Russian wildfires reach nuclear disaster zone

MOSCOW – Wildfires in Russia have reached areas contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, raising concern among people that radioactive material could be released into the air.

Russia’s Federal Forestry Agency said around 3,900 hectares in the zone from the 1986 disaster have been affected by the raging forest fires, that have killed at least … Read more : Russian wildfires reach nuclear disaster zone.

Russian emergency officials report success in battling wildfires

Russia manages to reduce number of wildfires

MOSCOW – Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry says its teams have managed to reduce the size of wildfires around Moscow and other regions in western Russia.
The ministry said Thursday that the area engulfed by fires around the capital has shrunk by more than quarter over the past 24 hours. It …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Russian emergency officials report success in battling wildfires.

Pakistan rivers in spate

ISLAMABAD – Rivers in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces reached “exceptionally high” levels Thursday and may soon inundate low-lying areas, as the country grappled with its worst ever floods that have affected over 14 million people.

Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains have left over 1,600 people dead.
Rising water levels in the Indus and Chenab … Original article on : Pakistan rivers in spate.

Psychic looks for girl, finds woman’s body

SYDNEY – A psychic acting on a hunch that the body of a missing Sydney schoolgirl would be in a public park found the torso of a missing woman there instead, police said Thursday.

Police have contacted the family of a 31-year-old mother not seen for two months but would not confirm a link with the …. Source  : Psychic looks for girl, finds woman’s body.

Flooding in Iowa forces hundreds of residents from their homes, kills 16-year-old girl

Hundreds evacuated, 1 dead after flooding in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa – Three nights of heavy rainfall caused Iowa creeks and rivers to swell, forcing hundreds of residents from their homes and killing a 16-year-old girl when three cars were swept away by a torrent of water on a rural road.
In Ames, flooding contributed to a …. Source  : Flooding in Iowa forces hundreds of residents from their homes, kills 16-year-old girl.

Ramadan or not, Pakistani flood victims say they’re already going without food

Ramadan or not, hunger hits Pakistan flood victims

MULTAN, Pakistan – Pakistani flood survivors already short on food and water began the fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday, a normally festive, social time marked this year by misery and fears of an uncertain future.
The U.S. announced a navy ship with 19 helicopters and 1,000 Marines on … Read more >>.

Ishrat Jahan killing probe given to court-appointed SIT

AHMEDABAD – The Gujarat High Court Thursday handed over the investigation of the Ishrat Jahan suspected staged-shootout case to the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Jahan was gunned down by Gujarat police in Ahmedabad June 15, 2004.
…. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ishrat Jahan killing probe given to court-appointed SIT.

Swede gets world’s highest motoring fine

LONDON – A Swedish driver, who sped through Switzerland and received the world’s highest ever motoring fine of 650,000 euros, said: “I think the speedo on the car, which is new, is faulty.”

The 37-year-old driver was clocked at 180mph while driving through Switzerland in a Mercedes SLS AMG that costs 140,000 pounds.
The … Read more »»».

As BP, feds explore whether final plug is needed for Gulf gusher, locals fear being forgotten

Gulf leaders wary over wavering on final plug

NEW ORLEANS – With the oil well that had been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico plugged from the top and BP PLC and federal officials pondering whether the final plug, or “bottom kill,” is needed, local officials fear national disengagement from what remains a crisis of unknown … Read more »».

Teacher to face action for thrashing Class 11 student

LUCKNOW – A government school teacher of Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district will face action for brutally thrashing a Class 11 student that left him needing multiple stitches on his head, an official said Thursday.

Mohammad Ahmad, a teacher of the Islamia Inter College Wednesday assaulted Shishir Shukla after the student jumped the queue while leaving the …. Original article  : Teacher to face action for thrashing Class 11 student.

Villagers in eastern Afghanistan protest alleged killing of 3 civilians by NATO

Claims of Afghan civilian deaths spark protest

KABUL, Afghanistan – A crowd of about 300 villagers yelled “death to the United States” and blocked a main road in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday as they swore that U.S. forces had killed three innocent villagers, officials said.
NATO forces rejected the claim – saying they killed several suspected insurgents …. Original source  : Villagers in eastern Afghanistan protest alleged killing of 3 civilians by NATO.

Ames, Iowa Flooding Situation Getting Worse

DES MOINES (GaeaTimes.com)- The Ames, Iowa flood on Wednesday has claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl who died when floodwater swept three cars off a road near Des Moines. Widespread flooding has struck Ames, Iowa after three nights of continuous rainfall. Hundreds of Iowa residents had to evacuate their homes early on Wednesday. [..] Read the original article: here.

More rains, mudslides expected this week as death toll in China disaster rises to 1,117

More rain expected in China as flood toll rises

ZHOUQU, China – Overnight thunderstorms brought fresh misery to survivors in a remote area of northwestern China on Thursday as the death toll from weekend flooding and massive landslides rose to 1,117.
The National Weather Center forecast heavy rains in the coming days – up to 3.5 inches …. Source  : More rains, mudslides expected this week as death toll in China disaster rises to 1,117.

Harney Co., Ore., officials say 2 people, not 3, dead in plane crash near Burns, Ore.

Ore. officials say 2, not 3, dead in plane crash

BURNS, Ore. – The Harney County sheriff says two people have died in the crash of a small plane about 70 miles south of the Eastern Oregon city of Burns.
Sheriff Dave Glerup said Wednesday night via e-mail that no additional information would be available from his … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Harney Co., Ore., officials say 2 people, not 3, dead in plane crash near Burns, Ore..

Briton kills wife for his ‘twisted obsession for sex’

LONDON – A Briton who murdered his wife due to his “twisted obsession for sex” has been sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Just days before their divorce, 32-year-old Brent Mott killed his wife Kate, Daily Express reported Thursday.
Brent attempted to cover up the killing by staging a car accident. He took Kate’s body to … Read more »».

More rain threatens China’s mudslide-hit region

BEIJING – Rescuers Thursday scrambled to look for survivors in China’s Zhouqu county, where mudslides triggered by torrential downpour killed 1,117 people, as more heavy rains are expected to lash the region Friday.

The National Meteorological Centre warned of more landslides in the coming days, with heavy rain of up to 90 mm expected to hit …. Read the original article  : here.

CBI takes over Koda scam probe

RANCHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and five ex-ministers in a disproportionate assets scam, an official said.

The Jharkhand High Court Aug 4 ordered a CBI probe against them for amassing assets more than their known sources of income.
“We have lodged an …. Source  : CBI takes over Koda scam probe.

Now satellites to monitor global fires

UNITED NATIONS – The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has created a new system that will use satellites to monitor devastating fires around the world.

“The control of these fires has become an issue of high importance, not only because of the increasing number of casualties and the huge area burned but also because of the …. Original source  : Now satellites to monitor global fires.

FAA: 3 people believed dead in twin-engine plane crash in eastern Oregon

FAA: 3 believed dead in small plane crash in Ore.

BURNS, Ore. – The Federal Aviation Administration says three people are believed dead in the crash of a twin-engine plane in eastern Oregon.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says the Aero Commander 500B went down Wednesday morning about 70 miles south of Burns.
Both he and FAA spokesman Allen …. Source  : FAA: 3 people believed dead in twin-engine plane crash in eastern Oregon.

Everyone now rescued from Alaska glacier where sightseeing party was stranded

Everyone now rescued from Alaska glacier
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Alaska National Guard helicopter was able to land Wednesday and pick up two sightseers and seven guardsmen – the last of 12 people who had been stranded on an Alaska glacier.

The sightseers were part of a five-member group on a small plane that crashed Sunday on … Read : Everyone now rescued from Alaska glacier where sightseeing party was stranded.