan priorities, not short-term projects.
Karzai spoke at an international …. Source article  : Karzai reaffirms goal of having Afghan security forces take lead by 2014.

Limbs of victims being found from accident site

SAINTHIA – Severed limbs of victims were found Tuesday by rescue workers from the site of the ghastly train accident here in West Bengal’s Birbhum district as railwaymen worked overtime to repair the damaged footbridge where one of the coaches of the Vananchal Express had incredibly mounted after being slammed from the rear by the …. Source article  : Limbs of victims being found from accident site.

Floods, landslides kill 15 in central China as world’s largest dam at its highest level ever

Floods, landslides kill 15 in central China

BEIJING – Rescuers in China were searching Tuesday for 17 people buried by landslides as flood waters from days of heavy rain surged past the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest.
The landslides that hit Lingao county in central Shaanxi province late Sunday killed three people and left 17 missing, …. Original article  : Floods, landslides kill 15 in central China as world’s largest dam at its highest level ever.

Nine prisoners escape from Meerut jail

MEERUT – Nine inmates, including seven serving life terms, fled from the Meerut jail in Uttar Pradesh after scaling the boundary wall, police said Tuesday.

The incident came to light at 6 a.m. when the jail warden saw a ladder attached to the boundary wall.
“Seven inmates were convicted to life imprisonment while two … Read more : Nine prisoners escape from Meerut jail.

Beware! Burglars have an eye on your Facebook status

LONDON – Think twice before updating your status on social networking site Facebook as burglars now see it before breaking-in, a survey by a British insurance firm has found.

The survey was carried out on 50 former thieves by insurance firm More Than.
Richard Taylor, from South Wales, said burglars were now using Facebook and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Beware! Burglars have an eye on your Facebook status.

Train accident averted in Punjab

CHANDIGARH – A major accident was averted in Punjab Tuesday when the alert crew of an express train realised that its iron hook had broken, detaching the engine and four bogies from the train that was moving at nearly 100 km per hour.

No casualties were reported, initial reports say.
The engine and four compartments of … Read more »»».

Extended jail term sought for Indian-origin doctor

SYDNEY – The jail term of Indian-origin doctor Jayant Patel, sentenced to seven years in prison for manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm on patients at an Australian hospital, should be extended, a law official has said in a fresh appeal.

Queensland’s Attorney-General Cameron Dick in his appeal Monday sought Patel to be declared a serious … Read : Extended jail term sought for Indian-origin doctor.

Youth Congress leader missing from Uttar Pradesh hotel

LUCKNOW – A prominent Youth Congress activist hand-picked by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to handle organisational elections has been missing from a hotel in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi town, police said Tuesday, a day after he disappeared.

Nishant Patel went missing Monday morning from Utsav Hotel in Hardoi, about 100 km from here, where he had …. Original source  : Youth Congress leader missing from Uttar Pradesh hotel.

Food delivery man held in Australia for sexual assault

SYDNEY – A 21-year-old delivery driver with a restaurant in Australia was arrested at Sydney airport while boarding a flight to Nepal on charges of sexually assaulting a woman customer, a media report said Tuesday.

Australian Federal Police arrested the man at 9 p.m. Monday as he tried to board a flight to Kathmandu. He … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Food delivery man held in Australia for sexual assault.

Art vs. Oil Spill: Poets, painters, musicians find ways to protest, raise awareness and funds

Artists find ways to protest Gulf spill
NEW ORLEANS – Musician Shamarr Allen was flying back into Louis Armstrong International Airport when he got his first real glimpse of the BP oil spill. The words of CEO Tony Hayward’s TV spot – “To those affected and your families, I’m deeply sorry” – were ringing in his … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Art vs. Oil Spill: Poets, painters, musicians find ways to protest, raise awareness and funds.

Spanish police use insects to solve 150 cases

Madrid, July 20 (IANS/EFE) When a murder or some other crime is committed, insects are the first to arrive at the crime scene, even before the police show up, and in Spain these small creatures have helped to solve 150 crimes over the past 10 years.

The National Police Corps is a pioneer in forensic entomology … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Spanish police use insects to solve 150 cases.

Philly suspends tugboat contract, hires new operator after duck boat crash that killed 2

Philly hires new tugboat firm after fatal crash

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia says it has hired a new tugboat operator for a sludge-hauling contract following a fatal collision between a barge and an amphibious tour boat on the Delaware River.
Mayor Michael Nutter’s spokesman Doug Oliver says McAllister Towing & Transportation Co. will provide service on a month-to-month …. Original article  : Philly suspends tugboat contract, hires new operator after duck boat crash that killed 2.

Train looted in Bihar

PATNA – An armed gang of robbers looted and assaulted the passengers of a train in Bihar’s Begusarai district early Tuesday, police said.

According to police officials, over a dozen armed men looted cash and valuables from nearly a dozen passengers of the Amarpali Express between Khagaria and Begusarai railway stations. Two passengers were injured when …. Source  : Train looted in Bihar.

Attorney: Prosecutors scapegoating 3 men charged in deadly blaze at toxic ground zero tower

Att’y: 3 men scapegoated in NYC toxic tower fire

NEW YORK – Three construction company figures have been unfairly blamed for a blaze that killed two firefighters in a condemned ground zero skyscraper where city officials have acknowledged oversight failures, defense lawyers said Monday.
Mitchel Alvo, Jeffrey Melofchik and Salvatore DePaola have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Attorney: Prosecutors scapegoating 3 men charged in deadly blaze at toxic ground zero tower.

Turkey charges 196 people of coup plot

ISTANBUL – A Turkish court has charged 196 people, mostly retired senior army officers, of a coup plot to topple the ruling government.

The 968-page indictment approved by an Istanbul court accused the suspects of being involved in an alleged conspiracy in 2003 to create chaos and pave the way for a military takeover, Xinhua reported … Read : Turkey charges 196 people of coup plot.

Arrested Israeli drug dealer can take private dental care

PANAJI – After he hit the headlines for using social networking site Facebook from behind the bars earlier this week, a local court has now allowed Israeli drug dealer David Driham alias Dudu to take root canal treatment at a private dental clinic.

The prosecution had vehemently opposed Dudu’s plea for private treatment, asking him … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Arrested Israeli drug dealer can take private dental care.

Six pilgrims killed in Maharashtra

SOLAPUR – Six pilgrims were crushed to death in Maharashtra’s Solapur district Wednesday when they were on their way to the famous Pandharpur temple, police here said.

Twelve people were travelling in a large autorickshaw when they met with the accident at Shetfal village, about 30 km from Pandharpur town in Solapur.
“Their autorickshaw got caught … Read : Six pilgrims killed in Maharashtra.

Air hostess steals money from sleeping passengers

LONDON – An air hostess is facing 10 years in prison in France after admitting stealing money, credit cards and jewellery from business class passengers as they slept on long-haul flights.

The 47-year-old Air France employee dubbed the “Mile High Pickpocket” was caught following complaints about missing money, credit cards and designer jewellery.
She would rifle …. Source article  : Air hostess steals money from sleeping passengers.

Church indicts Goa government for shielding drug traders

PANAJI – After the opposition and the local media, the Goa Roman Catholic Church has indicted the Congress-led government for failing to curb the drug trade and for shielding the police-politician-drug mafia nexus.

The state police machinery was entangled with drug peddlers and the Digambar Kamat-led government was “not honest about probing the (police-politician-drug mafia) nexus”, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Church indicts Goa government for shielding drug traders.

Police: 2 killed in attack on Russian hydropower station

Police: 2 killed in Russian power station attack

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – Two carloads of assailants attacked a hydroelectric station in southern Russia early Wednesday, killing two workers and setting off bombs.
The attack took place in Kabardino-Balkariya, one of the republics in Russia’s restive Caucasus region where clashes with insurgents are frequent.
A spokesman for the republic’s police, … Read more >>>.

Flooding across China kills 701, the worst toll in a decade, and heaviest rains still to come

China flooding kills 701, worst toll in a decade

BEIJING – More than 1,000 people have died or disappeared in severe flooding in China so far this year, and the heaviest rains are still to come, a senior official warned Wednesday.
This year’s floods, which have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage already, have exacted … Original source on Gaea Times at : Flooding across China kills 701, the worst toll in a decade, and heaviest rains still to come.

3 months into Gulf disaster, BP says relief tunnel should reach blown-out well by weekend

Relief tunnel should reach Gulf well by weekend

NEW ORLEANS – Three months into the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal government’s spill chief says a relief tunnel should finally reach BP’s broken well by the weekend, meaning the gusher could be snuffed for good within two weeks.
After several days of concern about the … Read more : 3 months into Gulf disaster, BP says relief tunnel should reach blown-out well by weekend.

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Families of people killed in 2009 crash press Congress over safety

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Victims’ families persuasive
WASHINGTON – Congress is on the verge of passing far-reaching airline safety legislation, and a lot of the credit goes to an unlikely band of lobbyists: the families and friends of the 50 people who died in a regional airline crash in western New York more than a … Read : THE INFLUENCE GAME: Families of people killed in 2009 crash press Congress over safety.

Smithsonian’s vast invertebrate collection could determine full impact of Gulf oil spill

Smithsonian holdings may show oil’s impact in Gulf

SUITLAND, Md. – The Smithsonian’s vast collection of 137 million objects can come in handy at a time like this.
Scientists are beginning to determine the full impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and help guide its recovery. But they will need to know about …. Original source  : Smithsonian’s vast invertebrate collection could determine full impact of Gulf oil spill.

Four booked for emigration scam in Punjab

MOHALI – Four Haryana-based travel agents, including two women, have been booked in Punjab for duping 21 youths of over Rs.45 lakh on the pretext of arranging lucrative jobs for them in Afghanistan, police said Wednesday.

The agents had promised the youths that jobs would be arranged in a construction company with a salary of Rs.100,000 … Original source on Gaea Times at : Four booked for emigration scam in Punjab.

Girl drowns in swimming pool in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A 13-year-old girl drowned in the swimming pool of the old campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in south Delhi, police said Wednesday.

Amrita Singh, a resident of Vasant Kunj, drowned around 8.45 p.m. Tuesday, a police officer said.
The girl was said to be learning swimming from the last two …. Source  : Girl drowns in swimming pool in Delhi.

Water flowing into dry river bed after rubberized dam collapses on mad-made lake near Phoenix

Rubberized dam breaks at man-made Arizona lake

TEMPE, Ariz. – A man-made lake near Phoenix will likely lose two-thirds to three-fourths of its water after a rubberized dam burst and sent thousands of gallons of water gushing downstream into a dry river bed, authorities said.
The 16-foot-high section of the dam on Tempe Town Lake near Arizona [..] Read the original article: here.

Himachal pleads against bail to Kachru ragging accused

DHARAMSALA – Himachal Pradesh has again moved the court for setting aside the bail granted to four students accused of ragging medical student Aman Kachru, leading to his death last year, an official said here Wednesday.

However, the court has listed the matter for hearing Friday.
“An appeal challenging the decision of fast-track court judge Purinder … Read more »»».

Indian food delivery man accused of raping sleeping woman

SYDNEY – An Indian restaurant delivery driver raped a woman in her sleep in her home in this Australian city as her husband slept in the lounge, a court was told.

Amit Hamal, 21, who claims that he is a member of the Nepalese royal family, faced Sydney’s Waverley Local Court Tuesday. He was charged with …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Man trying to smuggle 18 monkeys arrested in Mexico

Mexico City, July 21 (IANS/EFE) A man carrying 18 monkeys in a belt under his shirt was arrested at the Mexico City airport, authorities said.

The 38-year-old suspect, who arrived on a flight from Lima, Peru, had wrapped the monkeys in coloured mesh, killing two of the animals.
Officers noticed bulges under the man’s clothing and … Read more : Man trying to smuggle 18 monkeys arrested in Mexico.

Earthquake shakes southern Iran, injuring 15

Earthquake shakes southern Iran
TEHRAN, Iran – State TV says a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 has shaken southern Iran, injuring 15 people.

Iranian state TV says the quake on Wednesday shook Ashkenan, a region near Lamerd in southern Iran.
The TV report quotes Tehran University’s Geophysics Institute as saying that seven small quakes with magnitudes [..] Read the original article: here.

United Airlines flight diverts to Denver after hitting turbulence; 30 injured, 1 critically

United flight hits severe turbulence; 30 injured

DENVER – A United Airlines jetliner was diverted to Denver after 30 people onboard were injured, one critically, when the plane hit severe turbulence while flying over Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The flight originated at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., and was headed to Los Angeles. It … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : United Airlines flight diverts to Denver after hitting turbulence; 30 injured, 1 critically.

38 percent of Mexican women suffer gender violence

Mexico City, July 21 (IANS/EFE) Thirtyeight percent of Mexican women suffer physical, sexual or psychological aggression, and nearly 75 percent of victims don’t report the abuse, according to a report from industrial-safety consultants GMSI.

The company’s study of gender violence found that the problem affects 33 percent of women worldwide, with the proportion reaching 71 percent …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Fire on staging boat for Gulf oil spill in Venice, La.; 2 treated for smoke inhalation

Fire on staging boat for Gulf oil spill in La.

VENICE, La. – Authorities say a fire that started in the electrical system on a boat set up at a staging area for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill resulted in two minor injuries.
Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. John Marie says the fire was extinguished … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fire on staging boat for Gulf oil spill in Venice, La.; 2 treated for smoke inhalation.

Inventor of the ‘black box’ flight data recorder, David Warren, dies in Australia at age 85

Australian inventor of ‘black box’ recorder dies

SYDNEY – David Warren, an Australian scientist who invented the “black box” flight data recorder, has died, defense officials said Wednesday. He was 85.
Warren, who died Monday, came up with the idea for the cockpit voice recorder after investigating the crash of the world’s first commercial jet airliner, the …. Original source  : Inventor of the ‘black box’ flight data recorder, David Warren, dies in Australia at age 85.

Ships ready to evacuate Gulf cleanup effort as tropical rainstorm brews in Caribbean

Ships ready to leave leaky well as storm brews

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – Crew members aboard dozens of ships in the Gulf of Mexico prepared Thursday to evacuate as a tropical rainstorm brewing in the Caribbean brought the deep-sea effort to plug BP’s ruptured oil well to a near standstill.
Though the rough weather was … Read more >>.

Australia rape accused ‘faked’ Nepal royal family link

KATHMANDU – A 21-year-old Nepali, who has been arrested in Australia for allegedly raping a 44-year-old woman while delivering food to her residence, faked links to the former royal family of Nepal, according to officials and experts in Nepal.

Amit Hamal, a restaurant delivery boy in Sydney who now faces the charge of raping a woman …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Australia rape accused ‘faked’ Nepal royal family link.

Man jailed for online gambling in China

BEIJING – In the first case of conviction for online gambling, a Chinese man has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined 10,000 yuan for his involvement in betting over soccer World Cup.

Beijing’s Dongcheng District People’s Court passed the sentence on 20-year-old Zhao Yan for helping others to bet on soccer matches, the …. Source  : Man jailed for online gambling in China.

After 2 years on the run, ‘Barefoot Bandit’ to make first federal court appearance in Seattle

‘Barefoot Bandit’ to make Seattle court appearance

SEATTLE – After a two-year run from the law that stretched across the nation and to the Bahamas, the young man accused of being the “Barefoot Bandit” is back in Washington state.
Colton Harris-Moore, 19, is scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon in federal court at his initial appearance before Magistrate … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : After 2 years on the run, ‘Barefoot Bandit’ to make first federal court appearance in Seattle.

Four cops suspended over custodial death

LUCKNOW – Four policemen have been suspended over the death in police custody of a 45-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, police said Thursday.

Nazar Hussain died Wednesday evening while being interrogated at the Nakhasa police station in Moradabad, some 350 km from Lucknow, in a theft case.
Hussain’s family alleged that he died after …. Original source  : Four cops suspended over custodial death.

IMF says it has canceled $268 million Haiti debt, agrees to $60 million loan

IMF cancels $268M Haiti debt
PARIS – The IMF says it has canceled Haiti’s $268 million debt and will lend the earthquake-devastated island another $60 million to help it with reconstruction plans.

The International Monetary Fund says the decision is part of a plan for long-term reconstruction after the Jan. 12 magnitude-7 quake, which killed as many … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : IMF says it has canceled $268 million Haiti debt, agrees to $60 million loan.

Sohrabuddin case: CBI summons Gujarat minister Amit Shah

NEW DELHI – Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Amit Shah was Thursday summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake shootout in Ahmedabad.

A CBI source said Shah’s arrest was only a “matter of time”.
Shah has been accused of calling up …. Source article  : Sohrabuddin case: CBI summons Gujarat minister Amit Shah.

Mine safety officials say facts don’t support Massey claims on ventilation

Mine officials slam Massey claims on ventilation

WASHINGTON – Mine safety officials are painting a portrait of ineptitude and confusion by officials at Massey Energy Co. in the months before an explosion at the company’s West Virginia mine killed 29 men.
The depiction – in an internal memo from a top official at the Mine Safety and …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Mine safety officials say facts don’t support Massey claims on ventilation.

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Obama’s oil spill commission had web of BP and oil industry interests

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Oil panel’s web of interests
WASHINGTON – Oil runs so deep in American life that when President Barack Obama formed an independent commission to investigate the Gulf spill, he ran into something of an oil patch of his own.
Both commission chairmen had stock in BP as well as broader interests in …. Source  : INSIDE WASHINGTON: Obama’s oil spill commission had web of BP and oil industry interests.

New Zealand busts Asian drug-money laundering gang

WELLINGTON – New Zealand police investigating Asian organised crime raided a money exchange company in Auckland Thursday, claiming it was a multimillion dollar operation to launder illegal drug proceeds.

Two people were arrested and police seized their assets, including a house valued at 2 million New Zealand dollars ($1.4 million) and two vehicles, the firm’s bank … Original source on Gaea Times at : New Zealand busts Asian drug-money laundering gang.

Maoists abduct engineer in Jharkhand

RANCHI – Maoists have abducted an engineer of the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) from Jharkhand’s Chatra district, police said Thursday.

According to police, eight-10 rebels abducted N.K. Pathak, an engineer posted in Magadh coal project of the CCL, Wednesday night.
He was abducted from his ancestral village Soparam which comes under Tandawa police station of Chatra … Read more : Maoists abduct engineer in Jharkhand.

CBI summons Gujarat home minister in Sohrabuddin case

NEW DELHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday summoned Amit Shah, Gujarat’s minister of state for home, in connection with the 2005 staged killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who police claimed was a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative.
…. Read the original article  : here.

NKorea, American-led UN Command to meet again amid tension over warship sinking

NKorea, US-led UN Command to meet amid tension

SEOUL, South Korea – The American-led U.N. Command says it will hold talks with North Korea over the sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on Pyongyang.
The U.N. Command said in a statement Thursday the meeting will take place at the Korean border village of Panmunjom on Friday.
It …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : NKorea, American-led UN Command to meet again amid tension over warship sinking.

School principal held for raping student in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD – The principal of an international school here has been arrested on charges of raping a Class 11 student from Mumbai, police said Thursday. The victim had become pregnant.

A case of rape and criminal intimidation has been booked against Salahuddin Ayub, principal of Parkwood International School at Manneguda near Vikarabad on the outskirts of [..] Read the original article: here.

Cross-dresser has sex with dog at British castle

LONDON – A transvestite was caught having sex with a dog in the dry moat of a 13th century castle in Britain.

The 33-year-old man was caught with the animal in the moat of King Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle situated near the picturesque Falmouth Bay in Cornwall, The Telegraph reported.
The man mounted the pet …. Source article  : Cross-dresser has sex with dog at British castle.

Typhoon Chanthu lashes southern China with torrential rains, high winds amid flood season

Typhoon lashes south China with heavy rain, winds

BEIJING – Typhoon Chanthu sent debris flying through the air in southern China’s Guangdong province on Thursday, bringing rain that could aggravate the country’s worst floods in a decade.
No casualties have been reported so far from Chanthu, which was upgraded from a tropical storm one day earlier. Authorities … Original source on Gaea Times at : Typhoon Chanthu lashes southern China with torrential rains, high winds amid flood season.

Rangers at Grand Teton rescue 16 climbers after thunderstorm; search for 1 suspended for night

16 climbers safe; search for 1 suspended for night

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – Rescue teams used helicopters to remove 16 injured climbers from an exposed mountain in Grand Teton National Park on Wednesday after a thunderstorm and severe lightning struck the area, a park spokeswoman said. The search for another climber was suspended because [..] Read the original article: here.

China’s vital oil pipeline resumes operations after blast; spill clean up efforts continuing

Pipeline repaired as China works to contain spill
BEIJING – China National Petroleum Corp. said Thursday a vital pipeline has resumed operations after an explosion caused the country’s largest reported oil spill.
Cleanup efforts – marred by the drowning death of a worker, his body coated in crude – continued over 165 square mile … Read more »».

Indian hurt in brawl in Australia unable to eat, talk

MELBOURNE – An Indian student, recuperating in a hospital here with fractures in his jaw after being brutally beaten up by six men, is unable to eat and talk properly, his friend said Thursday.

Bharat Thapar, 24, is in hospital with plates in his jaw and “bruises all over his body” after a brawl in South …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Indian hurt in brawl in Australia unable to eat, talk.

New Zealand PM gets threat letters

AUCKLAND – New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has been threatened with grievous bodily harm in a series of faxed letters, two of which read: “It’s killing time.”

Mark Feary, a 53-year-old farmer from North Canterbury, has been found guilty by the Christchurch district court of threatening to kill the prime minister, and has been fined … Original article on : New Zealand PM gets threat letters.

Ex-army officer hangs himself in Russian jail

MOSCOW – A former Russian army colonel hanged himself in a police station after he was arrested on charges of raping two underage girls.

The unnamed former army officer, now a businessman, contacted the two girls on the internet and allegedly raped them in a car park near Kurskaya metro station here in the Russian capital, … Original article on : Ex-army officer hangs himself in Russian jail.

Over 700 dead in China floods

BEIJING – Floods in China this year have left 742 people dead and 367 missing, an official statement said Friday.

Floods have hit 28 provinces and affected 120 million people and 7.60 million hectares of crops, Xinhua reported, citing a State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters statement.
The floods caused 670,000 homes to collapse …. Original article  : Over 700 dead in China floods.

Teacher held for stripping, dancing before students

BHUBANESWAR – A teacher has been arrested for allegedly stripping and dancing before students in Orissa’s Keonjhar district, police said Friday.

A drunk Ramachandra Nanda Tuesday allegedly removed his clothes and danced before students and staff at the Katrabeda upper primary school at Katrabeda village, about 270 km from here, police inspector J. Pagal told IANS. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Teacher held for stripping, dancing before students.

Indian caught with drugs in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian customs officials arrested a 26-year-old man from India who allegedly tried to smuggle in drugs worth 1.25 million ringgit ($390,625) inside two rice pots, the official news agency Bernama reported Friday.

The man was detained at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, the main airport in the northeastern state of Kelantan.
Kelantan Customs Director …. Source article  : Indian caught with drugs in Malaysia.

One in 10 computers vulnerable to cyber attack

LONDON – A new report says that cyber criminals attack millions of computers every month and infect approximately 10 percent of them.

Cyber criminals are increasingly making use of “toolkits” – developed to methodically infect personal computers – so that illegally obtained information can be bought and sold.
Criminal servers were typically hosted in Ukraine …. Read the original article  : here.

Typhoon Chanthu lashes southern China with torrential rains, high winds, killing 3

Typhoon lashes southern China, killing 3
BEIJING – Typhoon Chanthu killed three people before weakening into a tropical storm Friday after making landfall in southern China’s Guangdong province.

Winds of up to 78 miles per hour (126 kilometers per hour) knocked over a wall in Guangdong’s Wuchuan city, killing two people, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Heavy …. Read the original article  : here.

Work at oil spill site in Gulf of Mexico on hold as Tropical Storm Bonnie approaches

Oil spill work on hold as TS Bonnie approaches

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – Work to permanently choke off the oil well that had been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico is at a standstill after ships around the site were ordered to evacuate ahead of the approaching Tropical Storm Bonnie.
There had been worries that … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Work at oil spill site in Gulf of Mexico on hold as Tropical Storm Bonnie approaches.

College teacher accused of sexual harassment reinstated

DHARAMSALA – The Himachal Pradesh college where medical student Aman Kachru was allegedly ragged to death is in the midst of another controversy with the reinstatement of a senior teacher accused of sexual harassing a student.

Less than a week after the bail granted to four final-year students of the Rajendra Prasad Medical College at … Original article on : College teacher accused of sexual harassment reinstated.

‘Barefoot Bandit’ remains jailed until trial; attorney says he’s just an immature kid

Attorney: ‘Barefoot Bandit’ just an immature kid

SEATTLE – His attorney says the “Barefoot Bandit,” accused of dozens of thefts from Washington state to the Caribbean, is a likable but immature kid.
The U.S. attorney in Seattle calls Colton Harris-Moore, 19, a menace who, if set free, would pick up his two-year crime spree where he left …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Barefoot Bandit’ remains jailed until trial; attorney says he’s just an immature kid.

Australian kills prostitute, has sex with body

SYDNEY – A schizophrenic Australian man stabbed a prostitute to death and then had sex with her body, a court heard Friday.

Malcolm Robert Potts, 42, was sentenced to 21 years in prison by the New South Wales Supreme Court for the murder of Emma King in Ashfield town, nine kilometres from Sydney, in September 2008, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Australian kills prostitute, has sex with body.

Senate Democrats focus on Gulf oil spill response after giving up on comprehensive energy bill

Senate Democrats turn focus to Gulf spill response

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats hope to pass a narrow energy bill next week that responds to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and takes steps to improve energy efficiency, after abandoning plans for a sweeping measure that caps greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
Senate Majority Leader …. Original article  : Senate Democrats focus on Gulf oil spill response after giving up on comprehensive energy bill.

Gujarat minister again fails to turn up before CBI

GANDHINAGAR – Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake shootout, Friday again failed to turn up before the agency.

He send his lawyer Mitesh Amin instead who asked for the questionnaire. But the agency refused to give …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Gujarat minister again fails to turn up before CBI.

Briton sues ex-boss for parading him with thief sign

LONDON – A Briton who was marched to a police station with a sign around his neck saying he was a thief has sued his former employer for the “distress” he suffered.

Mark Gilbert, 41, said his former employer Simon Cremer humiliated him by parading him through the streets of Witham, Essex, and is now claiming … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Briton sues ex-boss for parading him with thief sign.

Neighbors: Boy played with fire days before relatives’ throats were slashed, NYC home torched

Boy said to slash throats, set fire to his NY home

NEW YORK – Shaquawna Meaders had spent “a nice night” at her friend’s apartment as the friend’s skinny 14-year-old son made them laugh and his young siblings prepared for a trip to Coney Island.
Then on Thursday, Meaders learned that her friend had died, the young [..] Read the original article: here.

Tropical Storm Bonnie Gains Strength

MIAMI (GaeaTimes.com)- A tropical storm has gathered strength along the Bahamas and is gradually proceeding toward the Gulf of Mexico, weather forecasters have revealed. According to the report released by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the Tropical Storm Bonnie had maintained a wind capacity of 40 mph and on Thursday night it was …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

College lecturer detained for firing in air

CHANDIGARH – A college lecturer was detained here for firing gun shots in the air and misbehaving with policemen, police said Friday.

Harnek Singh, 40, who works in a government college in Amritsar in Punjab, had come to his parents’ house in Sector 34 on holiday.
“He took his dog out for a walk at around …. Source article  : College lecturer detained for firing in air.

20 die in Bolivia accident

LA PAZ – At least 20 people were killed here in Bolivia when a truck in which they were travelling plunged into a 250-metre-deep ravine, police said.

A nine-year-old girl survived as she dropped out of the falling truck and was miraculously caught in the trees Thursday evening, Xinhua quoted police as saying.
Police said the …. Source  : 20 die in Bolivia accident.

New Zealand man jailed for stealing orange

AUCKLAND – A New Zealand man who trespassed on private property and stole an orange from a tree “because he was hungry” has been jailed.

Michael James Brooks, 24, of Tauranga was jailed for 10 months by the Tauranga District Court after he pleaded guilty to one charge each of burglary, unlawfully being in an …. Original article  : New Zealand man jailed for stealing orange.

Fire at Sanchar Bhawan, none injured

NEW DELHI – A fire broke out Friday at the Sanchar Bhawan, which houses the Department of Telecommunications, on Ashoka Road here, Nobody was injured, the fire department said.

The blaze began on the 13th floor of the building around 4 a.m. Thirteen fire tenders battled the fire and brought it under control, a fire officer …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Powerful storms bring heavy rain, tornadoes to Wis., flooding closes airport, blocks roads

Flooding shuts down airport, closes roads in Wis.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Powerful thunderstorms are causing widespread flooding in southern Wisconsin, closing down Milwaukee’s airport and blocking roads, and two people have been struck by lightning.
Heavy rains pounded the region Thursday, with parts of Milwaukee seeing up to 7.5 inches of rain in just two hours. The … Read more »»».

Drunk Australian teen steals fire engine

SYDNEY – An intoxicated 16-year-old boy broke into a fire station in an Australian town and drove off with a fire engine, police said Saturday.

Police said the teenager broke into the fire station at Lithgow, 143 km from Sydney, and stole a 14-tonne fire truck at about 11.45 p.m. Friday, the Daily Telegraph reported. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Drunk Australian teen steals fire engine.

Philippines Earthquake Make Headlines

SUMATRA (GaeaTimes.com)- The Moro Gulf of Mindanao Island in Philippines was hit by a total of 6 quakes today morning and this created sensation among the residents. The strong quakes were followed by another strong quake which hit Indonesia’s northern Sumatra region. Later the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the incidents. The final quake had rattled …. Source  : Philippines Earthquake Make Headlines.

Floods in Ferozepur, crops damaged

CHANDIGARH – Several acres of agricultural land were inundated and over 75 villages were submerged in flood water in Punjab’s Ferozepur district Saturday, an official said.

Over 150 houses have been damaged and hundreds of residents have been evacuated to safer places. District administration and the local police had launched a rescue operation on war-footing in … Read more : Floods in Ferozepur, crops damaged.

Crews look for 4 missing after medical flight crashes into Lake Michigan; boaters rescue pilot

Mich. rescuers search for 4 missing in plane crash

LUDINGTON, Mich. – Rescuers searched Lake Michigan for four people aboard a small plane that crashed into choppy waters, including a school superintendent on his way to the Mayo Clinic for cancer treatment, his wife and a doctor. The only known survivor was the pilot.
Jerry Freed, 66, … Read more >>>.

Ships steam to safer waters as leftovers from Tropical Storm Bonnie gun for Gulf of Mexico

Ships steam to safer waters as storm guns for Gulf

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – Ships steamed to safer waters and coastal workers packed up oil removal operations as remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie gunned for the Gulf of Mexico Saturday.
By daybreak, all but a handful of the ships working at the well site were …. Source article  : Ships steam to safer waters as leftovers from Tropical Storm Bonnie gun for Gulf of Mexico.

26 held for illegal diamond mining

RAIPUR – Twenty-six people, including six women, were arrested in a police raid at a diamond deposit site in Chhattisgarh, police said Saturday.

A police team raided the 18-hectare diamond deposit site late Friday and arrested 20 men and six women for illegally mining diamond in Pailikhand village, around 150 km from here, in Raipur district. … Read more >>>.

Abducted Jharkhand engineer rescued

RANCHI – Three days after he was abducted by suspected Maoists, an engineer of the Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) was rescued from a jungle in Jharkhand’s Palamau district, police said Saturday.

According to the police, N.K. Pathak, an engineer posted in Magadh coal project of CCL, was rescued late Friday from a jungle in Palamau district, …. Read the original article  : here.

MiG 27 crashes in West Bengal, civilian killed (Lead, superseding earlier story)

SILIGURI – A MiG 27 fighter aircraft crashed in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district Saturday morning, killing a civilian and injuring eight others, a police official said. The pilot ejected safely.

The accident occured at around 11 a.m. when the aircraft, which had started off from the Hashimara airbase at 10.30 a.m, came crashing down in Jorepukhri … Read this article on Gaea Times at : MiG 27 crashes in West Bengal, civilian killed (Lead, superseding earlier story).

Bus veers off mountain road and plunges down gorge killing 17 in Indian Kashmir

17 killed after bus plunges into gorge in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – A minibus veered off a mountain road under construction and plunged into a river in Indian Kashmir, killing at least 17 people, a police officer said Saturday.
Rescue workers were searching the fast-flowing waters of the Chenab River for any survivors, said Hemant Lohia.
The accident …. Source  : Bus veers off mountain road and plunges down gorge killing 17 in Indian Kashmir.

12 students injured as school bus overturns

LUCKNOW – At least 12 students were injured, three critically, when their school bus overturned in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district Saturday, police said.

The speeding bus, carrying 30-35 students of the DPM College, overturned after the driver applied the brakes suddenly to avoid collision with another vehicle in Pehsuma area, about 400 km from here.
“Those …. Original article  : 12 students injured as school bus overturns.

Pakistani man arrested before wedding in Britain

LONDON – It didn’t turn out to be a dream wedding for a 32-year-old Pakistani man and his Czech bride as they were arrested moments ahead of what police called a “sham wedding”.

Abdul Majid from Pakistan and his bride, Andrea Kalejova, 22, were arrested by immigration officials from a registrar’s office in Manchester just before … Read more : Pakistani man arrested before wedding in Britain.

MiG 27 crashes in West Bengal, two pilots dead

KOLKATA – A MiG 27 fighter aircraft crashed in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district Saturday morning, killing the two pilots onboard, a defence official said.

The aircraft crashed in Moinaguri village in Jalpaiguri. Twelve villagers, including four children, were injured in the accident, Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani, the defence spokesperson (eastern headquarters), told IANS here.
… Original article on : MiG 27 crashes in West Bengal, two pilots dead.

4 US service members die in bombing in Afghanistan; 69 international troops killed in July

4 US troops die in bomb blast in south Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Four American service members were killed Saturday in a bombing in southern Afghanistan, where international forces are stepping up the fight against the Taliban, officials said.
A NATO announcement did not give the nationalities of the victims of Saturday’s blast, nor specify where in [..] Read the original article: here.

Two TDP leaders hacked to death

HYDERABAD – Two leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), who were brothers, were hacked to death by unidentified assailants in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district in a case of fational killings, police said Saturday.

Vishwanath Reddy and Maheshwar Reddy, both brothers and local leaders of the TDP, were murdered late Friday in Nakkaladinne in Kadapa. …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bail hearing of Kachru accused adjourned till Monday

SHIMLA – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has adjourned till Monday the bail hearing of the four medical students accused of ragging first year student Aman Kachru last year leading to his death.

Justice D.D Sud gave both the parties an opportunity to discuss the case regarding the bail granted to the accused.
The four …. Source  : Bail hearing of Kachru accused adjourned till Monday.

Prosecutors say at least 38 dead found at suspected drug-gang dumping ground in north Mexico

38 bodies found at northern Mexico dumping ground

MEXICO CITY – Authorities found the remains of at least 38 people in a series of pits and scattered on the ground at a suspected drug-gang dumping site near the industrial hub of Monterrey in northern Mexico, an official said Friday.
Investigators were using heavy equipment to search for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Prosecutors say at least 38 dead found at suspected drug-gang dumping ground in north Mexico.

Rome diocese asks gay priests to come out

Rome, July 24 (IANS/AKI) The Catholic diocese of Rome has asked homosexual priests to “come out” because their behaviour “slings mud on others”.

The Vicar of Rome – the office that governs the Rome diocese in the name of the Pope – Friday urged homosexual priests to renounce priesthood.
It was responding to an article in …. Read the original article  : Rome diocese asks gay priests to come out.

Amit Shah is innocent, says Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI – Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah is “completely innocent” and all allegations against him have been “fabricated”, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said here Saturday while accepting his resignation.

“Amit Shah is completely innocent. The allegations have been fabricated,” Modi said after arriving in the capital in the morning.
“Amit Shah has … Read more >>.

3 earthquakes hit southern Philippines, but too deep to cause any damage or tsunami

Earthquakes hit southern Philippines; no damage

MANILA, Philippines – Three major undersea earthquakes struck the southern Philippines within minutes of each other early Saturday, but the temblors were too deep to cause any damage.
A magnitude 6.8 tremor shook the Moro Gulf off the island of Mindanao at 6:08 a.m. (2208 GMT Friday). It was centered about …. Source article  : 3 earthquakes hit southern Philippines, but too deep to cause any damage or tsunami.

Coast Guard releases radio transmissions from fatal duck boat crash in Philadelphia

Coast Guard releases audio from Philly duck crash

PHILADELPHIA – An unidentified man can be heard yelling for a boat to watch out on recordings of radio communications from a fatal duck boat crash in Philadelphia.
The audio released Friday was taken from the emergency channel recorded by the Coast Guard on July 7 when a duck … Read more »»».

Disgraced Shah re-appears, arrested, jailed (Roundup)

GANDHINAGAR/AHMEDABAD – On the run for three days, Gujarat’s disgraced former minister Amit Shah was sent to 14-day judicial custody Sunday over an alleged Islamist’s murder, hours after he made a dramatic appearance before the media and surrendered to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The drama lasted just about five hours from the time Shah … Read more : Disgraced Shah re-appears, arrested, jailed (Roundup).

14 days judicial custody for Amit Shah

GANDHINAGAR – Former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, who was arrested here after being charged with the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout, was Sunday sent to 14 days judicial custody.

“Amit Shah has been sent to a 14 day judicial custody,” an official source said.
He was produced at the residence of CBI …. Read the original article  : 14 days judicial custody for Amit Shah.

More arrests likely in Punjab honour killing

HOSHIARPUR – More arrests are likely to take place in the honour killing of a young woman by her father in Punjab while a man who killed his sister for “going around with a couple of boys” was arrested nearly a month after the crime, officials said Sunday.

Sher Singh of Dasuya town in Hoshiarpur was … Read more : More arrests likely in Punjab honour killing.

Germany’s Love Parade festival will never be held again after 19 killed, 342 injured in crush

Germany’s Love Parade festival canceled for good

DUISBURG, Germany – The organizer of the Love Parade says the yearly techno music festival will never be held again after 19 people were killed and 342 were injured in a panicked crush in an entrance tunnel.
Authorities faced tough questions at a press conference over why hundreds of thousands … Read more : Germany’s Love Parade festival will never be held again after 19 killed, 342 injured in crush.

Police search for causes of German festival stampede

DUISBURG – Police in the city of Duisburg Sunday began searching for the exact causes of a mass panic in a tunnel at the Love Parade music event, in which 19 people died.

Officials said the number of injured now stood at 342, some of whom were in a serious condition.
Panic broke out around 5 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Mumbai Crime Branch to enquire into attack on Abu Salem

MUMBAI – The Crime Branch of the Mumbai police will investigate the attack on mafia don Abu Salem, allegedly by an aide of rival gangster Dawood Ibrahim, inside the Arthur Road Jail, a senior officer said here Sunday.

“We are in the process of taking over the investigation into the attack on Salem,,” Deputy Commissioner of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Mumbai Crime Branch to enquire into attack on Abu Salem.

Ugandan president calls on Africa to unite to fight terror, weeks after twin bombings kill 76

Uganda president calls for Africa to fight terror

KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda’s president is calling on Africa to band together to fight terrorism on the continent, just weeks after twin bomb attacks killed 76 people in Kampala.
President Yoweri Museveni told a gathering of African leaders on Sunday that his government has arrested suspected organizers of the …. Read the original article  : Ugandan president calls on Africa to unite to fight terror, weeks after twin bombings kill 76.

Death toll from Germany’s Love Parade music festival stampede rises to 19, with 342 injured

Death toll from German music festival rises to 19

DUISBURG, Germany – The death toll rose to 19 on Sunday and police said that 342 had been injured in a panicked crush of partygoers in an overcrowded tunnel that served as the sole entrance to a German festival billed as the world’s largest techno music party.
The … Read : Death toll from Germany’s Love Parade music festival stampede rises to 19, with 342 injured.

Stolen hi-tech phone helps police track thief

LONDON – A thief who stole an Apple iPhone from its owner’s hands was arrested by police in the US, minutes after being tracked by global positioning system (GPS) software.

Horatio Toure, 31, snatched the highly-sought after phone from the hands of a software company employee who was testing a new application in San Francisco …. Source  : Stolen hi-tech phone helps police track thief.

Delinquent kids don’t always take to crime

LONDON – Children who fall foul of the law early in life don’t necessarily take to a life of crime later on.

This is one of the findings of the Marburg child delinquency study, reports the journal Deutsches ??rzteblatt International.
Helmut Remschmidt and Reinhard Walter of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Delinquent kids don’t always take to crime.

Man kills father, aunt in Haryana village

ROHTAK – A 25-year-old man allegedly shot dead his father and aunt over an old dispute in this Haryana district Sunday, police said.

According to police, the deceased were identified as Rajinder Singh, 50, and Shakuntala, 35.
The incident took place around 11 a.m. at Ismaila village, police said.
“Rajinder’s son Jasbir Singh alias Jassa, … Read more : Man kills father, aunt in Haryana village.

Man killed in Delhi

NEW DELHI – A man was stabbed to death Sunday following a quarrel with a group of people in the Paharganj area of central Delhi, police said.

Golu, owner of a videogame shop, was attacked by some people who entered his house in Paharganj around 11 p.m.
“The assailants also attacked other members of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Man killed in Delhi.

Two fake degree rackets busted in Punjab

CHANDIGARH – Punjab Police Sunday said they had busted two fake degree rackets and arrested seven people.

In the first incident, two people were arrested late Saturday for providing fake degrees of Jalandhar’s Punjab Technical University (PTU) from Rajpura town of Patiala district, around 45 km from Chandigarh.
“The accused, identified as Manpreet Singh and … Original article on : Two fake degree rackets busted in Punjab.

Police: 5 dead after rescue helicopter crashes into mountain in Japan

Police: 5 dead in Japan helicopter crash
TOKYO – Police say five people are dead after a rescue helicopter crashed into a mountain in central Japan.

Police spokesman Takeshi Iijima said the helicopter was on its way to rescue a fallen climber Sunday in Saitama, around 47 miles (75 kilometers) northwest of Tokyo.
The helicopter initially carried seven …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Police: 5 dead after rescue helicopter crashes into mountain in Japan.

Amit Shah taken into custody, says allegations fabricated

GANDHINAGAR/AHMEDABAD – Former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, charged with involvement in the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout, was taken into custody by the CBI in Gandhinagar Sunday.

Shah, who was missing since Thursday, earlier surfaced dramatically at a press conference of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ahmedabad in the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ships getting back in place at oil well, ready to work again after Bonnie’s remnants breeze by

Ships head back to oil well, ready to resume work

NEW ORLEANS – Ships were getting back in place Sunday at the Gulf of Mexico site of BP’s leaky oil well as crews raced to resume work on plugging the gusher before another big storm stops work again.
Now that Tropical Storm Bonnie has fizzled on Louisiana’s … Original article on : Ships getting back in place at oil well, ready to work again after Bonnie’s remnants breeze by.

MiG 27 crash toll rises to three

SILIGURI – The number of casualties in the MiG 27 fighter plane crash in West Bengal rose to three Sunday after two children hit by splinters of the aircraft died at a hospital here, police said.

Latika Roy and Purnima Roy died at the North Bengal Medical College Saturday midnight.
Three people, two of them admitted … Read this article on Gaea Times at : MiG 27 crash toll rises to three.

FIR against three former officials in graft case

RANCHI – A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against three ex chairmen of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) for accepting bribes to award a rural electrification contract to a Lucknow based company.

The FIR was lodged by JSEB Secretary S.K. Sinha Saturday against V.N. Pandey, S.M. Verma and H.B. Lal who were chairmen …. Original source  : FIR against three former officials in graft case.

Bride’s throat slit after calling off wedding

LONDON – A Scottish woman is fighting for her life after her throat was slit just a few hours after she called off her marriage. It is not clear whether her fiance was behind the murderous attack.

Lisa Whyte, 32, was due to marry Steven McKee Friday. She shared a house with McKee, but moved out … Read : Bride’s throat slit after calling off wedding.

Lake Delhi Iowa Dam Collapses

IOWA (GaeaTimes.com)-The residents of Eastern Iowa saw the collapse of the Lake Delhi dam on Saturday which made them worried for some time. The 83 year old dam failed to cope up with the rising pressure of water of the raging Maquoketa River. The region has been witnessing severe rainfall for the last few …. Read the original article  : Lake Delhi Iowa Dam Collapses.