Russian firefighters score success in battling wildfires, cold front expected to cool Moscow

Russian wildfires shrink as cold front advances

MOSCOW – Russian officials say firefighters have had success pushing back wildfires while an advancing cold front is expected to finally put an end to a two-month heat wave.
The Emergency Situations Ministry said Monday that the area covered by wildfires has shrunk by 15 percent in the last 24 [..] Read the original article: here.

Family, friends mourn 8 killed when truck in Calif. race hit fans who lined up alongside track

Family, friends mourn 8 killed in off-road wreck

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. – Zachary Freeman loved to fish, dirt bike and camp – but most of all, he loved to watch off-road truck racing in the vast Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles.
That love would cost the 24-year-old pipe welder and seven other off-road enthusiasts their lives … Read more »».

15 die of waterborne disease in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – At least 15 people were killed due to breakout of gastroenteritis disease Monday at a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan of Pakistan’s Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa province which has been severely hit by floods, hospital sources said.

The waterborne gastroenteritis killed several dozen people last week as more cases have also been reported elsewhere across the …. Source article  : 15 die of waterborne disease in Pakistan.

Flood victims go on rampage in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Enraged flood victims burned tyres, blocked roads and exchanged blows with police as the deluge continued to cause devastation in Pakistan’s southern, Sindh province.

The protesters got angry Sunday after one of the flood-affected men died in a relief camp at Sukkur-Shikarpur Road, Geo TV reported Monday.
The flood water is now feared …. Read the original article  : here.

More flood warnings for Pakistan, Jacobabab threatened

ISLAMABAD – Authorities Monday warned of more floods as efforts were under way to save a major city in southern Pakistan.

Meteorological department chief Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry said a second wave of floods on the Indus river has reached the southern province of Sindh and threatened to swamp more areas.
“This second wave is around one million … Read this article on Gaea Times at : More flood warnings for Pakistan, Jacobabab threatened.

Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as survivors block roads in protest at slow aid

Pakistan flood survivors protest slow aid
SUKKUR, Pakistan – Angry flood survivors in Pakistan blocked a highway to protest slow delivery of aid and heavy rain lashed makeshift housing Monday as a forecast of more flooding increased the urgency of the massive international relief effort.

Pakistan’s worst floods in recorded history began more than two weeks ago … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as survivors block roads in protest at slow aid.

Sex predator admits impregnating victims

SYDNEY – A sex predator in Australia has admitted abusing 18 children over a 25-year period, including a mentally-challenged seven-year-old girl who he later impregnated.

Dennis Alfred Goudge, 57, formerly of Bendigo city in Victoria, pleaded guilty to 58 sex charges including one count of rape and 28 of indecent assault, The Age reported Monday.
A … Read : Sex predator admits impregnating victims.

Four mutilated bodies found in Uttar Pradesh town

LUCKNOW – Four mutilated bodies were found lying near a railway track in Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad district Monday morning, police said.

The bodies were recovered from near the railway track in Faizabad’s Rudauli town, about 150 km from here.
“We are yet to establish whether it’s the case of murder, suicide or accidental … Read more »»».

Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as more monsoon rain adds to relief urgency

Pakistan warns of more floods as heavy rains fall

SUKKUR, Pakistan – Heavy rain lashed the makeshift camps housing Pakistan’s flood survivors Monday and authorities warned of more flooding this week, adding to the urgency of the massive international relief effort.
Pakistan’s worst floods in recorded history began more than two weeks ago in the mountainous northwest …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as more monsoon rain adds to relief urgency.

New season for La. shrimpers; worry about low prices, unseen oil and if consumers are buying

La. shrimpers worry about prices for new season

NEW ORLEANS – Shrimpers trawling Louisiana waters Monday in the first commercial season since the Gulf disaster don’t know what dangers from the massive BP oil spill still lurk and what market there will be for their catch if consumers don’t believe the seafood is safe.
Perhaps the biggest … Original article on : New season for La. shrimpers; worry about low prices, unseen oil and if consumers are buying.

HEALTHBEAT: Intense testing under way to assure safety of Gulf seafood following oil spill

Gulf seafood gets intense safety testing
WASHINGTON – Seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is being put under the microscope like no other kind on the market, with fish, shrimp and other catches ground up to hunt for minute traces of oil – far more reassuring than that sniff test that made all the headlines.

And while … Original source on Gaea Times at : HEALTHBEAT: Intense testing under way to assure safety of Gulf seafood following oil spill.

Pumpkins in August? Warm spring, hot summer have many fruits, vegetables ahead of schedule

Heat brings early harvest in New England, Midwest

BOSTON – Warm weather has many fruits and vegetables ripening early this year, and on some farms, fall crops will be ready well before Labor Day.
Early apples are already ripe for picking in the Northeast and Midwest. Sweet corn was a couple of weeks ahead of schedule, as …. Original source  : Pumpkins in August? Warm spring, hot summer have many fruits, vegetables ahead of schedule.

Lucerne Valley Crash Claims 8, Injures 17

LUCERNE VALLEY (GaeaTimes.com)- There is no denying the fact that desert car racing is one of the most exciting sports and its fans will vouch that it is the only one which takes the breath away, but this time the sports near Lucerne Valley took a tragic turn. On Saturday night, eight people were … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Lucerne Valley Crash Claims 8, Injures 17.

Bangladesh seeks extradition of Mujib killers

DHAKA – The Bangladesh government has asked countries, including India, where it suspects the killers of its founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are hiding to track down and arrest the absconding men.

Dhaka suspects that at least two of them, former captain Abdul Majed and Risaldar Moslehuddin, are hiding in India and has written to New … Read more >>.

40 dead in Nigeria accident

NAIROBI/LAGOS – At least 40 people have died in a flaming multi-car pile-up near the Nigerian city of Lagos, reports said Monday.

An articulated lorry smashed into a queue of vehicles waiting to navigate a police
checkpoint Sunday, the Nigerian Tribune, quoting witnesses, said.
At least 15 vehicles were engulfed in flames, including two mini-buses, in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as rain adds to relief urgency

Pakistan warns of more floods as millions affected

SUKKUR, Pakistan – Authorities warned of more flooding this week in Pakistan and heavy rain lashed victims living in makeshift camps Monday, adding to the urgency of a massive international relief effort under way.
Pakistan’s worst floods in recorded history began more than two weeks ago in the mountainous …. Source article  : Pakistan authorities warn of more floods as rain adds to relief urgency.

Woman survives ninth-floor fall

Buenos Aires, Aug 16 (IANS/EFE) A 21-year-old woman survived a fall from the ninth floor of a building in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires.

The woman, who hails from South Africa, broke an ankle and sustained a facial injury in the fall, but she is out of danger, doctors said.
The accident occurred Saturday, when the woman, … Read more »».

Rouvanjit’s death hasn’t deterred beatings in Bengal schools

KOLKATA – Six months after Class 8 student Rouvanjit Rowla hanged himself following a humiliating caning by the principal, teachers in West Bengal have not stopped thrashing students, with some even causing serious injuries.

La Martiniere for Boys was in the eye of a storm for days after Rouvanjit’s suicide Feb 12. The incident triggered sharp … Read more »»».

Australian women’s jail to have full-body scanner

MELBOURNE – A high-security women’s prison in Australia will have a full-body scanner for checking visitors and inmates in order to stop infiltration of drugs and weapons inside the jail.

The special X-ray machine will be shipped from The Netherlands to the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Deer Park, Victoria’s only maximum-security women’s prison, to help … Read : Australian women’s jail to have full-body scanner.

Ten dead in Mexico’s drug wars

MEXICO CITY – Another ten deaths were credited to Mexico’s drug wars over the weekend, including four drug gang suspects killed in a chase by security forces in northern Mexico, according to media reports Sunday.

In Acapulco, the coastal holiday resort on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, police found the bodies of six young men at what they …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ten dead in Mexico’s drug wars.

Maudany’s bail plea not taken up by Supreme Court

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Tuesday declined to entertain People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nazir Maudany’s plea for interim bail as it became irrelevant after his arrest for the 2008 Bangalore bombings.

Maudany, an accused in the Bangalore bombings in which one person was killed and 15 injured, was arrested Tuesday by a contingent … Read more »».

PM visits Leh, announces Rs.125 crore relief package

LEH – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday visited flood-ravaged Leh in Jammu and Kashmir and announced a Rs.125 crore relief package for the victims. He also promised to visit the people again before the onset of winters to assess the situation.

He said that all houses destroyed in the Aug 6 devastation will be reconstructed within … Read more »».

Oxfam assesses Ladakh flood disaster, seeks help

NEW DELHI – Shortage of shelter has emerged as the biggest cause of worry for the survivors of flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region earlier this month, according to a report prepared by NGO Oxfam India.

The other areas of concern are potable water, health and hygiene and bathing cubicles, an official of … Read more : Oxfam assesses Ladakh flood disaster, seeks help.

Four babies die in Bucharest clinic fire

BUCHAREST – A fire in a Bucharest clinic killed four newborns and seven others were still fighting for their lives, the Mediafax news agency said Tuesday.

The fire broke out Monday evening in a room with incubators for prematurely born babies of the gynaecology and obstetric Giuliesti clinic.
Three newborns died immediately, another one succumbed overnight, … Read more »»».

Man killed in shark attack while surfing off western Australia

Man killed by shark while surfing in Australia

ADELAIDE, Australia – An Australian man died Tuesday after being attacked by a shark while surfing off the southwestern coast, police said.
The 31-year-old was attacked while surfing alone early in the morning at a beach near Gracetown, about 175 miles (280 kilometers) south of the Western Australia state … Read more »».

Australians kill friend for attempt to rape

SYDNEY – Two Australian men stabbed a friend to death after they found out he had tried to rape a partner of one of the men, a court heard Tuesday.

Raymond John Green, 38, and his childhood best-friend, Jeremy David Cockram, 35, stabbed Tim “Fritz” Everington, 48, numerous times, including in the back and head, at … Original source on Gaea Times at : Australians kill friend for attempt to rape.

Villagers attack police in Agra

AGRA – Angry villagers, including a large number of women and children, of Etmadpur here Tuesday morning attacked police pickets, demanding higher compensation for their farm land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway.

Police used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the mob. A large number of villagers reported injuries.
Circle Officer Mahendra Singh was badly injured … Original source on Gaea Times at : Villagers attack police in Agra.

Tamil-smuggling ship charged $20 million for passage

VANCOUVER – Canadian Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Monday that the Thai ship that brought about 500 Tamils into Canada Friday was part of a organized criminal enterprise in which each person was charged $40,000 to $50,000 for the passage.

The amount charged by the ship works out to be about $20 million.
It was …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tamil-smuggling ship charged $20 million for passage.

Man held for reaching out to wife on Facebook

NEW YORK – A man in the US has been arrested after he sent his estranged wife a friendship request on social networking site Facebook, despite a court’s restraining order.

Harry Bruder of Hudson, Florida, was served with a restraining order in June from his wife, Carole Jean Bruder, over allegations of domestic violence, the Herald … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Man held for reaching out to wife on Facebook.

US singer shoots naked where Kennedy was shot

NEW YORK – A Grammy Award winning American singer has been sentenced to a six-month probation and fined $500 after she was found guilty of shooting naked a video in the area where president John F. Kennedy was killed.

Erykah Badu walked naked at the Dealey Plaza in Dallas March 13 during a shoot for her …. Source  : US singer shoots naked where Kennedy was shot.

Report: Iranian fighter jet crashes near nuclear power plant, pilots eject safely

Iranian fighter jet crashes near nuclear plant

TEHRAN, Iran – A semi-official Iranian news agency says an Iranian F4 fighter jet has crashed in the country’s south, near a nuclear power plant that is expected to be launched next month.
Local government official Gholam Reza Keshtkar says the Iranian airforce plane crashed on Tuesday, about 4 miles … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Report: Iranian fighter jet crashes near nuclear power plant, pilots eject safely.

Ex-MP’s son arrested in murder case

LUCKNOW – A former Janata Dal MP’s son who with his two brothers killed a youth has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, police said Tuesday.

Rahul Singh, who has just completed his medical studies, was arrested late Monday from a forest area of Guraitha village, some 250 km from here.
With the help of …. Read the original article  : Ex-MP’s son arrested in murder case.

Suicide bomber strikes Iraqi army recruits in Baghdad, killing 60, wounding 123

Baghdad suicide bomb hits army recruits, kills 60

BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber blew himself up Tuesday among hundreds of army recruits who had gathered near a military headquarters in an attack officials said killed 60 and wounded 125, one of the bloodiest bombings in months in the Iraqi capital.
The massive strike just outside a major …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Suicide bomber strikes Iraqi army recruits in Baghdad, killing 60, wounding 123.

Smog from wildfires seeps back into Moscow despite success in battling wildfires

Smog again creeps into Russian capital
MOSCOW – Smoke from wildfires around Moscow has returned to some parts of the Russian capital even though firefighters have scored successes in containing the blazes, officials said Tuesday.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry says its teams have cut the area covered by fires around Moscow by more than a quarter over …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

UN says millions without assistance in Pakistan floods as possible malnutrition looms

UN says millions without help in Pakistan floods

SUKKUR, Pakistan – The World Bank said Tuesday it will redirect $900 million of its existing loans to Pakistan to help in flood recovery, as the U.N. warned that many of the 20 million people affected by the disaster have yet to receive any emergency aid.
The floods began …. Source  : UN says millions without assistance in Pakistan floods as possible malnutrition looms.

La. shrimpers report clean catch on 1st day of fall season; study says much oil still in Gulf

La. shrimpers reporting clean 1st day catch

GRAND ISLE, La. – Commercial shrimpers out for the first season since BP’s disastrous spill indicated their catch was plentiful and free of oil, despite a report by scientists that much of the crude remains below the surface of the Gulf.
Fishermen spent much of the summer mopping up oil … Read this article on Gaea Times at : La. shrimpers report clean catch on 1st day of fall season; study says much oil still in Gulf.

Fire destroys property in Punjab town

MOHALI – Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed Tuesday when a fire enveloped a multi-storey building in Mohali city in Punjab, police said. No casualty was reported.

Twelve fire engines took over four hours to put out the blaze, police officer Kulbhushan Singh told IANS. An electrical short-circuit is believed to have caused the fire. …. Read the original article  : here.

Iraqi officials: Suicide bombing strike against army recruits in Baghdad kills 51, wounds 119

Baghdad suicide bomb hits army recruits, kills 51

BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber blew himself up Tuesday among dozens of Iraqi army recruits who had gathered near a military headquarters in downtown Baghdad in a devastating strike that officials said killed 51 people and wounded 119.
The massive morning blast took place just outside the former Iraqi … Original article on : Iraqi officials: Suicide bombing strike against army recruits in Baghdad kills 51, wounds 119.

3 US service members, 2 Afghan civilians killed in Afghan bomb attacks

Afghan bombs kill 3 US service members, 2 Afghans

KABUL, Afghanistan – Bomb attacks killed three U.S. service members and two Afghan civilians in Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said.
The deaths – in eastern and western Afghanistan – were a reminder that the Afghan war continues to be violent far from the southern Taliban strongholds currently targeted …. Read the original article  : here.

Colombian ‘miracle’ plane crash survivor: Everything seemed fine, then ‘boom’

6 badly injured in ‘miracle’ crash flown to Bogota

BOGOTA, Colombia – Survivors say everything seemed normal as a jetliner with 131 people on board prepared to land in a storm on a Caribbean resort. Suddenly it plunged to earth, killing one person – a death toll so low the island’s governor called it a miracle.
“The …. Read the original article  : Colombian ‘miracle’ plane crash survivor: Everything seemed fine, then ‘boom’.

Armed men loot train in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – Unidentified men, armed with guns and other weapons, looted cash worth Rs.2 lakh and other valuables from passengers on a train in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district Wednesday morning, police said.

After looting the passengers in two compartments of the General coach of the Lucknow-bound Pushkar Express, the men pulled the train’s emergency chain and [..] Read the original article: here.

Army chopper goes missing in Nagaland

KOHIMA – An Indian Army helicopter went missing shortly after take-off in Nagaland Wednesday with three people, including two pilots, on board. The locals claimed they have sighted the wreckage and recovered two bodies.

A defence spokesperson said the four-seater Cheetah helicopter took off from the army’s Rangapara base in Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial hub, …. Read the original article  : Army chopper goes missing in Nagaland.

Rio Grande Missing Woman Search Resumed

SANTA FE (GaeaTimes.com)- On Tuesday the search for the Santa Fe area woman named Mariah Walker was resumed by the State police. Mariah Walker went missing on Tuesday, Aug 10, from the Rio Grande River where she jumped for a swim reportedly. The authorities have been joined by friends and family members of the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rio Grande Missing Woman Search Resumed.

Firemen help out burglar stuck in window

LONDON – A hapless burglar in Britain got stuck for six hours in a tiny window and was arrested after firemen ripped out the window frame to bring him out.

The 36-year-old burglar’s legs were left dangling outside the bathroom window when he failed to enter the house, The Sun reported Wednesday.
He attempted to enter …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Firemen help out burglar stuck in window.

Bus plunges into ravine in northern Philippines, killing 40 people; 10 survive, including boy

Bus crash in Philippines kills 40; 10 survive

MANILA, Philippines – A packed passenger bus negotiating a downhill curve plunged off a Philippine mountain highway into a 100-foot (30-meter) ravine Wednesday, killing 40 people in one of the country’s worst recent accidents, police said.
Ten people, including a 10-year-old boy, survived and nine were taken to hospitals, … Original article on : Bus plunges into ravine in northern Philippines, killing 40 people; 10 survive, including boy.

Russian cruise ship carrying US, German tourists collides with barge on Volga, no one hurt

Russian cruise ship collides with barge
MOSCOW – A Russian cruise ship carrying hundreds of U.S. and German tourists collided Wednesday with a barge on the Volga River, but no one was hurt, officials said.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s branch in the Yaroslavl region said the collision occurred early Wednesday in the Rybinsk reservoir on the … Original article on : Russian cruise ship carrying US, German tourists collides with barge on Volga, no one hurt.

UN secures half of funds required for flooded Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – The UN said Wednesday that it has secured almost half of the $460 million it requires in emergency assistance for flood victims in Pakistan.

“We have received $208 million and that makes 42.5 percent of the funds initially required,” Maurizio Giuliano, a spokesman of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Pakistan, …. Original article  : UN secures half of funds required for flooded Pakistan.

Police exploring why Texas gunman with explosive-laden trailer opened fire outside station

Police seeking motive for Texas gunman’s attack

McKINNEY, Texas – A gunman who pulled into a suburban Dallas police station parking lot with a trailer loaded with explosives, set fire to his pickup truck, then started shooting at the building was apparently hoping for a massacre, police say.
In the end, only the gunman – identified by …. Read the original article  : Police exploring why Texas gunman with explosive-laden trailer opened fire outside station.

Couple sacrifices daughter to attain wealth

LUCKNOW – A poverty-stricken couple in an Uttar Pradesh village allegedly killed their four-year-old daughter after a self-proclaimed godman assured them that the act would attain them affluence, police said Wednesday.

Shri Krishna and his wife Rama Devi are absconding. The body of their daughter Kanni was recovered late Tuesday evening from their house in Sitapur … Original source on Gaea Times at : Couple sacrifices daughter to attain wealth.

Landslide hit Konkan rail services

PANAJI – Train services on the Goa-Mumbai Konkan railway route were disrupted Wednesday following a landslide near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

According to spokesman Baban Ghatge of Konkan Railway, several trains have been halted on both sides of Ratnagiri, about 150 km from here.
“The landslide occurred in the early hours. We are trying our … Original source on Gaea Times at : Landslide hit Konkan rail services.

Anti-American protesters say troops killed 2 civilians; NATO says they were insurgents

Anti-US protest blocks highway in east Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Hundreds of demonstrators blocked a main highway between Kabul and the eastern city of Jalalabad on Wednesday to protest two deaths in a night raid. The protesters said the two men killed were innocent civilians, while NATO said its forces killed two insurgents.
Ghafor Khan, chief of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Anti-American protesters say troops killed 2 civilians; NATO says they were insurgents.

Chandigarh cops drag feet on car race deaths

CHANDIGARH – Police Wednesday was yet to identify the two women in a Honda Accord that left two people, including a six-year-old child, dead in a high-security area of Chandigarh the night before.

A car race between the Honda Accord and the Maruti Swift, believed by police to be driven by women, had Tuesday evening ended …. Source  : Chandigarh cops drag feet on car race deaths.

Five killed in Thailand helicopter crash

BANGKOK – Five people, including a senior official, were killed in a helicopter crash in northern Thailand, an official said Wednesday.

It is believed that the helicopter crashed into a mountain in Namom district, Nan province, said Nisakorn Kositratna, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry of natural resources and environment.
Nisakorn blamed bad weather for the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Five killed in Thailand helicopter crash.

Islamist militants keep pressure on police in Pakistan, even as flooding crisis rages

Insurgents, police clash amid Pakistan flooding
PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Islamist militants attacked police posts in Pakistan’s northwest and killed two civilians active in an anti-Taliban militia, challenging a security establishment straining under a national flooding disaster, police said Wednesday.
The attacks came as the U.N. said an estimated 4.6 million flood victims have … Read more »»».

Bus plunges into ravine in northern Philippines, killing 35 people; 8 survive, including boy

Bus crash in Philippines kills 35, but 8 survive

MANILA, Philippines – A packed passenger bus negotiating a downhill curve plunged off a Philippine mountain highway into a 100-foot (30-meter) ravine Wednesday, killing 35 people in one of the country’s worst recent accidents, police said.
About eight other passengers, including a 10-year-old boy, were pulled alive from …. Source article  : Bus plunges into ravine in northern Philippines, killing 35 people; 8 survive, including boy.

Over 35 killed in Philippines accident

MANILA – At least 35 people were killed when a bus carrying 47 passengers plunged into a ravine in northern Philippines Wednesday morning.

All 35 bodies were retrieved. Six people were seriously injured in the accident which occurred in Benguet province, a police officer said.
Rescue and search operations are still going on, Xinhua said, citing … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Over 35 killed in Philippines accident.

Behind bars but JD-U legislator still enjoys minister status

PATNA – A legislator from Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U), sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a minister, enjoys the status of minister as head of the assembly housing committee, officials said.

Vijay Kumar Shukla alias Munna Shukla, currently in jail, is chairman of the Bihar Vidhansabha Awas Samiti, a post accorded the status of a … Read : Behind bars but JD-U legislator still enjoys minister status.

Latest China landslide strikes in Yunnan, leaving at least 67 missing, cutting power

Latest China landslide leaves at least 67 missing

BEIJING – A landslide swept through a mountain town in southwest China after days of heavy rains Wednesday, leaving at least 67 people missing and cutting off access to the area.
Roads, power and telecommunications were cut off when the mud tore through Puladi township in Yunnan province, the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Latest China landslide strikes in Yunnan, leaving at least 67 missing, cutting power.

Small aircraft crashes in northern China, may have been North Korean, villager says

Small aircraft crashes in China, possibly NKorean

BEIJING – Residents say a small aircraft that crashed in northern China was a helicopter carrying a North Korean pilot, who died, a villager said Wednesday.
The official Xinhua News Agency said in a brief report that an aircraft went down Tuesday afternoon in Lagu village in Fushun county. The …. Source article  : Small aircraft crashes in northern China, may have been North Korean, villager says.

67 missing in China mudslides

BEIJING – At least 67 people were missing after mudslides hit a remote town in southwest China’s Yunnan province early Wednesday, authorities said.

Power supplies and telecommunications were cut following the mudslides in Puladi Township in Gongshan, Xinhua reported.
Rescuers were sent to the area high up in the mountains bordering Myanmar, said a … Read more : 67 missing in China mudslides.

Chinese news agency says passenger train carriages derailed after floods knock out bridge

China train derails after floods knock out bridge

BEIJING – A state news agency says several carriages of a passenger train fell into water after floods knocked out a bridge in Sichuan province.
The official Xinhua News Agency said the accident happened Thursday in Guanghan, a city about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the provincial capital …. Original article  : Chinese news agency says passenger train carriages derailed after floods knock out bridge.

Salvagers to pull rare World War II plane from Calif. reservoir 6 decades after it crashed

Divers to pull WWII plane from Calif. reservoir

SAN DIEGO – Divers in California are preparing to extract a rare World War II airplane from a San Diego city reservoir more than six decades after it crashed during a training exercise.
The National Naval Aviation Museum is funding the salvage operation that is expected to pull the …. Original article  : Salvagers to pull rare World War II plane from Calif. reservoir 6 decades after it crashed.

Parts of Tennessee hit with flash flooding, washing away home and derailing a train

Tenn. rain washes away home, derails train

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Drenching rains swept away a home, trapped drivers in their vehicles and derailed a train in Tennessee, and forecasters expected more heavy showers to fall Thursday over the Southeast.
The downpours Wednesday hit some of the same parts of Middle Tennessee that were inundated with severe flooding … Original source on Gaea Times at : Parts of Tennessee hit with flash flooding, washing away home and derailing a train.

Chandigarh hit and run: police yet to trace other girl

CHANDIGARH – Even 36 hours after a teenaged girl crushed a youth and a child under her Honda Accord car here, police remain clueless about the other girl in the killer vehicle.

Amanat Brar, 19, had mowed down Sukhwinder Singh, 21, and his cousin Harpreet Singh – who would have been five next week – after …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

America increases flood aid to Pakistan, voices concern that terrorist may emerge stronger

US announces aid boost to Pakistan after flooding
GHAZI AIR BASE, Pakistan – The United States will increase its aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan to $150 million, U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Thursday, stressing that Washington did not want Islamist extremism to increase on the back of the crisis.
The floods have affected 20 …. Original article  : America increases flood aid to Pakistan, voices concern that terrorist may emerge stronger.

Cold front hits western Russia, drives Moscow smog away

Cold front ends heat spell over western Russia

MOSCOW – A cold front has hit western Russia,ending the exhausting two-month heat spell and clearing skies over Moscow from suffocating smog.
Colder temperatures and rains are expected to help firefighters put down the wildfires that have bedeviled Russia through the summer.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry on Thursday said the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cold front hits western Russia, drives Moscow smog away.

Seven killed in China explosion

BEIJING – Seven people were killed and 14 injured when an electric tricycle exploded in northwest China Thursday, authorities said.

The blast occurred on a bridge on the outskirts of Aksu city in southern Xinjiang, the autonomous regional government’s information office said in a statement.
A suspect was arrested by police at the site and being … Original source on Gaea Times at : Seven killed in China explosion.

12,000 foreign ’sex slaves’ work in British brothels

LONDON – As many as 12,000 foreign women were smuggled into Britain and forced to work as “sex slaves” so that crime gangs could earn hundreds of millions of pounds, a study has said.

The two-year study, dubbed Project Acumen, revealed that prostitutes live and work in appalling conditions and suffer rape and imprisonment.
Most of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 12,000 foreign ’sex slaves’ work in British brothels.

Pakistan thanks India for $5 mn aid

NEW YORK – Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has thanked India for offering $5 million aid for the relief of flood victims in his country.

Qureshi, who is on a visit to the US, announced Wednesday that India had offered a $5 million donation for flood victims. He profusely thanked India’s top diplomat here for … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan thanks India for $5 mn aid.

Pit bull guarded Washington state woman after she suffered fatal heart attack while on a walk

Pit bull guarded Wash. woman who had heart attack

BREMERTON, Wash. – Police in the Washington state city of Bremerton say a pit bull reported as a menacing dog was just protecting its owner who had suffered a heart attack and died on a sidewalk while the two were out walking.
A detective says the 51-year-old Bremerton …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Judge bans burqa in Australian court

SYDNEY – An Australian judge Thursday refused to allow a Muslim woman to wear a full-face veil in court during her testimony as a witness in a fraud trial.

Perth’s District Court Judge Shauna Deane said that in the interest of a fair trial the witness should not be allowed to wear a niqab or burqa. …. Original source  : Judge bans burqa in Australian court.

Crowded truck falls into mountain gorge in northern India, killing 38 and injuring 37

Truck falls into gorge in north India, killing 38

NEW DELHI – A truck crowded with people returning from a party swerved off a mountain road into a gorge in northern India, killing 38 people and injuring 37 others.
Police and villagers helped pull out the injured and take them to hospitals after Tuesday’s crash, and emergency … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Crowded truck falls into mountain gorge in northern India, killing 38 and injuring 37.

Chinese official says suspected bomb attack kills 7, wounds 14 in Xinjiang region

Blast kills 7, wounds 14 in China’s Xinjiang area

URUMQI, China – A suspected bomb attack killed seven people and wounded 14 Thursday in China’s far west Xinjiang, a region beset by ethnic conflict and separatist violence.
The explosion occurred on a three-wheeled vehicle Thursday morning at a bridge in Aksu city in southwestern Xinjiang, said Hou …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

South Pacific Tsunami Caused By Two Earthquakes

SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- Scientists have come up with studies that have concluded that the devastating 2009 South Pacific tsunami which caused havoc on Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga was not due to one earthquake of magnitude 8.1, but two consecutive earthquakes each of magnitudes greater than 8 on Richter scale. Research conducted by …. Original article  : South Pacific Tsunami Caused By Two Earthquakes.

Chinese province shuts all fireworks factories after explosion kills 20

China officials shut fireworks plants after blast

BEIJING – All nine fireworks factories in Heilongjiang province in northeast China were ordered shut Thursday, days after a blast at one of them killed 20 people.
The factories have been told to dismantle their production facilities by the end of the month, according to a statement on the website … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chinese province shuts all fireworks factories after explosion kills 20.

Toll in Himachal accident rises to 40

SHIMLA – The death toll in the accident, in which an overcrowded truck skidded off the road and fell into a 200-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, rose to 40 Thursday, police said.

Thirty seven people, including 21 women and seven children, were killed and an equal number injured in the accident that … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Toll in Himachal accident rises to 40.

AP Interview: In hiding, Wyclef Jean says his presidential candidacy a ‘wild card’ for Haiti

Wyclef Jean says his Haiti candidacy a ‘wild card’

CROIX-DES-BOUQUETS, Haiti – Wyclef Jean’s glamorous hip hop lifestyle seems far away as he sits in hiding in a white stucco building on a rutted, dirt road where chickens scurry and Haitian women carry sacks of laundry atop their heads.
The former Fugees frontman, multimillionaire philanthropist and Haitian …. Source article  : AP Interview: In hiding, Wyclef Jean says his presidential candidacy a ‘wild card’ for Haiti.

Rescuers search for 90 missing in latest China landslide as heavy rains loom on horizon

China landslide leaves 1 dead, 90 missing
BEIJING – Rescuers dug through the debris of China’s latest landslide Thursday in a search for at least 90 people thought buried when a wall of mud crashed into their mountain town in southwestern China.

Wednesday’s landslide in Puladi township in Yunnan province killed 1 person, covered homes and cut … Read more »»».

Celebrity plastic surgeon posted tweets 90 minutes before fatal crash, police investigating

Police investigating plastic surgeon’s fatal crash

LOS ANGELES – Police are investigating the accident that killed celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan, including whether texting or tweeting may have played a role.
“We haven’t confirmed anything regarding the cause of the collision,” California Highway Patrol officer Steve Reid said Wednesday, adding that detectives are “looking into several … Read more >>>.

Prosecutors: Accused Oregon bank bombers were motivated by anti-government views

Prosecutors: Accused bombers were anti-government

SALEM, Ore. – Prosecutors provided a glimpse Wednesday of their strategy in the upcoming trial of a father and son accused of killing two law enforcement officers in an Oregon bank explosion, saying the defendants harbored anti-government sentiment and were jubilant over the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
In a pretrial hearing in …. Source article  : Prosecutors: Accused Oregon bank bombers were motivated by anti-government views.

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.

AI pilot abandons take-off after engine snag

LUCKNOW – The pilot of a New-Delhi-bound Air India (AI) flight abandoned its take-off at the Lucknow airport Saturday after the plane developed some technical problems, an official said.

“The take-off was abandoned after some engine problem developed in the Air India flight,” Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport (Amausi) director Atul Dixit told IANS by telephone.
“I … Read more : AI pilot abandons take-off after engine snag.

Neighbors say they’re fed up with roars coming from Ohio home where bear killed caretaker

Neighbors: Home where bear attacked Ohioan a ‘zoo’

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio – Neighbors of a man who kept a menagerie of wolves, tigers and bears – including one that attacked and killed its 24-year-old caretaker – often complained about the roars and howls coming from the owner’s house.
“It’s a pain in the neck,” said Tom Burrington, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Neighbors say they’re fed up with roars coming from Ohio home where bear killed caretaker.

2 US troops die, 3 civilians accidentally killed in Afghanistan

2 US troops, 3 civilians killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – A woman and two children were accidentally killed in fighting in western Afghanistan that erupted as Afghan and international forces pursued a Taliban militant known to smuggle foreign fighters and weapons from Iran, NATO said Saturday.
Separately, one U.S. service member died Saturday and another was …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 2 US troops die, 3 civilians accidentally killed in Afghanistan.

Rains batter China anew with 50,000 people evacuated from a flooded city

Rains batter China anew; 50,000 evacuated in flood

BEIJING – The Yalu River that marks China’s border with North Korea breached a dike Saturday after torrential rains, inundating parts of the Chinese city of Dandong and forcing the evacuation of more than 50,000 people.
Flood waters punctured the dike that stood between the river and an economic …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

750 liquor cartons on way to Gujarat seized, one held

PANCHKULA – An attempt to smuggle 750 cartons of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) worth over Rs.5 lakh to Gujarat has been foiled and one person arrested from this Haryana town, police said Saturday.

The cartons were recovered from a truck during a regular search operation at a police check-post in Panchkula, neighbouring state capital Chandigarh, Haryana …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 750 liquor cartons on way to Gujarat seized, one held.

51,000 evacuated after China floods

BEIJING – About 51,000 people were evacuated and three were reported missing Saturday after floods ravaged northeast China’s Liaoning province, authorities said.

Some 230 houses collapsed while transport and power supply were cut in some areas of Dandong city due to the floods triggered by heavy rains, the authorities said.
Roads along the Yalu, [..] Read the original article: here.

Five workers killed in Punjab factory blast

CHANDIGARH – At least five workers of a private paper factory near Malerkotla town in Punjab were killed when a blast took place in the boiler of the unit Saturday, police officials said.

While five workers died instantly, three others were injured in the accident.
Punjab police officials said they were investigating what triggered the boiler …. Read the original article  : here.

Four dead as man poisons family, self

LUCKNOW – A poverty-stricken couple in Uttar Pradesh gave poison to their four children before consuming it themselves. While the wife and three children died, the man and his daughter are in critical condition, police said Saturday.

Subhash Kumar, a 43-year-old who lost his job at a scooter repair shop, took poison with his wife after …. Read the original article  : here.

Woman killed for dowry

RANCHI – A young woman was beaten to death by her in-laws for dowry in this Jharkhand capital, police said Saturday.

Gazala, 25, was beaten by an iron rod. Gazala’s mother alleged that her daughter, who was married last year, was being tortured by her husband and in-laws for Rs.30,000 and a gold chain, a police …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Woman killed for dowry.

More towns go underwater, thousands evacuated as Pakistani floods wash into the south

Flooding submerges new towns in Pakistan’s south

SUKKUR, Pakistan – About 150,000 Pakistanis were forced to move to higher ground as floodwaters from a freshly swollen Indus River submerged dozens more towns and villages in the south, a government spokesman said Saturday.
Officials expect the floodwaters will recede nationwide in the next few days as the last … Read more : More towns go underwater, thousands evacuated as Pakistani floods wash into the south.

Piracy causes $1 bn loss to Indian entertainment industry

MUMBAI – Did you know that an estimated 600 million pirated DVDs are sold in India every year compared to only 20 million original ones? Industry insiders quote these figures pointing to the huge losses inflicted on the entertainment industry by the piracy menace.

“The size of the Indian film industry is $2 billion. Hollywood film …. Read the original article  : Piracy causes $1 bn loss to Indian entertainment industry.

Wildfire in Angeles National Forest burns 120 acres, 100 percent contained

Wildfire in LA County forest 100 percent contained

VALYERMO, Calif. – A stubborn wildfire that charred 120 acres Friday and spurred some residents to evacuate homes in the Angeles National Forest is fully surrounded, authorities said.
The blaze that erupted at about 3 p.m. near the town of Valyermo in northeast Los Angeles County was 100 percent … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Wildfire in Angeles National Forest burns 120 acres, 100 percent contained.

Six of family consume poison, four dead

LUCKNOW – A poverty-stricken family of six, including four children, consumed poison in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district. While four died, two are battling for life, police said Saturday.

Subhash Kumar, a 43-year-old who lost his job at a scooter repairing shop, consumed poison along with his wife and four children – aged between seven and 14 [..] Read the original article: here.

Government says more than 23K workers affected by Gulf of Mexico drilling ban

Gov’t: 23K workers affected by Gulf oil drill ban

WASHINGTON – The deepwater drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico costs at least 23,000 jobs, according to a federal document that weighed the economic impact and alternatives to the drilling ban.
A six-month suspension would directly put 9,450 people out of work and indirectly affect nearly 14,000 …. Original source  : Government says more than 23K workers affected by Gulf of Mexico drilling ban.

Wildfire in Angeles National Forest burns 100-plus acres, 50 percent contained

Wildfire in LA County forest 50 percent contained

VALYERMO, Calif. – A stubborn wildfire that charred 110 acres Friday and spurred some residents to evacuate homes in the Angeles National Forest kept firefighters working into the night to surround it, authorities said.
Crews were slowly gaining ground on the blaze that erupted at about 3 p.m. near …. Original article  : Wildfire in Angeles National Forest burns 100-plus acres, 50 percent contained.

Buddhist monks learn firefighting in China

BEIJING – Buddhist monks in China are undergoing training to combat fires so that they can handle emergencies in their temples.

More than 60 monks from 11 temples and Buddhist institutes displayed their skills on how to operate fire extinguishers, hoses and other modern equipment at the first Hangzhou Buddhist Firefighting Competition held Friday at a … Read : Buddhist monks learn firefighting in China.

51,000 evacuated after flood hits China

BEIJING – About 51,000 people were evacuated Saturday morning after floods hit northeast China’s Liaoning province, authorities said.

Three people were missing after floods ravaged the province.
A total of 230 houses collapsed, and transport and power supply in some areas of Dandong city were cut off due to the floods triggered by heavy rain …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 51,000 evacuated after flood hits China.

50,000 displaced in Assam floods

GUWAHATI – Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods in Assam Saturday, displacing at least 50,000 people in the state’s Lakhimpur district, officials said. No casualties have been reported.

A government spokesperson said floodwaters of Singora river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river, entered at least 40 villages forcing residents to take shelter on raised platforms and … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 50,000 displaced in Assam floods.

The last word: Slim and fit defensive tackle Jerrell Powe ready to power Mississippi

Slimmed-down Powe ready to power Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. – For six years, everyone else has had their say.

Now it’s Jerrell Powe ’s turn.
As the Mississippi defensive tackle enters his senior season, he’s in the best shape of his life, he’s on the verge of earning his degree and he’s up for a handful of national …. Original source  : The last word: Slim and fit defensive tackle Jerrell Powe ready to power Mississippi.

Speed guns to check Delhi’s rash drivers at night

NEW DELHI – Soon people will have to think twice before speeding on Delhi roads at night. Delhi Traffic Police are set to procure radar-based speed guns at a cost of Rs.5.25 crore (Rs.52.5 million) that will check speedsters after dark.

“We are in the process of procuring radar-based speed guns, which will be the latest … Read more : Speed guns to check Delhi’s rash drivers at night.

IMF to review Pakistani budget in floods aftermath

ISLAMABAD – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it has called a meeting to review Pakistan’s budgetary and economic prospects in the aftermath of the floods that have devastated the country’s infrastructure.

Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh is to head the Pakistani delegation in the talks with IMF officials that scheduled to take place in …. Read the original article  : IMF to review Pakistani budget in floods aftermath.

Another contraband haul from train from Pakistan, authorities worried

ATTARI – Fake currency of face value Rs.9.5 lakh and one kg of heroin were recovered from a goods train coming from Pakistan, causing worry to the authorities who say these trains are increasingly becoming a smuggling medium.

“During our daily search operation of the goods train that comes from Pakistan, we found counterfeit currency and … Read : Another contraband haul from train from Pakistan, authorities worried.

Chhattisgarh villagers in fear after another triple murder

RAIPUR – Terror has struck a Chhattisgarh village after three children, below the age of 10, were found brutally murdered on Friday, the second such triple murder in the village in a month.

The people of Nimora village, about 15 km from here, are keeping indoors out of fear and complain that police are not doing … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chhattisgarh villagers in fear after another triple murder.

Pakistanis use stones, sandbags to strengthen river levees as floods sweep toward sea

Pakistanis use stones, sandbags to stave off flood

HYDERABAD, Pakistan – Workers placed sandbags and stones to strengthen river levees in flood-ravaged Pakistan’s south as the rising water threatened new areas Sunday.
Three towns in the Thatta district were in danger, and officials began evacuating around 150,000 people from lower lying areas Saturday. The surge in the …. Original source  : Pakistanis use stones, sandbags to strengthen river levees as floods sweep toward sea.

Madan Tamang murder: prime accused flees police custody

DARJEELING – Gorkha Janamukti Morhca central committee member Nicol Tamang, one of the prime accused in the murder of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) chief Madan Taman, fled from police custody in Darjeeling district early Sunday.

“He escaped from the Pintail village guest house in the Dagapur area,” Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Ranveer …. Source article  : Madan Tamang murder: prime accused flees police custody.

River in north China overflows; 94,000 people evacuated from flooded city

Rain batters China anew; 94,000 evacuated in flood

BEIJING – Flooding has forced the evacuation of 94,000 people in the north China port city of Dandong after heavy rains caused the Yalu river to breach its banks, state media said Sunday.
More rain was expected to pound the region, which borders North Korea, and threatened to trigger …. Original source  : River in north China overflows; 94,000 people evacuated from flooded city.

Firefighters battling large blaze at apparently vacant Boston warehouse; no injuries reported

Large fire burns at Boston warehouse; no one hurt

BOSTON – About 160 firefighters are battling a widespread blaze at a warehouse in an abandoned industrial complex in Boston.
Fire department spokesman Steve MacDonald says crews were called to the fire in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and the blaze is extensive enough … Read more : Firefighters battling large blaze at apparently vacant Boston warehouse; no injuries reported.

Filipino-German beauty queen killed in accident

MANILA – A Filipino-German beauty queen and two companions were killed in a road collision in the eastern Philippines, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Melody Gersbach, 24, died on arrival at a hospital Saturday shortly after the van she was riding was struck by a passenger bus in Bula town in Camarines Sur province, 225 kilometres … Original source on Gaea Times at : Filipino-German beauty queen killed in accident.

Tropical depression forms in the Atlantic far from land; strengthening expected

Tropical depressions form in the Atlantic, Pacific

MIAMI – A new tropical depression has formed in the Atlantic, but the system is far from land.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Saturday that the tropical depression is expected to strengthen and could become a tropical storm Sunday.
The depression was located about 600 miles (970 … Original article on : Tropical depression forms in the Atlantic far from land; strengthening expected.

Man takes deadly leap from roof to stage at concert

SAN FRANCISCO – A concertgoer died in an apparent suicide when he jumped from the roof of an amphitheatre onto the stage where a folk music duo was performing, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

The death occurred during a concert by the group Swell Season late Thursday at Mountain Winery’s outdoor stage outside Saratoga, California, … Read more : Man takes deadly leap from roof to stage at concert.

10 evacuated by helicopter as wildfire chars 2,000 acres in rural San Diego County

Wildfire chars 2,000 acres outside San Diego

SAN DIEGO – A pair of hikers and eight people in a cabin were evacuated by helicopter as a wildfire consumed thousands of acres of grasslands in rural San Diego County.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Roxanne Provaznik says the blaze began Saturday afternoon in the county’s …. Original source  : 10 evacuated by helicopter as wildfire chars 2,000 acres in rural San Diego County.

Family of 24-year-old Ohio man killed by captive bear takes some comfort in animal’s death

Bear who mauled caretaker is put to death in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bear that mauled to death a caretaker was euthanized Saturday at the request of the family of the victim, whose father said he had told his son to leave the job.
The bear attacked Brent Kandra, 24, when he opened its cage Thursday … Original article on : Family of 24-year-old Ohio man killed by captive bear takes some comfort in animal’s death.

Captive bear that killed 24-year-old Ohio man who was feeding it is euthanized, family says

Captive bear that killed Ohio man is euthanized

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The father of a 24-year-old Ohio man who was killed by a captive bear says the animal is dead.
John Kandra says several relatives watched a veterinarian euthanize the bear on Saturday. It had attacked Kandra’s son, Brent, after he opened the bear’s cage for a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Captive bear that killed 24-year-old Ohio man who was feeding it is euthanized, family says.

23 die as more mudslides hit China

BEIJING – At least 23 people have died and 69 are missing after mudslideS hit a remote mountain village in southwest China, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Rescuers have retrieved 11 bodies Saturday, four days after the disaster in Yunnan province.
“The chances of survival for the missing people are slim,” said Hou Xinrong, director of public …. Source article  : 23 die as more mudslides hit China.

Van Gogh painting stolen from Cairo museum

CAIRO – One of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, “Poppy Flowers”, has been stolen from a museum in Cairo, Egypt’s Ministry of Culture said Saturday.

It was not immediately clear how the thieves managed to steal the painting from the Mahmoud Khalil museum, but Culture Minister Farouq Hosni ordered urgent measures to prevent it being … Original source on Gaea Times at : Van Gogh painting stolen from Cairo museum.

13 die in Bangladesh after drinking adulterated liquor

DHAKA – At least 13 people died and many others fell ill after drinking adulterated locally-made liquor in Bangladesh’s Sylhet district, police said Saturday.

Six people died at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital and the other seven died in their village homes after they had consumed the home-made liquor Thursday night in Golabazar, 265 km northeast … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : 13 die in Bangladesh after drinking adulterated liquor.

Blast at militant house in Somalia kills 10 fighters, including from Pakistan, Afghan, India

Somalia blast kills fighters from Pakistan, India

MOGADISHU, Somalia – An explosion overnight at a house used by insurgents in the Somali capital killed at least 10 al-Shabab militants, including seven foreign fighters, the Somali Information Ministry said Saturday.
The statement said the blast, in a southern Mogadishu neighborhood, may have been caused by a premature car … Read : Blast at militant house in Somalia kills 10 fighters, including from Pakistan, Afghan, India.

Sterlite Industries charged for evading duty

CHENNAI – The customs and excise department Saturday charged Vedanta group’s Tuticorin-based Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd for evading duty by mis-declaration of export consignment. The company officials, however, charged the customs officials as being vindictive.

Charging Sterlite Industries for misdeclaration, excise officials said the company tried to ship out copper waste for separating gold and silver … Read more »».

Somali rebels increasingly resemble Taliban: floggings, music bans and possible al-Qaida links

Somalia rebels looking increasingly like Taliban

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Men are forced to grow beards. Women can’t leave home without a male relative. Music, movies and watching sports on TV are banned. Limbs are chopped off as punishment, and executions by stoning have become a public spectacle.
Somalia is looking more and more like Afghanistan under the …. Original source  : Somali rebels increasingly resemble Taliban: floggings, music bans and possible al-Qaida links.

Two held for killing techie in Greater Noida

GREATER NOIDA – Two men were arrested Saturday for allegedly murdering a software engineer in Greater Noida township of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

Deepak Singh and Rajesh Bhati were arrested for stabbing Abhinav Ratnawat, originally from Jaipur in Rajasthan, in Greater Noida July 27 after a robbery, police said.
“The two youths were on a …. Read the original article  : here.