Authorities struggle to save over 27,000 trapped by floods in Pakistan; death toll over 900

Thousands trapped by Pakistan floods; 900 dead

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Rescue workers struggled Sunday to save more than 27,000 people still trapped by massive flooding in Pakistan’s northwest that has killed over 900 people and destroyed thousands of homes, officials said.
The effort has been aided by a slackening of the monsoon rains that have caused the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Authorities struggle to save over 27,000 trapped by floods in Pakistan; death toll over 900.

Congressman: Coast Guard let BP use too much toxic chemical dispersant in Gulf oil spill

Congressman: too much dispersant used in oil spill

NEW ORLEANS – As BP inched closer to permanently sealing the blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico, congressional investigators railed the company and Coast Guard for part of the cleanup effort, saying too much toxic chemical dispersant was used.
The investigators said the U.S. Coast Guard routinely approved … Read more »».

Chinese army officer drowns while retrieving chemical barrels

BEIJING – A senior Chinese army official was swept away by floodwaters while trying to retrieve chemical-filled barrels from a swollen river in China’s Jilin province. His body was found a day later, military officials said Sunday.

Guan Xizhi, chief of staff in an engineer corps at Shenyang military command, was swept away by floodwaters on … Read : Chinese army officer drowns while retrieving chemical barrels.

Teenager falls during romp on roof

LONDON – A teenaged student in Britain, who got hurt after she plunged through a city centre roof while having a sex romp with her lover, says “I don’t regret a minute of it. I might even do it all again.”

The couple had climbed onto the 30 feet building in Aberdeen Saturday morning and were … Read more »»».

Pakistan flood toll reaches 1,300

ISLAMABAD – Floods triggered by torrential rain have claimed about 1,300 lives in Pakistan so far, while over one million people have been affected across the country, officials said Sunday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been the worst hit in the floods, with over 500 houses washed away by floodwaters. Over 90 highways were damaged and many … Original source on Gaea Times at : Pakistan flood toll reaches 1,300.

Pakistanis criticize government response to flooding that has killed more than 800 people

Pakistanis criticize government response to floods

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Residents of Pakistan’s northwest have criticized the government’s response to devastating flooding that has killed more than 800 people.
Hakimullah Khan, a resident of Charsadda town, said Sunday that he hasn’t received any help in tracking down his missing wife and three children.
Sehar Ali Shah, who returned to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistanis criticize government response to flooding that has killed more than 800 people.

Kids can accompany mothers to New Zealand jails

AUCKLAND – Children up to two years old will now be allowed to live with their mothers behind bars in New Zealand.

Women’s prisons in Christchurch and Auckland are upgrading their facilities to comply with the law passed in 2008. Babies less than nine months, however, will not be allowed to be kept in prison cells …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kids can accompany mothers to New Zealand jails.

Japanese TV journalists covering chopper crash found unresponsive in pool of water on mountain

Missing Japanese journalists found unresponsive

TOKYO – Two Japanese journalists reported missing by their television network were found unresponsive on a mountain Sunday, though police said an official declaration of death would have to wait until they could be taken to a hospital.
Nippon Television reporter Yuji Kita and cameraman Jun Kawakami had been on their way …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Japanese TV journalists covering chopper crash found unresponsive in pool of water on mountain.

To save themselves, New Zealand police can now bite attackers

AUCKLAND – Police in New Zealand have been allowed to do anything to protect themselves from attackers – including bite, gouge out eyes or even growl at offenders.

Policemen are being told “anything goes”, and whatever action they choose to take – as long as it saves their lives – they will be backed by police …. Source article  : To save themselves, New Zealand police can now bite attackers.

17 held in Poland for child pornography

Warsaw, Aug 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) In a massive crackdown against paedophile nexus in Poland, 17 people have been arrested for distributing child pornography via internet, Polish Radio External Service reported.

Warsaw police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said the suspects were found searching for pornographic materials by the interpol Office in Wiesbaden, Germany via a P2P social networking … Read : 17 held in Poland for child pornography.

Waterbomber plane battling wildfires crashes in Canada

Firefighting plane crashes in Canada
VICTORIA, British Columbia – A Canadian waterbombing plane battling wildfires deep in British Columbia’s interior crashed on Saturday, search and rescue officials said.

Capt. Marguerite Dodds-Lepinski, the public affairs officer at the province’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, said it was believed that the plane had two crew members on board. …. Read the original article  : Waterbomber plane battling wildfires crashes in Canada.

Minibus full of civilians strikes roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan; 6 killed, 9 wounded

6 Afghans killed when minibus hits roadside bomb

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A minibus full of civilians struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan early Sunday, killing six on board, officials said.
Another nine people were wounded in the explosion in Kandahar province’s Maiwand district, said provincial spokesman Zalmai Ayubi.
The civilian death toll has climbed along with military … Original article on : Minibus full of civilians strikes roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan; 6 killed, 9 wounded.

Spike Lee screens film that includes Gulf oil spill; says ‘nobody’ from BP speaking to him

Spike Lee screens film that includes oil spill
SAN DIEGO – Spike Lee screened some of his new HBO documentary that includes a look at the massive BP Gulf oil spill and says no one from the oil giant is speaking to him.
The director showed about 90 minutes of “If God Is … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Spike Lee screens film that includes Gulf oil spill; says ‘nobody’ from BP speaking to him.

Land mines wash up on SKorean shores, apparently swept by rains from North; 1 man killed

Land mine swept ashore from NKorea kills SKorean

SEOUL, South Korea – Dozens of land mines have washed up on South Korean shores in recent days, apparently swept from North Korea by torrential rains. One killed a man and wounded another, the military said Sunday.
Two men discovered two mines in wooden boxes floating in a river …. Read the original article  : Land mines wash up on SKorean shores, apparently swept by rains from North; 1 man killed.

24 trapped after coal mine flood in NE China, day after 17 killed in mine explosion

24 remain trapped in flooded coal mine in NE China

BEIJING – Two dozen workers were trapped in a flooded mine in northeast China on Sunday, the latest accident in the country’s notoriously dangerous coal industry.
The State Work Safety Administration has dispatched a team to investigate the Saturday afternoon flood at a mine in Jixi city …. Original article  : 24 trapped after coal mine flood in NE China, day after 17 killed in mine explosion.

Coast Guard routinely approved use of toxic chemical to break up Gulf oil despite EPA rule

Coast Guard allows toxic chemical use on Gulf oil

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard has routinely approved BP requests to use thousands of gallons of toxic chemical a day to break up oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico despite a federal directive that the chemicals be used only rarely on surface waters, congressional investigators … Read more >>.

Spike Lee screens oil spill documentary in San Diego, says ‘nobody from BP’ is speaking to him

Spike Lee screens oil spill film in San Diego
SAN DIEGO – Spike Lee has screened his new four-hour documentary on the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and says no one from the oil giant is speaking to him.
The director showed “If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise” … Original source on Gaea Times at : Spike Lee screens oil spill documentary in San Diego, says ‘nobody from BP’ is speaking to him.

Fire crews gain ground in high desert north of Los Angeles as hills smolder from 2-day blaze

Crews gain ground on wildfire north of Los Angeles

PALMDALE, Calif. – A wildfire smoldered in the high desert north of Los Angeles Saturday, spewing plumes of thick smoke that promted air quality warnings as hundreds of firefighters worked to contain the 2-day-old blaze.
The fire has charred nearly 22 square miles of brush in the Antelope …. Read the original article  : Fire crews gain ground in high desert north of Los Angeles as hills smolder from 2-day blaze.

Divers recover another plane crash victim from waters Lake Michigan; 1 still missing

1 killed in plane crash pulled from Lake Michigan

LUDINGTON, Mich. – Authorities have recovered another victim of a small plane crash in Lake Michigan more than a week ago.
The Mason County, Mich., Sheriff’s Office says the victim’s body was recovered Saturday night. One of the four missing passengers still has not been recovered.
All of the … Read more : Divers recover another plane crash victim from waters Lake Michigan; 1 still missing.

Document says agency repeatedly told company at heart of Mich. oil spill of pipeline concerns

Feds warned company in Mich. spill about pipeline

DETROIT – U.S. regulators earlier this year demanded improvements to the pipeline network that includes a segment that ruptured in southern Michigan, spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River, according to a document released Saturday.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the U.S. … Read more »»».