JAKARTA : At least 75 people were killed and thousands more trapped underneath rubble after a major earthquake hit Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, officials said, with fears the death toll would yet rise.
Large buildings including hospitals and hotels caved in, homes fell down and fires raged in the coastal city of Padang, home to nearly a million people, as communications and power remained cut hours after the 7.6-magnitude quake. - AFP
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Teen Chops Off Father's Hands
TAIPEI : A Taiwanese teenager has been arrested after chopping off his father's hands, allegedly to avenge years of physical abuse, a report said on Tuesday.
The victim, identified only by his surname Fan, was in critical condition at a hospital in central Taiwan's Miaoli county after his son hacked at his wrists more than ten times while he slept early Monday.
The 17-year-old showed no remorse, saying he could not care less if his father survived the attack, according to the Apple Daily. - AFP
The victim, identified only by his surname Fan, was in critical condition at a hospital in central Taiwan's Miaoli county after his son hacked at his wrists more than ten times while he slept early Monday.
The 17-year-old showed no remorse, saying he could not care less if his father survived the attack, according to the Apple Daily. - AFP
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Choking Dust Storm Hits Australia's East
SYDNEY : A giant dust storm swept eastern Australia on Saturday, turning Sydey's air yellow and causing breathing problems just days after the worst such incident in decades caused apocalyptic scenes in the city.
Howling winds pushed the 200-kilometre (125-mile) wide cloud of desert dust through Sydney and up the coast to Brisbane, prompting a rash of emergency calls as residents choked on gritty air.
Howling winds pushed the 200-kilometre (125-mile) wide cloud of desert dust through Sydney and up the coast to Brisbane, prompting a rash of emergency calls as residents choked on gritty air.
Friday, September 25, 2009
New Mekong Species at Risk From Climate Change
Scientists discovered 163 new species in Southeast Asia's Greater Mekong region last year, but all are at risk of extinction due to climate change, the WWF said in a report released on Friday.
The newly discovered creatures include a bird-eating frog with fangs, a bird that would rather walk than fly and a gecko whose alien appearance inspired the report's title of "Close Encounters", the conservation group said. The report was released ahead of major UN talks on climate change in Bangkok next week. - AFP
The newly discovered creatures include a bird-eating frog with fangs, a bird that would rather walk than fly and a gecko whose alien appearance inspired the report's title of "Close Encounters", the conservation group said. The report was released ahead of major UN talks on climate change in Bangkok next week. - AFP
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Dust, quakes and fire as Australia reels from wild weather
SYDNEY: Australia's biggest city was shrouded in an eerie blanket of red dust on Wednesday as bushfires, earthquakes, wild winds and massive hail stones caused havoc in the country.
Sydney's cars and buildings turned orange as strong winds blew desert dust across the city, snarling commuter and air transport and prompting a warning for children and the elderly to stay indoors. Residents wore face masks as they travelled to work under red skies, while long delays were expected at Sydney airport. - AFP
Sydney's cars and buildings turned orange as strong winds blew desert dust across the city, snarling commuter and air transport and prompting a warning for children and the elderly to stay indoors. Residents wore face masks as they travelled to work under red skies, while long delays were expected at Sydney airport. - AFP
World's Biggest Theme Park Opens in Indonesia
JAKARTA: An indoor theme park billed as the world's biggest opened recently in Indonesia. The 2.2 hectare park is located not in mainland Java but in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
The iconic sign, Hollywood and almost all that's synonymous with American popular culture can be found at the new Indonesian theme park.
Called the Trans Studio Makassar, it is billed as the bigges indoor theme park in the world. - CNA
The iconic sign, Hollywood and almost all that's synonymous with American popular culture can be found at the new Indonesian theme park.
Called the Trans Studio Makassar, it is billed as the bigges indoor theme park in the world. - CNA
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Bear Attack in Japan
TOKYO : A bear was shot dead on Saturday after it attacked nine people, mostly tourists, at a bus station in a mountainous area of central Japan, Kyodo news agency reported.
Four men were seriously injured in the attack in Takayama, Gifu prefecture, Kyodo said, quoting local police.
After the attack, the bear, which was about 1.3 metres (four foot) tall, fled into the bus terminal building where it was trapped in a souvenir shop by employees.
Four men were seriously injured in the attack in Takayama, Gifu prefecture, Kyodo said, quoting local police.
After the attack, the bear, which was about 1.3 metres (four foot) tall, fled into the bus terminal building where it was trapped in a souvenir shop by employees.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Terror Mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top dead, says Indonesian Police
KEPUH SARI, Indonesia : Armed Indonesian police stormed an Islamic militant hideout early Thursday in a raid that killed wanted terror mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top and three other militants, police said.
Noordin's body was among four recovered after the early morning raid on a village house in Central Java, national police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters, bringing to an end an exhaustive six-year manhunt. - AFP
Noordin's body was among four recovered after the early morning raid on a village house in Central Java, national police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters, bringing to an end an exhaustive six-year manhunt. - AFP
Five killed in Indonesian raid on militant hideout
Solo, Indonesia - Armed Indonesian police raided a suspected Islamic militant hideout in Central Java early Thursday leaving at least five people dead, police and witnesses said.
Loud explosions and gunfire were heard as police stormed the house at around 7:00am (0000 GMT) at the end of a nine-hour siege on the outskirts of Solo city, a longtime stronghold of militants of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) radical network
Loud explosions and gunfire were heard as police stormed the house at around 7:00am (0000 GMT) at the end of a nine-hour siege on the outskirts of Solo city, a longtime stronghold of militants of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) radical network
Yale student strangled to death in laboratory
New York : US officials confirmed on wednesday that a young Yale scientist was strangled before being stuffed in a wall, as the police net closed around a lab technician at the Ivy League university.
"The cause of death was traumatic asphyxiation due to neck compression," a spokeswoman for the Connecticut state medical examiner told AFP, announcing the results of the autopsy on student Annie Le, 24.
No one has been charged, but the focus was intensifying on lab technician Raymond Clark, also 24.
"The cause of death was traumatic asphyxiation due to neck compression," a spokeswoman for the Connecticut state medical examiner told AFP, announcing the results of the autopsy on student Annie Le, 24.
No one has been charged, but the focus was intensifying on lab technician Raymond Clark, also 24.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Facebook Hits Financial Milestone
WASHINGTON - Facebook announced on Tuesday it was earning more money than it was spending and had signed up its 300 millionth member.
Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the fast-growing social network had become "cash flow positive" last quarter, meaning that it is now earning enough to cover operating costs.
Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the fast-growing social network had become "cash flow positive" last quarter, meaning that it is now earning enough to cover operating costs.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
World's oldest person dies at 115
LOS ANGELES - The world's oldest person, 115-year-old African-American woman Gertrude Baines died in Los Angeles on Friday, hospital officials said.
Baines, whose epic life encompassed 21 US Presidents, two World Wars, the Wright Brothers' maiden flight in 1903 and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon, died at the Western Convalescent Hospital. Baines had lived at the hospital for 11 years. - AFP
Baines, whose epic life encompassed 21 US Presidents, two World Wars, the Wright Brothers' maiden flight in 1903 and Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon, died at the Western Convalescent Hospital. Baines had lived at the hospital for 11 years. - AFP
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Winter H1N1 flu "warning" in Asia
The World Health Organization on Wednesday urged Asian countries to prepare for a surge in H1N1 flu cases as the northern hemisphere winter approaches.
"A winter surge is a real possibility in the Southeast Asia reginn," WHO director for Southeast Asia, Samlee Plianbangchang, said in Kathmandu, where health ministers from 11 countries in the region are meeting. At least 2,837 people around the world have died from H1N1 flu virus since it emerged in April, according to the latest WHO figures. - AFP
"A winter surge is a real possibility in the Southeast Asia reginn," WHO director for Southeast Asia, Samlee Plianbangchang, said in Kathmandu, where health ministers from 11 countries in the region are meeting. At least 2,837 people around the world have died from H1N1 flu virus since it emerged in April, according to the latest WHO figures. - AFP
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