Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 50, over 600 blazes rage as record heat persists

Death toll from raging Russian wildfires hits 50
MOSCOW – Rescuers pulled a body out from a Russian village gutted by wildfires and another person died of their injuries as the death toll from hundreds of blazes nationwide rose to at least 50.
Almost 600 separate fires were still raging, mostly in western Russia, the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 50, over 600 blazes rage as record heat persists.

Oil-fouled Gulf, struggling coastal residents face long recovery, despite progress

Oil-fouled Gulf still has a long recovery ahead
NEW ORLEANS – Even after stuffing the blown-out Gulf of Mexico well with enough mud to pack down the oil, federal officials weren’t ready to declare victory over the stubborn spill yet. Neither were many Gulf residents, who have agonized as engineers launched one …. Read the original article  : here.

14 missing Bangladeshi fishermen in Indian jail

DHAKA – India and Bangladesh are working to repatriate 14 Bangladeshi fishermen who were washed into Indian shores after a cyclone in 2007 and were then jailed.

Hailing from Pathorghata in southern Barguna district, the fishermen were in mid-sea when Cyclone Sidr hit them. They are reportedly in a jail in Orissa, The Daily …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Junior engineer raided for unaccounted money

RAIPUR – A sub-engineer employed with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Chhattisgarh has been found to have assets worth Rs.25 million, informed sources said Thursday.

Raids by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) here brought out the startling revelation.
According to an official, the raids took place in four places Wednesday and the documents seized … Read more >>>.

Man arrested with explosives

LUCKNOW – A middle-aged man has been arrested with a huge cache of explosives, including ammonium nitrate and detonators, from Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district, police said Thursday.

Ram Manohar was nabbed late Wednesday from Naraini area with ammonium nitrate, 200 detonators and 70 feet long fuse wires. His aide escaped.
“We cannot rule out the possibility …. Read the original article  : Man arrested with explosives.

UN acquits Sobhraj, asks Nepal for his release, compensation

KATHMANDU – Seven years after remaining behind bars in Nepal for the alleged murder of an American tourist and having his “not guilty” plea rejected by Nepali courts, Charles Sobhraj has finally a silver lining with the UN saying he did not get a fair trial and asking the government of Nepal to free him [..] Read the original article: here.

Dhaka axes 334 NGOs

DHAKA – Bangladesh has cancelled the registration of 334 NGOs in the last four months for alleged corruption and misuse of foreign funds and on charges of patronising militancy.

The government’s NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) has seized moveable and non-moveable property of these organisations, which were operating in the name of social welfare, charity and voluntary …. Original article  : Dhaka axes 334 NGOs.

Sharad Yadav’s chopper makes emergency landing

PATNA – A helicopter carrying Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav made an emergency landing Thursday barely five minutes after take-off from Patna airport following a snag, an official said.

Yadav, Bihar Minister for Road Construction Prem Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister S. Siddharth and Road Department Secretary Prataya Amrit took off in a private helicopter for … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Sharad Yadav’s chopper makes emergency landing.

Delhi University student raped in car

NEW DELHI – A businessman has been arrested on charges of abducting and raping a 17-year-old student of Delhi University in his car here, police said Thursday.

The first year student was on her way back from college Wednesday evening when Mukesh Singhal dragged her inside his Wagon R car in Moti Nagar in west Delhi, …. Source article  : Delhi University student raped in car.

Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 50, blazes continue to rage as record heat persists

Russian wildfires death toll reaches 50
MOSCOW – Russian officials say they have recovered a body from a provincial village gutted by wildfires, while another victim has died in the hospital, taking the death toll from hundreds of blazes nationwide to at least 50.

The Emergencies Ministry said in a statement Thursday that almost 600 separate fires … Original source on Gaea Times at : Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 50, blazes continue to rage as record heat persists.

34 fall ill in China gas leak

BEIJING – At least 34 people were hospitalised after poisonous gas leaked from a chemical plant in China, authorities said Thursday.

Titanium tetrachloride, a gas with pungent odour, leaked from the plant in south China Tuesday night when workers were cleaning it. The plant is owned by Guinan Titanium Co. Ltd., Xinhua reported.
Of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 34 fall ill in China gas leak.

Pakistan braces for flood surge

ISLAMABAD – Authorities in southern Pakistan were Thursday preparing for the arrival of flood waters that have left hundreds dead and large areas devastated on their way through the northwest and centre of the country.

“Up to 1 million cubic feet (28,300 cubic metres) per second of water will pass through Guddu Barrage at Indus River …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistan braces for flood surge.

“God, why have you done this?” Pakistani flood victim asks as he flees historic deluge

Hundreds flee Pakistan floods, as criticism grows
KOT ADDU, Pakistan – Flood survivors loaded down with possessions fled a growing deluge in Pakistan’s most populous province Thursday as the government came under renewed criticism for its response to the worst monsoon rains in decades.
Authorities issued flood warnings for Punjab province in Pakistan’s east … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : “God, why have you done this?” Pakistani flood victim asks as he flees historic deluge.

Former policeman appears before CBI in Sohrabuddin case

GANDHINAGAR – O.P. Mathur, former additional director general of police, appeared before the CBI Thursday for questioning in connection with the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake shootout case.

Mathur was head of the state CID (Crime) department which was heading the investigation into the case before the Supreme Court handed it over to the Central Bureau of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Former policeman appears before CBI in Sohrabuddin case.

Fleeing thieves hurl Rolex watches at policemen

LONDON – A group of thieves who were fleeing after breaking into a jewellery store in Britain hurled Rolex watches at chasing police personnel.

The six robbers had stolen the high value Rolex timepieces along with those of other brands such as Cartier and Tag Heuer from a jewellery store, The Sun reported Thursday.
Police personnel …. Original source  : Fleeing thieves hurl Rolex watches at policemen.

School girl dead, four students hurt as bus runs over them

LUCKNOW – Two people, including a girl student, were killed and four students seriously injured when a bus of a private school ran over them in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district Thursday, police said.

The bus of R.K. Mittal Public School spun out of control and ran over five students and a 45-year-old man, who were … Read more : School girl dead, four students hurt as bus runs over them.

NTSB report: Medical helicopter fell 600 feet in 8 seconds before Arizona crash that killed 3

New info in Ariz. crash of medical helicopter

TUCSON, Ariz. – A medical helicopter that crashed last week in Tucson, Ariz., killing all three on board, fell 600 feet in eight seconds before it hit the ground.
That’s according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board obtained Wednesday by the Arizona Daily Star.
The report …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NTSB report: Medical helicopter fell 600 feet in 8 seconds before Arizona crash that killed 3.

Congressman says Enbridge waited to report oil pipeline break in southern Michigan

Congressman says Enbridge violated oil spill rules

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – A congressman says the company at the center of an oil spill in southern Michigan waited to report the pipeline break, violating federal rules.
Michigan Democrat Mark Schauer said Wednesday that Enbridge Inc. did not file a report about the release until two hours after the …. Read the original article  : Congressman says Enbridge waited to report oil pipeline break in southern Michigan.

Plane evacuated in Chicago airport

NEW YORK – Passengers on a plane at Chicago’s O’Hare international airport were evacuated after fire broke out in the plane’s landing gear.

There were 188 passengers and 11 crew members on board the United Airlines Flight 949 from London’s Heathrow airport, airlines spokesman Mike Trevino was quoted as saying Wednesday by the Herald Sun.
Several … Original source on Gaea Times at : Plane evacuated in Chicago airport.

Prosecutors, defense present closing arguments in Arkansas doctor’s bombing trial

Closing arguments made in Ark. bombing trial

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A doctor sanctioned by the state medical board for over-prescribing painkillers who also collected military-grade weaponry exacted revenge on the board chairman by orchestrating a bombing that nearly killed him, prosecutors said Wednesday during their closing arguments in the doctor’s trial.
Attorneys for Dr. Randeep Mann … Read : Prosecutors, defense present closing arguments in Arkansas doctor’s bombing trial.