Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for December 14, 2010

Fire in Uttar Pradesh hospital, no casualty

LUCKNOW – Panic gripped a hospital in Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur district Tuesday when a fire broke out inside its visitors hall and began to spread to the patients wards, an official said. Fire fighters swiftly put out the blaze and no casualty was reported in the incident.

The fire engulfed the ground floor hall of … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Fire in Uttar Pradesh hospital, no casualty.

Angry pro-Wikileaks hackers may target British websites

LONDON – Pro-Wikileaks hackers are likely to target British websites in retaliation for the arrest of Julian Assange, the whistleblower site’s editor, a senior security official has warned.

Britain’s National Security Adviser Peter Ricketts told senior civil servants that Whitehall should be prepared to come under fire from “hacktivists” outraged by Assange’s detention in …. Original source  : Angry pro-Wikileaks hackers may target British websites.

Ousted Nepal crown prince in police custody after gun brawl

KATHMANDU – The shadow of arrest and criminal charges darkened over Nepals controversial former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah after police took him into custody Tuesday for questioning him about a gun brawl during the weekend.

Policemen in large numbers surrounded the plush Fulbari resort in Pokhara Tuesday, where the 39-year-old former heir to … Read more »»».

Delhi police chief to meet Girija Vyas on women’s security

NEW DELHI – Delhi Police chief B.K. Gupta will meet National Commission for Women (NCW) head Girija Vyas Tuesday to discuss the growing incidents of rape and assault on women in the city, police sources said.

“The police chief wants to work with the commission and other bodies which are concerned about the security of …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Delhi police chief to meet Girija Vyas on women’s security.

George Aldrich’s Body Found?

ASPEN (GaeaTimes.com)- After carrying out a search operation for more than two weeks, it seems that Aspen police officials have found a closure in case of the missing Snowmass Village resident whose whereabouts had been unknown since last month. Rescue officials have found a body under the Maroon Creek Bridge near the city of …. Read the original article  : here.

Vatican urges prudence in assessing WikiLeaks documents

Rome, Dec 14 (IANS/AKI) The Vatican has described as “a matter of extreme seriousness” the WikiLeaks release of diplomatic cables alleging that it refused to assist an Irish inquiry into clerical sex abuse.

In a statement dated Saturday but issued Monday, the Holy See said the documents must be “evaluated carefully and with great … Original source on Gaea Times at : Vatican urges prudence in assessing WikiLeaks documents.

British police to probe Punjab murder

CHANDIGARH – A British police team will reach Punjab to probe the killing of a Sikh religious leader in the state suspected to have been assassinated by British nationals of Punjab origin.

Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS) president Rulda Singh was shot and seriously injured by unidentified men outside his house in Patiala district July 28, …. Original article  : British police to probe Punjab murder.

IAF helicopter crashes, eight injured

JAMMU/NEW DELHI – An Indian Air Force Mi-26 helicopter crashed Tuesday close to an air force station near here injuring at least eight people, including three crew members, an official said.

The Mi-26, the heaviest and largest helicopter in the world, crashed in Satwari shortly after it took off at 9.50 a.m. with machinery for … Read this article on Gaea Times at : IAF helicopter crashes, eight injured.

Man kills father over property row

SANGRUR – A man has been arrested here for killing his father after the latter willed all his property to his grandson, police said Tuesday.

Kamaljit Singh was arrested for killing Harbhajan Singh although the will was in favour of Kamaljit’s son, Senior Superintendent of Police Harcharan Singh told IANS.
Harbhajan Singh, 65, was a … Read : Man kills father over property row.

Shanghai residents being duped into buying retired taxis

SHANGHAI – People in Shanghai, who want to purchase second-hand cars, are now being duped into buying retired taxis that have been modified and repaired by dubious dealers, an investigation by a leading daily has found.

Residents have paid out about 40,000 yuan ($6,000) for a second-hand car, only to discover they have landed with …. Original article  : Shanghai residents being duped into buying retired taxis.

Nepal to probe former crown prince’s gun brawl

KATHMANDU – Nepals government has announced a high-level inquiry into a gun brawl involving former crown prince Paras and the son-in-law of the deputy prime minister after it emerged that the deposed royal was carrying an illegal firearm.

The 39-year-old controversial former heir to Nepals throne, notorious for his quick temper and fondness for alcohol, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

IAF helicopter crash injures eight in Jammu

JAMMU/NEW DELHI – An Indian Air Force MI26 transport helicopter crashed Tuesday near an air force station injuring at least eight people, including crew members, in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

Initial reports say that eight people are injured, IAF spokesperson T.K. Singha told IANS. He added that details were …. Original source  : IAF helicopter crash injures eight in Jammu.

Scores of arrests deal blow to Sicilian mafia

Palermo (Italy), Dec 14 (IANS/AKI) Sixty three people were arrested in Palermo Monday in a massive pre-dawn sweep against the Sicilian mafia clan associated with notorious jailed mafia boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo and his son, Sandro.

Palermo’s public prosecutor Francesco Messineo said the arrests were “comforting” and urged business owners to continue reporting mafia extortionists. …. Original source  : Scores of arrests deal blow to Sicilian mafia.

Chilean prisoners living in subhuman conditions: Minister

Santiago, Dec 14 (IANS/EFE) Justice Minister Felipe Bulnes acknowledged Monday that due to the overcrowding in Chile’s jails, prisoners are living “in subhuman conditions”.

Overcrowding in penitentiaries has been named as one reason why 81 inmates died last Wednesday in a fire that burned part of the capital’s San Miguel Prison, which is holding some … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chilean prisoners living in subhuman conditions: Minister.

Seven survive plane crash in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Dec 14 (IANS/EFE) Seven people survived with only slight injuries when their small airplane crashed on a soyabean farm in the southern Brazilian state of Parana, a media report said.

The two-engine BET-90 was about 20 km from the airport in the city of Londrina, its destination, Sunday night when a strong … Read : Seven survive plane crash in Brazil.

Nine killed in China fire

BEIJING – Nine people died and two were injured in a fire that ripped though a residential apartment in east China’s Zhejiang province, authorities said Tuesday.

The fire broke out at about 8.15 p.m. Monday in the eight-storey building in the downtown area of Quzhou, 230 km southeast to the capital city of Hangzhou, … Read : Nine killed in China fire.

FBI to assist Sweden in suicide bombing probe

STOCKHOLM – Specialists from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were to assist Swedish authorities investigating a weekend suicide bombing in Stockholm, Swedish police said.

The FBI contacted Sweden after the explosions Saturday, and the
offer was accepted, police said Monday.
The FBI team included “specialists in tracing explosives, with extensive knowledge about the …. Read the original article  : here.

Dacoits loot Ghaziabad doctor’s house

GHAZIABAD – Six armed dacoits looted cash and jewellery worth over Rs.2 lakh from the house of a doctor in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district early Monday, police said.

The incident occurred in Satyam Enclave neighbourhood in Sahibabad area bordering Delhi.
Police said around 4.30 a.m. six dacoits armed with pistols, iron rods, hammers and saws … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dacoits loot Ghaziabad doctor’s house.

UAE aid vessel arrives in Karachi

Karachi, Dec 13 (IANS/WAM) An aid ship with 600 tonnes of relief material from a UAE charity for the flood affected people in Pakistan has arrived at the Karachi port, it was announced Monday.

The Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has sent food, medical supplies, household items and various winter clothing, including blankets, worth over … Original article on : UAE aid vessel arrives in Karachi.

47 Algerians missing in Mediterranean Sea

ALGIERS – At least 47 Algerian illegal immigrants who were travelling in two wooden boats to Italy went missing in the Mediterranean Sea, Xinhua reported Monday.

Algerian coast guards alerted their counterparts in the Italian islands of Sardinia and Cecily about the incident.
The immigrants, aged between 16 and 39, sailed from Annaba and … Read : 47 Algerians missing in Mediterranean Sea.