Floods in Myanmar kill at least 12
June 16, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
YANGON: Heavy rain in Myanmar has triggered floods and landslides, washing away bridges, blocking roads and killing at least 12 people, district officials said on Wednesday.
Myanmar is no stranger to harsh weather and at least 140,000 people were killed in 2008 when a cyclone hit the south of the country.
Large areas of two townships, or districts, in Rakhine State in the west of the country had been inundated after torrential rain this week, and at least a dozen people had been killed, an official said by telephone from the region.
“I think the death toll will go up when we get to hear from nearby villages,” said the official, who declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
A road had been blocked by a landslide, he said.
The Meteorological Department said 13.47 inches of rain fell in the town of Maungdaw, on the border with Bangladesh, on Monday.
Flooding had also hit the towns of Mrauk Oo and Kyauk Taw, about 350 miles northwest of the city of Yangon, washing away three bridges, although no casualties had been reported there, another official in the region said.
Deforestation had contributed to the problem, with rain pouring off bare slopes and eroding soil, which blocked waterways, he said.
“The forests are gone and the creeks are choked. So flash floods are common in the rainy season,” said the second official, who also declined to be identified.
GoM oil Spill draws criminal probe
WASHINGTON: The U.S. has launched criminal and civil investigations into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill—the latest move by the Obama administration to show it is taking aggressive action amid bipartisan criticism of its response to the disaster.
“We have what we think is a sufficient basis for us to have begun a criminal investigation,” said U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday after meeting in New Orleans with state attorneys general and federal prosecutors from the region. Mr. Holder noted that 11 people died in the April 20 rig accident that precipitated the spill.
In a press conference, Holder said there is “a wide range of possible violations.” He declined to specify the target of the investigation because he said authorities aren”t “clear on who should ultimately be held liable” and didn”t want to “cast aspersions.”
The move turned up the pressure on BP PLC as the British oil giant”s shares came under pressure over its mounting woes, plunging 13% in trading.
A BP spokesman said Tuesday the company “will cooperate with any inquiries that the Department of Justice undertakes, just as we are doing in response to the other inquiries that are already ongoing.”
Transocean Ltd., the BP contractor that owned the doomed rig, said it in a statement that it is continuing to cooperate with all relevant authorities, adding: “We have not been named in any criminal investigation and we will not speculate on actions the Justice Department may or may not take.”
The Justice Department had been reluctant to send in investigators while the spill continued to gush, according to people familiar with the situation, in part because they feared that efforts to mount a prosecution could hinder BP”s efforts to plug the leak.
But in recent days, administration officials have taken steps to show that they, and not BP, are in command of the disaster response.
For example, the administration and BP no longer are holding joint press briefings on the spill response.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Barack Obama also raised the issue of legal action. “If our laws were broken, leading to this death and destruction, my solemn pledge is that we will bring those responsible to justice on behalf of the victims of this catastrophe and the people of the Gulf region,” Obama said during a White House appearance.
Legal experts said bringing a civil case against BP for violating the federal Clean Water Act could be relatively straight-forward.
But to bring a successful criminal case, the government must generally show the defendant knowingly flouted the law or that the pollution was the result of negligence.
“There”s a big difference between financial accountability and criminal prosecution, said Paul McNulty, a former U.S. deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush and now at the law firm Baker McKenzie LLP.
adelaide
April 17, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Adelaide hit by earth tremor Residents of Adelaide in South Australia were woken last night by a 3.8-magnitude earthquake.
The earthquake happened at 11:27pm and people living within a 50 kilometre radius of the quake reported tremors lasting for up to 15 seconds.
The epicentre was close to Mount Barker, 40 kilometres east of the capital, in the Adelaide Hills.
Mount Barker resident Robert says he heard a loud bang when the quake struck.
“We heard a terrific explosion,” he said.
“We live right opposite the golf course and lots of galahs roost in the trees and they made nearly as much noise as the earthquake itself but it was definitely an explosion.”
Paul in Bridgewater emailed ABC News Online, saying: “Whoa! We just had what seemed like an earthquake go through our house.”
Meanwhile, Steven from Moana said: “Several of my neighbours came out into the street and said that their houses shook like mine did. It lasted for about 10 to 15 seconds.”
There have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings in the capital.
David Jepson, a seismologist from Geoscience Australia, says while tremors in the region are not unexpected, this quake was larger than normal.
“This would have been felt quite widely, up to about 50 kilometres from the epicentre, and we’ve had a number of felt reports from the region,” he said.
“That’s basically shown that it has been felt quite widely across Adelaide city.”
David Love, a seismologist with the South Australian Department of Primary Industry and Resources, says further activity along the fault line cannot be ruled out.
“This is probably the largest earthquake near the Adelaide area for quite a long time, possibly in excess of 20 years,” he said.
“An earthquake that size will give a fair shake near the epicentre, its certainly enough to wake people up, but most unlikey to cause much other than that.
“There is a chance of more activity, I think the chance is fairly low, but we can’t rule it out.”
Mr Love says data is still being collected but the event appears to have occurred more than 15 kilometres below ground.
“From the reports that have been coming in it looks like it may have been a relatively deep earthquake therefore lessening the effects immediately above it on the surface,” he said.
The quake was felt around Adelaide and more than 100 kilometres north of the city as well as on Kangaroo Island.
Britain Will Continue Its Support for Pakistan: PM Brown
November 29, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
British Prime minister Gordon Brown has assured Pakistan of their full support and cooperation in war against terror. On the other hand, Peresident Asif Ali Zardari has told that the South Waziristan operation will continue till the objectives are achieved.
In a telephonic conversation between the two leaders, Mr Brown lauded the role of Pakistan and its contributions to eliminate terrorism from the region.He also said that Britain will continue to cooperate till the restoration of economy and rehabilitation of the operation affectees. The leaders also exchanged views on the availability of Pakistani goods in the European markets. The British PM wished President Zardari a very happy eid. Mr Zardari told the PM that the Pak army is achieving its objectives in the Waziristan operation, and that it will continue till situation goes back to normal.
Britain Will Continue Its Support for Pakistan: PM Brown was first posted on November 29, 2009 at 11:59 am.
Operation in SWaziristan, 24 Militants killed : ISPR
November 6, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Security forces killed 24 militants in South Waziristan region during last 24 hours, military said.
The troops have entered in militants’ base headquarter Makeen and strengthened their positions at Jindola-Sararogha axis, a military spokesman said on Friday.
The forces have declared several areas at Shakai-Tannigram axis clear after search operation. The troops have found large quantity of arms and ammunition from the region.
Security forces have entered at militants base headquarter at Razmik-Makeen axis and recovered large patch of the territory from the militants.
The forces have also demolished the house of Baitullah Mehsud in the region.
The troops fighting with the militants in Makeen and 21 militants have been killed in the fighting, reports said.
Operation in SWaziristan, 24 Militants killed : ISPR was first posted on November 6, 2009 at 5:20 pm.
US can’t wish away Pakistan’s concern about India: Mike Mullen
November 6, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
The United States will not wish away Pakistan’s security concerns vis-a-vis India, Chairman US Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen has said.
“They’re still very concerned about India. That’s not going to go away overnight, and we’re not going to wish that away,” he said at the National Press Club in Washington. He praised Pakistan’s commitment to fighting the militants but conceded that to eradicate militancy from the region Afghanistan will have to set its house right. He urged Afghan President Hamid Karzai to take steps for validating his status and eliminating corruption, adding that US was anxious about Afghan Government’s legal status. He told that 30,000 Pakistani soldiers were conducting Wazirsitan Operation which was very difficult. “General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani fully understands this crucial condition,” he added.
US can’t wish away Pakistan’s concern about India: Mike Mullen was first posted on November 6, 2009 at 10:34 am.
Terror Rule Ends in Malakand: CM NWFP
MATTA: Chief Minister of NWFP Amir Hyder Hoti has said that Malakand division has been cleansed of terrorists.
Talking to tribal elders at Matta Hoti said that his government will not take a sigh of relief without crushing the last terrorist from the region.
HOti said the masses, people’s representatives, military and other security forces jointly fighting against terrorists.
“Still some pockets of terrorists exist in the region,” he added.
Terror Rule Ends in Malakand: CM NWFP was first posted on October 13, 2009 at 5:46 pm.
Drone Attack In NWazirastan Four Died
September 14, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
Miran Shah, Pakistan: An American aircraft fired missiles in the tribal belt of North Waziristan, killing at least four people and wounding four others.
According to reports from the region, the latest attack took place near Mir Ali, the second largest town in North Waziristan early Mon
Witnesses told reporters that the two missiles appeared to reach a vehicle in the village of Tori Khel Khushhali.
The death toll expected to rise as some of the injured are said to be in a serious condition.
It was the American attack hum third of its kind in North Waziristan in many months, the channel added.
Drone Attack In NWazirastan Four Died was first posted on September 14, 2009 at 10:30 am.
©2009 “News Trends“.
Richard Holbrooke Meets Political and Military Leadership Today
PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke would meet the political and military leadership of the country on the second consecutive day of his visit to Pakistan.
Holbrooke is scheduled to meet with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
He is likely to call on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today, the channel reports.
Meanwhile, heavy rain forced Holbrooke to postpone his scheduled trip to the northwestern Swat Valley for another time, it was reported.
Pakistan Ulema Council Announced 3 Day Mourning On Hyderi Killing
PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ulema Council, condemning the killing of founder-patron of outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba Allama Ali Sher Hyderi, Monday announced to observe three-day mourning across the country.
Talking to Geo News, Central Secretary Information of the council Naseerud Din said Allama Hyderi was the patron-in-chief of the banned outfits Sipah-e-Sahaba and Millat-e-Islamia.
He founded another organization, Ahle-Sunnat-wal-Jama’at after the killing of Maulana Azam Tariq and banning of Sipah-e-Sahaba and Millat-e-Islamia, of whose, he was patron-in-chief.
Naseerud Din said Ulema Council’s President hafiz Tahir Ashrafi and other office-bearers condemned the incident in the strongest words and held the incident of Hyderi’s killing a conspiracy to exacerbate the situation of communal harmony.
