Mexico prison riot leaves at least 14 dead, government says

Mexico City, Mexico (CNN) -- At least 14 inmates died Friday in a prison riot in northeastern Mexico, the state news agency reported.

The riot broke out around 5 a.m. (6 a.m. ET) in a prison in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of the border state of Tamaulipas, the Notimex news agency said.

The fight broke out among competing inmate groups who want to assert their control over each other inside the prison, Notimex said. They attacked each other with knives and also beat one another, the news outlet said. CNN

Fidel Castro back in spotlight, calls congressional special session

(CNN) -- In case anyone questioned the permanence of Fidel Castro's recent return to the national stage, this should answer doubts: The former Cuban leader has called the National Assembly into special session Saturday.

For four years, Castro kept out of sight as he recuperated from a life-threatening intestinal illness that required multiple surgeries.

He temporarily ceded power to younger brother Raul in July 2006 and resigned as president in February 2008. He wrote a column called "Reflections" while recuperating and sometimes would be seen in photos when a foreign dignitary like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would visit.

But that was all. He was mostly out of sight, if not forgotten.

That reclusive lifestyle ended in mid-July, when photographs of Castro visiting the National Center of Scientific Investigations surfaced on a pro-government blog. A few days later, Castro appeared on a Cuban TV show called "Roundtable".

Since then, he has made several public appearances, including at an unveiling ceremony for his latest book, "The Strategic Victory".

Now Castro, who turns 84 on August 13, has called the National Assembly into special session. The assembly will discuss world affairs, in particular what Castro views as an imminent nuclear war involving the United States, Iran and North Korea. Castro has dwelt on that topic since resurfacing last month.

There is widespread speculation that Castro will attend the session and might even speak, though none of that had been confirmed Friday. CNN

Paraguay's President Lugo diagnosed with cancer

Asuncion, Paraguay (CNN) -- Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer affecting the immune system, Health Minister Esperanza Martinez said Friday in a news conference.

The cancer, known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was detected at an early stage, Martinez said.

Lugo will likely travel Tuesday to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for treatment, she said.

The 59-year-old president is a former bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. His five-year term is slated to end in August 2013.

According to the American Cancer Society, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for about 4 percent of all cancers.

Since the 1970s, the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has nearly doubled, it said. CNN

Train derailment kills 1 and hurts 40 in Italy

(CNN) -- A train derailed outside of Naples, Italy, Friday, killing one person and leaving about 40 injured, a railroad service spokesman said.

A 71-year-old man died, and one passenger is in critical condition, said Giustiniano Carmine, a spokesman for the Circumvesuviana rail service. Most of the other injuries were minor, he said.

Investigators plan to review video images from inside the train as they try to learn what caused the wreck, he said. CNN

Four killed in south Moscow fire

Four people died on Friday night in a fire in the south of the Russian capital, a Moscow law enforcement source said.

"The bodies of four people were discovered during efforts to extinguish the fire in an apartment on Nagornaya Street," the source said.

"Their identities and reason of death are being established," he said.

One firefighter was hospitalized with smoke poisoning.

An investigation is underway. RIA Novosti

Bullock gets stalker restraining order

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Sandra Bullock has been granted a restraining order against Thomas Weldon, a man the Hollywood actress says has been stalking her for years, TMZ reported.

The order of protection is to remain in place for three years and covers Bullock's infant son Louis and her ex-husband Jesse James's three children -- Chandler, Sunny and Jesse Jr.

Weldon, 41, was first arrested for stalking Bullock in 2003. He was subsequently hospitalized for mental illness, TMZ said.

Bullock's attorney filed court documents last month seeking a renewal of the protective order she first obtained seven years ago.

In a report last month, "Entertainment Tonight" quoted the paperwork as saying Bullock has accused Weldon of "following her to California to Texas to South Carolina, and then back to California ... He sent numerous e-mails ... indicating, among other things, that he wants to have a relationship with her". UPI

Wildfires kill at least 52 in Russia

MOSCOW, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Wildfires raging throughout western Russia have killed at least 52 people and displaced tens of thousands of others, government officials said Friday.

Fires are burning in 22 Russian regions and satellite pictures indicate there are 535 hot spots, RIA Novosti reported.

"A total of 471 people (sought) medical help and 72 were hospitalized, 43 fire victims are currently in hospitals and 52 have died," the Health and Social Development Ministry said.

Russian officials said the last of the wildfires in central Russia was doused Friday.

"The fire was extinguished at 8:15 p.m. (local time). There are now no fires in the region," an Emergencies Ministry official told Novosti, however, fires continued to rage in the central part of European Russia where temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit baked the region Friday.

Fires outside Voronezh left five people dead, more than 500 homeless and 7,910 acres charred.

Moscow was shrouded in smoke from a burning peat bog. UPI

Russian women win four golds at Stockholm Diamond League

MOSCOW, August 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russian women won four golds and one silver at the Diamond League track and field event in Sweden's Stockholm.

The Russians won the gold medals in Long Jump, Pole Vault, 400m and 3,000m Hurdles and the silver in 1,500m on Friday.

Darya Klishina won Women's Long Jump with 6.78m.

Svetlana Feofanova took gold in Women's Pole Vault with 4.71m. Russians Yuliya Golubchikova and Alexandra Kiryashova took fifth and sixth places (4.51m and 4.41m respectively).

Tatyana Firova won Women's 400m with 50.46 seconds. Russia's Antonina Krivoshapka (51.19) came seventh, and Russian Natalya Nazarova eighth with 52.97 seconds.

Yuliya Zarudneva grabbed gold in Women's 3,000m Steeplechase (9 minutes 17.59 seconds).

Anna Alminova won silver in Women's 1,500m (4 minutes 1.53 seconds), losing to Kenya's Nancy Jebet Langat (4:00.70). RIA Novosti

Injured Venus to skip Cincinnati event

(CNN) -- Venus Williams has joined her sister Serena in withdrawing from next week's Cincinnati Open, citing a knee problem that could dent her hopes of success at the U.S. Open.

World No. 4 Venus has not played at a tournament since losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals at the end of June, and said she had experienced soreness while practicing recently.

"During the last three weeks I returned to my normal practice schedule, and last week began to experience pain in my left knee," the 30-year-old American told the Cincinnati hardcourt event's website on Friday.

"My medical advisors and physio have recommended that I refrain from competition until I am pain free. Unfortunately, I am not at a point where I can commit to competing next week".

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, played at the U.S. tournament for the first time last year, losing in the third round.

Eight of the world's top-10 players will be present at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, but No. 1 Serena is still on the sidelines due to the cut foot she suffered at a restaurant that will also rule her out of the upcoming tournament in Montreal. CNN

Irish soldier saved Adolf Hitler's life

Irish Independent

The long-lost memoirs of an Irish soldier who saved a young Adolf Hitler and fought on both sides during World War I have been published after being missing for over 40 years.




The amazing wartime tale of Dubliner Michael Keogh began when he joined the British Army in 1914 and won the George's Cross for bravery before being captured by the Germans in 1916.

While in captivity he was persuaded by members of the Roger Casement Brigade, a group formed to recruit Irish soldiers to fight against the British as a display of Irish republicanism, to join them.

The detailed accounts of Mr Keogh's life, written after his experiences, mysteriously disappeared while he was on his deathbed in James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown in 1964.

According to his son Kevin (84), who lives in Swords, north Co Dublin, a man "dressed as a priest" took them from under his pillow two days before he died. The files were eventually found in the UCD archives and given back to the family in 2004.

The memoirs report a chance encounter with a young Adolf Hitler that changed the course of history.

Shortly after the Great War, while Mr Keogh was staying in Munich to fight against the Communist rulers who had declared a short-lived Bavarian Soviet Republic in April 1919, he recalls how he led a military operation to save the life of the future German tyrant.

He had earlier met Hitler in September 1918 near Ligny on the French Border, where the pair were in the same Bavarian Regiment.

In his memoirs he describes how, as the officer on duty during the anti-Communist revolution, he received an urgent call about a riot involving 200 men and two "political agents", one of them being Hitler, in a nearby gym.

"I ordered out a sergeant and six men and, with fixed bayonets, led them off on the double".

Mr Keogh explained that two political agents, who had been lecturing from a table top, had been dragged to the floor and were being beaten.

"The two on the floor were in danger of being kicked to death. I ordered the guard to fire one round over the heads of the rioters. It stopped the commotion".

The group of soldiers managed to haul out the two injured politicians. Belfast Telegraph

Government moves to block airBaltic brand sale

RIGA - Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis has launched an investigation into the sale of the airBaltic brand to company CEO Bertolt Flick.

Dombrovskis has instructed the Transport Ministry, as the state's shareholder in "airBaltic", to evaluate whether it was legal for the airline's board and council members to approve the sale.

Economy Minister Artis Kampars lambasted news of the sale, saying it benefits Flick personally over the company.

“The transaction, published today, clearly shows that airBaltic CEO Bertolt Flick is working for his own interests rather than the company’s. This transaction is a blow to the airBaltic company’s value,” Kampers told business newspaper Diena Bizness.

At the end of last year Latvia’s national airline sold the branding and trademark of airBaltic and its subsidiaries -- including "airBaltic", "airBaltic.com", "airBaltic Travel.com", "airBalticHotels", "BalticMiles", and "Baltic Taxi" -- to Flick. Despite the fact that the Latvian government is the majority owner of airBaltic, transport minister Artis Kampers said the ministry only found out about the sale now after reading about it in the company’s annual shareholder’s report.

If it is established that members of the board or council have violated the Commercial Law, the transport minister Kaspars Gerhards will take appropriate legal action.

Flick's company, Baltijas Aviacijas Sistemas, already owns 47 percent of airBaltic. The Baltic Times

Saudi to lash seven Arabs 700 times for theft

A gang of seven Arab expatriates in Saudi Arabia will be lashed 700 times each and jailed seven years for committing a series of thefts in the kingdom, local newspapers reported on Friday.

Police arrested the gang leader, who led them to the remaining members and confessed to charges of pickpocketing and burglary, they said.

A court in Riyadh sentenced the seven to 700 lashes with the whip and seven years in prison to be followed by deportation, the report said without identifying them. Emirates Business

‘Good Samaritan’ accused of sexual assault

An Indian man is accused of attempting to assault a British woman after offering a helping hand to shift her stuff to her apartment.

 

IL, 24, airhostess, was taking some stuff from her car in the underground parking to the lift in her building, Jumeirah Lakes - Platinum Tower.

 

As she made many trips, SSS, 27, an Indian who works as a cleaner in the building, offered to help her. She refused, but he insisted.

 

So they took the lift to her apartment and he helped her put the things in the kitchen. IL paid him Dh20 and he gave her his mobile number in case she needed his help again. As she started saving his number in her mobile, SSS touched her body and attempted to kiss her. As she resisted, he repeated the attempt. When she screamed loudly, he ran out of the apartment.

 

IL closed the door and as she tried to lock it, SSS opened it and asked her to forgive him. She yelled at him to leave but he tried to snatch the mobile from her hand. After several attempts she managed to push him out of the apartment.

 

IL called up her friend and they notified police the next day.

 

Ali bin Khalfan, 31, policeman, testified that on April 30 he was assigned to investigate a complaint filed by a British woman. The complainant identified the accused when brought before her, he said.

 

The accused confessed before police that he attempted to assault the woman. When asked why he wanted to snatch her mobile phone, SSS said he was afraid she would call police. Emirates Business

Police to get 'drugalyser' kits

By Tom Morgan, Press Association

Testing kits to catch motorists high on drugs could be available to police within the year, the Government announced today.

Ministers hope the "drugalysers" - which will be able to screen for an array of illegal substances, including cocaine and ecstasy - could be installed at every police station by 2012.

The new technology means officers will no longer have to wait for permission from a doctor before a blood test could be taken to be used as evidence in court.

The first devices are due to be in place within months as part of the coalition Government's clampdown on drug-driving.

Road safety minister Mike Penning said: "It is vital that the police have the tools they need to tackle those who drive while impaired by drugs.

"This selfish minority show a flagrant disregard, not only for their own lives, but for the safety of others and we are determined to tackle this menace.

"That is why we are taking urgent steps to make drug screening technology available as soon as possible.

"This equipment will make it easier for the police to prosecute the irresponsible minority who put the lives of the law-abiding majority at risk".

By the end of September, the Home Office expects to issue manufacturers with a final draft specification for devices paving the way for tests to take place, initially in police stations.

The Home Office, Department for Transport and the Technology Strategy Board, also announced a £300,000 investment in further research into drug testing technology.

The aim of the funding is to develop technology that can test for a wider range of drugs than is currently possible as well as develop equipment suitable for roadside testing.

A full roll out of the new technology is expected within two years, the Department for Transport said. The Independent

Cloudbursts ravage Leh: 113 dead, 500 missing

NEW DELHI: Amid the mounting death and debris of Choglamsar village -- located 5 km from Leh and a bustling settlement of Ladakhis and Tibetan refugees -- that has borne the major burnt in the massive mudslide sparked by Friday's cloudburst, comes stories of miraculous escapes bordering on divine intervention. 

According to sources in Leh that ToI was able to contact through defence sources, the wife of an Indo-Tibet Border Police officer was found alive after being swept away by the slithering mass of mud. Another officer's child was saved by a sofa in their quarters. She was found under the furniture that saved her from being smothered. 

Sources said the situation could have been worse but for the rumbling of the slithering mass of mud -- akin to cold lava -- and screams of people warning people in the defence settlements dotting the plains. Many in the defence establishment managed to escape nature's wrath since the slithering mass of mud did not gush like a stream of water, and the preceding rumbling gave some precious time to the people in the lower reaches to beat an hasty retreat. The Times of India

Sex offender attacked woman 61 days after being freed

Jörn P. (43) had spent 19 years in prison for raping several women before a judge ordered his release, ignoring the warnings of experts that he was likely to re-offend.

The sex offender was set free to walk the streets in search of his next victim.

Everyone in the court room knew the criminal was dangerous. Jörn P. had been in jail since 1990 for repeatedly attacking women.

And yet a judge set him free him eight months ago – even though public prosecutors and experts had explicitly warned that he could attack again.

Only 61 days after his release Jörn P. was back in court for raping yet another woman. He is considered extremely high risk and so was under constant police observation in court.

Jörn P. lived in an apartment block shared by several families and knew Sandra (18, name changed) from the neighbourhood. Pretending there was a problem with his computer, he lured her into his flat, where he tied her up and raped her. The 18-year-old office administrator was his fifth victim. Bild