4,800 Chinese died in road accidents in July

BEIJING – At least 4,853 people died in road accidents in China in July, the ministry of public security said Friday.

Around 30,000 people were injured in 17,000 accidents across the country. The accidents caused an economic loss of about 70 million yuan ($10.3 million), Xinhua reported.
The ministry warned of increased traffic snarls as students …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 4,800 Chinese died in road accidents in July.

UN chief to visit flood-hit Pakistan Saturday

ISLAMABAD – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will arrive in Pakistan Saturday to assess relief and rescue work in the flood-hit country, a media report said Friday.

Pakistan is grappling with its worst ever floods that have left over 1,600 people dead and affected over 14 million people.
The secretary-general will assess losses due to the floods … Read more >>.

Woman scratches swastika on drunk man’s buttocks

AUCKLAND – A woman was found guilty of stomping on a drunk man and scratching a swastika with a screwdriver on his buttocks after a row in a bar in New Zealand.

Briana Rose Murray, 21, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for her role in the attack in Christchurch in August 2009, the Herald … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Woman scratches swastika on drunk man’s buttocks.

24 more die in China’s flood-hit northwest as new rains trigger more landslides

24 more die in China’s flood-hit northwest

ZHOUQU, China – New landslides killed 24 people and left 24 missing in China’s remote northwest as downpours threatened more devastation and made rescue work nearly impossible Friday in a region where more than 1,100 people have been killed.
More rain was forecast for flood-ravaged Gansu province in the coming …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 24 more die in China’s flood-hit northwest as new rains trigger more landslides.

Alaska fishing guide says Stevens enjoyed good fishing day before dying in plane crash

Guide says Stevens in good spirits before death

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A guide says Ted Stevens’ last day of fishing was a very good day – the former U.S. senator was in great spirits as he casted for silver salmon at an Alaska camp and raved about the spinning lures he was using.
“He was happy to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Alaska fishing guide says Stevens enjoyed good fishing day before dying in plane crash.

Chhattisgarh to compensate its Leh victims

RAIPUR – Chhattisgarh Friday said several people from the state had lost their lives in the flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh town and announced Rs.1 lakh as compensation for each victim’s family.

“The state government will pay Rs.100,000 to each of the families that lost their members in Leh’s disaster. The government will also …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Recovery effort’ under way after Nev. gold mine accident leaves 2 miners missing, feared dead

Nev. accident leaves 2 miners missing, feared dead

RENO, Nev. – A search was under way after an accident at an underground gold mine in northern Nevada left two miners missing and feared dead.
Barrick Gold Corp. has not confirmed any deaths following Thursday’s accident at the Meikle mine, which has seen three fatalities in the past …. Source article  : ‘Recovery effort’ under way after Nev. gold mine accident leaves 2 miners missing, feared dead.

Alaska fishing guide says Stevens enjoyed good fishing day before fatal plane crash

Guide: Stevens in good spirits before fatal crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A fishing guide says the day before former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens died he was in great spirits – enjoying some fishing for silver salmon at an Alaska fish camp and raving about the spinning lures he was using.
Byron Orth says the fishing was so …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Alaska fishing guide says Stevens enjoyed good fishing day before fatal plane crash.

Three illegal coal miners die in Jharkhand

RANCHI – Three illegal miners in Jharkhand’s coal city of Dhanbad died when the roof of a closed mine they were working in caved in. More casualties are expected, police said Friday.

According to the police, seven to eight people were working in the closed Munidih coal mine of Dhanbad district, some 240 km from here … Read more >>>.

Youth arrested for murdering four family members

NABHA – A 24-year-old man, accused of mercilessly killing four members of his family in this Punjab town, has been arrested and will be produced in court Friday, police said.

Amrit killed his parents Iqbal Singh, 55, Jaswinder Kaur, 50, grandfather Hameer Singh, 75, and sister Gurjagjit Kaur, 18, Thursday morning at a house in Preet … Original source on Gaea Times at : Youth arrested for murdering four family members.

Sweltering Russian capital refreshed by rain, but wildfires still burning and smog may return

Rain refreshes Moscow, but wildfires still burning

MOSCOW – Heavy downpours have cooled the Russian capital after weeks of unprecendented heat and dry weather, but dozens of wildfires are still raging around Moscow.
The city on Friday remains largely free of clouds of suffocating smog after they were blown away by favorable winds earlier this week. Weather …. Source  : Sweltering Russian capital refreshed by rain, but wildfires still burning and smog may return.

Brothers jailed for burning church in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Two Malaysian brothers were Friday jailed for five years for burning a church earlier this year.

The Metro Tabernacle Church was one of the four Christian shrines attacked in January.
The series of attacks was linked to the High Court’s decision Dec 31, to allow a Catholic publication to use the … Read more : Brothers jailed for burning church in Malaysia.

La. wife of ‘Granddad Bandit’ suspect describes quiet life, no knowledge of robberies

Wife: Quiet life with ‘Granddad Bandit’ suspect

BATON ROUGE, La. – Patsy Mara doesn’t doubt the man the FBI calls the “Granddad Bandit,” suspected in a string of bank robberies across the country, is her husband. The 61-year-old schoolteacher, however, still has trouble reconciling the image of a holdup man who snatched money from more than …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Analysis of tests on BP’s broken Gulf oil well will show if leak is sealed for good

Decision expected on plug for BP’s broken oil well

NEW ORLEANS – Officials could know by early Friday if BP’s broken oil well in the Gulf of Mexico has been sealed for good.
An analysis of tests on the well done Thursday was scheduled to be completed within 24 hours, letting the federal government and BP PLC … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Analysis of tests on BP’s broken Gulf oil well will show if leak is sealed for good.

LA boy rescued from house fire dies; was aspiring actor from New Zealand

LA boy killed in house fire was aspiring actor

LOS ANGELES – A 14-year-old boy who was placed on life support after being pulled from a burning San Fernando Valley home has died.
Officials said Thursday that Eitan Djiji died Wednesday afternoon.
Djiji was featured in the 2009 comedy film “My Homework Ate My Dog” and was due … Read more >>>.

RAND report: Haiti must clear rubble, aid businesses, fix government to move forward

RAND report: Haiti must clear rubble, aid business

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A U.S.-based think tank is painting a grim picture of the earthquake recovery effort in Haiti, adding its voice to widespread accusations of ineffectual local leadership.
The RAND Corp. report being released Friday ticks off a crushing litany of problems in the Caribbean nation, many predating …. Source article  : RAND report: Haiti must clear rubble, aid businesses, fix government to move forward.

Delhi sees six robberies in one night

NEW DELHI – The national capital saw six robberies take place in one night. This includes a man being looted outside an ATM, a property dealer robbed of Rs.8.5 lakh and a few other cases of small thefts, police said Friday.

“Six robbers on three bikes robbed a property dealer of Rs.8.5 lakh at gunpoint in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi sees six robberies in one night.

Frustrated student threatens suicide

CHANDIGARH – A frustrated Panjab University student, who had to repeat two papers of the annual examinations, threatened to commit suicide if her result is not declared in time. The varsity has ordered a probe.

Akashdeep Kaur, who is pursuing Bachelors of Arts (BA) from Government College in Sector 46 here, was declared failed in her … Read more >>>.

World Bank announces $900 mn for Pakistan floods

ISLAMABAD – The World Bank has announced a grant of $900 million for relief and reconstruction work following the floods in Pakistan that have cost the nation around Rs.250 billion, a media report said Friday.

Pakistan is grappling with its worst ever floods that have left over 1,600 people dead and affected over 14 million people. [..] Read the original article: here.

One of the world’s most wanted cyber-criminal nabbed

WASHINGTON – One of the five most wanted cyber-criminals in the world who founded sophisticated internet sites for trafficking credit card information has been detained in France, authorities said.

Vladislav Anatolieviech Horohorin, 27, was arrested at the Nice airport Saturday while he was on his way from Monaco to Moscow, said the US Secret Service and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : One of the world’s most wanted cyber-criminal nabbed.