Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 10, 2011

Handwritten note reveals plan to kill US congresswoman

WASHINGTON – A note written by Jared L. Loughner ahead of his shooting rampage Saturday in Tucson, Arizona appears to show that he had planned to assassinate US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a media report said.

Prosecutors charged Loughner, a troubled 22-year-old college dropout, with five federal counts Sunday, including the attempted assassination of Giffords in …. Original source  : Handwritten note reveals plan to kill US congresswoman.

Apex court issues notices to government, 11 firms in 2G saga

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday issued notices to the union government and 11 firms on a plea seeking cancellation of aiwaves issued for second generation (2G) telecom services during the tenure of former communications minister A. Raja.

The apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly issued the notices … Original source on Gaea Times at : Apex court issues notices to government, 11 firms in 2G saga.

Three dead, thousands evacuated as floods hit Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Three children have drowned and about 3,300 people have been displaced after their homes were inundated by floodwaters in northeastern Malaysia, a police spokesman said Monday.

Almost 3,200 people remained in 22 temporary shelters set up in Kelantan state, a state police spokesman told the official Bernama news agency.
He said the …. Read the original article  : Three dead, thousands evacuated as floods hit Malaysia.

Australia’s flood crisis creeps toward Brisbane

SYDNEY – Residents were warned to get ready to defend their properties as Queensland’s flood crisis rolled south toward Brisbane, Australia’s third-biggest city.

The warning came too late for the 90,000 people of Toowoomba, 126 km west of the capital of the northeastern state, as a flash flood raced through city streets.
National broadcaster ABC … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Australia’s flood crisis creeps toward Brisbane.

Jharkhand delays sanction to prosecute tainted bureaucrat

RANCHI – The Arjun Munda-led Jharkhand government is delaying granting approval to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute a senior bureaucrat accused of a Rs.130-crore health scam, an official said.

According to sources, the CBI had sought approval from the Jharkhand government to prosecute former health secretary and senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) …. Original source  : Jharkhand delays sanction to prosecute tainted bureaucrat.

Atlanta Experiences Winter Deluge

ATLANTA (GaeaTimes.com)- It seems like Atlanta has been struck amidst a winter deluge after a heavy snow storm blasted on the city on Sunday night. The snow storm blanketed the city under a thick layer which caused a major trouble for the Atlanta traffic. As a result of this Sonny Perdue who acted as the [..] Read the original article: here.

Supreme Court issues notice to government on 2G scam

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the central government on a plea seeking cancellation of 2G spectrum licences allocated during the tenure of former communications minister A. Raja.

The apex court also issued notices to 11 telecom companies which allegedly did not fulfil obligations as per the terms and conditions … Original source on Gaea Times at : Supreme Court issues notice to government on 2G scam.

Two more killed as Assam-Meghalaya border tense

SHILLONG – Two more people were killed and 12 injured in fresh violence in riot-hit areas of Meghalaya-Assam border, officials said Monday.

Several houses and trucks carrying supplies to the riot-hit areas in Meghalaya were also torched Sunday night at Paikan area on the tense inter-state border.
The central government has rushed in …. Original article  : Two more killed as Assam-Meghalaya border tense.

Eight asphyxiated to death in Haryana

CHANDIGARH – Eight people were killed over the weekend due to suffocation caused by carbon monoxide gas in different parts of Haryana when they resorted to lighting angithi fire (coal fire) to keep themselves warm.

According to police, four Nepali nationals, who were working at a hotel in Tohana town, in Fatehabad district, were found …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Majority offences in UAE are cyber crimes

DUBAI – Of all criminal offences committed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a whopping 70 percent are cyber crimes, a top official has said.

Cyber criminals are keeping up with new developments in information technology, and make the maximum use of any new software or system that comes with any security gap or loophole, [..] Read the original article: here.

72 killed in Iran plane crash (Third Lead)

TEHRAN – Seventy-two people, including 12 crew members, were killed when a plane with 105 people on board crashed in northwest Iran.

The remaining 33 people were seriously injured in the accident that occurred Sunday evening in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, Xinhua said, citing reports from the semi-official Fars news agency.
The Boeing-727, belonging …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Two poachers held with over 40 tortoises

LUCKNOW – Two poachers were arrested with over 40 tortoises in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.

Mohammad Qayam and Ramesh Chandra, around 35 years, were nabbed Sunday from Jairara area.
“Acting on a tip-off, we intercepted a Tata Sumo car in which the two were travelling. They were arrested after two sacks containing …. Source  : Two poachers held with over 40 tortoises.

Three children injured in south Delhi factory fire

NEW DELHI – Three children were critically injured after a fire broke out in a chemical factory in south Delhi Monday, a fire official said.

The incident took place around 8.30 a.m. in Okhla industrial area Phase II when a chemical drum blasted. The fire was brought under control in some time, the official said.
…. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Between 55 and 70 killed in Iran plane crash (Second Lead)

TEHRAN – The initial optimism by the Iranian transportation and health ministry about a low death toll faded Sunday after reports that between 55 and 70 people died in a a plane crash or emergency landing near Orumieh in Azerbaijan province.

A Red Crescent official told official news agency IRNA that 70 people were killed …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Charges filed against shooting suspect of US congresswoman

WASHINGTON – Federal officials Sunday filed five charges against the suspect in the shooting of US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Six people were killed Saturday in the attack on Giffords, who was outside a supermarket holding a citizen’s outreach event in her district in Tucson, Arizona. Giffords survived a gunshot which put a bullet through her …. Source article  : Charges filed against shooting suspect of US congresswoman.

18 dead after Iranian plane makes emergency landing

TEHRAN – At least 18 people were killed in a deadly emergency landing Sunday near Orumieh in the Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran, the head of the country’s emergency centre told the ISNA news agency.

Gholam-Reza Massoumi said that, so far, there has been confirmation that 50 people have survived the incident. Forty of those …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 18 dead after Iranian plane makes emergency landing.

10 killed, 13 injured in Bengal accident

KOLKATA – Ten people were killed and 13 others were injured when a pick-up van carrying picnickers collided with a truck at Binaguri in West Bengals Jalpaiguri district Sunday night, police said.

The truck was returning to Cooch Behar from Chamurchi. Ten people died on the spot, said an officer manning the police control room …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : 10 killed, 13 injured in Bengal accident.

105 feared dead in Iran plane crash

TEHRAN – An Iranian passenger plane crashed Sunday near Orumieh in the Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the ISNA news agency reported.

The plane had 105 passengers and crew members on board, ISNA said. All are feared dead.
According to ISNA, the plane was a Boeing belonging to the national state-airline Iran Air. It apparently … Original source on Gaea Times at : 105 feared dead in Iran plane crash.

Passenger plane crashes in Iran

TEHRAN – An Iranian passenger plane crashed Sunday near Orumieh in the Azerbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the ISNA news agency reported.

The plane had 105 passenger and crew members on board, ISNA said, without giving further details.
… Read more »».

Doctors optimistic about US Congresswoman day after shooting

WASHINGTON – Doctors remained optimistic Sunday about the health of US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a day after she was shot through the head in an incident that left six people dead in the US city of Tucson, Arizona.

Peter Rhee, medical director of University Medical Center’s Trauma and Critical Care, where Giffords was treated, said … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Doctors optimistic about US Congresswoman day after shooting.