Canada sending dossier on fraud immigration agents to Punjab

TORONTO – Canada will soon send a dossier on “some of the worst fraudsters” operating in Punjab to the state government to curb immigration fraud, including fake NRI marriages, according to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

The Canadian government is also holding discussions with the Indo-Canadian community to bring in tougher measures to stop marriages of convenience …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Four tonnes of cocaine seized in Panama

Panama City, Sep 26 (IANS/EFE) Panamanian authorities seized about four tonnes of cocaine at a hideout along the Caribbean coast, 24 hours after confiscating three tonnes of the drug, an official spokesperson has said.

The drugs were seized by the National Aeronaval Service, or Senan, Friday near the mouth of the Belen river, almost 300 km … Read more >>.

Couple found dead in fields, honour killing suspected

SIRSA – The bodies of a young man and woman were recovered from cotton fields in this Haryana district and police Sunday said they suspected it to be a case of honour killing.

The victims were identified as Inder Pal, 22, and Maya, 18, and they were said to be in a relationship for the last …. Source  : Couple found dead in fields, honour killing suspected.

NATO says 2 service members killed

NATO: Bomb blast kills 2 troops
KABUL, Afghanistan – Two NATO service members were killed in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, the military alliance said.

NATO said the troops were killed by an improvised explosive device, but provided no further details. The nationalities of NATO deaths are not generally released until after the next …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

China repeats demand for apology, compensation from Japan over arrest of boat captain

China repeats demand for Japan apology
BEIJING – China has reiterated its demand for an apology from Japan over the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest plunged relations between the Asian neighbors to their lowest level in years.

The statement from the foreign ministry late Saturday was issued after Tokyo refused earlier in the … Read more »»».

Bomb explodes near Thai PM’s residence

BANGKOK – A bomb exploded outside a horse stable near the Thai prime minister’s residence here early Sunday, but no one was injured, local press reports said.

The blast, which followed two earlier explosions Friday that injured three people, raised political tension and prompted police to beef up security in the capital and surrounding areas.
The …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Bomb explodes near Thai PM’s residence.

Delta flight bound for suburban NYC makes emergency landing at JFK; none injured

Delta flight makes safe emergency landing in NYC

NEW YORK – A jet carrying 60 passengers from Atlanta to suburban New York having landing gear problems has made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.
Port Authority Spokesman Steve Coleman says Delta Connection Flight 4951, operated by Atlantic Southeastern Airlines, landed safely …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Delta flight bound for suburban NYC makes emergency landing at JFK; none injured.

Wreckage of small plane that reportedly left Los Angeles found in Mexico’s Baja peninsula

Wreckage of small plane found in Mexico’s Baja

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico – Mexican authorities have sighted the wreckage of a small plane believed to have taken off from Los Angeles, California with four people on board.
The wreckage has been found in the mountains of Baja California near its apparent destination, the resort of Cabo San … Read more : Wreckage of small plane that reportedly left Los Angeles found in Mexico’s Baja peninsula.

Seven dead in Haiti storm

Port-au-PRINCE/MEXICO CITY – Sudden tornado-force winds killed seven people in the Haitian capital of Port au Prince, according to media reports Saturday.

The high wind and heavy rain lasted only 20 minutes as it swept through the city Friday, according to radio reports. The wind force felled trees, lifted building roofs and flayed tents and temporary … Read more : Seven dead in Haiti storm.

Flooding eases in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin but fight continues in some communities

Flood fight continues in parts of Minn., Wis.

MINNEAPOLIS – With 240 guests expected, Luke Fischer and Rachel Smith weren’t about to let the widespread flooding in southern Minnesota get in the way of their wedding Saturday.
The 24-year-olds, who live in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, went back to her hometown of Waseca to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Flooding eases in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin but fight continues in some communities.

First rescue capsule arrives at Chilean mine where 33 men have been trapped since early August

First rescue capsule arrives at Chilean mine

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile – The first of three rescue capsules specially built to lift out 33 miners trapped since early August arrived at the mine Saturday.
Two back-up rescue devices constructed at Chile’s naval shipyard are expected to be delivered next week.
The man-size capsule will be used to pull [..] Read the original article: here.

Matthew weakens to tropical depression over Belize; all storm warnings discontinued

Matthew weakens to tropical depression over Belize

MIAMI – Matthew has weakened to a tropical depression and is expected to dissipate in a day or two.
Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami say that the storm is still soaking Belize, however. And it’s expected to continue producing rain even after the tropical depression dissipates.
On … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Matthew weakens to tropical depression over Belize; all storm warnings discontinued.

Matthew declines to depression, causes flooding in Central America

Matthew drops to depression, soaks Central America

GUATEMALA CITY – Matthew weakened to a tropical depression Saturday along the coast of Belize, dousing the southern part of the Central American nation and neighboring Guatemala with rain that caused flooding in coastal areas.
Guatemalan authorities urged people to stay off the roads as floods hit several towns in … Read : Matthew declines to depression, causes flooding in Central America.

BP fund czar, responding to criticism from Gulf residents, promises bigger, faster claims

BP fund czar promises bigger, faster claims

NEW ORLEANS – Victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill should start getting bigger payments faster, the administrator of the fund set up to help them said Saturday.
Kenneth Feinberg said he was responding to criticism from residents and businesses.
“Over the past few weeks, I have heard from the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Jewish settlers in West Bank prepare for end of building freeze as US races to rescue talks

Israel: Settlers brace for end of building freeze

JERUSALEM – Israeli settlers have hauled construction equipment into a Jewish settlement deep inside the West Bank, officials said Saturday, preparing to break ground on a new housing project even as the U.S. raced to prevent peace talks from collapsing with the end of an Israeli moratorium on … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Jewish settlers in West Bank prepare for end of building freeze as US races to rescue talks.

Chavez woos Venezuelan voters by pitching credit cards, cheap refrigerators ahead of elections

Chavez fights to keep control in legislative vote

CARACAS, Venezuela – Going into Sunday’s legislative elections, President Hugo Chavez pitched his candidates like a salesman, promising Venezuelans he will give them low-interest credit cards and discounted appliances from washing machines to TV sets.
Chavez turned to his long successful populist appeals seeking to woo voters more concerned …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Chavez woos Venezuelan voters by pitching credit cards, cheap refrigerators ahead of elections.

One killed, 10 injured in US party fight

LOS ANGELES – At least one person was killed and 10 injured in a fight at a birthday party in this US city Saturday, police said.

Knives, guns and bottles were drawn during a fight after a party, resulting in one death and 10 injuries, CNN reported.
Eight people were shot, one fatally, and … Read more : One killed, 10 injured in US party fight.

Post-storm assessments find thousands of aging tents destroyed in Haiti quake camps

Storm shreds aging tents in Haiti earthquake camps

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The sudden, powerful storm that ripped through Haiti’s battered capital destroyed thousands of tents in the homeless camps where more than 1.3 million people live eight months after the earthquake destroyed their homes, shelter officials said Saturday.
The death toll from Friday afternoon’s storm stood at … Original source on Gaea Times at : Post-storm assessments find thousands of aging tents destroyed in Haiti quake camps.

Intimidating storm with lightning, ominous clouds delays K-State’s game against UCF

Intimidating storm delays K-State game
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Dark, swirling clouds seemed to envelop Kansas State’s stadium during a delay of almost 1?? hours in Saturday’s game against Central Florida.

The game was stopped early in the first quarter because of lightning that accompanied a storm system rapidly bearing down on the area.
For the next 20 minutes …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Intimidating storm with lightning, ominous clouds delays K-State’s game against UCF.

Pakistan flood donations nearing $616 mn: UN

NEW YORK – United Nations member states have pledged just under $616 million in aid for flood-devastated Pakistan, the organisation’s new emergency aid coordinator, Valerie Amos, said Saturday in New York.

The UN has appealed for more than $2 billion to assist the estimated 14 million Pakistanis whose living conditions have been severely affected by the … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pakistan flood donations nearing $616 mn: UN.