Gulf oil spill and Iraqi combat behind him, President Obama takes vacation break

Oil spill and Iraq combat over, Obama takes break
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. – Finally, President Barack Obama can relax on vacation.
The Gulf oil leak is plugged. The last combat troops are out of Iraq. And Congress is on its own summer break.
Still, doubts remain about the strength of the U.S. economy, and Obama …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bull In Stand Injures 40

TAFALLA, SPAIN (GaeaTimes.com)- The Bull that rammed in to the crowd at a bull fight arena in Spain’s Tafalla has made headlines. The raging beast weighing at least half ton broke the fence in the arena and headed straight at the viewers. The incident took place on Wednesday and almost 40 people were left … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Bull In Stand Injures 40.

India welcomes Pakistan’s acceptance of aid

NEW DELHI – India Friday said Pakistan had accepted its $5 million aid for flood victims and welcomed Islamabad’s decision to do so.

“Pakistan has conveyed to India its acceptance of the Indian aid. We welcome the decision by Pakistan to accept this offer,” Vishnu Prakash, external affairs ministry spokesperson, told reporters here.
“It is a … Read more >>.

Punjab Police yet to nab father in honour killing case

MOGA – A day after a man shot dead his daughter and her lover in an honour killing case in this Punjab district, the police are still clueless about the attacker’s whereabouts and have failed to arrest him.

According to the police, Jagtar Singh shot dead his daughter Lovepreet Kaur, 17, and her lover Harjinder Singh, … Original article on : Punjab Police yet to nab father in honour killing case.

High court declines to stay Sajjan Kumar’s trial

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Friday declined to stay the criminal proceedings to be initiated against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Sajjan Kumar moved the high court, challenging the charges framed against him by the trial court July 1 in a case related to riots in Sultanpuri area here. … Read : High court declines to stay Sajjan Kumar’s trial.

Israeli troops held for thefts from Gaza aid flotilla

JERUSALEM – Three Israeli soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of selling equipment stolen from passengers on board the Gaza-bound aid flotilla which the navy intercepted in a deadly May 31 raid.

The cache of stolen goods is believed to include up to six portable computers and several satellite phones that had belonged to passengers … Original source on Gaea Times at : Israeli troops held for thefts from Gaza aid flotilla.

Ex-NBA star Jayson Williams to face NYC DWI case; he’s in NJ prison after shooting limo driver

Ex-NBA star Jayson Williams to face NYC DWI case

NEW YORK – Jayson Williams is already in prison for accidentally killing a limo driver, but the former NBA star still is contending with another criminal case.
Williams has a Manhattan court date Friday in a drunken-driving case stemming from a car wreck a week before his January …. Source article  : Ex-NBA star Jayson Williams to face NYC DWI case; he’s in NJ prison after shooting limo driver.

Policemen suspended for cremating Muslim

PATNA – Two police officers have been suspended here after a Muslim banker found dead near a park was mistakenly identified as a beggar and cremated according to Hindu rites.

The body of Mohd Ishrafil, a 46-year-old State Bank of India official, was recovered near Gandhi Maidan last week. He was cremated within three hours.
According … Read : Policemen suspended for cremating Muslim.

Australian, NRI arrested for plotting kidnapping

CHANDIGARH – An NRI and an Australian were arrested here Friday for plotting to kidnap someone, police said.

A police officer said the two were arrested from a hotel after a tip off. “We are looking into all aspects of the matter,” a police officer said.
Police sources identified the Australian as Simon and the NRI …. Read the original article  : here.

Pregnant woman kills self, two children

LUCKNOW – A poverty-stricken pregnant woman poisoned her two minor children to death before committing suicide in an Uttar Pradesh village, police said Friday.

Rukhsana, 30, Thursday evening made her son Ashfaq (3) and daughter Altama (2) consume poisonous tablets and then consumed the same.
The kids died in their house in Bhakar village of …. Read the original article  : Pregnant woman kills self, two children.

US troop killed in southern Afghan explosion; insurgent leader captured in the east

Afghan insurgent leader captured; US troop killed

KABUL, Afghanistan – A deputy commander for an al-Qaida linked insurgent group was apprehended in an overnight operation in eastern Afghanistan that claimed the life of a woman, NATO said Friday.
Separately, the coalition reported that a U.S. service member died Thursday in an explosion in the south, bringing to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : US troop killed in southern Afghan explosion; insurgent leader captured in the east.

US pledges $60 mn more as aid to Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS – The US has pledged an additional $60 million to emergency relief efforts in flood-stricken Pakistan.

The announcement Thursday came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was taking the floor at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, aimed at strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance to Pakistan, Xinhua …. Read the original article  : US pledges $60 mn more as aid to Pakistan.

Pakistan floods: newborns likely to be malnourished

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani health officials fear that the more than 85,000 babies expected to be born in the country’s flood-affected areas over the next six months will be malnourished because of scarce food supply.

There is also a serious threat of polio and measles outbreak amongst newborns and officials are trying to put in place …. Read the original article  : here.

Rescuers search for scores listed as missing and feared dead in western China mudslides

Scores still missing in western China mudslides

BEIJING – Rescue crews searched Friday for scores of people left missing and feared dead in southwestern China after torrential rains triggered massive mudslides during a summer plagued by deadly rains and flooding.
Rainfall hampered efforts to find 88 people in Puladi township, a remote mountain community in Yunnan province. …. Source  : Rescuers search for scores listed as missing and feared dead in western China mudslides.

Bangladesh asks Zia’s son to surrender

DHAKA – The Bangladesh government has refused to extend the parole of opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko, living in Bangkok for over two years, and asked him to surrender before a court by Aug 31.

Koko, a businessman, has been accused of illegal business deals and financial transactions when his mother was the … Read : Bangladesh asks Zia’s son to surrender.

Man kills five relatives in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH – A Cambodian man killed five family members and injured three others after they prevented him from raping his 16-year-old sister-in-law, local media reported Friday.

The man, identified only as Nang, then hanged himself.
Police said the crime, which took place Thursday in south-eastern Svay Rieng province near the border with Vietnam, was among …. Source  : Man kills five relatives in Cambodia.

Half of trafficked sex workers in Britain are Chinese

LONDON – Almost half of all women trafficked into Britain and forced into prostitution are Chinese nationals, a police report has said.

A study by British Police found that 17,000 of the 30,000 women involved in the sex trade in Britain are migrants, including a majority from China, Thailand and eastern Europe, Sky News reported.
The … Read more >>>.

US carrier rescues eight Iranian sailors

MANAMA – Eight Iranian sailors whose vessel caught fire were rescued by US Navy helicopters in the Arabian Sea, according to a US military statement late Thursday.

Two helicopters from the nuclear-powered carrier USS Harry Truman carried out the rescue operation on high seas, after an F/A-18 jet assigned to the carrier squadron spotted a vessel … Read more : US carrier rescues eight Iranian sailors.

As nations sharply up pledges, UN seen meeting goal of $460 million for Pakistan flood aid

UN seen meeting aid goal for flood-hit Pakistan
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations appeared to have met its target of $460 million in immediate aid for flood-stricken Pakistan on Thursday after the U.S. and other nations significantly upped their pledges.
The rush of promised help came after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, addressing … Read more >>.

Court records: Claims over 2005 crash of Circuit City jet near Colorado city settled

Claims over 2005 jet crash near Colo. city settled

DENVER – Court records say family members who sued over a fatal Colorado crash of a jet owned by Circuit City Stores Inc. have reached settlements of their lawsuits.
A document filed Thursday in federal court in Denver didn’t disclose terms.
The crash in February 2005 killed the jet’s …. Source article  : Court records: Claims over 2005 crash of Circuit City jet near Colorado city settled.