Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for December 22, 2010

Nithari killings: Fourth death sentence for Surinder Koli

GHAZIABAD – Surendra Koli, the sole accused in the abduction, rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in the Nithari serial killings, was Wednesday sentenced to death by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here.

It was the fourth death sentence for Koli in the serial killings that came to light in … Read : Nithari killings: Fourth death sentence for Surinder Koli.

Earthquake Rattles Cumbria

CUMBRIA (GaeaTimes.com)- A small earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale rattled Cumbria last night. The people of Cumbria reported that they could feel and hear the earth moving for about a minute. The media outlets reported that the earthquake was felt in Cumbria, Lancashire, parts of Yorkshire, south-west Scotland, the north Midlands, the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Earthquake Rattles Cumbria.

Two killed in gas leak at Reddy’s lab

HYDERABAD – Two workers of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd were killed Wednesday after nitrogen gas leaked in the pharmaceutical firm at Bolarum on the outskirts of Hyderabad, police said.

No one else was affected as only two workers were present in the room in F block, Medak Superintendent of Police Sundar Kumar Das told IANS.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : Two killed in gas leak at Reddy’s lab.

Executions come down in US

WASHINGTON – There have been fewer executions in the US this year compared to 2009, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

The 46 executions in 2010 constituted a 12 percent drop from last year’s 52, according to the Death Penalty Information Centre, which produces an annual report on execution trends.
The trend shows a marked … Read more >>.

Jail inmates’ allegations incorrect: Tihar chief

NEW DELHI – Allegations made by two Tihar Jail inmates that they were asked to kill Commonwealth Games (CWG) officials lodged there are “incorrect”, the prison’s director general, Neeraj Kumar, said Wednesday.

“All allegations by the jail inmates are incorrect. These are convicted people involved in heinous crimes. We wanted to break the gang (they …. Read the original article  : Jail inmates’ allegations incorrect: Tihar chief.

Sale of Goa land to foreigners, mafia in 2010 RTI hall of fame

PANAJI – Goa politician Rajan Ghate’s expose of a multimillion rupee scam involving the purchase of high value coastal land by foreigners, including the Russian mafia, has made it to the Right to Information (RTI) hall of fame this year.

The RTI awards, announced Tuesday, were instituted by the Delhi-based Public Cause Research Foundation …. Source  : Sale of Goa land to foreigners, mafia in 2010 RTI hall of fame.

1,800 endangered reptiles saved in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian custom officers seized more than 1,800 protected reptiles from a truck bound for Thailand, a news report said Wednesday.

The seizure Monday came following a tip, the Star newspaper reported. Officers found 475 hill tortoises, 437 freshwater turtles, 710 monitor lizards and 196 king cobras in a truck at the Malaysia-Thailand …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 1,800 endangered reptiles saved in Malaysia.

Sewer leak causes stink at UN headquarters

NEW YORK – Offices at the UN Security Council and General Assembly had to be evacuated because of a “suspicious odour” caused by the likely burst of a basement sewer line, a spokesperson said.

The “sewage-like” smell wafted through the office halls, forcing the diplomats to cover their noses.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the … Read more »»».

Man dies after being stuck in elevator

NEW DELHI – A 30-year-old man died of suffocation after being stuck in an elevator in north Delhi’s Narela industrial area, fire officials said Wednesday.

Parmod, a native of Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, was Tuesday stuck in the lift of the factory where he was employed, said a fire officer.
“We received a call around …. Original article  : Man dies after being stuck in elevator.

Four wives beat Bangladesh man to death

DHAKA – A man in Bangladesh who kept his four wives in the dark about his multiple marriages was beaten to death, allegedly by all of them, a media report said Wednesday.

Yunus Bepari, 46, an autorickshaw driver, went to a village fair last Monday with two wives where he was confronted by his …. Source  : Four wives beat Bangladesh man to death.

41 guards arrested over Mexico prison escape

Mexico City, Dec 22 (IANS/EFE) Forty-one guards at a Mexican prison have been arrested in connection with the escape of 151 inmates, officials said.

The prison break took place Dec 17 in Nuevo Laredo, a border city in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas.
The prison officials broke the law and will be prosecuted, Tamaulipas Governor …. Original source  : 41 guards arrested over Mexico prison escape.

Dannevirke Car Crash Kills a Young Girl, 2 Critically Injured

DANNEVIRKE (GaeaTimes.com) — A young girl named Cassandra Gali Schumann of age 20, was killed when her car crashed into the wall of a bank building in the town early today.
The crash took place at around 1.45 a.m on the corner of Stanley and London street. The other two passengers of the car were … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dannevirke Car Crash Kills a Young Girl, 2 Critically Injured.

Teenager Killed in Stolen Car Crash near Bathrust

BATHRUST (GaeaTimes.com) — A 16 year old boy has been charged in connection with a fiery fatal car accident near Bathurst.
Another 16 year old boy, who was a passenger, died when the blue Ford Falcon station wagon veered off the Fremantle Road at Billywillinga, hit trees and burst into flames on … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Teenager Killed in Stolen Car Crash near Bathrust.

Deutsche Bank to pay $553 mn in US dispute

FRANKFURT/NEW YORK – Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay the US Internal Revenue Service $553.6 million in a long-running tax dispute, the bank announced in Frankfurt Tuesday.

In return for the payment, the US Attorney’s Office has agreed to drop criminal investigations and not to prosecute the bank, a statement said.
The case is believed … Original source on Gaea Times at : Deutsche Bank to pay $553 mn in US dispute.

Police raid German gunmaker over Mexico arms supplies

STUTTGART – German police searched the offices of Heckler and Koch, a German manufacturer of premium firearms, Tuesday over suspicions that its exports of rifles to Mexico may break German arms-export laws, prosecutors in Stuttgart said.

German law forbids unlicensed exports to zones of conflict.
A spokeswoman said Heckler and Koch, which supplies armies, police … Original source on Gaea Times at : Police raid German gunmaker over Mexico arms supplies.

Quake jolts Japanese islands, tsunami warning issued

TOKYO – A 7.4-magnitude earthquake shook a chain of Japanese islands early Wednesday, forcing the Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning.

There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.
The epicentre of the 2.20 a.m. (1720 GMT) quake was near the Ogasawara islands, which are about 1,000 km south of Tokyo in …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Bike thieves pay dearly for not wearing helmets

NEW DELHI – Delhi Traffic Police officers chased and booked two motorcycle riders in south Delhi Tuesday for not wearing helmets. However, the two men landed behind bars after police discovered that they were riding stolen bikes.

The incident took place near Laxman Public School in south Delhi at 12.30 p.m. when traffic police officers …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Bike thieves pay dearly for not wearing helmets.

Extortionist held in West Bengal

KOLKATA – A man wanted for involvement in extortion and other crimes in West Bengal’s Howrah district has been arrested, police said Tuesday.

N. Venkatraman Rama Rao, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, was arrested late Friday, police said.
“Rao was arrested from his flat at Baje Shibpur area,” said Raj Kanojia, additional director general and … Original source on Gaea Times at : Extortionist held in West Bengal.

Radia quizzed by CBI, Raja next (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team Tuesday questioned corporate lobbyist Niira Radia at her house here in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. Former communications minister A. Raja is expected to be quizzed later this week, CBI sources said.

A team of sleuths, accompanied by women officers, reached Radia’s Chhatarpur …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Kashmiri gets 10 years in jail for carrying RDX, pistols

GHAZIABAD – A man held with RDX in Ghaziabad in 2008 was Tuesday sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by a court here, a prosecutor said.

Fast Track Court Judge Mukesh Kumar Singhal held Fayaz Ahmad alias Meer Jaanbaaz guilty under the foreigners and explosives acts.
Fayaz Ahmad was arrested Aug 12, 2008, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Kashmiri gets 10 years in jail for carrying RDX, pistols.