World – Headline Smart

9-Year-Old Girl Killed by Police During Family Vacation

Authorities say an officer mistakenly fired on a family vehicle after confusing it with armed robbery suspects. CHAKWAL, Pakistan — A 9-year-old Australian girl was killed and her father and brother were injured after a police officer allegedly opened fire on their family’s vehicle during a robbery response in Pakistan on June 10, authorities said. Investigators say the officer mistook the family’s car for one being used by fleeing suspects. The death of Hania Ahmed …

Bungee Jumper Falls to Her Death, Thrown Off Bridge With No Cord

Police allege instructors launched the 21-year-old without attaching a safety rope during an extreme sports event. LIMEIRA, Brazil — A 21-year-old university student died after falling about 130 feet from an abandoned bridge in São Paulo state when she was launched during a rope-jumping activity without being connected to a safety line, according to Brazilian police and local authorities. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas was participating in an extreme sports excursion at the disused Ponte …

32 Fetal Remains Found Buried in Garden

Investigators are examining a former property and possible links to hospital materials recovered at the site. LUTORYŻ, Poland — Polish authorities have arrested a former pathologist after construction workers uncovered the remains of dozens of human fetuses and medical materials buried on property she previously owned, prompting a widening criminal investigation into how the remains were obtained and stored. The case has drawn national attention because investigators say the remains appear to have been removed …

Woman Mauled by Shark at Crowded Beach

A lifeguard and bystanders helped rescue the swimmer after a shark attack near shore at Coogee Beach. SYDNEY, Australia — A 35-year-old woman was critically injured Saturday after a shark attacked her while she was swimming near Sydney’s Coogee Beach, prompting a dramatic rescue by a lifeguard and beachgoers and leading authorities to close several nearby beaches. The attack happened late Saturday morning at one of Sydney’s best-known coastal swimming spots. Emergency crews, lifeguards and …

Athlete Dies in Tragic Accident During Family Vacation

The 25-year-old athlete was on a family vacation when the fatal motorbike accident occurred on Koh Samui. KOH SAMUI, Thailand — Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton, a rising figure in professional athletics, died June 10 after a motorbike crash on the Thai island of Koh Samui while traveling with family. She was 25. Authorities said rainy conditions may have contributed to the accident. Stapleton’s death has prompted tributes from across Australia’s athletics community, where she had …

Mother of Seven Found Dead, Children Located Safe Months Later

Authorities say the pregnant mother of seven disappeared in February and was found dead four months later in Chiapas. ZINACANTÁN, Mexico — A pregnant Indianapolis woman who vanished with her seven children earlier this year was found dead along a rural road in southern Mexico, authorities said this week, bringing a tragic end to a four-month search that crossed international borders. Mexican and U.S. authorities are now working to determine exactly what happened to 30-year-old …

Mother Killed by Elephant While Walking Children to Bus Stop

The attack in Kerala injured her 11-year-old son and left her daughter unharmed. CHINNAKKANAL, India — A 36-year-old mother was trampled to death by a wild elephant Monday while walking her two children to a school bus stop in Kerala, officials and local reports said. Mari was walking with her son and daughter in Chinnakkanal village when she encountered an elephant and its calf during heavy rain and fog. Authorities said the poor visibility kept …

Boy, 6, Dies After Horrific Monkey Attack

Authorities are investigating how a long-tailed macaque fatally injured a child near his grandfather’s store in southern Thailand. NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Thailand — A 6-year-old boy died after he was attacked by a pet monkey near his grandfather’s grocery store in southern Thailand on June 6, prompting an investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter. The boy, identified by local media as Nathan Ekkarat Srichan, suffered severe injuries when a long-tailed macaque …

Deadly 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Kills Dozens

The magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake damaged schools, homes, hospitals and roads across the southern Philippines. DAVAO, Philippines — A powerful offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 37 people, injuring hundreds and sending tsunami waves onto parts of Mindanao as rescue crews searched damaged buildings and landslide-hit villages. The magnitude 7.8 quake hit at 7:37 a.m. near Sarangani province, just as many schools were reopening and workers were starting the day. …

Missing Student Discovered Dead in Remote Area

The discovery ended a weeklong international search near Kyoto. KYOTO, Japan — James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student from Alabama, was found dead in a mountainous area outside Kyoto after disappearing during a family vacation in Japan, his family announced Saturday. The discovery ended a weeklong search that drew support from volunteers, local residents and people across multiple countries. Higginbotham’s disappearance gained widespread attention after he was reported missing on May 29 while …