Thursday, February 18, 2010

Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for February 15, 2010

Monday, February 15, 2010


Powerful winds from Cyclone Rene damage buildings, phone links in Tonga

Cyclone Rene batters Tonga, cutting phone links

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Cyclone Rene battered Tonga with powerful winds Monday, cutting phone links, ripping off roofs and downing power lines in the South Pacific island nation.
All telephone links with the outside world went down as the storm pounded the capital, Nuku’alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Powerful winds from Cyclone Rene damage buildings, phone links in Tonga.

Police: Somali defense official survives suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu

Somali defense official survives car bomb attack

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A policeman says a top Somali defense official has survived an attack by a suicide bomber driving a vehicle laden with explosives in the capital of Mogadishu.
The attack against State Defense Minister Yusuf Mohamed Siyad comes as the besieged U.N.-backed government is preparing to launch an …. Source article  : Police: Somali defense official survives suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu.

20 killed in Belgium as trains collide: reports
BRUSSELS – Twenty people died Monday morning and an unknown number were injured as two passenger trains collided head-on in the Belgian town of Halle, media reported.

Flemish broadcaster VRT and the Belga news service quoted the mayor of Halle as the source of the figures. The mayor’s office could not confirm the report.
Read this article on Gaea Times at : 20 killed in Belgium as trains collide: reports.

Police scan security footage in investigation of bombing at Indian bakery that killed 9

Police study video for attackers of Indian bakery

PUNE, India – Indian investigators examined security camera footage Monday as they tried to identify who planted a deadly bomb in a bakery popular with foreigners.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack Saturday night that killed nine people in the city of Pune, 125 miles (200 kilometers) … Original article on : Police scan security footage in investigation of bombing at Indian bakery that killed 9.

Mayor says 20 dead in head-on crash of 2 Belgian commuter trains outside Brussels

Mayor says 20 dead in Belgian commuter train crash

BRUSSELS – Two commuter trains collided head-on at rush hour in a Brussels suburb Monday, killing 20 people, Belgian officials said.
The trains collided in snowy conditions just outside of the station at Buizingen around 8:30 a.m. (0730GMT).
“The most recent information we have is that 20 people died,” … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Mayor says 20 dead in head-on crash of 2 Belgian commuter trains outside Brussels.

Rape is fault of the victims, say half of women: survey
LONDON – Half of women think that rape victims are to blame for the attack, a media report said Monday quoting a British study.

The poll of 1,000 adults found that 54 percent of women believe rape victims should be held accountable for their attack and women were more likely than men to blame victims, … Original article on : Rape is fault of the victims, say half of women: survey.

Several reported injured in rush-hour train crash outside Brussels

Passenger trains collide head-on in Belgium

BRUSSELS – Two rush-hour passenger trains have collided head-on in a suburban Brussels train station.
There was no immediate word on the cause of Monday’s crash at the station of Buizingen, a town southwest of the Belgian capital.
Belgian media said several people were injured in the collision in snowy conditions.
Railway authorities … Read more : Several reported injured in rush-hour train crash outside Brussels.

Cash-for-judge scam: bar association not allowed to argue
CHANDIGARH – Amid opposition from the counsel of the accused in the cash-for-judge scam, the Punjab and Haryana High Court bar association was Monday not allowed to argue a protest plea filed by it against the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI’s) closure report in the matter.

The CBI special court judge, Darshan Singh, did not allow … Read more »».

Passengers injured as trains collide in Belgium
BRUSSELS – Two passenger trains collided Monday in the Belgian town of Halle, south of Brussels, leaving several people seriously injured and more trapped in the coaches, police reported.

The two trains ran into one another head-on approximately one kilometre from Halle station, police in the town told DPA. Several people were “heavily injured”, but there …. Source article  : Passengers injured as trains collide in Belgium.

Yemen military helicopter crashes in near rebel held areas killing 13 soldiers

Report: 13 killed in Yemen’s chopper crash

SAN’A, Yemen – The official Yemeni news agency reports that 13 soldiers were killed and another wounded in a helicopter crash in the northern war-torn province of Saada.
The agency quoted an unnamed official saying Sunday’s crash at Saada airport was due to a technical fault.
It said the plane crashed … Read more >>.

Fresh off icy mess, parts of South facing second rare snow storm in less than a week

South gets 2nd dose of snow in days
ATLANTA – A second snow storm in less is than a week is hitting parts of the South unaccustomed to dealing with the frosty precipitation.

Snow was falling in parts of Alabama early Monday and could crawl into Atlanta just before dawn. The National Weather Service says northern Alabama … Read : Fresh off icy mess, parts of South facing second rare snow storm in less than a week.

Tonga riding out Cyclone Rene; buildings, crops damaged but no deaths, injuries reported

Tonga riding out Cyclone Rene; no injury reported

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Cyclone Rene showed no signs of easing its onslaught on Tonga late Monday, its powerful winds ripping off roofs, tearing down trees and downing power lines in the South Pacific island nation.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or severe damage, but Ha’apai island group, …. Read the original article  : Tonga riding out Cyclone Rene; buildings, crops damaged but no deaths, injuries reported.

Over 7 million tax documents stolen in Latvia
RIGA – In Latvia’s largest ever leak of confidential information, about 7.4 million tax documents were stolen from the server of the country’s state revenue service, the country’s media said Monday.

The LTV1 channel said in its De Facto programme Sunday evening that unidentified people received access to documents on incomes of the country’s top officials, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

CBI opposes Sajjan Kumar’s bail plea in 1984 riot cases
NEW DELHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Monday opposed the anticipatory bail plea of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, accused in two anti-Sikh riot cases, and said he may influence witnesses if granted bail.

Arguing on behalf of Sajjan Kumar, senior advocate I.U. Khan said the case had been dragging on for … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : CBI opposes Sajjan Kumar’s bail plea in 1984 riot cases.

Make our workplaces safer, say Indians in New Zealand
AUCKLAND – The fatal stabbing of taxi driver Hiren Mohini in New Zealand’s Auckland city has prompted the Indian community here to demand that their workplaces be made safer.

Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini, 39, was repeatedly stabbed by a passenger Jan 31 following which his taxi collided with a tree in Mount Eden.
New Zealand … Read more »»».

US, Afghan forces push deeper into Taliban town; rockets kill 12 Afghan civilians in offensive

US, Afghan forces push deeper into Marjah
MARJAH, Afghanistan – Insurgent sniper teams battled U.S. Marines and Afghan troops across the Taliban haven of Marjah, as several major gunbattles erupted across the town Monday on the third day of a major offensive to reclaim the extremist southern heartland.

Multiple firefights in different locations were taxing the ability …. Read the original article  : US, Afghan forces push deeper into Taliban town; rockets kill 12 Afghan civilians in offensive.

Rathore’s bail plea hearing adjourned to April 5
CHANDIGARH – The Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday adjourned till April 5 the hearing in the anticipatory bail plea of former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore in fresh cases filed against him by the CBI. He has been convicted of molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra.

The interim bail extended to Rathore by the high court in … Read more : Rathore’s bail plea hearing adjourned to April 5.

Jharkhand mulls Maoist demands for official’s release
RANCHI – The Jharkhand government is considering the demands of Maoist guerrillas to ensure the safe release of a government official, who was abducted Saturday, highly placed sources said Monday.

The state government is considering the demands made by Maoists for the safe release of Prasant Layak, a block development officer (BDO). Layak was abducted by … Read more : Jharkhand mulls Maoist demands for official’s release.

Violence breaks out on Osmania University campus again
HYDERABAD – Violence again broke out on Osmania University campus Monday, the second time since Sunday evening, with pro-Telangana students taking to the streets.

Protesting the police firing and the baton charge on them Sunday night, the students took out a rally and threw stones at policemen and paramilitary personnel deployed on the campus.
The police …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Woman murders mother over boyfriend
Lima, Feb 15 (IANS/EFE) A 22-year-old woman planned and carried out the murder of her mother with the help of her boyfriend and another acquaintance because the victim, a well-known lawyer, was opposed to the daughter’s romantic relationship, Peruvian police said.

The head of the Criminal Division of the National Police, Gen. Cesar Guardia, said at … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Woman murders mother over boyfriend.

Gangster shot dead in Uttar Pradesh
LUCKNOW – A gangster wanted in 37 criminal cases including murder was gunned down early Monday by the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, an official said.

Ali Mohammad was involved in murder, loot, abduction and other heinous crimes. He was killed in Ramnagar locality after a 45-minute gun battle, Deputy Superintendent of Police A.P. Mishra … Original article on : Gangster shot dead in Uttar Pradesh.

Politicians sheltering mafia in Nepal: ex-police official
KATHMANDU – Nine days after the daylight murder of controversial Nepali media tycoon Jamim Shah, a former police official said the “mafia” had entered the country and was operating with impunity due to protection by politicians.

Bharat GC, former acting police commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Metropolitan Police, also said concerns by India that Nepal’s soil was …. Read the original article  : Politicians sheltering mafia in Nepal: ex-police official.

Tigress kills teenage girl in Uttar Pradesh
LUCKNOW – A tigress killed a teenage girl and injured two of her friends when they were collecting wood near the Katarniaghat forest reserve in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, forest officials said Monday.

The tigress attacked 16-year-old Gudiya and two of her friends Sunday while they were collecting wood on the outskirts of Vishunpur village in … Read more »».

Sleepy adolescents prone to accidents
LONDON – Sleepiness while driving significantly increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents in adolescents, a new study has confirmed.

The study suggests adolescent drivers were twice as likely to crash if they experienced sleepiness while driving or reported having bad sleep.
Eighty of the 339 students surveyed for the study had already crashed at …. Read the original article  : here.

Peruvian woman murders mother as she forbade her to see boyfriend
Lima, Feb 15 (IANS/EFE) A 22-year-old woman planned and carried out the murder of her mother with the help of her boyfriend and another acquaintance because the victim, a well-known lawyer, was opposed to her romantic relationship, Peruvian police said.

The head of the Criminal Division of the National Police, Gen. Cesar Guardia, said at a …. Original source  : Peruvian woman murders mother as she forbade her to see boyfriend.

Mexican priest in child pornography case released
Veracruz (Mexico), Feb 15 (IANS/EFE) A Catholic priest arrested last year for his alleged participation in a child-pornography ring operating via the Internet has been released due to lack of evidence in the case, a church spokesman said.

Rafael Muiz Lopez, who was assigned to St. Peter Apostle Church in Xalapa, the capital of the Gulf …. Source article  : Mexican priest in child pornography case released.

Coroner as celebrity: After 50 years of death, Dr. Cyril Wecht looks back on life

Death be proud: Cyril Wecht, the man in the morgue

PITTSBURGH – A door slams, and a snowy-haired man sweeps into the room at the back of a university garage, a sterile place of stainless steel sinks, a swaying hose and a metal table where a woman’s body lies, blood dripping from the back of her … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Coroner as celebrity: After 50 years of death, Dr. Cyril Wecht looks back on life.

Eight members of family burnt to death in Maharashtra
SOLAPUR – Eight members of a family, including six children, were burnt to death in their sleep when their hut caught fire early Monday, police said.

The hut belonged to farmer Suresh Chhatan Pawar, and the victims were his relatives, police inspector Harishchandra More said.
“According to Pawar, the fire was deliberate and had been set … Read more >>.

US shooting suspect slapped with more charges
WASHINGTON – Three new charges of attempted murder have been added against a woman professor already under arrest for capital murder in the shooting of three colleagues including Indian American Gopi K. Podila.

Dr. Amy Bishop, 45, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, is charged with killing three colleagues during a faculty meeting at the University of Alabama Huntsville’s … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : US shooting suspect slapped with more charges.

Couple gunned down by assailants in Haryana
ROHTAK – A couple was gunned down by unidentified miscreants, who forcibly entered their house in this Haryana town, police said Monday.

The criminals entered the house Sunday night.
According to the police, the deceased were identified as Krishan Kumar and his wife Indravati.
On hearing the gun shots, neighbours reached the spot and found the … Read : Couple gunned down by assailants in Haryana.

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