BP’s costs to respond to massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has risen to $6.1 billion

BP’s Gulf oil spill costs rise to $6.1 billion

NEW ORLEANS – BP says its costs to respond to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has risen to about $6.1 billion.
That includes expenses for relief well drilling, the static kill and cementing procedure done on the blown out oil well, grants to Gulf …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : BP’s costs to respond to massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has risen to $6.1 billion.

Rescue efforts continue in Leh, 500 still missing

SRINAGAR – After a night’s halt, thousands of rescue workers fanned out across Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town Monday, three days after after a cloudburst caused flash floods, killing 132 people and causing widespread destruction.

“Out of 132 bodies recovered so far, 128 have been identified,” Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Farooq Ahmad told IANS.
“No …. Read the original article  : here.

Two of gang selling arms to Maoists held

LUCKNOW – Two men who used to supply firearms illegally manufactured in Bihar to Maoists have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, police said Monday.

Surendra Kumar and Ram Kewal, members of a Bihar-based gang involved in the illegal manufacturing and trading of firearms, were arrested late Sunday from the Risia area, some 300 km … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Two of gang selling arms to Maoists held.

Moscow deaths twice the usual number as suffocating smog from wildfires lingers

Moscow deaths twice as high this year amid smog

MOSCOW – The Russian capital’s chief health official reportedly says the number of deaths in Moscow is twice as high as usual because of smog suffocating the city from ongoing wildfires nearby.
The Interfax news agency quotes Andrei Seltsovky on Monday as saying there are now 1,300 bodies …. Original article  : Moscow deaths twice the usual number as suffocating smog from wildfires lingers.

China searches for survivors as flooding spreads death, despair in Asia; Pakistan relief slow

China searches for survivors amid Asian flood wave

ZHOUQU, China – Rescuers dug through mud and wreckage Monday searching for 1,300 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck northwestern China, just one of a series of floods across Asia that have killed hundreds and spread misery to millions more.
In Pakistan, frustrated victims railed against the …. Source  : China searches for survivors as flooding spreads death, despair in Asia; Pakistan relief slow.

Parliament expresses grief over Leh flood deaths

NEW DELHI – Parliament Monday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh region.

Over 150 were killed and around 500 are missing after cloudburst caused flash floods Friday.
Expressing solidarity with the people of the region, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. [..] Read the original article: here.

Gov’t plan for cleaning up a Gulf Coast hurricane calls for sampling oil before removing it

Hurricane could bring bureaucratic delays to Gulf
WASHINGTON – If a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast and whips up oil from BP’s massive spill, cleanup workers will not be able to swoop into action to fix the mess. A new Obama administration edict requires that the oil be tested before it can … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Gov’t plan for cleaning up a Gulf Coast hurricane calls for sampling oil before removing it.

Gov’t plan to assess costs could delay Gulf oil spill cleanup in the event of a hurricane

Storm plan could delay Gulf oil spill cleanup

WASHINGTON – If a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast this season, workers cleaning up the BP oil spill won’t be able to swoop immediately into action to fix the mess.
According to a response plan obtained by The Associated Press, a new Obama administration edict requires that the oil …. Source  : Gov’t plan to assess costs could delay Gulf oil spill cleanup in the event of a hurricane.

Fishermen demand compensation for oil spill losses

MUMBAI – The 800,000-strong fishing community in Maharashtra Monday demanded compensation for what they claimed were huge losses to their trade following the oil spill outside Mumbai.

The state government and maritime authorities have banned all fishing activities in and around the Mumbai coast till the oil slick is brought under control while the Municipal Corporation … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fishermen demand compensation for oil spill losses.

Iraqi officials say bomb targeting police kills 2 traffic cops, 1 civilian at Baghdad precinct

Bomb kills 2 traffic cops at Baghdad precinct

BAGHDAD – Officials say a rush-hour bombing at a western Baghdad police precinct has killed two traffic cops and one civilian.
Police and hospital officials say five traffic cops and four civilians were also wounded in the bombing at the gates of the Ghazaliyah precinct headquarters.
They say the civilians …. Original article  : Iraqi officials say bomb targeting police kills 2 traffic cops, 1 civilian at Baghdad precinct.

Anger grows in southern Pakistan as flood victims demand government help

No help for flood victims in southern Pakistan
SUKKUR, Pakistan – Although Manzoor Ahmed managed to escape rising floodwaters that submerged villages and destroyed homes in southern Pakistan, he said Monday that the total lack of government help meant dying may have been a better alternative.
The 25-year-old was one of thousands of people who … Read more »»».

Final sealing of Gulf oil gusher could be in sight as BP plans to continue relief well work

BP plans to continue relief well work this week

NEW ORLEANS – The oil that poured into the Gulf for more than 12 weeks has been forced back underground and BP engineers expect to spend this week drilling the final leg of a relief well to complete the “bottom kill” designed to permanently seal the leaking …. Original source  : Final sealing of Gulf oil gusher could be in sight as BP plans to continue relief well work.

Efforts on to check oil spill spreading along Konkan coast

MUMBAI – Efforts continued on a war-footing Monday to combat the oil spill from a Panaman ship that crashed into another vessel in Mumbai harbour as it threatened to spread further along the Konkan coastline, officials said.

Taking a grim view of the situation arising out of the oil spill off Mumbai, Maharashtra Environment Minister Suresh … Read more >>>.

Woman scams Canadians by faking cancer

TORONTO – A 23-year-old Canadian woman, who faked having cancer and then created a bogus charity to raise thousands of dollars only to blow the money away, says she did it all to settle scores with her parents for her miserable childhood.

“I was trying to get my family back together. I didn’t want to feel … Read : Woman scams Canadians by faking cancer.

NATO says American service member, Afghan child killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan

US service member, Afghan child killed in attacks

KABUL, Afghanistan – A U.S. service member was killed in a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan on Monday, while an Afghan child was shot dead during a gunbattle between NATO forces and insurgents, the alliance said.
NATO did not provide further details on the death of the American.
Sunday’s fighting … Read more : NATO says American service member, Afghan child killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan.

More Haitian children beg on Dominican streets post-quake in a sign of widening economic gulf

Haitian children turn to begging in DR after quake

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – From the white-sand beaches at the edge of all-inclusive resorts to the gritty streets of the capital, more Haitian children are begging on the streets of the Dominican Republic – a sign that the economic gulf between the neighboring nations has grown …. Source article  : More Haitian children beg on Dominican streets post-quake in a sign of widening economic gulf.

Two women, teen murdered in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – Two women and a teenage girl were found murdered in their rented house in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, police said Monday.

The three bodies were recovered late Sunday from the house in Rustamnagar village, some 300 km from here.
The victims include Zareena (40), her 14-year-old daughter Salma and another tenant Ramrati (60). Police … Read : Two women, teen murdered in Uttar Pradesh.

Mumbai Oil Spill Getting Worse

MUMBAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- As MSC Chitra continues to spill out oil, the environmentalists fear that the condition of the coastal area of Mumbai might get worse in days to come. The oil slick is spreading fast off the shore of Mumbai and the authorities are closely monitoring the situation to gauge the extent of the …. Source  : Mumbai Oil Spill Getting Worse.

Four bullet-riddled bodies found in Mexico

Mexico City, Aug 9 (IANS/EFE) Four bullet-riddled bodies were found in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, while 12 hostages were released by kidnappers in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, officials said.

The bodies of four people killed gangland-style were found along with “narcomessages” in the cities of Tecoanapa and Petatlan.
The bodies of Mario …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Four bullet-riddled bodies found in Mexico.

Ferry carrying more than 50 people sinks in eastern Indonesia

Ferry sinks in eastern Indonesia
JAKARTA, Indonesia – A police chief says a ferry carrying more than 50 people sank in eastern Indonesia. At least 10 people died and 16 others were rescued.

Lt. Abdul Rahma Aba told the local television station, TVOne, that the accident occurred Monday off East Nusatenggara province.
He says the boat was heading … Read more >>.