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Two from Virginia killed in Mumbai mayhem

MUMBAI, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A Virginia man and his daughter and a former New York rabbi and his wife were among those killed in the terror attacks in Mumbai, India, officials said Friday.

The two victims from Virginia were identified as Alan Scherr, 58, and Naomi Scherr, 13, members of Synchronicity, a spiritual community that promotes high-tech meditation and a holistic lifestyle, The Washington Post reported. They were in India on a spiritual mission with about two dozen others.

President George Bush issued a statement, saying he was "deeply saddened that at least two Americans were killed and others injured" in Mumbai.

"We also mourn the great loss of life suffered by so many people from several other countries, and we have the wounded in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said.

Also killed were Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, who had left New York's Chabad-Lubavitch movement in 2003 to manage Nariman House, a Jewish outreach center in Mumbai that was among the terrorists' targets, The New York Times reported. The couple were Israeli born but had lived in New York.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed his condolences.

"This is a tragic loss for the Lubavitch community, and for our entire city," Bloomberg said. "That their son survived is a miracle, and our entire city is grateful for his nanny's heroic act. During a time of terrible sadness, her courage reaffirms our faith in the capacity of good to triumph over evil."

Russian president signs deals with Cuba

HAVANA, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Friday signed mining and oil exploration deals with Cuban leader Raul Castro, Granma reported online.

In addition to the deals, Medvedev said he and Castro discussed what he called "military technical cooperation," a possible euphemism for arm sales to the communist island.

Medvedev is wrapping up a four-nation tour of the region that also took him to Brazil, Peru and Venezuela, where Russian and Venezuela military exercises are scheduled for next week.

The Russian leader's visit to Latin America is seen by some as a response to the U.S. intentions to build a missile defense shield in former Soviet satellite nations such as Poland. Leaders in Moscow have roundly condemned the move.

Two killed in California Toys R Us

PALM DESERT, Calif., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Two men fatally shot each other Friday inside a Toys R Us store in Palm Desert, Calif., in what may have been a clash between rivals, police said.

Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Gutierrez said Palm Desert police got a call saying shots had been fired inside the store and two people were dead inside, the Desert Sun of Palm Desert, Calif., reported.

Palm Desert Councilman Jim Ferguson said police told him two men armed with handguns shot and killed each other and that there were 25 witnesses, the newspaper reported.

Sarah Pacia of Cathedral City, Calif., said she was in the department store with her two boys, ages 4 and 6, when she heard a commotion in the next aisle. She thought it was people rushing to get a sale item, and then she heard three or four gun shots.

"This is Toys R Us. There are kids shopping in there," Pacia said.

Infant kidnapped in stolen car found safe

CHICAGO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A 7-month-old boy in Chicago who was abducted early Friday when his mother's vehicle was stolen has been found safe, his godmother said.

The Illinois State Police issued an Amber Alert for Osiel Hernandez, who was kidnapped in a 2003 Dodge Caravan at about 4 a.m., the Chicago Tribune reported.

The boy's godmother, Kelley Wilde, said the baby has been found, and was being taken to a nearby hospital to be examined, the Tribune said.

Osiel's mother was working at a newspaper distributor and had left the child in the vehicle with the motor running because it was cold, and because she needed to breastfeed the child at work, the newspaper reported.