Accidents & Disasters – Newsletter for January 12, 2011

Brisbane awash as deadly flood arrives

SYDNEY – Floods barrelled through Brisbane Wednesday, threatening almost 20,000 dwellings and sending residents of the Queensland state capital scurrying to be safe from raging waters expected to crest within 24 hours.

Australia’s third-biggest city braced for a soaking worse than in 1974, when the Brisbane river peaked at 5.45 metres and 9,700 houses had … Read more »»».

Arizona shooting suspect’s parents apologise

WASHINGTON – The family of Jared Loughner, the suspect in Arizona shooting rampage, has apologised to the relatives of those killed, saying, “we are so very sorry for their loss”.

According to the USA Today, a statement handed to reporters Tuesday by Loughner’s parents said: “There are no words that can possibly express how …. Read the original article  : Arizona shooting suspect’s parents apologise.

Capital rage again – man killed after dispute in shop

NEW DELHI – In another killing triggered by blinding rage, a 19-year-old youth allegedly stabbed to death a man following an argument in a north Delhi shop when he was asked to stop joking around and speed up his purchases, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place in Samaipur Badli area Tuesday night, shortly after …. Read the original article  : here.

Haiti needs continued support for quake recovery: Ban

NEW YORK – The international community must “renew and redouble” efforts to support Haiti one year after an earthquake inflicted one of the largest natural catastrophes in the world, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said late Tuesday.

Ban said in a message on the eve of the anniversary of the disaster, which struck Jan …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Haiti needs continued support for quake recovery: Ban.

18 killed in Sri Lanka floods

COLOMBO – Floods in Sri Lanka have killed 18 people and swamped the homes of nearly one million, officials said Wednesday.

Nearly 200,000 people have been forced out of their homes, a spokesman for the Disaster Management Centre said.
Floods covered large areas of the east and northeast while heavy rains in the central part …. Source  : 18 killed in Sri Lanka floods.

New life amid devastation, baby born in Queensland

SYDNEY – Amid devastating floods, a baby was born in Australia’s Queensland state with help from family members, a media report said Wednesday.

The little boy was born in his home in the flood-ravaged Lockyer Valley, located to the west of state capital Brisbane, after his mother Kristie went into labour late Tuesday, the Australian … Read more »».

Posing as cops, miscreants loot jewellery showroom

CHANDIGARH – A group of 10-15 miscreants dressed up in police uniform looted jewellery worth crores of rupees from Tanishq showroom in Manimajra town in this union territory, an official said Wednesday.

The accused, who were wearing police uniforms, overpowered two security guards and gained entry into the showroom after breaking its locks Tuesday night.
… Read more >>>.

CBI readies to probe Bihar legislator’s murder

PATNA – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe the sensational murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Raj Kishore Kesri by a woman teacher who had accused him of rape, Bihar Police chief Neelmani said Wednesday.

“CBI director A.P. Singh has assured us that the country’s premier investigative agency will soon take up …. Original article  : CBI readies to probe Bihar legislator’s murder.

Three drug peddlers held with Rs.1 crore smack

LUCKNOW – Three drug peddlers were arrested with around 1.25 kg smack – a highly addictive morphine derivative – worth around Rs.1 crore in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, police said Wednesday.

The three men, aged around 30 years, were nabbed Tuesday night from Hargaon town in a joint action by the Special Operations Group (SOG) …. Read the original article  : Three drug peddlers held with Rs.1 crore smack.

Samajwadi Party leader shot dead in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW – A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader was shot dead in his home in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur town by unidentified assailants, triggering demonstrations by party workers, police said Wednesday.

Om Kumar Yadav, 55, a member of the Samajwadi Party district unit, was killed late Tuesday inside his house in Jatepur locality. Yadav’s family rushed him …. Read the original article  : Samajwadi Party leader shot dead in Uttar Pradesh.

Bihar cops rescue abducted doctor

PATNA – A doctor abducted by five people posing as relatives of a patient has been rescued and one of his captors arrested in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, police said Wednesday.

Police rescued Yogendra Prasad on a tip-off late Tuesday night and arrested Devendra Thakur, Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police Rakesh Rathi said.
Prasad, posted at the … Read : Bihar cops rescue abducted doctor.

Delhi road rage: Jet Airways pilot granted bail

NEW DELHI – Jet Airways pilot Vikas Agarwal was granted bail Wednesday morning, a day after he allegedly ran his car over another driver in a case of road rage in the capital’s upscale Khan Market, police said.

“It was a bailable offence,” a senior police official told IANS.
The accused was charged under Section …. Read the original article  : Delhi road rage: Jet Airways pilot granted bail.

Capital rage: Jet Airways pilot granted bail

NEW DELHI – Jet Airways pilot Vikas Agarwal was granted bail Wednesday morning, a day after he allegedly ran his car over another driver in a case of road rage in the capital’s upscale Khan Market, officials said.

“It was a bailable offence… He was granted bail in the morning,” a senior police official told IANS.
…. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Capital rage: Jet Airways pilot granted bail.

Floods, landslides kill 40 in Philippines

MANILA – At least 40 people have been killed and over one million displaced in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in central and southern Philippines, officials said Wednesday.

The heavy rains brought by the northeast monsoon damaged about $20 million worth of crops and property, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management …. Source article  : Floods, landslides kill 40 in Philippines.

Israelis, drugs and spy cam video wars in Goa (Letter from Goa)

PANAJI – One sensational spy cam video after another seems to be dropping like ripe fruit from the scandal-laden boughs of Goa Police, laying bare a furious feud within the state police hierarchy. And the only side to benefit from this infighting seems to be the notorious Israeli drug mafia.

There’s a pattern to the …. Source  : Israelis, drugs and spy cam video wars in Goa (Letter from Goa).

Pakistani Islamists criticise Pope’s anti-blasphemy law comments

Islamabad, Jan 12 (IANS/AKI) An alliance of Pakistani Islamist organisations said they would hold rallies to protest Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks that called on the country to scrap an anti-blasphemy law which allows for the death penalty for insulting Islam.

“The Pope’s statement is part of a conspiracy to pit the world’s religions against each … Read more »».

Lights out as Brisbane awaits deadly flood

SYDNEY – Power was cut to Brisbane homes for safety reasons and residents ordered to higher ground as Australia’s third-biggest city braced for its worst soaking in living memory.

Floodwaters barreling toward the Queensland state capital were set to inundate 9,000 properties – 10 percent of the city’s stock – and a further 30,000 were …. Read the original article  : Lights out as Brisbane awaits deadly flood.

Jackson’s doctor ordered to stand trial

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, will stand trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter after a judge in his preliminary hearing ruled Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence for him to face a jury.

The ruling by Judge Michael Pastor came after six days of hearings in which the prosecutor presented evidence … Read : Jackson’s doctor ordered to stand trial.

UN to observe moment of silence for Haiti’s dead

NEW YORK – The UN will observe a moment of silence Wednesday to mark the exact time the mammoth earthquake struck Haiti a year ago and killed an estimated 230,000 people, including 102 UN personnel in Port-au-Prince.

The UN deaths in Haiti Jan 12, 2010 were the largest ever in a single day in UN …. Read the original article  : UN to observe moment of silence for Haiti’s dead.

Father was not insane: Suicide victim’s son

BHOPAL – Two days after a farmer committed suicide in Madhya Pradesh Sehore’s district due to his mounting debt, his family Tuesday alleged that the district administration was forcing them to term him “insane”.

“The collector and the superintendent of police are forcing us to say that my father was insane. They have also taken … Read : Father was not insane: Suicide victim’s son.