Your world
CEO of Sunflower Farmers Market arrestedPHOENIX – Michael C. Gilliland, the CEO of local grocery store Sunflower Farmers Market, has been arrested on suspicion of child prostitution.
Gilliland, who has since resigned his position with Sunflower, was arrested at an Arizona hotel as part of a sting operation that has included eight other arrests.
In a company news release Gilliland stated he is not guilty and expects to be exonerated.
Wife saves husband from tiger attack with wooden ladle
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The wife saved her husband from a tiger attack in northern Malaysia by clubbing the animal on its head with a large wooden soup ladle. After hitting the tiger several times she was able to chase it away.
Han Besau, the 55-year-old wife, was reported to have rushed out of her house when she heard her husband scream as he was attacked and confronted the tiger.
Tembun Gediu, the husband, had been hunting for squirrels prior to the attack, and is currently being treated at a local hospital for gashes on his face and legs.
The state’s wildlife department director is reportedly organizing a crew to track down the tiger and chase it further away from human inhabitants.
Eight dead near Mexico City suburb, cartel suspected
NEZAHUALCOYOTL, Mexico – The Mexico state news agency reported that eight people were killed in a drive-by attack in a suburb near Mexico City.
The area has recently had a surge in drug related violence, but it is not currently clear who was behind the attack.
The Mexican government has stated that 34,600 deaths due to drug-related motives have occurred since President Felipe Calderon began a 2006 concentrated effort on stopping the cartels.
Calderon’s six year term as president expires in 2012.
Car bomb detonates in housing area
YALA, Thailand – A suspected 12 people were injured in a car bomb explosion in southern Thailand on Feb. 13.
Twelve houses were burned down in the explosion as well.
This comes after nine civilians were killed in a bombing near the same area last month.
Thailand, a mostly Buddhist nation, has had issues with Muslim separatists’ attacks.
Suspected terrorist arrested in Greece
ATHENS, Greece – The Greek police arrested a Palestinian man suspected of being a member of a militant group inspired by al-Qaida.
He is also thought to be the leader of a group of extremists with members in France, Germany, and Bulgaria.
The Greek police stated they arrested him at this time due to their fear he would soon flee the country.
Afghan government focuses on using its local resources
KABUL, Afghanistan – The Afghan government is taking greater initiative to mine rare earth minerals within their borders.
Rare earth minerals are used to make cell phones, hybrid car batteries, and wind turbines.
Currently China holds 97 percent of the production for rare minerals and has signed a $3 billion contract with Afghanistan for copper mining in the past. There has been no information made available yet if China plans on negotiating a contract from Afghanistan’s rare earth resources as well.
Afghan officials recently estimated that they have $3 trillion worth of these minerals, but have been held up due to some of the best mining stops being in Taliban strongholds.
Poor security and infrastructure have also hindered the Afghan government from taking advantage of their resources.
Borders Books and Music files for bankruptcy
CHICAGO – Borders, one the nation’s largest books retailer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 16.
Borders currently has more than 600 stores across the nation. In a restructuring effort, Borders plans to close around 30 percent of those stores.
The company’s debt amounts to $1.29 million. While its assets are only $1.28 billion.
