Saudi hammers 23 nails into Sri Lankan maid’s body

RIYADH – A maid from Sri Lanka was being treated in hospital after her employer in Saudi Arabia allegedly hammered 23 nails into her body, Arab News daily reported Wednesday.

“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Saudi hammers 23 nails into Sri Lankan maid’s body.

String of attacks targeting police kills 22 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000

22 dead in string of attacks in Iraq
BAGHDAD – A string of more than a dozen attacks targeting Iraqi security forces stretching from one end of the country to the other killed 22 people and left scores wounded on Wednesday, police and hospital officials said.

There were no claims of responsibility, but the scale and reach …. Original source  : String of attacks targeting police kills 22 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000.

Hurricane Danielle gaining strength in Atlantic; TS Frank moving away from Mexico’s SW coast

Hurricane Danielle gaining strength in Atlantic

MIAMI – Hurricane Danielle has strengthened a little as it swirls far out over the Atlantic.
Danielle’s maximum sustained winds increased Wednesday to near 85 mph (140 kph). Additional strengthening is expected over the next two days.
The hurricane is located about 795 miles (1,275 kilometers) east of the Northern Leeward Islands … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Hurricane Danielle gaining strength in Atlantic; TS Frank moving away from Mexico’s SW coast.

Teenager held for killing three kids in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR – A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on charges of murdering three children, all under the age of 10 years, in a Chhattisgarh village, police said Wednesday.

“Mahesh (not his real name) was arrested late Tuesday. He confessed that he killed the three kids in Nimora village (about 15 km from here) Aug 20,” Superintendent …. Original source  : Teenager held for killing three kids in Chhattisgarh.

Saudi employer hammers 23 nails into Lankan maid’s body

RIYADH – A maid from Sri Lanka was being treated in hospital after her employer in Saudi Arabia allegedly hammered 23 nails into her body, Arab News daily reported Wednesday.

“I had to work continuously since I had to do the chores of all the occupants and when I wanted to take rest due to tiredness, …. Read the original article  : here.

Chidambaram cautions against ’saffron terrorism’

NEW DELHI – Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday asked the chiefs of state police forces and security agencies to be vigilant against various forms of extremism, including “saffron terrorism” that he said had been behind many bomb blasts.

“I wish to caution you that there is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Chidambaram cautions against ’saffron terrorism’.

Angelina’s donation for floods surpasses Zardari’s help

ISLAMABAD – Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has contributed $100,000 (about Pakistani Rs.8.5 million) for flood ravaged Pakistan, a move that surpasses President Asif Ali Zardari’s Rs.5 million donation and the help extended by most other politicians.

Some leaders have refused to disclose their contribution to the relief effort and claimed that their donation had gone directly …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Angelina’s donation for floods surpasses Zardari’s help.

Suspected British spy found murdered in London

LONDON – The body of a man believed to be a British spy has been found stuffed into a large sports bag in a bathroom of his London flat

In his 30s, the man was understood to have been employed as a worker at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the “listening post” in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Doctors in Nepal struggle to identify 14 killed when plane crash on way to Everest region

Doctors try to identify dead in Nepal plane crash

KATMANDU, Nepal – Doctors struggled Wednesday to identify the remains of 14 people, including six foreign tourists, who were killed in a plane crash while heading to the Mount Everest region in heavy rain.
The remains, flown to Katmandu by rescue helicopters, were being examined at the Tribhuwan … Original source on Gaea Times at : Doctors in Nepal struggle to identify 14 killed when plane crash on way to Everest region.

In Pakistan, Muslims and Hindus pray together against floods

ISLAMABAD – In times of adversity, religious differences are forgotten. In a rare demonstration of communal harmony, Muslims recited the Quran while the minority Hindus gathered for special prayers on the banks of river Indus near Shahdad Kot town of Pakistan’s Sindh province amid the misery of the country’s worst disastrous floods, reports reaching here …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US aid chief says flood donations will come only if Pakistan spends money transparently

US to divert aid package to flood reconstruction

ISLAMABAD – The United States plans to redirect part of its existing $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan to flood reconstruction, the U.S. aid chief said, but warned that other nations would only contribute money if Islamabad could ensure it would be well spent.
America has been the most …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

A lesson in survival for Chilean miners from those who came back from Mir, Andes, plane crash

Other isolated survivors tell what kept them alive

WASHINGTON – Astronaut Jerry Linenger and architect Eduardo Strauch know the remarkable quality that keeps the trapped Chilean miners going: the immense power of hope.
Linenger and Strauch are living proof of survival amid isolation. They say that power is in us all.
Thirteen years ago, Linenger was only a …. Original source  : A lesson in survival for Chilean miners from those who came back from Mir, Andes, plane crash.

Safety concerns have been raised about runway where Chinese passenger jet crashed, killing 42

Safety concerns raised about China crash runway

YICHUN, China – At least one airline had questioned the safety of nighttime landings at the relatively new airport in northeast China where a passenger jet crashed and burned while trying to land at night on a fog-shrouded runway, killing 42 people and injuring 54.
The Henan Airlines plane crashed …. Read the original article  : Safety concerns have been raised about runway where Chinese passenger jet crashed, killing 42.

Oily boom, trash from Gulf spill heads to landfills, some with state environmental issues

Gulf waste heads to landfills, some with problems

NEW ORLEANS – The cleanup of history’s worst peacetime oil spill is generating thousands of tons of oil-soaked debris that is ending up in local landfills, some of which were already dealing with environmental concerns.
The soft, absorbent boom that has played the biggest role in containing the spill … Read more : Oily boom, trash from Gulf spill heads to landfills, some with state environmental issues.

String of attacks targeting police kills 13 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000

13 dead in string of attacks in Iraq
BAGHDAD – A string of attacks targeting Iraqi security forces killed 13 people and left scores wounded on Wednesday, police and hospital officials said.

The deadliest attack occurred in north Baghdad where a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car in a parking lot behind a police station, killing 11 …. Source  : String of attacks targeting police kills 13 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000.

Yamuna in spate, flood threat in Agra

AGRA – The threat of flood looms large in the lower reaches and along the banks of river Yamuna in this Taj Mahal city with authorities sounding a danger alert and advising people to move out as the water level was rising every hour.

The level was expected to touch 494 feet Wednesday … Read more : Yamuna in spate, flood threat in Agra.

String of attacks targeting police kills 8 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000

8 dead in string of attacks in Iraq
BAGHDAD – Officials say a string of attacks on Iraqi security forces have left eight people dead.

Police and hospital officials say the deadliest attack occurred in northern Baghdad when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car in a parking lot behind a police station, killing six people, including … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : String of attacks targeting police kills 8 in Iraq as number of US troops falls below 50,000.

Indian jailed for raping student in Australia

MELBOURNE – An Indian national has been jailed for 13 years for raping a university student in Australia.

Harjot Hundal Singh, 27, pleaded guilty to rape, abduction and intentionally causing injury, The Age reported Wednesday.
Singh abducted the woman from Springvale railway station in Melbourne June 18 last year and raped her in a work van, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Indian jailed for raping student in Australia.

42 dead in China plane crash (Roundup)

BEIJING – At least 42 people were killed while 54 miraculously escaped with injuries Tuesday night when a passenger aircraft broke into two and burst into flames amid thick fog at an airport in China, the country’s first major accident in almost six years.

The plane, which had taken off from Harbin city, crashed 40 minutes …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 42 dead in China plane crash (Roundup).

Four police officers sacked over bungled hostage rescue

MANILA – Philippine police Wednesday sacked four officers who led a bungled hostage rescue operation that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

The policemen were Inspector Santiago Pascual of the special weapons and tactics team and three of his officers who led Monday’s deadly assault on a tourist bus with 16 hostages, according to police spokesman … Read more : Four police officers sacked over bungled hostage rescue.