13 dead in China mine gas blast

13 dead in China mine gas blast

Beijing, April 21 (IANS) Thirteen people were confirmed dead in a coal mine gas explosion in China’s Yunnan province early Monday, authorities said. A total of 56 people were working in the pit, of whom 42 escaped without injuries and 14 were trapped. As of 8 a.m., rescuers had retrieved 13 dead bodies and were […]

Watch out for muggers while wearing Google Glass

Watch out for muggers while wearing Google Glass

New York, April 21 (IANS) The early birds who bought $1,500 (Rs.90,000) wearable eyewear Google Glass that was sold for one day in the US last week are facing street violence from muggers and privacy campaigners. According to a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department, street robbers are targeting Google Glass because it could […]

Abdullah leading in Afghan presidential poll

Abdullah leading in Afghan presidential poll

Kabul, April 20 (IANS) Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah led in the Afghanistan presidential election with 49.75 percent of votes cast in the April 5 poll counted so far, chairman of the election commission Mohammad Yusuf Nuristani said Sunday. Nuristani said Abdullah was leading with 44.4 percent of the votes, followed by Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai […]

China shuts down 110 porn websites

China shuts down 110 porn websites

Beijing, April 20 (IANS) China has shut down 110 websites as part of a national crackdown on online pornography, the State Internet Information Office said Sunday. Some 3,300 accounts on China-based social networking services, such as WeChat and Sina Weibo, as well as online forums have been deleted in the recently launched “Cleaning the Web […]

UAE firm to send citizen on space trip

UAE firm to send citizen on space trip

Abu Dhabi, April 20 (IANS/WAM) An Emirati will win the chance to travel into space as part of a nationwide competition being launched by Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments. The prize winner will be given a place onboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo when it begins running commercial trips into space. The tickets are currently worth $250,000 each. […]

Hopes for survivors of sunken South Korean ferry fading

Hopes for survivors of sunken South Korean ferry fading

Seoul, April 20 (IANS/EFE) Hopes of finding survivors of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol from among the 269 people still missing were fading fast Saturday, with little progress being made at recovering the vessel, which is completely submerged. For the third day, divers tried unsuccessfully to enter the ferry, which lies turned over on […]

South Korean cargo ship catches fire in Pacific Ocean

South Korean cargo ship catches fire in Pacific Ocean

Tokyo, April 20 (IANS) A South Korean cargo ship engulfed in fire Saturday in the Pacific Ocean off Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. But all crew members are safe, media reports said. All 24 crew members including 11 South Koreans and 13 Philippines escaped by lifeboats. Japan’s Fourth Regional Coast Guard Headquarters received an emergency call in […]

China factory blast toll rises to eight

China factory blast toll rises to eight

Beijing, April 20 (IANS) The toll in the Wednesday’s blast in a chemical plant in China’s Jiangsu province reached eight after another body was found Saturday, authorities said. The incident, which also left nine people injured, occurred at Shuangma Chemical Plant in Rugao City. The wounde people’s condition is stable, Xinhua quoted a source as […]

Boston ready for 2014 marathon amid tightened security

Boston ready for 2014 marathon amid tightened security

Washington, April 20 (IANS) Over the long, cold winter, Boston has been ready to stage a marathon race this year that will be one of the biggest and safest, sources with the organiser – Boston Athletic Association (BAA) – said Saturday. The 118th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 21, has drawn a huge field of […]

Ukraine takes first steps to apply Geneva accord

Ukraine takes first steps to apply Geneva accord

Kiev, April 20 (IANS/EFE) The Ukrainian foreign ministry announced Saturday that it has taken first steps toward applying the Geneva accord, including the suspension of active anti-terrorism operations and the beginning of a public debate on constitutional reform. “Ukraine calls on the signatories of the Geneva accord to make the greatest effort to block an […]