Police: 50 killed over weekend after boat capsizes on Uganda’s Lake Albert

50 die after boat capsizes in Uganda’s Lake Albert

KAMPALA, Uganda – Ugandan police say more than 50 people have died after a boat they were traveling in capsized on Lake Albert in Uganda.
Zura Ganyana, a police spokesman, says the boat was carrying between 70 and 80 people, but only five survivors have been found and …. Original source  : Police: 50 killed over weekend after boat capsizes on Uganda’s Lake Albert.

Man lynched in Ghaziabad

GHAZIABAD – A 47-year-old man was lynched in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district on suspicion of taking a cow for slaughter, police said Monday.

The incident took place Sunday night in Chitaura locality of this city.
“The man, a Dalit, was from the same locality,” Superintendent of Police Rural M.M. Beg said.
…. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Man lynched in Ghaziabad.

3 killed in Alaska freight company cargo plane crash at Denali National Park; fire contained

3 killed in Alaska cargo plane crash on Denali

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A big cargo airplane that crashed Sunday in Denali National Park was registered to an Alaskan freight company and had three people onboard who are presumed dead, the National Park Service said.
The Fairchild C-123 was registered to All West Freight Inc. of Delta Junction, … Original article on : 3 killed in Alaska freight company cargo plane crash at Denali National Park; fire contained.

Compensation for Uttarakhand accident victims

CHANDIGARH – Compensation of Rs.200,000 will be given to the kin of each of the 23 Hindu pilgrims who died in a road accident in Uttarakhand, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced Monday.

He also expressed grief over the death of the ‘Kanwarias’ (Shiv devotees), residents of Baghanki and Khedki villages in Haryana’s Gurgaon district. …. Original source  : Compensation for Uttarakhand accident victims.

Win for Jack: Biffle snaps 64-race drought and wins for injured owner Roush at Pocono Raceway

Win for Jack: Biffle wins one for Roush at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. – Always wearing his trademark Panama hat, Jack Roush is as much a fixture in the garage during race weekend as the drivers and crew members.
He’s at every race and involved in every decision for all of his cars.
Roush’s drivers spoke the last …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Win for Jack: Biffle snaps 64-race drought and wins for injured owner Roush at Pocono Raceway.

Bangladesh garment workers continue stir against new wages

DHAKA – Bangladesh’s garment factory workers Monday continued their protests against a new wage structure announced by the government. The industrial violence has forced suspension of production in at least 350 units.

The workers held a demonstration in Narayanganj industrial suburb Monday, although their representatives had agreed Sunday to the newly announced pay structure and … Read more >>>.

Dhaka Islamist leaders jailed for 1971 `war crimes’

DHAKA – A tribunal Monday ordered that four top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) be jailed in connection with the “war crimes” committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 freedom movement.

This was the first ruling given by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal that is trying Islamist militants accused of rape, loot and murder of thousands of unarmed civilians in the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chechen rebel leader who claimed Moscow subway bombings purportedly resigns in video

Video announces resignation of Chechen rebel

MOSCOW – The leader of Chechnya’s separatist militants, who claimed responsbility for the Moscow subway bombings that killed 40 people in March, has purportedly announced in a video posted on YouTube that he is stepping down.
Doku Umarov, regarded in the United States and Russia as a terrorist, says in the … Read more >>>.

‘Smell tests’ leave bad taste in mouths of Louisiana fishermen who harbor contamination fears

La. fishermen wrinkle their noses at ’smell tests’

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – Even the people who make their living off the seafood-rich waters of Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish have a hard time swallowing the government’s assurances that fish harvested in the shallow, muddy waters just offshore must be safe to eat because they don’t … Read more »».

Amid their grief, mothers of 2 children who drowned champion pool and hot tub safety

Mothers of 2 kids who drowned champion pool safety

GREENWICH, Conn. – Karen Cohn and Nancy Baker share a tragic experience few mothers could fathom: They watched their children die after they were entrapped by powerful suction in a swimming pool and hot tub.
Cohn, of Greenwich, Conn., and Baker, who lives in Maine, have united in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Despite their grief, parents of Conn. boy who drowned become champions of pool safety

Amid grief, Conn. parents champion pool safety

GREENWICH, Conn. – A Connecticut couple whose son drowned in their swimming pool three years ago have become champions of pool safety.
Karen and Brian Cohn of Greenwich are campaigning for tougher laws and to raise awareness about the dangers that surround pools. Their 6-year-old son, Zachary, drowned on July … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Despite their grief, parents of Conn. boy who drowned become champions of pool safety.

We’re being persecuted: Sobhraj lawyer

KATHMANDU – Once respected as a scrupulous researcher and human rights activist, Nepali lawyer Shakuntala Thapa is today persecuted in her own country, she says, thanks to her decision to defend Charles Sobhraj, the sensational “Bikini Killer” of yesteryears.

“I have been living in fear of my daughter’s and my life,” says the single mother of … Read : We’re being persecuted: Sobhraj lawyer.

CBI to seek seven-day custody of Amit Shah

AHMEDABAD – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to seek seven-day custody of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, arrested in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout in 2005, sources said Monday.

The CBI’s demand for remand and Shah’s bail plea is expected to come up in court …. Original article  : CBI to seek seven-day custody of Amit Shah.

UN chief ‘deeply saddened’ by losses in Pakistan floods

UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives and livelihoods in Pakistan due to floods, the worst in eight decades, in which more than 1,400 people have been killed.

“The secretary-general is deeply saddened by the significant loss of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure in Pakistan, following the …. Read the original article  : UN chief ‘deeply saddened’ by losses in Pakistan floods.

Official: Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 34, but blazes shrinking by the day

Death toll from Russian wildfires reaches 34

MOSCOW – Russia’s Emergencies Ministry says 34 people are known to have died in the recent wave of wildfires, which have destroyed hundreds of homes but are thought to be slowly dying down.
Vladimir Stepanov, who heads the Emergencies Ministry’s crisis response center, said in televised comments that nationwide 500 … Read more »».

Rockets fired at southern Israeli city of Eilat; one hits Jordan injuring 4

Rockets fired at Israeli city Eilat
JERUSALEM – A string of rockets was fired early Monday toward the Israeli resort city Eilat, and one hit in neighboring Jordan, injuring four people, officials in both countries said.

It was the second such attack this year, following a similar volley in April that Israeli authorities say was fired from [..] Read the original article: here.

Bridge collapse death toll rises to 51 in central China as more heavy rains expected

Bridge collapse death toll rises to 51 in China

BEIJING – The death toll from a bridge collapse triggered by intense flooding in central China has risen to 51 people as China’s worst flooding in decades wreaks havoc across the country.
Rescuers continued to search for 15 people still missing in Henan province’s Yi River after a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bridge collapse death toll rises to 51 in central China as more heavy rains expected.

18 killed in South African retirement home inferno

JOHANNESBURG – Eighteen people were killed and 84 left homeless when a fire gutted a retirement home in South Africa, emergency services officials said Monday.

The fire at the home in Nigel, around 50 km east of Johannesburg, broke out around 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) Sunday, a spokesman for Netcare 911 emergency service said.
Security guards …. Source article  : 18 killed in South African retirement home inferno.

Suicide car bomb apparently aimed at Afghan official kills 5 children; official unharmed

Suicide car bomb kills 5 kids in south Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber blew himself up next to a police truck bringing a southern Afghan official to work early Monday, killing five children nearby, officials said.
The blast struck about 9 a.m. local time near a market area in Dand district to the west … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Suicide car bomb apparently aimed at Afghan official kills 5 children; official unharmed.

300,000 without water as floods damage pipelines in China city

BEIJING – Floods caused by torrential rains damaged pipelines leaving 300,000 people without water in Tonghua city in China’s Jilin province, an official said Monday.

Wang Ruimin, head of the public utility bureau in Tonghua, said four water pipelines had been damaged since Sunday, cutting water supply to the whole city.
Wang said the bureau … Original source on Gaea Times at : 300,000 without water as floods damage pipelines in China city.

Militants kill 5 Iraqi soldiers at Baghdad checkpoint, plant al-Qaida flag

Al-Qaida militants kill 5 Iraqi troops, plant flag

BAGHDAD – Suspected al-Qaida militants killed 5 Iraqi soldiers in a brazen dawn attack Tuesday at a western Baghdad checkpoint and planted the terror group’s black banner before fleeing the scene, officials said.
The attackers arrived in three cars and used pistols fitted with silencers in the assault in …. Source  : Militants kill 5 Iraqi soldiers at Baghdad checkpoint, plant al-Qaida flag.

Tropical Storm Colin forms in the Atlantic, but not on track for oil spill in Gulf of Mexico

Tropical Storm Colin forms in the Atlantic

MIAMI – Tropical Storm Colin has formed far out in the Atlantic but early forecasts put it on a track off the U.S. Atlantic seaboard rather than into the Gulf of Mexico, where BP is working to finally plug its blown-out oil well.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami says …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Deadly floods spread to villages in Pakistan’s heartland, threaten major dam in northwest

Deadly flooding spreads to Pakistan’s heartland

KOT ADDU, Pakistan – Floodwaters spread into Pakistan’s heartland Tuesday, submerging dozens of villages along bloated rivers whose torrents already have killed at least 1,200 people. Fresh rains in the hardest-hit northwest threatened to overwhelm a major dam and unleash a new deluge.
Relief work for some 2 million people has …. Source  : Deadly floods spread to villages in Pakistan’s heartland, threaten major dam in northwest.

30 killed in Karachi after MQM lawmaker’s killing

ISLAMABAD – The murder of MQM leader Raza Haider, a member of the Sindh provincial assembly, in Pakistan’s financial hub Karachi, sparked riots that left 30 people dead and nearly five dozen wounded.

Haider was killed Monday by unknown assailants in Nazimabad area where he had gone to attend a funeral.
Raza, 51, was a … Read more »».

Journalist Nirupama Pathak’s mother granted bail

RANCHI – A Jharkhand court has given bail to Sudha Pathak, the mother of 23-year-old journalist Nirupama Pathak who was found dead in her home April 29, after police failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days from her arrest.

Sudha was arrested on May 3 after her New Delhi-based daughter Nirupama was found … Read more »».

Crews hope attempt to seal off oil at bottom of Gulf will do the final trick

On Gulf, crews hope kill attempt will do the trick

NEW ORLEANS – Crews hoped to begin pumping mud and perhaps cement down the throat of the blown-out oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday in what BP officials said could be the method of attack that finally snuffs the spill.
Engineers …. Source  : Crews hope attempt to seal off oil at bottom of Gulf will do the final trick.

With or without BP, Florida naturalist copies lesson from Noah’s Ark to save Gulf species

Biologist using Noah’s Ark idea to save sealife

PANACEA, Fla. – On the chance that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill threatens some sea creatures with extinction, naturalist Jack Rudloe hopes his laboratory can save them.
Rudloe has launched Operation Noah’s Ark, using his four-acre facility an hour south of Tallahassee to preserve more than 350 different … Read : With or without BP, Florida naturalist copies lesson from Noah’s Ark to save Gulf species.

ISI agent living under cover in Punjab arrested

FEROZEPUR – A man suspected to be an agent of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI has been arrested with fake identification documents, including a PAN card, voter identity card and driving license, in this border district, police said Tuesday.

Razaullah, 24, had been staying in Ferozepur, about 275 km from the state capital Chandigarh, for the …. Source article  : ISI agent living under cover in Punjab arrested.

Federal safety board probes ways to prevent rollover accidents by hazmat tanker trucks

NTSB probes rollovers by hazmat tanker trucks

WASHINGTON – A tanker truck hauling propane ran off a busy interstate in Indianapolis, struck a guardrail and exploded last October. The giant fireball could be seen miles away.
The accident has prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to examine whether enough is being done to prevent tanker trucks hauling …. Source article  : Federal safety board probes ways to prevent rollover accidents by hazmat tanker trucks.

Bikers chop off man’s arm in Nepal road rage

KATHMANDU – Two bikers, alleged to be drug addicts, chopped off the arm of a public bus driver in southeastern Nepal in full view of passengers in a bout of road rage, accusing him of deliberately blocking their way, Nepal’s official media reported Tuesday.

The bikers, Dipak Limbu and Rajesh Rai, accosted the bus at Tarahara …. Read the original article  : Bikers chop off man’s arm in Nepal road rage.

Porn broadcast at Indonesian parliament

JAKARTA – Computer screens at the Indonesian parliament broadcast porn images in an incident that caused a shock among journalists and legislators, reports said Tuesday.

Journalists trying to check the parliamentary schedule found two touch-screen terminals located near the media room had been diverted to a pornographic website showing hardcore photographs, including “young teens”, the Jakarta …. Read the original article  : Porn broadcast at Indonesian parliament.

Floodwaters threaten a major dam in Pakistan’s northwest, adding to misery

Flooding threatens major dam in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Pakistan issued new flood warnings Tuesday as more rains fell and rising water levels threatened to overwhelm one of the country’s biggest dams. At least 1,200 people have died so far in the worst flooding to hit Pakistan in generations.

Relief work has been hampered by submerged roads, …. Original source  : Floodwaters threaten a major dam in Pakistan’s northwest, adding to misery.

Another youth killed in Kashmir, clashes continue

SRINAGAR – A 23-year-old man was killed here Tuesday as crowds defying curfew orders clashed with security forces, taking the toll to 23 in the last five days of unrelenting violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Mehraj-ud-Din was killed in Barthana locality of Srinagar city, six kilometres from the city centre Lal Chowk. “The incident occurred when … Read more : Another youth killed in Kashmir, clashes continue.

Key accused in bomb attack on minister held

LUCKNOW – A key accused in last month’s bomb attack targeting Uttar Pradesh minister Nand Gopal Gupta alias Nandi has been arrested in Allahabad district, police said Tuesday.

Purushottam Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs.1 lakh for his capture in connection with his alleged involvement in the attack on the minister for institutional finance and …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

40,000 Indians ‘disappear’ in Malaysia, visa on arrival scrapped

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia revoked its visa on arrival (VOA) facility for Indians after 40,000 visitors from that country “abused” it and “disappeared”, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyideein Yassin has said.

The cases of Indians abusing the scheme topped the list of unauthorised immigrants from eight South Asian nations and China to whom the VOA was offered. …. Source  : 40,000 Indians ‘disappear’ in Malaysia, visa on arrival scrapped.

Pakistan’s President Zardari visits UK amid diplomatic row, worst floods in country’s history

Pakistan’s Zardari visits UK amid spat, floods
LONDON – Pakistan’s president arrives Tuesday in Britain for a five-day visit, amid a simmering diplomatic spat between the two countries and calls for him to cancel the trip to look after his flood-devastated nation.
President Asif Ali Zardari’s planned trip has been overshadowed by fury in Pakistan …. Original source  : Pakistan’s President Zardari visits UK amid diplomatic row, worst floods in country’s history.

Long delayed inquest to begin into death of UK scientist killed during secret bomb experiments

Inquest to begin into secret bomb experiment death

LONDON – A long-awaited investigation into the death of a British scientist killed during secret U.K.-U.S. experiments to build homemade bombs likely to be used by terrorists is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Coroner Peter Dean will open an inquest into the death of Terry Jupp, who died in 2002 … Read more : Long delayed inquest to begin into death of UK scientist killed during secret bomb experiments.

11 troopers booked for killing men during clash

LUCKNOW – Eleven troopers of the paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been booked for killing two villagers during a clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur district, police said Tuesday, a day after the incident.

“We registered a case of murder late Monday against 11 SSB personnel, including Deputy Commandant Manjit Singh,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Vivek …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 11 troopers booked for killing men during clash.

Engineers booked after elephants electrocuted in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR – Three engineers of a private power distribution company in Orissa have been booked for the deaths of three elephants by electrocution in Keonjhar district, an official said Tuesday.

The engineers of the North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Orissa Ltd (NESCO) were booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, Divisional Forest Officer …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Engineers booked after elephants electrocuted in Orissa.

Beijing police now do blogging, podcasts

BEIJING – Police in the Chinese capital will now offer interactive services through blogs and podcasts in a country where the number of internet users is multiplying.

The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau officially launched its new media services at the news portals sina.com, sohu.com and 163.com and video-sharing site ku6.com, in a move that would … Original article on : Beijing police now do blogging, podcasts.

BP says mud pumped into blown-out well in Gulf of Mexico is holding down the oil

BP: Mud pumped into well is holding back the oil

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – In a significant step toward stopping the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, BP said Wednesday mud that was forced down its blown-out well was holding back the flow of crude in the Gulf of Mexico and it was … Original source on Gaea Times at : BP says mud pumped into blown-out well in Gulf of Mexico is holding down the oil.

Chinese author to publish book critical of premier despite police threats

Chinese author to publish book critical of premier
BEIJING – The author of a book unusually critical of China’s premier said Wednesday it will be published this month in Hong Kong despite police threats that he could be put in prison.
Yu Jie said the book, titled “China’s Best Actor: Wen Jiabao,” is meant to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Army soldier arrested on molestation charge

KOLKATA – An army soldier has been arrested for allegedly molesting a woman green police volunteer here, police said Wednesday.

Lance Naik Pradeep Jagdale, attached to the Eastern Command headquarters at Fort William, was nabbed redhanded when the victim raised an alarm after he tried to grab her in the central part of the city Tuesday … Read : Army soldier arrested on molestation charge.

BP claims ‘desired outcome’ reached in static kill procedure, mud holding oil down

BP says ‘desired outcome’ reached in static kill

LONDON – BP says it has reached the “desired outcome” in a procedure in which it pumped mud down the throat of the blown-out well that is leaking in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP spokeswoman Sheila Williams says the mud is holding the oil down.
BP PLC began pumping Tuesday … Read more »»».

Four dead in knife attack at China kindergarten

BEIJING – At least four children died and 12 stabbed in an attack at a kindergarten in eastern China’s Shandong province, reports said Wednesday.

The attacker, who was armed with a knife, burst into the unnamed kindergarten in Shandong’s Zibo city Tuesday afternoon, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy quoted a local …. Source article  : Four dead in knife attack at China kindergarten.

61 killed in Karachi violence

ISLAMABAD – The toll in the violence that broke out in the Pakistani port city of Karachi following the murder of a MQM legislator rose to 61 Wednesday with four more people being killed and shootouts continuing through the night.

Sixty-one people have been gunned down and over 150 injured so far as violent incidents …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 61 killed in Karachi violence.

Floods swallow Pakistani villages in heartland, kill dozens more as they threaten south

Floods kill dozens more in Pakistani heartland

KOT ADDU, Pakistan – Floodwaters ravaged hundreds of villages in Pakistan’s heartland Wednesday, destroying homes, soaking crops, and threatening more lives. Aid workers warned that bloated rivers would soon surge into the country’s south, prompting more evacuations.
This year’s monsoon season has prompted the worst flooding in Pakistan in living … Read more >>>.

22-year-old man saved teen, couldn’t get to 6 others who drowned in Louisiana’s Red River

La. man saved teen, couldn’t stop 6 from drowning

SHREVEPORT, La. – Christopher Patlan was hanging out with friends on the Red River when he heard the desperate screams coming from seven teenagers. One minute they were wading in shallow water, the next they plunged into a dropoff 25 feet deep.
Patlan bolted the three yards to … Read more : 22-year-old man saved teen, couldn’t get to 6 others who drowned in Louisiana’s Red River.

As ’static kill’ begins in Gulf, officials caution it’s not quite a cure-all to plug well

Seafloor gusher requires attack from 2 directions

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – The mud being forced down a broken wellhead to permanently plug the gusher at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico is only half the story.
To call the mission a success, crews working on a flotilla of vessels on a desolate patch of …. Source article  : As ’static kill’ begins in Gulf, officials caution it’s not quite a cure-all to plug well.

Officials: Russian wildfires death toll hits 48 as Moscow disappears under blanket of smog

Officials: Russian wildfires death toll hits 48

MOSCOW – Officials say the death toll from weeks of wildfires that have wiped out forests and villages in western Russia has reached 48.
The Emergency Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that 403 new fires were spotted in the last 24 hours, but 293 were extinguished.
Russia is suffering its … Read : Officials: Russian wildfires death toll hits 48 as Moscow disappears under blanket of smog.

CBI demand for Shah remand rejected

AHMEDABAD – A CBI court Wednesday rejected the agency’s demand for a seven-day custody of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, arrested for the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge A.I. Raval’s ruling stunned the agency. “The CBI may challenge the decision. The CBI may go to the high court,” a …. Read the original article  : CBI demand for Shah remand rejected.

Himachal forest guards to get weapons

SHIMLA – Buoyed by the success of its forest police stations or ‘van thanas’ in checking illegal felling of timber, the Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to equip forest guards with weapons.

The government in May last year decided to open forest police stations on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh to combat organised forest crimes. … Original source on Gaea Times at : Himachal forest guards to get weapons.

Court rejects CBI demand for remand of Amit Shah

AHMEDABAD – A special CBI court Wednesday rejected the investigating agency’s demand for seven-day custody of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah, arrested in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout in 2005.

The plea was rejected by Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge A.I. Raval, an official said.
CBI had July 23 …. Read the original article  : here.

‘Indian appearance’ man wanted in Australia for sex assault

MELBOURNE – Australian police are hunting for a man of “Indian appearance” for sexually assaulting a teenager in this city almost a year ago.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said they had released pictures of a man who could be responsible for the sexual assault of a teenage girl as she walked along a street in Melbourne … Read : ‘Indian appearance’ man wanted in Australia for sex assault.

Trooper held for killing villagers in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A trooper of the paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has been arrested on charges of killing two villagers during a clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur district, police said Wednesday.

Sher Singh was arrested late Tuesday after investigations revealed that the Trikolia villagers were killed by the bullets he had fired from his service rifle. … Read : Trooper held for killing villagers in Uttar Pradesh.

Wyclef’s brother says family stands behind expected Haiti presidential candidate

Wyclef bro: Haiti presidential bid ‘very serious’

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Wyclef Jean’s planned run for Haiti’s presidency is bound to make entertainment headlines, but the hip-hop artist’s brother knows trying to take charge of this earthquake-devastated and politically unstable country is a deadly serious affair.
Schoolhouse charts of past leaders are crowded with monthslong presidencies and group …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Wyclef’s brother says family stands behind expected Haiti presidential candidate.

Cameron friend’s son commits suicide

LONDON – The school-going son of a Tory leader, who is a friend of British Prime Minister David Cameron, committed suicide after a lover’s tiff even as police tried to talk to him.

Alexander Codrington, 16, had been speaking to policemen on his girlfriend’s mobile for an hour when a loud noise was heard on the [..] Read the original article: here.

British girl’s kick sends thief packing

LONDON – A 12-year-old British girl sent a thief packing by giving him a solid kick right between his legs. The burglar groaned before running out of the house.

Georgia Bulis-Gray found the thief in her kitchen.
“He smiled at me and I thought, ‘I do not want him thinking I am just a helpless …. Source  : British girl’s kick sends thief packing.

Rajdhani Express engine catches fire, passengers safe

LUCKNOW – A fire broke out in the engine of a Rajdhani Express on the outskirts of this Uttar Pradesh capital Wednesday, disrupting the busy Sultanpur-Lucknow rail route, officials said. No injury or casualty was reported.

The engine of the New Delhi-bound Guwahati Rajdhani Express caught fire near the Rehmatnagar railway station, about 40 km from …. Original article  : Rajdhani Express engine catches fire, passengers safe.

Three prisoners flee Goa jail

PANAJI – In a dramatic jail break, two convicts and an undertrial escaped from a prison in Goa by drilling a passage through the cell toilet in the early hours of Wednesday, jail authorities said.

Undertrial Abhijit Patil and convicts Hitler Fernandes and Seby Ferrao escaped from Sada prison located at Vasco, about 35 km from … Read more »».

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.

IAF flights from Chandigarh to Ladakh hit

CHANDIGARH – The Indian Air Force (IAF) suspended flights to Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir Friday after the Leh runway was inundated by floodwaters following a massive cloudburst, defence officials said here.

“No flight has taken off from Chandigarh to Ladakh as floodwaters submerged the runway,” an IAF official said here.
A cloudburst hit … Original article on : IAF flights from Chandigarh to Ladakh hit.

Man, 62, jailed for raping friend’s drugged wife

WELLINGTON – In a shocking case, a New Zealand court Friday sentenced a 62-year-old man to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in tandem with her husband when she was unconscious.

For the victim, the discovery that a friend had sexually violated and raped her in tandem with her husband was the ultimate …. Read the original article  : Man, 62, jailed for raping friend’s drugged wife.

Emirates says Japanese tanker was attacked in Persian Gulf, days after al-Qaida group’s claim

UAE: Japanese tanker attacked in Persian Gulf

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An explosive-laden dinghy had struck a Japanese oil tanker in the Persian Gulf last month, the Emirati state news agency said Friday, in the first official confirmation that the incident was an attack.
The report came after an obscure al-Qaida-linked group said Wednesday one of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Emirates says Japanese tanker was attacked in Persian Gulf, days after al-Qaida group’s claim.

PM announces Rs.1 lakh for kin of Leh cloudburst victims

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday condoled the deaths caused by the cloudburst in Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir and announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each for the families of those dead.

“The prime minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs.1 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PM announces Rs.1 lakh for kin of Leh cloudburst victims.

Worst smog yet hits Moscow airport, seeps into buildings as Russia’s wildfires rage

Worst smog yet hits Moscow, seeps into homes

MOSCOW – The city of Moscow was shrouded Friday by a dense smog that grounded flights at international airports and seeped into homes and offices, as wildfires that have killed 50 people nationwide continued to burn.
The fires have torn through forests and villages over the last two weeks … Read more >>.

Exact death toll not known in Leh tragedy: Azad

NEW DELHI – Union Health Minister and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday said the exact number of casualties due to the flash floods in Leh was not known officially because all communication links in the Ladakh town have been snapped.

“We are trying to contact a minister from Ladakh (Nuwang Rigzin …. Read the original article  : Exact death toll not known in Leh tragedy: Azad.

Crude still coats marshes and wetlands along Gulf, complicating cleanup efforts

Crude still coats marshes and wetlands along Gulf

ON THE GULF OF MEXICO – Much of the crude still in the Gulf and coastal areas more than three months after BP’s blowout has permeated deep into marshes and wetlands, complicating cleanup.
Crews are still finding plenty of crude in those interior areas, even as government officials say …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP Exclusive: FBI says new al-Qaida leader who is planning attacks on America lived in US

AP Exclusive: New al-Qaida leader knows US well

MIAMI – A suspected al-Qaida operative who lived for more than 15 years in the U.S. has become chief of the terror network’s global operations, the FBI says, marking the first time a leader so intimately familiar with American society has been placed in charge of planning attacks.
Adnan … Original source on Gaea Times at : AP Exclusive: FBI says new al-Qaida leader who is planning attacks on America lived in US.

Court frees Australian caretaker who had sex with teenager

MELBOURNE – An Australian court Friday freed a 22-year-old man after convicting him of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl in a care facility two years ago.

County Court judge Ross Howie said Victoria Giddens was an immature and untrained university student at the time of his offence.
Giddens had pleaded guilty and …. Read the original article  : Court frees Australian caretaker who had sex with teenager.

Day of fun turns into day of tragedy for Mo. high schoolers involved in fatal highway wreck

Mo. families grieve 2 slain in school buses wreck

GRAY SUMMIT, Mo. – What was supposed to have been a day of fun for a high school marching band turned into a day of chaos and tragedy, when the two buses taking them to an amusement park slammed into a highway wreck, killing a 15-year-old student … Read : Day of fun turns into day of tragedy for Mo. high schoolers involved in fatal highway wreck.

Bad weather grounds relief helicopters in flood-ravaged northwestern Pakistan

Flood relief flights grounded in Pakistan
SUKKUR, Pakistan – Bad weather grounded helicopters carrying emergency supplies to Pakistan’s flood-ravaged northwest Friday amid warnings the worst monsoon rains in decades would bring more destruction to a nation already reeling from Islamist violence.
U.S. military personnel waiting to fly Chinooks to the upper reaches of the hard-hit …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Bad weather grounds relief helicopters in flood-ravaged northwestern Pakistan.

Three kanwarias killed in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN – Three kanwarias, devotees of Lord Shiva, were killed when a truck in which they were travelling from Haridwar to Rishikesh fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district Friday morning, police said.

Eighteen people were injured, six critically, in the accident.
There were 34 people, including the driver, in the truck when the … Read more >>>.

Former general in army custody for court martial

JALANDHAR – Army authorities at the 11 Corps here Friday took a top retired army officer in custody ahead of his court martial over corruption charges in a ration scam.

Lt. Gen. Surendra K. Sahni, who retired in 2006, is the most senior army officer to be facing a General Court Martial (GCM).
The proceedings against … Read more >>>.

Flash floods kill at least 59, injure 200 in remote part of Indian Kashmir

Flash floods kill dozens in Indian Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – A sudden overnight downpour and flash floods killed at least 59 people and injured 200 in the remote and mountainous Ladakh region of Indian-controlled Kashmir, police and army officials said Friday.
Police and paramilitary soldiers had pulled 59 bodies from flood-hit areas around Leh, the main town …. Original article  : Flash floods kill at least 59, injure 200 in remote part of Indian Kashmir.

59 dead, over 300 injured in Leh flash floods (Second Lead)

SRINAGAR – At least 59 people have been killed and over 300 injured in flash floods triggered by a massive cloudburst that hit Leh town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region, washing away several government buildings and homes, police said Friday.

A huge cloudburst struck the town around midnight Thursday, triggering flash floods and mud slides, … Read : 59 dead, over 300 injured in Leh flash floods (Second Lead).

Flash floods kill at least 59, injure scores in remote part of Indian Kashmir

Flash floods kill at least 59 in Indian Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – A sudden overnight downpour and flash floods killed at least 59 people and injured 200 in the remote and mountainous Ladakh region of Indian-controlled Kashmir, police and army officials said Friday.
Police and paramilitary soldiers had pulled 59 bodies from flood-hit areas around Leh, the …. Original source  : Flash floods kill at least 59, injure scores in remote part of Indian Kashmir.

Australian cops alert as Facebook chatter hints racial brawl

MELBOURNE – Police intensified patrolling in this Australian city following chatter on social network site Facebook about possible racial violence involving teenagers.

Facebook is buzzing with talk that a wild brawl involving gangs of high-school students and up to 100 onlookers Thursday was only the precursor to a larger fight. The website claimed the violence, thought …. Read the original article  : Australian cops alert as Facebook chatter hints racial brawl.

School Bus Crash in Missouri Leaves 2 Dead, 40 injured

MISSOURI (Gaeatimes.com) — The Thursday morning at Missouri started with a dreadful accident. A school bus crashed with a Tractor Trailer and a pickup. Two school buses loaded with John F. Hodge High School band members was heading for Six Flags when the crashed against the vehicles.
The accident occurred at 10:15 a.m. sharp, on …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : School Bus Crash in Missouri Leaves 2 Dead, 40 injured.

Tropical Storm Colin weakens slightly in Atlantic with 50 mph winds as it heads to Bermuda

Tropical Storm Colin weakens slightly
MIAMI – Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say Tropical Storm Colin has weakened as it heads toward Bermuda.

The center of the storm is located about 410 miles (660 kilometers) south-southwest of Bermuda and is moving northwest around 14 mph (22 kph). Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tropical Storm Colin weakens slightly in Atlantic with 50 mph winds as it heads to Bermuda.

US, nuclear powers join Hiroshima memorial for first time, on 65th anniversary

US, nuclear powers join Hiroshima memorial
HIROSHIMA, Japan – The U.S., Britain and France participated for the first time Friday in the annual commemoration of the A-bomb attack on Hiroshima, in a 65th anniversary event that organizers hope will bolster global efforts toward nuclear disarmament.
Hiroshima’s mayor strongly welcomed the Washington’s decision to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Smog over Moscow deepens as wildfires continue to rage

Smog over Moscow worsens as wildfires rage

MOSCOW – A deep layer of smog from wildfires around Moscow is hanging over the Russian capital, prompting many city residents to wear masks and forcing many planes to divert to other airports.
The thick haze is hanging over Moscow for the second straight day Saturday as southeastern winds blow …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Smog over Moscow deepens as wildfires continue to rage.

Drought-hit Bihar farmers’ hopes lie in power supply

PATNA – In drought-hit Bihar, the hopes of small farmers now lie in the state government’s decision to provide uninterrupted power supply to rural areas for at least six hours a day to facilitate irrigation and save the paddy crop.

“We need to look forward to uninterrupted power supply if the government is serious to provide …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Drought-hit Bihar farmers’ hopes lie in power supply.

BARC job scam busted

MUMBAI – Police Saturday claimed to have busted a recruitment racket promising jobs in the sensitive Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) near here with the arrest of eight people, including a contractor.

Police inspector S.G. Mullemwar said there was no security threat of any kind to BARC and there is no involvement of any official from … Original article on : BARC job scam busted.

Pakistani province on high alert for floods

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Sindh province was on high alert Saturday after floods wreaked havoc in the country leaving at least 1,600 people dead, a media report said.

At least four districts are on high alert as flood waters are expected to hit Sindh Saturday, Dawn reported on its website quoting the UN Office for Coordination of … Read more >>>.

Angry villagers block Punjab highway

MOHALI – Hundreds of villagers blocked one of the busiest national highways that connects Chandigarh with Punjab’s industrial hub of Ludhiana for about five hours Saturday to protest alleged police inaction.

National Highway 95 was blocked around 9.30 p.m. Friday by residents of Ghaduan village. They blocked the highway alleging that three people, including a woman, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Angry villagers block Punjab highway.

4 Iraqi policemen killed in hourslong shootout at suspected Baghdad bomb workshop

Iraq: 4 policemen killed in overnight shootout

BAGHDAD – Gunmen killed four Iraqi policemen in an overnight shootout that lasted until dawn at a suspected bomb workshop in western Baghdad, security officials said.
Tipped off by a carjacking, the police trailed the suspects to a house in the mostly Sunni neighborhood of Saidiya, where they came under …. Read the original article  : 4 Iraqi policemen killed in hourslong shootout at suspected Baghdad bomb workshop.

IAF aircraft carrying relief material reaches Leh

CHANDIGARH – An Indian Air Force aircraft carrying relief material from Chandigarh Saturday made a safe landing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town that was lashed by massive flash floods triggered by a cloudburst.

“Indian Air Force’s IL-76 plane has reached Leh. Earlier in the morning, we had sent a flight to Leh but it could …. Source article  : IAF aircraft carrying relief material reaches Leh.

More rain soaks Pakistan, with worse weather on the way, deepening flood crisis

More rain lashes Pakistan, deepening flood crisis

ISLAMABAD – More rain soaked flood-ravaged Pakistan on Saturday and even heavier downpours were forecast in the coming days, deepening a crisis in which hard-line Islamist groups have rushed to fill gaps in the government’s patchy response.
Pakistani officials estimate as many as 13 million people throughout the South Asian … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : More rain soaks Pakistan, with worse weather on the way, deepening flood crisis.

BP engineers wrap up a defining week in battle to vanquish ruptured Gulf oil well

Responders to Gulf oil spill wrap up defining week

NEW ORLEANS – BP PLC closed the books on a defining week in an epic battle to defeat its ruptured oil well, with exhausted engineers forcing the surging crude underground with a torrent of mud and cement, preparing to make a final push to plug it from …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : BP engineers wrap up a defining week in battle to vanquish ruptured Gulf oil well.

Leh Cloudburst Mourned By Politicians

LADAKH, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The devastating flash flood at Leh caused by an unprecedented Cloudburst that has claimed more than 100 lives and left the place in utter mess has sent shock waves across the country. The rescue and relief operations are still on and the leading political leaders of the country have expressed … Read : Leh Cloudburst Mourned By Politicians.

Rescue efforts pick up as floods leave 130 dead at popular Kashmir tourist destination

Flash floods kill 130 in Indian-held Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – Authorities stepped up rescue efforts as the weather improved Saturday, a day after flash floods sent rivers of mud down desert mountainsides in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 130 people and injuring 400 others, officials said.
As the rain stopped in the morning, thousands of army, police … Read more »»».

Leh Cloudburst Leaves Total Mess

LADAKH, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The devastating cloudburst and resultant flash flood in Leh has claimed near about 112 lives and a lot of people could still be missing as sources have reported. The incident took place Thursday night and the residents of the mountain town and adjacent villages were caught completely unaware. The relief operations were … Read : Leh Cloudburst Leaves Total Mess.

Rains hamper rescue operations in Leh, 25 army men among missing

SRINAGAR – Heavy rains and bad weather Saturday morning forced authorities to suspend rescue and relief work in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town where at least 115 people were killed and over 300 injured in massive flash floods triggered by a cloudburst.

So far, 115 dead bodies have been recovered and the injured are being treated … Read more : Rains hamper rescue operations in Leh, 25 army men among missing.

Rescuers save 7 trapped miners after fire in eastern China gold mine killed 16 people

7 miners rescued after China mine fire kills 16

BEIJING – Rescue workers pulled out the last seven trapped workers Saturday after an underground fire killed 16 people in China’s latest mining disaster.
The blaze that broke out Friday afternoon initially trapped 50 miners at the Lingnan Gold Mine in Zhaoyuan city in eastern Shandong province, but …. Source  : Rescuers save 7 trapped miners after fire in eastern China gold mine killed 16 people.

Senior bank official found dead in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A senior official of Punjab National Bank (PNB) belonging to Delhi was found dead in a hotel room in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district, police said Saturday.

Kulbhushan Sharma, 48, chief auditor of PNB, was found dead late Friday inside the Tea Rose hotel, some 300 km from Lucknow. The police found the body after … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Senior bank official found dead in Uttar Pradesh.

Amtrak train hits big-rig truck in Calif.; 20 people sent to hospitals with minor injuries

Amtrak train hits truck in Calif.; 20 injured

SHAFTER, Calif. – Police say an Amtrak train hit a big-rig truck at a California crossing, sending 20 people to hospitals for treatment for minor injuries.
Shafter police Sgt. Randy Milligan says the southbound Amtrak train hit the truck in Kern County at around 3:55 p.m. Friday.
Police say the … Original article on : Amtrak train hits big-rig truck in Calif.; 20 people sent to hospitals with minor injuries.

16 die in China gold mine fire

BEIJING – Sixteen miners were killed when a fire broke out in a gold mine in eastern China, Xinhua reported Saturday.

About 300 people were working underground when the accident occurred around 5 p.m. Friday in Luoshan gold mine in Zhaoyuan city, officials said.
Most of the victims were suffocated. Seven miners remained trapped.
By …. Source article  : 16 die in China gold mine fire.

2 dead, several wounded in bomb blast in Thai-Myanmar border town

2 reported killed in Myanmar border town
BANGKOK – A bomb exploded in a crowded market in a Myanmar border town, killing at least two people and wounding at least eight others, an official said.

The blast occurred Friday evening in the town of Myawaddy, across a river from Thailand, according to the Mizzima news agency, run …. Original source  : 2 dead, several wounded in bomb blast in Thai-Myanmar border town.

16 dead, 7 trapped in gold mine fire in eastern China

16 dead, 7 trapped in China gold mine fire

BEIJING – Rescue workers were rushing to free seven workers trapped in a gold mine in eastern China on Saturday after an underground fire killed at least 16.
The fire that broke out Friday afternoon at the Lingnan Gold Mine in Zhaoyuan city in eastern Shandong province had …. Original article  : 16 dead, 7 trapped in gold mine fire in eastern China.

Beaches closed in Bermuda as Tropical Storm Colin approaches; Estelle forms in the Pacific

Colin heads for Bermuda; Estelle forms in Pacific

MIAMI – Tropical Storm Colin is heading toward Bermuda, while Tropical Storm Estelle has formed in the Pacific.
Colin’s center is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Saturday. A tropical storm warning was issued for the British territory, and authorities closed beaches, warning of high winds and …. Source article  : Beaches closed in Bermuda as Tropical Storm Colin approaches; Estelle forms in the Pacific.

Death toll from blasts at a market in Iraq’s second-largest city rises to 43

Death toll in Basra blasts rises to 43
BAGHDAD – The death toll from explosions at a market in Iraq’s second-largest city has risen to 43, Iraqi officials said Sunday, adding that as many as 185 people were also wounded in the blasts.

The new casualty figures from Saturday’s explosions were released by Dr. Salah Abid, a …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Death toll from blasts at a market in Iraq’s second-largest city rises to 43.

Pakistanis struggle with soaring food prices from floods that devastated crops

Floods send foods prices soaring in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis grappled with skyrocketing fruit and vegetable prices Sunday caused by floods that have destroyed more than 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) of crops and left at least 4 million people in need of food assistance in the coming months.
The rising prices threaten to amplify misery in …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistanis struggle with soaring food prices from floods that devastated crops.

Two pro-Maoist activists arrested

KOLKATA – Two pro-Maoist activists were Sunday arrested for their alleged involvement in the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express derailment in West Bengal in which 148 people were killed, police said.

People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) leaders Tapan Mahato and Altaf Hossen were arrested from Jhargram area, said Pravin Tripathy, the superintendent of police in Jhargram. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Two pro-Maoist activists arrested.

10 cars to join Delhi Fire Service

NEW DELHI – About 10 small cars fitted with fire fighting equipment will join the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) ahead of the Commonwealth Games so that they can get through clogged streets faster.

According to DFS director R.C. Sharma, the idea of using small cars is to cut down on the time taken by fire tenders …. Source article  : 10 cars to join Delhi Fire Service.

Rescuers search for 400 people missing after flash floods in Indian Kashmir; 132 dead

400 missing after flash floods in Indian Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India – Rescuers dug through crushed homes and piles of mud Sunday searching for 400 people still missing after flash floods sent massive mudslides down remote desert mountainsides in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The death toll rose to 132 with about 500 others injured.
Thousands of army, police … Read : Rescuers search for 400 people missing after flash floods in Indian Kashmir; 132 dead.

Two foreigners die as train hits car

ALAPPUZHA – Two foreign tourists and a driver were killed Sunday when the Chennai Express rammed into their car at an unmanned railway crossing in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, police said.

“Two foreign tourists and the driver of the car died on the spot. A third tourist suffered serious injuries. The nationalities of the foreigners are being … Read more : Two foreigners die as train hits car.

CBI continues to quiz Amit Shah

GANDHINAGAR – Former Gujarat minister Amit Shah continued to be quizzed by CBI officials here Sunday, a day after he was grilled for nine hours in connection with the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout.

The former minister of state for home was at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office here …. Source article  : CBI continues to quiz Amit Shah.

Volcano Erupts In Indonesia

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (GaeaTimes.com)- On Friday Mount Karangetang which is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia’s Siau island erupted suddenly and searing lava and gas cloud tumbled down its slopes. Four people who got swept by the lava are feared dead. Some others got injured as well. The entire thing took place fast and … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Volcano Erupts In Indonesia.

Nepal ex-king’s son-in-law nabbed for disco orgy

KATHMANDU – Less than a week after he hit the headlines for joining politics, Nepal’s former king Gyanendra’s son-in-law Raj Bahadur Singh was arrested by police from a Kathmandu nightclub for drunken and disorderly behaviour.

Singh, a commoner who married Gyanendra’s daughter, Princess Prerana, in 2003, was arrested along with over a dozen companions, including six …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Nepal ex-king’s son-in-law nabbed for disco orgy.

96 people killed, 2,000 missing as landslides bury towns in western China’s Gansu province

96 dead, thousands missing in China landslides

BEIJING – Rubble-strewn floodwaters tore through a remote corner of northwestern China on Sunday, smashing buildings, overturning cars, and killing at least 96 people.
Half of an entire town was under water and an estimated 2,000 more people were missing in the latest deluge in a summer that has seen … Original article on : 96 people killed, 2,000 missing as landslides bury towns in western China’s Gansu province.

Tropical Storm Colin barely a tropical storm as it approaches Bermuda, waves and rain expected

Colin approaches Bermuda, barely a tropical storm

MIAMI – Colin is moving slowly and barely retaining its tropical storm status as it approaches Bermuda, but could regain some strength.
Colin’s maximum sustained winds were about 40 mph (65 kph) early Sunday. The storm’s center is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Sunday.
A tropical storm warning … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Tropical Storm Colin barely a tropical storm as it approaches Bermuda, waves and rain expected.

NATO says 3 US service members killed in southern Afghanistan; makes 5 deaths Saturday

NATO: 3 US service members killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Three US service members were killed in recent attacks in southern Afghanistan, the military coalition said Sunday.
All three died Saturday, bringing the day’s death toll for NATO to five.
Two of the Americans died in an insurgent attack, while the third was killed by a bomb …. Read the original article  : NATO says 3 US service members killed in southern Afghanistan; makes 5 deaths Saturday.

Delhi to get first tourist police station

NEW DELHI – Delhi will soon get its first police station catering specially to foreign tourists visiting the city for the Commonwealth Games and the policemen posted there will have a good command over English, officials said.

The new station, which is to start by the end of this month, would come up at Paharganj …. Source article  : Delhi to get first tourist police station.

Russian man dies during Finnish sauna competition

HELSINKI – A Russian national died late Saturday during the final of the Sauna World Championships in Finland, organisers said.

The man apparently collapsed after spending some six minutes in the sauna that was heated to a scorching 110 degrees Celsius. Every 30 seconds the sauna’s heater is doused with water, increasing the heat factor.
A … Read more >>.

NATO says 3 more service members killed in southern Afghanistan; makes 5 deaths Saturday

NATO: 3 service members killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Three NATO service members – at least two of them American – killed in recent attacks in southern Afghanistan, the military coalition said Sunday.
All three died Saturday, making a total of five NATO deaths that day.
The two identified as American died in an insurgent attack, while …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : NATO says 3 more service members killed in southern Afghanistan; makes 5 deaths Saturday.

80 dead, 2,000 missing in China landslides

BEIJING – Over 80 people were killed and 2,000 went missing Sunday morning after landslides triggered by torrential rains hit northwest China’s Gansu province, an official said.

The landslides occurred at around 12 a.m. Sunday in Zhouqu county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. More than 80 people have been confirmed dead and some 2,000 others are … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 80 dead, 2,000 missing in China landslides.

At least 80 people killed, 2,000 missing in landslides in China’s Gansu province

80 dead, thousands missing in China landslides

BEIJING – Landslides killed at least 80 people and left an estimated 2,000 missing Sunday in northwest China’s Gansu province, the latest disaster caused by widespread flooding in the country.
The landslides happened early in the morning in the province’s Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, … Read : At least 80 people killed, 2,000 missing in landslides in China’s Gansu province.

Australian man survives 12,700-volt shock

SYDNEY – An electric pole surveyor in Australia had a miraculous escape when he suffered only partial burns on being hit by a power surge of 12,700 volts.

The 35-year-old unidentified man suffered partial burns to about 20 percent of his body and was shifted to a hospital in Brisbane.
“It’s believed the patient from Rockhampton … Read more : Australian man survives 12,700-volt shock.

Woman, 75, kills 80-year-old husband

NEW YORK – A 75-year-old woman stabbed her husband, 80, to death in a fit of rage in Monroe town in New Jersey, police said.

Ruth Zucker was charged with the murder of her dentist husband, Harvey Zucker, in the living room of their home in a retirement community in Monroe, the New York Post reported. …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Woman, 75, kills 80-year-old husband.

65 killed in China landslide

BEIJING – At least 65 people were killed early Sunday morning due to landslides triggered by heavy rain in China’s Gansu province, officials said.

The landslides occurred at around 12.00 a.m. Sunday in Zhouqu county in the province, said Mao Shengwu, a county official.
The total number of people affected by floods in the province is …. Source article  : 65 killed in China landslide.