Four die in Himachal accident

SHIMLA – Four people were killed and 14 injured when an overcrowded vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in upper Shimla in Himachal Pradesh Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place near Chirgaon, some 120 km from here. The cause of the accident is not known.
…. Source article  : Four die in Himachal accident.

PCR vans to be one-stop help shop for Games tourists

NEW DELHI – It will take only one minute for police control room (PCR) vans to reach any Commonwealth Games venue, with more than 100 deployed to respond to any emergency calls.

Not just that. Thousands of tourists as well as athletes and officials here for the mega event from Oct 3 will find in …. Source  : PCR vans to be one-stop help shop for Games tourists.

Claims by Shiite militia brings worries about Iran’s hand in Iraq

Iraqi Shiite militia hints of Iran’s hand in south

BAGHDAD – Nearly four minutes of shaky, hand-held video clips show roadside bombs hitting U.S. convoys, a battery of Katyusha rockets and a soldier who appeared to be downed by sniper fire.
And digitally burned into the left-hand corner is the raised-rifle emblem of a Shiite militia linked [..] Read the original article: here.

Three engineering students of BHU drown in Ganga

LUCKNOW – Three engineering students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) drowned in the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, police said Wednesday.

The B.Tech (Electronics) third year students — Mihir Jha, Mayank Ahuja and Tarun Kumar — went on an outing late Tuesday after managing to get out of their hostel on the … Read more »».

Man admits raping, assaulting over 1,000 women

LONDON – A man in Germany has admitted to raping or sexually assaulting more than 1,000 women by copying a trick from the movie “The Silence of the Lambs”.

Forty six-year-old Joerg P. admitted to more than 1,000 offences against women in a crime spree that spanned 22 years. The trial has begun in …. Source article  : Man admits raping, assaulting over 1,000 women.

Indian-origin cabbie pleads not guilty to rape

MELBOURNE – An Indian-origin taxi driver, accused of raping a 40-year-old woman in Australia, Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the crime before a court here.

Rajeev Singh, 21, has been committed to stand trial at the conclusion of the three-day hearing in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court, The Age reported.
Singh picked up the woman in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Indian-origin cabbie pleads not guilty to rape.

Tropical depression blows up in Caribbean, heads for Cuba and on to southeastern Florida

Tropical depression aims at Cuba, then Florida

HAVANA – A tropical depression that quickly developed in the Caribbean headed over Cuba early Wednesday threatening to strengthen into a tropical storm as it headed toward southeastern Florida.
Cuba expected heavy rains and high winds overnight.
Early Wednesday, the storm’s center was about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south-southeast of Havana, … Read more >>.

Huge mudslide smashes into Mexican mountain town, but only 11 missing after disaster

Mexico: Mudslide proves less deadly than feared

OAXACA, Mexico – A loud noise shattered the early morning darkness as an entire hillside collapsed on a town in Mexico’s rain-soaked southern state of Oaxaca. Roads were blocked by slides and a washed-out bridge, and the only reports – via satellite phone – were grim: Hundreds could be …. Source article  : Huge mudslide smashes into Mexican mountain town, but only 11 missing after disaster.

Texting ban has not lowered US accident rate

NEW YORK – A ban on sending mobile phone text messages while driving has not led to a decrease in the number of road crashes in the US.

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) has shown in a latest research that accident rates rose in three out of four US states after texting bans were … Read more : Texting ban has not lowered US accident rate.

31,000 on Facebook path to smooth roads in Delhi

NEW DELHI – “Dear Sir/Madam, Today I have seen lot many defence cars, with blue and red beacon lights, judges’ cars (with justice label at the back) driving in Commonwealth Games lane,” says a Facebook post received by Delhi Traffic Police, nicknamed DTP by netizens.

By Suhas Munshi
The mail writer goes on to say: “I …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

NATO says service member killed in insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan

NATO: Service member killed in south Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – A coalition service member was killed in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan, NATO announced Wednesday, as operations to flush out insurgents moved forward in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.
The service member was killed in a fight with insurgents in the south on Tuesday, the coalition …. Read the original article  : here.

Rain, flooding leave 54 dead in Nicaragua

MANAGUA – Rain from tropical storm Matthew caused flooding that left 54 people dead and 5,000 homeless with infrastructure damage including roads and bridges, Nicaraguan authorities said.

Authorities said Tuesday that 8,000 homes had been flooded following days of rain. Hardest hit were the Nicaraguan provinces of Esteli and Matagalpa in the north, Chinandega in …. Source article  : Rain, flooding leave 54 dead in Nicaragua.

Mexican psychiatrists seek psychological treatment in US

Mexico City, Sep 29 (IANS/EFE) The recent wave of extortion and kidnappings in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico’s murder capital, has forced hundreds of psychiatrists to cross the border to the US to receive psychological treatment.

The situation in Ciudad Juarez has reached the point where “the doctors and psychiatrists themselves are here trying to get help,” …. Original source  : Mexican psychiatrists seek psychological treatment in US.

Calif. heat wave proves a worthy foe, sends Hollywood Blvd’s costumed heroes into the shadows

LA heat wave takes some sizzle out of Hollywood

LOS ANGELES – It was so hot in Los Angeles on Tuesday that even Spider-Man took the day off.
As temperatures soared to 99 degrees, tourists along Hollywood Boulevard were disappointed to discover that a fall heat wave has just about the same effect on Spider-Man – and …. Read the original article  : Calif. heat wave proves a worthy foe, sends Hollywood Blvd’s costumed heroes into the shadows.

Mexican authorities backtrack on landslide, say no deaths are confirmed and only 11 missing

Mexico: No confirmed landslide deaths, 11 missing

OAXACA, Mexico – A huge mudslide first thought to have buried hundreds of people has left only 11 missing and there are no confirmed dead, authorities said Tuesday night, backing off earlier predictions of a catastrophe in Mexico’s rain-soaked southern state of Oaxaca.
Federal Interior Minister Francisco Blake and Oaxaca …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mexican authorities backtrack on landslide, say no deaths are confirmed and only 11 missing.

Chile mine drilling advances rapidly, cheering families as officials hope for earlier rescue

Chile rescue speeds up, cheering miner families

SAN JOSE MINE, Chile – The families of 33 trapped miners are in high spirits after a surge in the drilling of escape tunnels raised hopes that the men’s rescue may come sooner than scheduled.
Relatives smiled, hugged and yelled “Viva Chile!” as officials reported one of the rescue drills …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Skywest plane makes emergency landing in Milwaukee due to landing gear problem

Plane makes emergency landing in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – A Skywest Airlines plane has made an emergency landing in Milwaukee due to a landing gear problem.
General Mitchell International Airport spokeswoman Pat Rowe says crew had notified the airport about 10 minutes before landing Tuesday that only two of the three sets of landing gear would lower.
She says … Original article on : Skywest plane makes emergency landing in Milwaukee due to landing gear problem.

2 boys escape Tennessee house fire that killed 5 family members, including mother

2 boys escape Tennessee fire that killed family

ATOKA, Tenn. – A fire was burning around him, but Devon Byrd said he didn’t wake up until he heard his sister screaming.
The 12-year-old boy said he jumped out of bed early Tuesday in the smoky darkness and found his 6-year-old brother Andon. He kicked out a bedroom …. Source article  : 2 boys escape Tennessee house fire that killed 5 family members, including mother.

Wis. officials consider buying out homeowners rather than making costly repairs to old levee

Wis. officials say old dike may add to flood risk

MADISON, Wis. – A century-old sand dike that held back the raging Wisconsin River helped protect a rural neighborhood, but state officials said Tuesday they’ll renew a push to buy out homeowners and let the levee deteriorate.
The river surged around one end of the levee, leaving …. Original article  : Wis. officials consider buying out homeowners rather than making costly repairs to old levee.

FEMA rejects disaster aid for Calif gas line blast that destroyed 37 homes; 8th victim dies

FEMA rejects disaster aid for Calif gas line blast

SAN FRANCISCO – Federal emergency officials have turned down the state’s request for millions in federal disaster aid for the gas pipeline explosion that consumed a Northern California neighborhood earlier this month. The death toll rose to eight Tuesday.
The San Mateo County coroner’s office confirmed James Emil [..] Read the original article: here.