70 injured as train derails in Russia

70 injured as train derails in Russia

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia

A Russian passenger train has derailed while traveling from Siberia to Sochi, the future Olympic city on the Black Sea, and emergency officials say at least 70 people were injured.

Oleg Fedyura of the Emergencies Ministry said the engine and five passengerSFlbcars derailed Sunday afternoon. He said the rails were affected by the heat and the driver prevented further casualties by applying the emergency brakes.

Mandela marks a month in hospital

JOHANNESBURG

Nelson Mandela has now spent a month in the hospital.

South Africa’s anti- apartheid hero was admitted June 8 for a recurring lung infection. A month later the former president has seen an outpouring of love and support from South Africa and around the world.

South Africa’s City Press newspaper reported Sunday that since his admittance to a Pretoria hospital Graca Machel, Mandela’s wife, has not left her husband’s side for more than three hours.

Target founder dies

MINNEAPOLIS

Douglas Dayton, who led the transformation of a family department store into retailing giant Target Corp., has died at the age of 88.

Dayton’s wife, Wendy Dayton, confirmed his death Sunday. She said the resident of Wayzata, west of Minneapolis, died Friday after a long battle with cancer.

His nephew, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, issued a statement calling Douglas Dayton “an extraordinary businessman, philanthropist and leader of our family.”

Deported Muslim cleric faces charges

AMMAN, Jordan

A radical Muslim preacher described as a key al-Qaida operative in Europe rejected terrorism charges Sunday linked to purported plots targeting Americans and Israelis in Jordan, his lawyer said, hours after Britain deported him to bring an end to a decade-long legal saga over his extradition.

Jordan first submitted an extradition request to U.K. authorities for the militant cleric known as Abu Qatada in 2001, but it was blocked in British and European courts over human rights concerns. Last month, Britain and Jordan ratified a treaty on torture aimed at easing those worries, paving the way for the 53-year-old preacher’s deportation.

Abu Qatada arrived at Amman’s civilian airport early Sunday on board a British aircraft and was whisked away by heavily armed anti-terrorism police for questioning at a nearby courthouse.

Jordanian prosecutors charged Abu Qatada with conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Jordan twice — once in 1999 for a foiled plot against the American school in Amman and another time in 2000 after reportedly targeting Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats during new year celebrations.

Fatal plane crash reported in Alaska

SOLDOTNA, Alaska

Police say a small plane has crashed at the Soldotna Airport, killing all aboard.

Meagan Peters of Alaska State Troopers says the fixed-wing aircraft was fully engulfed in flames before firefighters could get to the plane Sunday. She was not able to say how many people were on board at the time of the crash and the victims have not been identified.

The National Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft in a release Sunday as a de Havilland Otter Air Taxi. NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said one local member of the team was at the scene Sunday evening.

Associated Press