Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for December 24, 2010

Binayak Sen’s conviction shocking, say activists

NEW DELHI – Human rights activists Friday reacted with shock at rights campaigner Binayak Sen being held guilty of sedition and conspiracy by a Chhattisgarh court, with many saying that there was “no evidence” against him.

“I am absolutely shocked at the judgement. We never expected this judgement because there was not a shred of … Read more >>.

Sad day for Indian democracy: Sen’s wife

RAIPUR – Shocked at a Chhattisgarh court convicting rights activist Binayak Sen for sedition and conspiracy, his wife Elina Friday said she was sad that her family would have to fight another long legal battle but more sad for the “state of Indian democracy”.

“I don’t agree with this judgment at all. One who has … Read more : Sad day for Indian democracy: Sen’s wife.

Rights activist Binayak Sen convicted, arrested

RAIPUR – Rights activist Binayak Sen, accused of links with Maoists, was Friday convicted for sedition and conspiracy by a Chhattisgarh court and arrested soon after, leaving his family and fellow activists shaken and disappointed.

District and Sessions Court judge B.P. Varma found Sen guilty on a variety of counts such as under 124 A … Read : Rights activist Binayak Sen convicted, arrested.

45 voodoo priests lynched in Haiti for cholera deaths

PORT AU PRINCE – At least 45 people – most of them voodoo priests – have been lynched by angry mobs blaming them for the spread of the cholera epidemic in Haiti which has claimed over 2,500 lives, CNN reported Friday.

Some of the victims were killed with machetes, others were burned alive by mobs …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 45 voodoo priests lynched in Haiti for cholera deaths.

CBI questioning Raja in 2G spectrum scam

NEW DELHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned DMK leader and former communications minister A. Raja here Friday, over two weeks after his premises in New Delhi and Tamil Nadu were raided in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.

Raja reached the CBI office at the CGO Complex in the heart of the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : CBI questioning Raja in 2G spectrum scam.

Rights activist Binayak Sen convicted

RAIPUR – Rights activist and doctor Binayak Sen, accused of links with Maoists, was Friday convicted for sedition and conspiracy by a Chhattisgarh court.

District and Sessions Court judge B.P. Varma found Sen guilty on a variety of counts and also under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.
Sen was arrested in 2007 from Bilaspur …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Rights activist Binayak Sen convicted.

Kashmiri teacher says passage scientific, not obscene

SRINAGAR – A Kashmir University teacher who has been booked for setting what police call an obscene question paper Friday said he did not commit any crime and simply took a passage from a textbook that was part of the curriculum.

It is a conspiracy against me. I have not committed any crime. Registering a …. Original source  : Kashmiri teacher says passage scientific, not obscene.

166 booked in Pakistan for Rs.30bn tax evasion

ISLAMABAD – Cases have been filed over the past year against 166 tax defaulters who collectively owe a staggering Rs.30 billion to the Pakistani exchequer, a minister said.

Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh told the National Assembly Thursday that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has over the past year filed cases against 166 tax …. Source article  : 166 booked in Pakistan for Rs.30bn tax evasion.

Raja at CBI office for questioning

NEW DELHI – DMK leader and former communications minister A. Raja Friday reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Delhi for questioning in the 2G spectrum scam.

Raja reached the CBI office at the CGO complex in south Delhi around 10.30 a.m., a CBI officer said.
Raja had come to Delhi Wednesday and … Original article on : Raja at CBI office for questioning.

30 wineries making adulterated liquor shut in China

BEIJING – Nearly 30 wineries were shut down Friday morning in a Chinese province after television reports showed the liquor being produced there was adulterated.

The Hebei government acted after China Central Television Station (CCTV) showed on a show Thursday evening that wines made in Changli county contained impurities, Xinhua reported Friday.
The CCTV footage … Read more »».

Doctor shot dead in Mexican city

Ciudad Juarez (Mexico), Dec 24 (IANS/EFE) Gunmen shot dead a doctor outside his house in Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez city, authorities said.

Alfonso Perez Dominguez was killed Wednesday as he got into his car in San Angel, a neighbourhood on the northeast side of Ciudad Juarez, police said.
The 46-year-old doctor was on his way to … Read more : Doctor shot dead in Mexican city.

20 missing in Colombia mudslide

Bogota, Dec 24 (IANS/EFE) Twenty people were missing after a mudslide buried several homes in a rural area of the northern Colombian province of Santander, authorities said Thursday.

The avalanche occurred Wednesday night in La Ceiba, a hamlet about an hour by road from the town of Rionegro, regional police commander Col. Mario Aurelio Pedroza … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 20 missing in Colombia mudslide.

Body of abducted boy found in Patna

PATNA – The body of a 10-year-old boy, who had been abducted two days ago for ransom, was found near a road here, triggering angry protests. Police said Friday that two suspects have been arrested.

The body of Amarjeet Kumar, a Class 5 student of K.P.S. School, was found near the by-pass road Thursday night. …. Original source  : Body of abducted boy found in Patna.

CBI raids Kalmadi’s Delhi, Pune residences, Games office (Third Lead)

NEW DELHI/PUNE – CBI Friday raided the Delhi and Pune homes of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi as well as the Games office here, two months after the mega event ended amid allegations of major financial irregularities.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said teams of officers searched Kalmadi’s residences and that of … Read more >>>.

CBI raids Kalmadi homes, Games office (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – Two months after the Commonwealth Games (CWG) ended amid allegations of major financial wrongdoings, the CBI Friday raided Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s homes in New Delhi and Pune and the Games office here.

The Central Bureau of Investigation said teams of officers searched Kalmadi’s residences and that of an aide also …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

CBI raids Kalmadi’s premises

NEW DELHI – The CBI Friday raided Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s homes and office here and in Pune in connection with irregularities in the conduct of the October games, official sources said.

Central Bureau of Investigation officials searched a Kalmadi residence each in New Delhi and Pune, the Organising Committee office here … Original article on : CBI raids Kalmadi’s premises.

CBI raids Kalmadi premises

NEW DELHI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday raided Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi’s homes and office here and in Pune, official sources said.
…. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Victim of Stabbing Dies in accident on way to Hospital

HEMPSTEAD (GaeaTimes.com) — Police say a Long Island stabbing victim being driven to the hospital died after the driver of the car he was in got into an accident with another car.
According to reports, two men were stabbed at a bar on North Franklin Street in Hempstead around 2:40 a.m. Thursday. Another man was …. Source article  : Victim of Stabbing Dies in accident on way to Hospital.

Calls for ICC probe over Ivory Coast violence

PARIS/ABIDJAN/GENEVA – A close ally of Ivory Coast’s would-be president Alassane Ouattara Thursday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate possible crimes as the UN confirmed 173 people have died in the ongoing crisis.

Ivory Coast was plunged into violence after incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to Ouattara – the man … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Calls for ICC probe over Ivory Coast violence.

13 injured as bus falls off Delhi-Noida expressway (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – A speeding chartered bus carrying office-goers home spun out of control and fell off the Delhi-Noida-Delhi (DND) expressway Thursday evening, injuring 13 passengers, police said.

According to police, the accident took place around 7.30 p.m. when the bus was going towards Noida from Dhaula Kuan. It suddenly skidded towards the left and …. Original source  : 13 injured as bus falls off Delhi-Noida expressway (Second Lead).