Beijing, Apr 5 Two people were killed and a person was injured when an explosion occurred in a chemical plant in north China's Chifeng City following which as many as 700 residents in the proximity of the site had to be evacuated.
The accident occurred when a high-pressure storage tank containing silicon tetrachloride exploded in Chifeng City in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during the weekend, Xinhua news agency reported.
The blast in the Shengsen Silicon Technology Development Co, Ltd also injured another person.
Following the blast nearly 700 residents living nearby were evacuated to safer areas.
The injured has been confirmed to be in a stable condition in hospital, according to local authorities.
People returned to their homes after local environmental authorities announced that the atmospheric conditions in the town were normal.
2:20 AM
Blast kills four at ANP meeting in northwest Pak
planetInfo
bomb blast , killed , Pakistan , Peshawar , Timergara
Peshawar, Apr 5 A bomb blast targeted a gathering organised by the Awami National Party at Timergara in northwest Pakistan today, killing at least four persons and injuring over a dozen others.
The blast occurred at a rest house in the market of Timergara, the headquarters of Lower Dir district, where the ANP had organised a gathering to celebrate the government's decision to rename the North West Frontier Province as Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.
The nature of the blast could not immediately be ascertained though TV news channels reported it could have been a suicide attack. The identity of the four dead was also not immediately known.
A large number of people had gathered for the celebrations organised by the ANP, which leads the ruling coalition in the NWFP.
Several government offices are located near the rest house where the blast occurred.
The blast occurred at a rest house in the market of Timergara, the headquarters of Lower Dir district, where the ANP had organised a gathering to celebrate the government's decision to rename the North West Frontier Province as Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.
The nature of the blast could not immediately be ascertained though TV news channels reported it could have been a suicide attack. The identity of the four dead was also not immediately known.
A large number of people had gathered for the celebrations organised by the ANP, which leads the ruling coalition in the NWFP.
Several government offices are located near the rest house where the blast occurred.
2:19 AM
Kabul, Apr 5 NATO forces have admitted killing three women in a bungled raid on a village in Afghanistan earlier this year, after initially denying involvement.
The NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement late Sunday that its troops were responsible for the women's deaths in a village near Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktya province, on February 12.
Two newspapers, the New York Times and Britain's The Times, said today that the foreign troops involved in the shooting were members of US special forces who tried to cover up the deaths by removing bullets from the bodies.
ISAF had no immediate comment on the nationality of the troops or the cover-up claims, when contacted by AFP.
The NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement late Sunday that its troops were responsible for the women's deaths in a village near Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktya province, on February 12.
Two newspapers, the New York Times and Britain's The Times, said today that the foreign troops involved in the shooting were members of US special forces who tried to cover up the deaths by removing bullets from the bodies.
ISAF had no immediate comment on the nationality of the troops or the cover-up claims, when contacted by AFP.
2:18 AM
Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes Baja California
planetInfo
earthquake , Los Angeles , quake , US-Mexico
Los Angeles, Apr 5 (AP) A strong earthquake south of the US-Mexico border has shook high-rises in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego and was felt across Southern California and Arizona, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 3:40 pm (2240 GMT) in Baja California, Mexico, about 30 kilometres southeast of Mexicali, according to the US Geological Survey. The area was hit by magnitude 3.0 quakes all week.
The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said.
Strong shaking was reported in the Coachella Valley and Riverside, California. The earthquake rattled buildings on the west side of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, interrupting Easter dinners. Chandeliers swayed and wine jiggled in glasses.
In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on earthquake status and some stalled elevators were reported.
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 3:40 pm (2240 GMT) in Baja California, Mexico, about 30 kilometres southeast of Mexicali, according to the US Geological Survey. The area was hit by magnitude 3.0 quakes all week.
The quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said.
Strong shaking was reported in the Coachella Valley and Riverside, California. The earthquake rattled buildings on the west side of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley, interrupting Easter dinners. Chandeliers swayed and wine jiggled in glasses.
In Los Angeles, the city fire department went on earthquake status and some stalled elevators were reported.
2:17 AM
Lahore, Apr 5 Alarmed by the development in Hyderabad where Shoaib Malik had his passport seized by the police, his family is now considering altering plans to travel to India on Wednesday to attend the Pakistani cricketer's marriage with Sania Mirza.
A close relative of Shoaib's family told us that they have contacted senior Pakistani government officials and the high commission in New Delhi for help and was considering changing their travel plans.
"Certain forces in India have become active to stop this marriage at any cost," the relative alleged.
Shoaib, set to marry Sania on April 15 in Hyderabad, was today grilled by Hyderabad police after MA Siddiqui, father of Ayesha who claims to be the cricketer's wife, lodged a complaint, accusing the cricketer of cheating his daughter.
A close relative of Shoaib's family told us that they have contacted senior Pakistani government officials and the high commission in New Delhi for help and was considering changing their travel plans.
"Certain forces in India have become active to stop this marriage at any cost," the relative alleged.
Shoaib, set to marry Sania on April 15 in Hyderabad, was today grilled by Hyderabad police after MA Siddiqui, father of Ayesha who claims to be the cricketer's wife, lodged a complaint, accusing the cricketer of cheating his daughter.