Family abandons abducted Mexican politician: Kidnappers

Mexico City, Sep 15 (IANS/EFE) Kidnappers of a Mexican politician said his family has abandoned the former presidential candidate who has been kept hostage since May.

Several media outlets received a letter from the kidnappers, claiming that Fernandez de Cevallos’s “own friends don’t care what his fate is”.
Fernandez de Cevallos, who also served as president … Read more : Family abandons abducted Mexican politician: Kidnappers.

NKorea: Typhoon Kompasu killed dozens, destroyed thousands of homes this month

NKorea: Typhoon Kompasu killed dozens of people

SEOUL, South Korea – A typhoon killed dozens of people and destroyed roads, railways and thousands of homes in North Korea early this month, the reclusive state’s media reported Wednesday.
It was the first confirmation from the North of the extent of the damage inflicted by Typhoon Kompasu that hit … Read more : NKorea: Typhoon Kompasu killed dozens, destroyed thousands of homes this month.

Italian Police seize ‘mafia assets’ worth $1.9 bn

Palermo (Italy), Sep 15 (IANS/AKI) Italian Police have seized assets worth 1.5 billion euros (about $1.9 billion) from a Sicilian businessman who is suspected of having ties with the mafia.

It was the country’s biggest property seizure in the war it has declared against organised crime networks like the Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the Camorra … Read : Italian Police seize ‘mafia assets’ worth $1.9 bn.

Investigators probing delay in shutting down Calif. pipe to check if PG&E followed procedures

Feds probe time it took to shut down gas pipe

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Federal investigators are examining whether Pacific Gas & Electric workers at a Northern California control center followed proper emergency procedures after a gas transmission line exploded into inferno that caused at least four deaths and destroyed nearly 40 homes in San Bruno.
National …. Source  : Investigators probing delay in shutting down Calif. pipe to check if PG&E followed procedures.

Hisar limping back to normalcy after violence

HISAR – Life started limping back to normal here Wednesday, a day after curfew was imposed in parts of Hisar district due to widespread violence by the Jat community that was demanding reservations in jobs and educational institutions, said police.

“Curfew has been lifted from the district. All the routes where traffic was either disrupted …. Source article  : Hisar limping back to normalcy after violence.

Five of a family killed in Himachal house collapse

SHIMLA – Five of a family, including two children, were killed when the house they were sleeping in was hit by rolling boulders in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, police said Wednesday.

“Three women and two children were killed on the spot last (Tuesday) night when boulders from the hill-top rolled down and hit the house in … Original article on : Five of a family killed in Himachal house collapse.

Pakistani minister blames militants for attacks on Christians

Rome, Sep 15 (IANS/AKI) The Taliban and Al Qaeda militant groups are partly to be blamed for recent violent attacks on Christians in Pakistan, visiting Pakistani Minority Rights Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, who is a Catholic, told reporters here.

“The responsibility for violence against ethnic and religious minorities is connected to independence movements and foreign terrorist groups … Read : Pakistani minister blames militants for attacks on Christians.

Tibetan market opens after flooding, but still deserted

NEW DELHI – The normally busy Tibetan market in northeast Delhi bustling with college students looking to buy things at dirt cheap prices was deserted Wednesday. After a weekend of flooding from the Yamuna river, shops have reopened, but pools of stagnant water bear testimony to the nightmare it was.

“The Yamuna water was released Friday [..] Read the original article: here.

Serial killings in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – The killings of 17 people, including four ethnic Indians, are being linked to last week’s sensational murders of four people in Malaysia for which two lawyer brothers have been detained.

The lawyer brothers have been detained over the gruesome murder of businesswoman Sosilawati Lawiya and three others.
Past cases of murdered people [..] Read the original article: here.

Trapped Chilean miner is blessed with a daughter

Santiago, Sep 15 (IANS/EFE) One of the 33 miners trapped in a Chilean mine since Aug 5 has been blessed with a daughter after his wife gave birth to their child in a hospital.

Esperanza, which means “hope”, was delivered at 12.00 p.m. Tuesday in a hospital in Copiapo city, some 800 km from Santiago. She … Original source on Gaea Times at : Trapped Chilean miner is blessed with a daughter.

Court cancels driving licence of woman, 81, for speeding

MELBOURNE – An 81-year-old woman has been disqualified from getting a driving licence for one year and fined $850 after being convicted of dangerous driving on a highway in Australia.

Judith Slade, from Heathcote in Victoria, pleaded guilty before the Bendigo Magistrate’s Court to driving at a dangerous speed and failing to obey her licence conditions. …. Source article  : Court cancels driving licence of woman, 81, for speeding.

Gangster gunned down

LUCKNOW – A gangster who carried a reward of Rs.50,000 on his head was shot dead by police in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district even as his two aides managed to escape, police said Wednesday.

Yogesh Chaudhary, 26, who faced over a dozen criminal cases including murder, was killed Tuesday night.
Four policemen were injured in the [..] Read the original article: here.

Julia becomes major hurricane; Tropical Storm Karl heads toward Mexican coast, warnings issued

Julia major hurricane; TS Karl headed to Mexico

CANCUN, Mexico – A strengthening Tropical Storm Karl neared the Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday, bearing down on the resort beaches of the Mayan Riviera.
Karl had maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph (75 kph) and was located about 185 miles (295 kph) east of Chetumal, Mexico, the U.S. … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Julia becomes major hurricane; Tropical Storm Karl heads toward Mexican coast, warnings issued.

Coffee machine explodes in Britain, seven hurt

LONDON – A coffee machine exploded at a supermarket cafe in Britain, injuring seven people.

The explosion was so powerful that it hurled the machine across the room and it slammed into a wall of the Sainsbury’s store, Daily Express reported Wednesday.
Six of the injured were taken to hospital and one of them had head, … Read more »»».

Battle of Britain pilots remember as 70th anniversary marked with statue of wartime commander

70 years on, Battle of Britain pilots remember

LONDON – Owen Burns remembers the cold, the howling wind, and the silk underwear he wore to protect him from the bitter cold. Ken Wilkinson recalls the solitude of combat, Nigel Rose the perverse disappointment of coming back from a mission unscathed.
They are a dwindling band, these men … Read more >>>.

Mexican drug cartel infiltrates Australia

SYDNEY – One of the world’s most powerful organised crime syndicates, the Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico, has infiltrated Australia, importing up to half of the cocaine used on the east coast over the past two years, media reports said Wednesday.

Australian and overseas police suspect the cartel already dominated Australia’s cocaine trade when authorities … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mexican drug cartel infiltrates Australia.

300 Chinese officials caught in sauna during working hours

BEIJING – About 300 government officials in China’s Shanxi province were caught while enjoying a sauna or a foot massage during working hours.

As many as 296 officials face punishment for visiting entertainment venues during the working day, the provincial discipline inspection authorities said, China Daily reported Tuesday.
The Shanxi provincial disciplinary body and the police … Read more >>.

Hurricane Julia stronger; Tropical Storm Karl heads toward Mexican coast, warnings issued

Hurricane Julia stronger; TS Karl headed to Mexico

MIAMI – Hurricane Julia has intensified in the open Atlantic and Tropical Storm Karl in the northwestern Caribbean is on a path toward the Yucatan Peninsula.
Forecasters late Tuesday said Karl had maximum sustained winds of about 45 mph (75 kph) and is located about 185 miles (295 kph) …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Hurricane Julia stronger; Tropical Storm Karl heads toward Mexican coast, warnings issued.

Hitmen accused of 200 murders held in Spain

MADRID – Two hitmen from Colombia, accused in over 200 cases of murder, kidnapping and torture, have been arrested in Spain, the Spanish interior ministry said.

The arrested suspects – identified as Henry Norberto Valdes Marin, 36, and Mauricio Alberto Gonzalez Sepulveda, 44 – are the most dangerous Colombian nationals to be detained in Spain till … Read more »»».

Death toll from remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine reaches 8 after 2 bodies found in Texas

Hermine death toll at 8 after 2 more bodies found

AUSTIN, Texas – The death toll from flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine (hur-MEEN’) has reached eight after two more bodies were found in Texas.
One body was identified Tuesday as that of 51-year-old Jennifer Ring of Austin. The mother of two children had …. Source  : Gaea News Network.