Nine people killed as freak hailstorm rains massive boulders down on Indian villages

Hailstones the size of boulders have rained down on villages in southern India.

At least nine people were killed when the violent weather hit several villages in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The hailstorm which lasted for almost 20 minutes, destroyed crops, houses and live stock, causing devastating financial implications for residents.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271147/Nine-people-killed-freak-hailstorm-rains-massive-boulders-Indian-villages.html

Fireworks Truck Explodes Killing 26 In China

At least 26 people have been killed after a truck carrying fireworks exploded causing a bridge to collapse in China.

China National Radio says the explosion in Henan province completely destroyed a highway bridge high above the ground.

It said many trucks fell off the bridge after the explosion.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045997/fireworks-truck-explodes-killing-26-in-china

Pemex Oil Company HQ Blast Kills 14

Fourteen people are dead and 80 injured after an explosion at the headquarters of Mexican oil company Pemex.

Injured workers were seen being evacuated after the blast at the state-owned firm blew out windows and damaged three floors of the tower in Mexico City's commercial centre.

There are reports that as many as 30 people could be trapped in the debris from the explosion, which occurred in the basement of an administrative building next to the iconic, 52-storey skyscraper.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045967/mexico-pemex-oil-company-hq-blast-kills-14

5.9 Magnitude Earthquake EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 1st February 2013

Magnitude
5.9
Date-Time
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 02:17:27 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 12:17:27 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
6.951°S, 147.667°E
Depth
34.8 km (21.6 miles)
Region
EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
44 km (27 miles) SSW of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS - 1st February 2013

Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 01:49:14 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 12:49:14 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.983°S, 165.446°E
Depth
34.8 km (21.6 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
50 km (31 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS - 1st February 2013

Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 00:42:59 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 11:42:59 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.056°S, 165.481°E
Depth
9.9 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
54 km (33 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS - 1st February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 00:18:08 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 11:18:08 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.034°S, 165.334°E
Depth
10.7 km (6.6 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
64 km (39 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 23:57:00 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 10:57:00 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.990°S, 165.478°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
49 km (30 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.4
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 20:31:01 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 02:31:01 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
14.375°N, 92.854°E
Depth
27.2 km (16.9 miles)
Region
ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
Distances
295 km (183 miles) N of Bamboo Flat, India

Explosion Hits State Oil Company Building In Mexico City, 14 dead

What appears to be a significant explosion has rocked the Pemex tower in Mexico City. Television images are showing smoke billowing from the glass high rise in the Mexican capital.

Pemex, the state-owned oil company, tweeted that an explosion happened in the administrative building next to the oil giant's headquarters and that injuries have been reported.

The towers, Pemex said, have been evacuated.

El Universal, one of Mexico's biggest newspapers, is reporting that at least 30 are injured.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/31/170790603/explosion-hits-state-oil-company-building-in-mexico-city

North Korea holds emergency war lectures across country in "preparation for conflict with South"

North Korea has convened nationwide emergency lectures to follow-up on yesterday’s military readiness posture change. Lecturers reportedly told assembled citizens that President-elect Park Geun Hye is preparing to go to war with North Korea so they must be ready to defend the nation in response.

A source from Hyesan in Yangkang Province told Daily NK today, “Lectures were convened shortly after the declaration of ‘preparation for combat mobilization.’ He said that the alliance of imperialists including the UN are sanctioning us to try and crush socialism in the only such country left in the world.”

The source added, “He stated that the new Park Geun Hye administration wants to start a war with us, so people from every organ, enterprise and Worker and Peasant Red Guard unit must prepare to meet the threat. He emphasized that the people must be on guard at all times and stay prepared to respond to any provocation.”

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=10276

Israel threatens Syria with more airstrikes

An Israeli air attack staged in Syria this week may be a sign of things to come.

Israeli military officials appear to have concluded that the risks of attacking Syria are worth taking when compared to the dangers of allowing sophisticated weapons to reach Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon.

With Syrian President Bashar Assad's grip on power weakening, Israeli officials fear he could soon lose control over his substantial arsenal of chemical and advanced weapons, which could slip into the hands of Hezbollah or other hostile groups. These concerns, combined with Hezbollah's own domestic problems, mean further military action could be likely.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_STRIKING_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-31-17-55-58

Loretta Lacy: Useless police officers cite same woman four times in a matter of hours for speeding, no insurance, marajuana, yet let her go each time

The 49-year-old woman who received no fewer than four speeding tickets last week after flying down on I-90 as fast as 112 mph has been identified.

Loretta Lacy, of Sioux Falls, S.D., was heading to Racine, Wis. and trying to make it in time for her granddaughter’s formal dance that evening.

Lacy was first stopped in Martin County at 2:25 p.m. after authorities received multiple complaints of her speeding, and weaving in and out of traffic. She was ticketed for speeding (she passed the trooper at 112 mph), no insurance and possession of marijuana.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/01/30/woman-cited-4-times-in-1-day-for-speeding-identified/

Migrants are sending £335BILLION to their struggling families back home... more than three times the world's total aid budget

The amount of remittance money topped £335billion last year as more people than ever choose to live abroad, according to figures from the World Bank. It has sparked debate whether this so-called remittance money could be a viable alternative to relying on help from other governments. Britain's shadow minister for international development, Rushanara Ali, who was born in Bangladesh, believes the UK government should try to harness migrant money to complement aid spending.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271320/How-migrants-sending-335BILLION-struggling-families-home--times-worlds-total-aid-budget.html

Burger King admit it has been selling Whoppers containing horsemeat

Burger King has tonight admitted that it has been selling burgers and Whoppers containing horsemeat despite two weeks of denials.

The fast food chain, which has more than 500 UK outlets, had earlier given a series of ‘absolute assurances’ that its products were not involved.

However, new tests have revealed these guarantees were incorrect in a revelation that threatens to destroy the trust of customers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271440/BREAKING-NEWS-Burger-King-admit-selling-beef-burgers-Whoppers-containing-horsemeat.html

Mali 'bloody atrocities': Exclusive footage shows army's war crimes

'Iran will defend Syria, US & Israel should take that seriously'

French intervention in Mali Where have the jihadists gone?

WHEN French soldiers blazed into the northern city of Gao on January 26th, they won the decisive victory of a three-week-old campaign to dislodge jihadists. But only when they paraded through the mud-built streets of the mystical town of Timbuktu two days later did the triumph feel real. Rebels in remote Kidal, their last redoubt, may still hold some sway but reportedly want to negotiate.

France is keen to present the intervention as a joint effort with African forces, yet its soldiers did not wait around for Nigerians, Senegalese, Ivorians and various others to arrive. Some 2,900 French troops, accompanied by a thousand-plus Malians, carried out a swift assault on the three big towns in Mali’s vast desert reaches that had been occupied by al-Qaeda-led rebels since last April.

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21571174-france-triumphs-desert-faces-tougher-time-longer-run-where

Could Egypt fall apart?

The renewed bloodshed and defiant protests in Egypt prompts a provocative question: Could Egypt really collapse?

Just two years into a revolution that ignited during the Arab Spring, Egypt's defense minister warned this week the raging conflict "may lead to the collapse of the state and threaten the future of our coming generations."

On Wednesday, analysts described that statement as overreaching, but none dismissed the severity of the country's problems.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/31/world/meast/egypt-collapse-analysis/?hpt=hp_t3

Spanish prime minister Rajoy accused of hiding secret income

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy's government was rocked by a major corruption scandal on Thursday after the publication of documents that allegedly showed him receiving €250,000 that had been hidden from tax authorities.

Rajoy denied the allegations after El País published extracts from what it said were secret accounts for his People's party (PP). But opponents called for his resignation and ordinary Spaniards asked whether those now imposing spending cuts and tax rises in the middle of a painful recession had previously indulged in, or tolerated, systematic tax avoidance.

El País said the documents showed payments from a number of well-known Spanish business people that were then partly used to pay regular supplements to senior party officials over more than a decade. The most recent payments were in 2009.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/31/spanish-prime-minister-secret-payments

White House warns Syria over 'weapons to Hezbollah'

The White House has warned Syria not to transfer weapons to Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon.

The warning came amid contradictory claims of an Israeli strike in Syria.

Syria says Israeli war planes bombed a military research centre north-west of Damascus, but the US and others say lorries carrying weapons bound for Lebanon were hit.

Israel has maintained silence about the incident, but Syria has made a formal complaint to the UN.

Damascus says it reserves the right to defend itself, while its allies Russia and Iran have strongly denounced the attack.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21281923

Atlanta, Price Middle School Shooting: Teen Shot In Head

Police officials in Atlanta say two suspects are in custody after at least one person was shot at a middle school there.

Police say a 14-year-old student was shot in the head and taken to hospital on Thursday morning. Information on the teen's condition was not immediately available.

A teacher suffered minor cuts and bruises and was given medical help at the scene, said Atlanta Fire Captain Marian McDaniel.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045891/atlanta-school-shooting-teen-shot-in-head

Cameron promises closer ties with Libya to boost security in North Africa

British police investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing are to visit Libya for the first time.

Following talks in Tripoli with Libyan prime minister Ali Zeidan, David Cameron said officers from the Dumfries and Galloway force had been granted permission to travel to the country.

"I am delighted that the Dumfries and Galloway Police team will be able to visit your country to look into the issues around the Lockerbie bombing," he told a joint news conference.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lockerbie-bombing-police-to-visit-libya-for-first-time-8475379.html

Colombia rebels free seized oil workers, kill four soldiers

Colombia's FARC rebels on Thursday freed three oil contractors kidnapped a day earlier, military sources said, though the guerrillas killed four soldiers in the south as they step up pressure during peace talks.

The kidnappings and other violent incidents came days after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, made clear during peace negotiations in Cuba that it would continue to capture armed forces, possibly hampering the talks.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/us-colombia-rebels-idUSBRE90U12R20130131

Syria warns of response to Israel attack

Syria protested to the United Nations on Thursday over an Israeli air strike on its territory and warned of a possible "surprise" response.

The foreign ministry summoned the head of the U.N. force in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to deliver the protest a day after Israel hit what Syria said was a military research centre and diplomats said was a weapons convoy heading for Lebanon.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/us-syria-israel-attack-idUSBRE90U0TX20130131

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake LUZON, PHILIPPINES - 31st January 2013

Magnitude M 4.5
Region LUZON, PHILIPPINES
Date time 2013-01-31 17:14:15.0 UTC
Location 14.12 N ; 120.73 E
Depth 233 km
Distances 5 km N Tumalim, Philippines

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake CENTRAL EAST PACIFIC RISE - 31st January 2013

Magnitude M 4.6
Region CENTRAL EAST PACIFIC RISE
Date time 2013-01-31 17:09:59.9 UTC
Location 8.99 S ; 108.51 W
Depth 10 km
Distances 3024 km S Acapulco

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR - 31st January 2013

Magnitude mb 4.5
Region STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
Date time 2013-01-31 16:48:12.0 UTC
Location 36.41 N ; 6.10 W
Depth 40 km
Distances 5 km E Chiclana, Spain

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 16:04:47 UTC
Friday, February 01, 2013 at 01:04:47 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.983°N, 139.746°E
Depth
47.7 km (29.6 miles)
Region
NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances
0 km (0 miles) NW of Kasukabe, Japan

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 14:53:41 UTC
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:53:41 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
36.767°N, 140.490°E
Depth
10.1 km (6.3 miles)
Region
NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances
12 km (7 miles) E of Daigo, Japan

Hundreds of Birds Washed-Up On South Coast

Hundreds of birds have been washed-up along the south coast, covered in an unidentified "creamy waxy substance".

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the guillemots, a kind of auk, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth.

They have been taken to West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton but attempts to clean them have been hampered by not knowing what the substance is, Grahame Madge, of the RSPB, said.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045833/birds-washed-up-on-south-coast

HMV Staff Use Twitter To Reveal Redundancies

HMV staff have used the company's Twitter account to reveal workers at the head office and other non-shop employees are being fired.

The staff used the social media service to inform followers that 190 people were being made redundant.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045744/hmv-staff-use-twitter-to-reveal-redundancies

Lindsay Sandiford Loses Death Penalty Funding Battle

A British grandmother has lost a legal battle over the UK Government's refusal to fund her appeal against a death sentence imposed by an Indonesian court for drug smuggling.

Two judges in London refused to declare unlawful a Foreign and Commonwealth Office refusal to pay for "an adequate lawyer" to represent Lindsay Sandiford, 56, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045822/bali-brits-death-penalty-funding-battle-lost

Natalie McMillan Jailed After Baby Killed By Falling TV

A woman who killed her baby son when she knocked a television on his head while high on drink and drugs has been jailed.

Natalie McMillan, 25, put her "self-indulgent drugs lifestyle" ahead of the welfare of her son Kian, who died from "catastrophic injuries", Preston Recorder Judge Anthony Russell QC said.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045809/mother-jailed-after-baby-killed-by-falling-tv

China's Filthy Air Prompts Mask Rush and Sale of Fresh Air in Cans

For the fourth time this year, a murky haze has descended over north China, leaving residents of Beijing choking on toxic smog. China's air hasn't been this bad since 1954, according to the state-run People's Daily newspaper.

In a remarkable record of dirty air, 24 out of January's first 29 days this year had air classified as hazardous. And the skies have still not cleared.

The Air Quality Index from the U.S. embassy, designed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, shows that the concentration of fine particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, has been hovering at the top of the scale since last Friday. It's in a range described as "hazardous" and calls for protective measures to be taken.

Visibility is reduced to 100 yards in downtown Beijing. Travel has been disrupted with more than 100 flights cancelled, at a time when millions start the journey home for Chinese New Year.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/chinas-filthy-air-prompts-mask-rush-cans-fresh/story?id=18352787

UN: Israel Must Withdraw From Judea, Samaria (The Occupied West Bank Territories)

The recommendation came in a report issued Thursday by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which has a history of passing numerous biased resolutions condemning Israel for various alleged ‘crimes’ each year.

"Israel must, in compliance with Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions," the report said in part. "It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories."

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164771#.UQqPHuim3aZ

Matt's thoughts:
Hey, hey. Stop that. You're interrupting Israel's brunch. Also, you'll notice on the article that they have hilariously chosen a map of the area crisscrossed with "missile strike ranges" in tiny, almost unreadable form to keep the propaganda hammer pounding, despite that having absolutely nothing to do with the story itself. Absurd.

RUSSIAN MIG-31 JET FIGHTER BUZZES SINAI NEAR ISRAEL TO SEND MESSAGE

The Syrian announcement of an Israeli air strike on a military site near Damascus Wednesday, Jan. 30, drew strong condemnation from Moscow the next day: “Such action if confirmed would amount to unacceptable military interference in the war-ravaged country,” said the statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry Thursday. “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violate the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it.”

Israel has made no comment on the Damascus statement which described in detail an Israeli air strike against a “military research institute” near the capital. Witnesses say it was a plant for manufacturing “unconventional weapons.” The facility was destroyed and two staff members killed.

Lebanese sources later reported a Russian Mig-31 fighter had crossed over Sinai Wednesday in the direction of Israel. It veered west over the Mediterranean after encountering an Israeli warning not to intrude into its air space and continued flying over Lebanon.

http://www.debka.com/article/22724/Russia-slams-Israeli-attack-on-Syria-US-forces-in-Jordan-on-alert

French troops reinforce their positions around Timbuktu

Calls for revenge as Aleppo buries massacre dead

Train crashes and derails in Brisbane, Australia

Facebook slumps as mobile ad growth fails to impress....Shame!

Shares of Facebook Inc were set to open 7 percent lower on Thursday as a surge in fourth-quarter mobile advertising revenue failed to live up to Wall Street's high expectations.

Three brokerages downgraded the stock of the No. 1 social network, which has struggled to develop a full-fledged mobile advertising business.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/us-facebook-shares-idUSBRE90U0NK20130131

Pygmy Elephant Deaths: More Protection Needed

More than a dozen pygmy elephants have been found dead and possibly poisoned in Malaysian forests, leading to calls for better protection for wildlife in the country.

The WWF conservation group said 14 Borneo pygmy elephants have been found this month in areas where woodland was being turned into plantations.

It called for patrols to be stepped up to prevent more of the animals, which are endangered and thought to number fewer than 1,200, being killed.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045054/pygmy-elephant-deaths-more-protection-needed

David Cameron Makes Surprise Trip To Libya......With Promises to help Police and Army

David Cameron has made a surprise visit to Libya where he promised to help bolster the police and the army.

The Prime Minister said Britain was ready to provide training and advice amid growing concern about the security situation in the region.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045631/david-cameron-makes-surprise-trip-to-libya

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake PAPUA, INDONESIA - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:10:50 UTC
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 09:10:50 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
4.487°S, 138.273°E
Depth
84.1 km (52.3 miles)
Region
PAPUA, INDONESIA
Distances
230 km (143 miles) ESE (109°) from Enarotali, Irian Jaya, Indonesia

Russia condemns Israeli strike on Syria as attack on sovereign state

Britain, Algeria strike security deal after desert bloodbath

Mexican militias take justice into their own hands

Twisters Pound South, Midwest

Rocket launches Nasa satellite into space

Pakistani Energy Minister who Embezzled $850 Million, Arrested in Abu Dhabi

During his time as Pakistan’s head of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority between 2009 and 2011, Tauqir Shariq embezzled around $850 million.

Before he could be captured and tried he managed to flee the country in secret and disappear.

The news has just been released that he has been arrested in Abu Dhabi, and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have stated that he could be handed over to authorities in Islamabad within days.

http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Pakistani-Energy-Minister-who-Embezzled-850-Million-Arrested-in-Abu-Dhabi.html

UN probe says Israel must remove Jewish settlers

UN human rights investigators called on Israel on Thursday to halt settlement expansion and withdraw all Jewish settlers from the occupied West Bank, saying that its practices violated international law.

“Israel must, in compliance with article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions. It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the OPT (occupied Palestinian territories),” said a report by the inquiry led by French judge Christine Chanet.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/24451434-6b90-11e2-8c62-00144feab49a.html

Mali conflict: France backs possible UN peace force

France's defence minister has said he backs the idea of sending a UN peacekeeping force to Mali.

Jean-Yves Le Drian's comments come as the French troops continue to secure the most northerly town of Kidal.

France has deployed some 4,500 troops during the three-week offensive against militant Islamists in the north of Mali - an area the size of France.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21274518

Russia 'Concerned' By Israeli Air Strike on Syria

Russia has said it is 'deeply concerned' over reports that Israeli jets attacked a scientific research centre inside Syria.

The country has held back from condemning the action as yet, but says it will do so if the report is true.

Syria announced on Wednesday that an Israeli air strike attacked the research centre after reports had emerged out of Israel earlier claiming a convoy had been attacked on the Syria-Lebanon border.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045513/syria-russia-concerned-by-israeli-air-strike

Ryanair Loses EU Fight Over Ash Cloud Row

A court has ruled Ryanair flouted EU law by refusing to pay out cash to a customer left stranded by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud three years ago.

Denise McDonagh from Ireland was due to fly back to Dublin from Faro on April 17, 2010, but was trapped in Portugal for a week after the eruption closed down much of European airspace for nine days.

She ran up hotel, meal and refreshment bills of 1,130 euro (£940), and submitted them to the airline when she returned to Ireland.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045552/ryanair-loses-eu-fight-over-ash-cloud-row

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:20:04 UTC
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 09:20:04 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
1.763°S, 12.957°W
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND
Distances
701 km (435 miles) NNE of Georgetown, Saint Helena

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF MARIANA ISLANDS - 31st January 2013

Magnitude mb 4.9
Region SOUTH OF MARIANA ISLANDS
Date time 2013-01-31 10:13:53.9 UTC
Location 11.98 N ; 143.06 E
Depth 60 km
Distances 250 km SW Tamuning

6.0 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
6.0
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 09:53:43 UTC
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:53:43 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
55.584°N, 134.745°W
Depth
9.7 km (6.0 miles)
Region
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
Distances
101 km (62 miles) W of Craig, Alaska

South Africa Train Crash Injures 150

At least 150 people have been injured in a collision between two passenger trains in South Africa during the peak morning commute.

Many children were among those injured in the crash, which left the driver of one of the engines needing to be rescued from his cab.

The accident happened when a train collided with a stationary locomotive near Attridgeville, a suburb west of Pretoria.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045482/south-africa-train-crash-injures-150

Pimlico Teenager Killing: Man Arrested

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager was stabbed to death in Pimlico, central London.

Police investigating the killing of 16-year-old Hani Hicham Abou El Kheir detained the suspect during early morning raids across the capital.

On Sunday evening shortly before 7pm, officers were called to reports of a youth stabbed near Lupus Street.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045529/pimlico-teenager-killing-man-arrested

Student swept down street after burst water main turns snowy downtown Montreal into a WATER SLIDE

Sarai Sierra Missing: Turkish police search for 'Dutch tour guide' who chatted online with New York mother before she vanished in Istanbul

Turkish police are looking for a person who chatted with a New York City mother-of-two on social networking sites before she vanished while travelling alone in the country.

Sarai Sierra, 33, has been missing since January 21 when she was supposed to return home to Staten Island from the two-week trip. Turkish police have set up a special unit to find her and her husband and brother have flown to Istanbul to help with the search.

A senior police said that Sierra had exchanged messages with a person before she disappeared and police were now trying to trace the man or woman as a possible suspect in her disappearance.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270818/Sarai-Sierra-Turkish-police-search-Dutch-tour-guide-corresponded-New-York-mother-internet-vanished-Istanbul.html

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR SOUTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 31st January 2013

Magnitude
4.3
Date-Time
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 08:27:28 UTC
Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 06:27:28 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
7.271°S, 144.084°E
Depth
33.3 km (20.7 miles)
Region
NEAR SOUTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA, P.N.G.
Distances
109 km (67 miles) S of Ialibu, Papua New Guinea

Jimmy Lee Dykes Siege continues into its second day

Police negotiators are still trying to bargain with an Alabama gunman, more than 24 hours after he abducted a six-year-old boy from his school bus and held him hostage in his underground bunker.

The suspect, Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, who also allegedly shot dead the driver of the bus when he tried to protect the children, is described as a 'paranoid survivalist' with 'anti-American views'.

He is fiercely protective of his property in rural Midland City, Alabama. Neighbors said he beat one of their dogs to death with a pipe after it ran onto his land and pulled a gun on the the man who lives next door and his daughter after a dispute over a speed bump.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270666/Jimmy-Lee-Dykes-Alabama-bunker-standoff-continues-second-day-boy-held-hostage.html

George Zimmerman's legal team say he is out of money AGAIN and must raise at least $30,000 a month in donations - as lead attorney pushes to delay murder trial

Attorneys for the former Florida neighborhood watch volunteer charged with shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead made a public plea Wednesday asking for more money to fund his defense.

George Zimmerman's lead attorney, Mark O'Mara, wrote on a website set up to solicit donations that the legal defense could cost up to $1million, which his client does not have.

The lawyer asked the public to donate more money for legal representation, saying on the website that Zimmerman's defense fund has raised more than $314,000 since he was charged, but their war chest is now down to $5,000.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271070/George-Zimmermans-legal-team-say-money-AGAIN-raise-30-000-month-donations--lead-attorney-pushes-delay-murder-trial.html

Rocky Mountain High School, Colorado: Outrage as high school recites Pledge in Arabic saying 'One Nation Under Allah'

KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather

Colin Kennedy Arrested after he 'raped two of his female friends in their dorm rooms on consecutive nights'

A college freshman has been arrested after two of his friends and fellow students accused him of raping them over two consecutive nights.

Colin Kennedy, 18, from California, was arrested yesterday at Loyola University, Chicago, after the students, both 19, reported the sexual assaults to police.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270795/Colin-Kennedy-Freshman-raped-female-friends-dorm-rooms-consecutive-nights.html

Gang-raped and drowned at the age of FOUR: Latest horrific attack on girl shocks India a month after notorious bus assault

Two men face charges of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in the town of Mandi Dabwali in Sirsa, India, while under the influence of drugs.

The alleged crime is the latest in a series of rape cases that has seen the nation undergo debate, self-scrutiny and mass protests calling for greater punishments for rapists and more measures to increase the safety of women.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270589/Two-Indian-men-accused-raping-drowning-year-old-girl-Dabwali.html

Two dead after terrifying cluster of TWENTY tornadoes destroys hundreds of homes as giant 1,000-mile storm hits Southeast

A massive,1,000-mile-long storm that formed at least 20 tornadoes beat down on six states throughout the Southeast today, leaving at least two people dead.

A Georgia town was devastated with overturned cars on an interstate, wrecked homes and at least one person killed. Another person in Tennessee was also dead.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270878/US-weather-Tornado-tears-Southeast-leaving-dead-homes-destroyed.html

Cannibal Cop: Lawyers for accused 'cannibal cop' want to show pictures of women being cooked and served as food to potential jurors

These are the shocking images that the lawyers for accused 'cannibal cop' Gilberto Valle want to show to the jury before the trial even begins.

Attorney Julia L Gatto argues that she needs to show the pictures - which include women in sexual positions being cooked or served as food - to prospective jurors to determine whether they can be impartial in weighing the facts of a court case that revolves around violent sexual fantasies.

Valle, a New York City police officer, was arrested in October and accused of plotting to kidnap, rape, cook and eat several women.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270876/Cannibal-cop-Gilberto-Valles-lawyer-wants-prospective-jurors-pictures-women-cooked.html

New York cops handcuff and interrogate boy, 7, for hours over 'stolen' $5... and now his family wants $250million

The mother of a 7-year-old boy in The Bronx, New York is suing the police for $250 million claiming they overreacted and treated her son like a hardened criminal after he was accused of stealing $5 from another student after school.

Instead of a simple trip to the principal’s office, Wilson Reyes was arrested in his third-grade classroom at Public School 114 on Cromwell Ave, handcuffed and held in a room for four hours.

Later he was hauled off to the 44th Precinct station house for another six hours of interrogation and verbal abuse, according to the $250 million claim against the city and the NYPD.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270988/New-York-Cops-handcuff-interrogate-bully-boy-7-hours-missing-5--family-wants-250million.html

William Harmon III Killed CEO and wounded two others including a lawyer' in Phoenix is STILL on the run as it is claimed he was targeting victims

The suspected gunman, William Harmon III, pictured left, is still at large following a shooting spree in a Phoenix office complex that left one dead and two injured. Steve Singer, top right, was killed in the shooting, and lawyer Mark Hummels was wounded. A third victim, a 32-year-old woman, suffered non-life threatening injuries. Other bystanders were also treated for shock after fleeing the scene.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270834/Phoenix-shooting-At-people-shot-gunman-opened-office-complex.html

Three people hospitalized after butane gas explosion at hotel near SeaWorld San Diego caused by makeshift drug lab

A powerful explosion on Wednesday ripped through a hotel near SeaWorld San Diego from a room where authorities say a couple was extracting hash oil, sending guests fleeing for safety.

A 22-year-old man in the room suffered life-threatening injuries. Also hurt were a woman in the room and a young man staying next door, authorities said. All three were hospitalized.

Julie Jordan of San Diego was sleeping with a friend's baby in a nearby room at the three-story Heritage Inn Sea World Hotel when she felt the building shake violently, then heard a loud explosion.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271095/His-skin-falling-Three-people-hospitalized-butane-gas-explosion-hotel-near-SeaWorld-San-Diego-caused-makeshift-drug-lab.html

New York fireman Angus Pascall 'used "key to the city" to lock down elevator and rape 11-year-old girl' is found guilty of assaulting FIVE women

A New York Fire Department worker was convicted Wednesday of sexually assaulting five women, one as young as 11 years old, in Brooklyn between 2001 and 2010.

Angus Pascall, 36, faces life in prison for the charges. His DNA tied him to the scene of every assault.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271089/New-York-fireman-Angus-Pascall-used-key-city-lock-elevator-rape-11-year-old-girl-guilty-assaulting-FIVE-women.html

Jason London Attack: Actor shows off his bruised face as he claims unmarked hands prove he was attacked in bar brawl

Dazed and Confused star Jason London has released a photo showing the extent of his injuries following his arrest for alleged involvement in a bar brawl on Sunday.

His face appears bruised and swollen, while his hands are unmarked, which London claims proves he was the victim and not the aggressor.

The actor was arrested for his alleged violence during the brawl in a Scottsdale, Arizona bar on Sunday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2271016/Im-victim-Jason-London-shows-bruised-swollen-face-claims-attacked-bar-brawl.html

Banks 'Mis-Sold 90% Of Swaps' To Small Firms......How many more times will they be allowed to Screw us?

The Financial Services Authority has revealed that more than 90% of interest rate swaps were mis-sold to small businesses by banks.

Last night Sky News City Edtior Mark Kleinman revealed that the City regulator had set out a revised framework for small business enteprises (SMEs) to pursue redress.

It is the latest mis-selling scandal to hit Britain's high street banks.

http://news.sky.com/story/1045509/fsa-reveals-scale-of-interest-rate-swap-mis-sell

Greek doctors, public transport workers on strike

Public transport workers in the Greek capital have walked off the job in a 24-hour strike, snarling traffic around Athens, while a doctors' strike has left hospitals functioning with emergency staff.

Athens was without buses, suburban rail and trolleys Thursday, while dock workers began a 48-hour strike that was to leave islands without ferries for two days. Hospital doctors and ambulance workers were also on strike for the day.

The civil servants' union has declared a three-hour work stoppage at all public services from noon in solidarity.

http://www.timesonline.com/news/world/europe/greek-doctors-public-transport-workers-on-strike/article_0ab15d08-e056-5dff-b50b-2e4d88c5243a.html

Adolf Hitler anniversary: Angela Merkel warns far-Right could rise again

Germany marked the 80th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's rise to power yesterday with a warning from Angela Merkel that social divisions could allow far-Right tyranny to rise again.

Nationwide events to highlight Nazi atrocities and the obliteration of whole segments of German society were staged to deliver the message never again.

Chancellor Merkel gave a speech timed to coincide with the moment that President Paul von Hindenburg, appointed Hitler as head of government in 1933.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9837719/Merkel-invokes-rise-of-Hitler-to-warn-Germany-against-tyranny.html

Brazil nightclub owner attempts suicide

An owner of the Brazilian nightclub where 235 people perished in a weekend fire tried to commit suicide, police said Wednesday, as the number of survivors seeking medical treatment after the disaster continued to rise.

Elissandro Sphor tried to kill himself with a plastic shower hose, said senior police official Lilian Carus in the town of Cruz Alta 125 kilometers (about 80 miles) from Santa Maria, where the club owner is hospitalized.

"It was clear he wanted to hang himself," Carus told AFP, adding that a police officer arrived at the scene -- a hospital where Sphor is being treated for gas poisoning -- before anything happened.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Brazil-nightclub-owner-attempts-suicide/articleshow/18270152.cms

Israeli vote doesn't nail shut door to peace: Clinton

The outcome of Israel's elections did not torpedo hopes for peace with the Palestinians, but instead opened up a new chance for dialogue, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued Tuesday.

"I actually think this election opens doors, not nails them shut," she said, during a so-called "global townhall" meeting, in which she took questions from Internet-users and broadcasters around the world.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud-Beitenu list emerged from last week's vote with the biggest single share of seats in the Knesset, but was weakened by a surge in support for Yair Lapid's centrist Yesh Atid party.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iiONntnDEXOFjYfmJhK0UoyQEqkQ?docId=CNG.848266dcf5b3a2740c0991b656699a59.221

Syrian opposition leader Alkhatib open to talks

The head of Syria’s main opposition coalition says he is ready to sit down with representatives of President Bashar al-Assad.

Mouaz Alkhatib, in an offer extended via his Facebook page, has said he is prepared to hold talks outside Syria on the condition that thousands of detainees are released.

Syrian officials said this week that certain opposition figures could return to Damascus for dialogue without facing charges.

http://www.euronews.com/2013/01/30/syrian-opposition-leader-alkhatib-open-to-talks/

Hamas plans more "enemy language" classes

Islamist Hamas authorities plan to expand Hebrew-language classes in the Gaza Strip's high schools to help Palestinians know their enemy in times of conflict with Israel.

Far from a sign that peace will soon break out, Hamas's promotion of Hebrew learning in the Israeli-blockaded Mediterranean enclave aims to make linguistic skill a useful new front in the struggle against the Jewish state.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/us-palestinians-israel-hebrew-idUSBRE90U02C20130131

Iran plans to upgrade uranium work at Natanz: diplomat

Iran has informed the U.N. nuclear agency that it plans to use more modern uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz plant, a diplomat said on Thursday.

Such a step could enable Iran to refine uranium faster than it can at the moment and increase concerns in the West and Israel about the goals of Tehran nuclear program.

The diplomat who declined to be identified, said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the plan in a letter dated January 23.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/31/us-iran-nuclear-enrichment-idUSBRE90U0A020130131