Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for September 2, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Soaring summer temperatures in Japan hit record, part of global trend
Japan endures hottest summer on record
TOKYO – Japan is sweltering through its hottest summer on record, weather officials said Thursday.
Japan joined many parts of the Northern Hemisphere in seeing an unusually hot summer. Meteorologists say 17 nations have recorded all-time-high temperatures this year, more than in any other year, and scientists have said that July … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Soaring summer temperatures in Japan hit record, part of global trend.
Canadian woman judge in inter-racial porn scandal
TORONTO – In a shocking sex scandal that has hit the Canadian judiciary, a black man is suing a white lawyer for harassing him to have sex with the lawyer’s wife who herself is now a senior judge.
In his $67-million lawsuit Wednesday, Alexander Chapman, a 44-year-old black man who is a computer specialist by profession, …. Original source : Canadian woman judge in inter-racial porn scandal.
Maoists to call people’s court, Bihar cops’ families in despair
PATNA – As a second deadline expired Thursday, Maoists said the fate of four Bihar policemen held captive by them would now be decided by a ‘jan adalat’ or kangaroo court. The families of the cops are desperately pleading with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for help.
Maoist spokesperson Avinash called up local TV channels and said … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Maoists to call people’s court, Bihar cops’ families in despair.
2 US troops killed in insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan; Taliban commander killed
2 American troops killed in Afghan attacks
KABUL, Afghanistan – Two American troops died in fighting in Afghanistan on Thursday, while NATO said it had killed the leader of an insurgent cell responsible for laying roadside bombs and smuggling foreign fighters into the country.
NATO said one service member was killed in the country’s east, the other … Read more : 2 US troops killed in insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan; Taliban commander killed.
Hostage-taker at Discovery Channel headquarters railed against programs; shot dead by police
Discovery Channel hostage-taker hated programming
SILVER SPRING, Md. – A gunman police shot to death after he took hostages at Discovery Channel’s headquarters said he hated the company’s shows such as “Kate Plus 8″ because they promote population growth and its environmental programming because it did little to save the planet.
Three hostages – two Discovery Communications …. Source article : Hostage-taker at Discovery Channel headquarters railed against programs; shot dead by police.
Evacuations ordered, but some just hunker down as Hurricane Earl bears down on East Coast
Some bunker down, some flee as Earl approaches US
BUXTON, N.C. – Tourists were largely gone from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, but those resolute residents who stayed behind say they were prepared Thursday to potentially face down the most powerful hurricane to threaten the coast in years.
Hurricane Earl with winds swirling at around 140 …. Original article on Gaea Times at : Evacuations ordered, but some just hunker down as Hurricane Earl bears down on East Coast.
Removal of temporary cap on Gulf well not risk-free; US says potential for oil leakage is low
Risks remain with Gulf well cap coming off
NEW ORLEANS – The image of thick crude gushing from a blown-out oil well a mile beneath the Gulf of Mexico was turned off when a tightly fitting cap was secured on top a month-and-a-half ago.
Engineers weren’t expecting that sight again Thursday when they planned to delicately remove … Original source on Gaea Times at : Removal of temporary cap on Gulf well not risk-free; US says potential for oil leakage is low.
Google cleared of spying in New Zealand
AUCKLAND – Internet giant Google has been cleared of gathering personal wireless internet data during its street view operation in New Zealand.
New Zealand police Thursday said they have found no evidence that Google committed a criminal offence, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Police have, however, referred the matter back to the Privacy Commission, which in …. Source article : Google cleared of spying in New Zealand.
Typhoon Kompasu hits South Korea
SEOUL – Typhoon Kompasu made landfall in northern South Korea early Thursday, leaving two dead and causing the worst disruption to power and transport networks in the capital for a decade, a report said.
Winds of over 100 km per hour knocked down trees and utility poles and blew out windows across Seoul, as the centre …. Original article : Typhoon Kompasu hits South Korea.
1 American servicemember killed in insurgent attack Thursday in eastern Afghanistan
1 American servicemember killed in Afghan attack
KABUL, Afghanistan – An American servicemember died in fighting in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, while the coalition said it had killed the leader of an insurgent cell responsible for laying roadside bombs and smuggling foreign fighters into the country.
No other details of the servicemember’s death were given in keeping …. Source : 1 American servicemember killed in insurgent attack Thursday in eastern Afghanistan.
Southern China landslide kills 4, leaves 44 missing as death toll from floods rises to 3,185
South China landslide kills 4, leaves 44 missing
BEIJING – Rescuers were searching for 44 people missing Thursday after a landslide hit a village in southern China and killed at least four people.
Workers rescued 23 people buried under rubble in Wama village in the southwestern province of Yunnan after the rain-triggered landslide hit Wednesday night, the … Read more »».
Flight data recorders recovered from Nepal plane crash that killed all 14 on board
Black box recovered from Nepal plane crash site
KATMANDU, Nepal – Nepalese investigators have found the flight data recorders from the wreckage of a small plane that crashed last week en route to the Mount Everest area, killing 14 people including six foreigners, officials said Thursday.
Suresh Acharya, a spokesman for the government-appointed investigation team, said searchers … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Flight data recorders recovered from Nepal plane crash that killed all 14 on board.
Australian man jailed for upskirt photography
MELBOURNE – A 42-year-old man’s “moment of madness”, which made him photograph under a woman’s skirt using his mobile phone at a Melbourne store, has led him to prison.
A county court heard Thursday that Anthony Maguire had run after the woman as she boarded an escalator in the Southland Shopping Centre. He positioned his phone …. Source : Australian man jailed for upskirt photography.
Typhoon slams into South Korea, killing 3 and delaying flights and suspending subway service
Typhoon suspends SKorean flights, subway, kills 3
SEOUL, South Korea – Typhoon Kompasu struck South Korea early Thursday, killing three people while it knocked over streetlights and scaffolding in what was called the strongest tropical storm to hit the Seoul area in 15 years.
Powerful gusts knocked over power lines, cutting off power to tens of thousands … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Typhoon slams into South Korea, killing 3 and delaying flights and suspending subway service.
Communal clash during Janmashtami function, eight injured
RANCHI – Eight people, including two policemen, were injured in a communal clash at a function organised for Janmashtami here, police said Thursday.
The clash took place at Hindpiri colony late Wednesday over loudspeakers being used on the occasion of Janmashtami – the birth of the Hindu god Krishna. Some Muslims opposed the loudspeaker being used … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Communal clash during Janmashtami function, eight injured.
US hostage taker said he had bombs strapped to body
WASHINGTON – An armed man shot and killed by police after a tense four-hour standoff at the Discovery Channel’s headquarters told a TV channel he had several bombs strapped to his body “ready to go off.”
The gunman who had taken three hostages Wednesday in the Discovery building in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring in …. Source article on Gaea Times at : US hostage taker said he had bombs strapped to body.
Woman stabs father, kills self
Moscow, Sep 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A woman fatally stabbed her father and then jumped to her death from their sixth-storey apartment in Moscow after he refused to visit her grandfather’s grave.
The 31-year-old woman, who also shared the house with her younger brother, had gone out after the row and returned home drunk, the Moskovsky Komsomolets [..] Read the original article: here.
Over 2,000 killed in Mexican border city in 2010
Ciudad Juarez (Mexico), Sep 2 (IANS/EFE) Over 2,000 people were killed in gang wars
in 2010 in Mexico’s “murder capital” of Ciudad Juarez on the border with the US, reveal official figures.
A total of 2,027 murders have been committed in 2010 in Ciudad Juarez, located across the border from El Paso, Texas.
August was the … Read more »»».
Arrest reported after search for armed suspect disrupts commuter traffic in Everett, Wash.
Arrest made after manhunt shuts down Wash. freeway
EVERETT, Wash. – A sheriff’s spokeswoman in Washington state says tips from the public helped authorities make an arrest following a search for an armed suspect Wednesday that shut down a busy freeway and disrupted commuter traffic.
When traffic in Interstate 5’s northbound lanes in the Everett area began … Original article on : Arrest reported after search for armed suspect disrupts commuter traffic in Everett, Wash..
Pakistani militants back in business, killing 35 in triple bombing despite flood chaos
Pakistan militants kill 35 despite floods
LAHORE, Pakistan – The triple bombing of a religious procession in Pakistan adds to the strains on a government already struggling with devastating floods and shows that Islamist militants are back in business despite the natural disaster.
The death toll in the blasts rose to 35 on Thursday, with about 250 … Read more : Pakistani militants back in business, killing 35 in triple bombing despite flood chaos.