News for Week 9 of 2010

News — By ken on March 1, 2010 at 8:06 am

Queensland Floods

The flood threat has eased in St George after fears the Balonne River levels would exceed 14m, but floodwaters are continuing to head for Cunnamulla, 825km west of Brisbane as the Warrego River continues to rise.

NewsOnABC March 6, 2010
Residents of the southern inland Queensland town of St George are fighting the onset of the biggest flood on record.

Melbourne storm brings hail and flooding.

NewsOnABC March 6, 2010
Hail, heavy rains and strong winds have battered and drowned Melbourne’s city streets.

Severe thunderstorms with flash flooding hit Melbourne at about 2.40pm (AEDT) on Saturday, 6 March 2010.

Parts of Victoria were lashed by 100 kilometres an hour winds and hailstones the size of golf balls.

The weather bureau reported 19 millimetres of rain over the Melbourne in under 18 minutes, with a total of 26 millimetres of rain in the city in under an hour.

Streets across Melbourne’s CBD were flooded and hail damaged the roof of the Southern Cross Railway Station in the city, causing it to collapse.

Melbourne Airport was closed and rail services suffered disruptions as traffic was brought to a stand-still with drainage systems overpowered.

The Flemington races were postponed and the NAB Cup football match between Brisbane and Geelong was cancelled.

The State Emergency Service has been swamped with calls, primarily from the city’s western suburbs.

Flooding in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Hail storm followed by heavy rain, winds and flooding hit a Melbourne street

Hail the size of golf balls hit Melbourne, Australia

Terror Expert: Media, Politicians Fuel Distrust

Associated Press March 5, 2010

Terror expert with Georgetown University, Fathali Moghaddam says the recession combined with a growing mistrust of government is fueling acts of violence like the shooting outside the Pentagon and flying an airplane into an IRS building. (March 5)

Rage on the Right

March 6, 2010 The United States is facing a surge in anti-government extremist groups and armed militias driven by deepening hostility on the right to President Barack Obama, anger over the economy and the increasing propagation of conspiracy theories by parts of the mass media such as Fox News.

Pentagon Shooter Had Mental Illness History

Associated Press March 5, 2010

The man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon had a history of mental illness and had become so erratic that his parents reached out to local authorities weeks ago with a warning that he was unstable and might have a gun, authorities said. (March 5)

2 Pentagon Officers Shot Outside Metro Station

Associated Press March 4, 2010

A gunman opened fire at the subway entrance to Pentagon complex Thursday, wounding two Pentagon police officers, a spokesman said. The alleged gunman also was wounded. Authorities say none sustained with life-threatening injuries. (March 4)

Cruise passengers killed as monster waves hit
Identical twin dupes brother’s lover into having sex with him
300 lashes for being without a male
Death and devastation on Chile’s coast as toll grows This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Obama to address Australian Federal Parliament
Doctor Rudd orders shock treatment This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Barangaroo towers breach height limits, says design architect This article contains a video that will play automatically.
It’s weight-and-see as dieters eye fast food
Facebook valued at $12.75b
Gloves come off in battle for adults-only games This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Spanish botnet could have paralysed an ‘entire country’
Israel aborts raid after soldier posts details on Facebook
Pilot flew airliners for 13 years on fake licence
Air traffic controller allowed child to direct planes
Charges over face-tattoo attack
Polygamy row clouds British welcome for Jacob Zuma
Pressure on Greece as deficit gloom grows This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Deadly waves may add hundreds to Chilean toll This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Murdoch’s ‘Avatar’ profit may be lost on lawsuits
Bankers blow billions faster than gamblers
Virgin Galactic to begin test flights next year
Cricket Johnson headbutts helmet-wearing Styris This article contains a video that will play automatically.
Formula One USF1 out of 2010 season, no replacement allowed
Golf I’m mad at Tiger, admits a caddie under siege
Soccer Dominant Socceroos earn plaudits
Two Russians boil to death in sauna
‘Sex-mad’ cop loses unfair dismissal claim
Backpackers ‘turn streets into toilets’
Federal police in ‘hit and run’
Woman sues after getting four breasts

Woman seeks $5 million for her botched breast surgery..
Full YourScoops report can be found here:
Mother sues after getting four breasts

Two killed as giant waves hit Mediterranean cruise ship

Louis Majesty

Two people have been killed and six injured as three giant 26ft (8m) high waves slammed into the 200-metre-long, 41,000-tonne cruise ship Louis Majesty in the Mediterranean on Wednesday evening, off the coast of Spain’s north eastern Catalonia region.

There were 1,350 passengers and 580 crew on the ship, including the Greek captain.

The victims have been identified as a German and an Italian man.

Spanish news reports said five people were slightly injured while a 62-year-old woman was in serious condition with both her legs broken.

The vessel was en route for the Italian port of Genoa, but following the accident the captain rerouted the ship to the Spanish port of Barcelona to evacuate the dead and injured.

Monstrous waves that smashed into a Mediterranean cruise ship flooded people’s cabins, broke windows in a restaurant and sent terrified travelers screaming for doctors, passengers said Thursday.

Cruise Ship Hit by 26 Foot Waves; 2 Killed

Associated Press March 4, 2010

A 26-foot wave smashed into a cruise ship carrying nearly 2,000 people in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, smashing glass windshields and killing two passengers, according to officials. (March 4)

Toyota’s Pain Is Rivals’ Sales Gain in February

Associated Press March 2, 2010

The fallout from Toyota’s safety issues is hitting the automaker’s bottom line. U.S. sales fell 9 percent last month, making Toyota the only automaker to sell fewer cars and trucks in February. (March 2)

The Mariposa botnet is the biggest ever to be shut down, but this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Full YourScoops report can be found here:

Information theft – masterminds busted

Apple Sues HTC Over IPhone Patents

On March 2, 2010, Apple Inc. filed a lawsuit against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture, and hardware.

“We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”

HTC Corporation (formerly High Tech Computer Corporation) is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of smartphones. HTC was founded in 1997 and established partnerships with mobile brands in Europe, the US, Asian and under their own brand since 2006. The company initially made smartphones based primarily on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software, but in 2009 it began to shift to devices based on the Android operating system.

Android is a mobile operating system based on Linux. Initially developed by Android Inc., a firm purchased by Google, and lately by the the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of several companies including HTC. The first Android phone was the HTC Dream, released in 2008.

By the end of 2009 there will be at least 18 phone models using Android worldwide.

Apple Sues HTC Over IPhone Patents

Associated Press March 2, 2010

Apple has sued HTC, accusing the rival smartphone maker of violating patents related to the popular iPhone. (March 2)

Lobby to trim BBC wins… now takes aim at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Full YourScoops report can be found here:

Commercial Media Take Aim At The ABC

Gaza Fishermen Smuggling Instead

Associated Press March 2, 2010

Hemmed in by an Israeli blockade, many Gaza fishermen have turned to smuggling their catch in from Egypt instead of trolling for their own. (02 March 2010)

NewsOnABC March 1, 2010
The flames crowning Olympic cauldron in Vancouver have been put-out, marking the end of the winter games.

Raw Video: Looting Persists in Chile

Associated Press March 1, 2010

Security forces said they arrested dozens of people for violating an anti-looting curfew and rescuers found signs of life in a toppled building on Monday as Chilean officials struggled to bring aid to victims of a quake that killed more than 700 people. (Mar. 1)

Looters Storm Stores in Chile Following Quake

Associated Press February 28, 2010

As Chile tries to cope with the devastation caused by yesterday’s earthquake, its outgoing president is taking steps to eliminate looting. Essentials will be given away for free, under the supervision of authorities. (Feb. 28)

Olympic Closing Ceremony Begins With a Joke

Associated Press February 28, 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony began with a joke, making fun of the technical problems with the opening ceremony. (Feb. 2

Raw Video: Tsunami Beaches Calif. Boats

Associated Press February 28, 2010

Boats in Santa Cruz Harbor in California were temporarily left sitting on sand when the tsunami triggered by Saturday’s earthquake in Chile hit. (Feb, 28)

NewsOnABC February 28, 2010
Powerful winds and storms have left a trail of destruction through Portugal, Spain, France and Gemany.

NewsOnABC February 28, 2010
A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Chile, killing at least 300 people and impacting two million.

NewsOnABC February 28, 2010
Amateur footage shows the coastal Chilean town of Dichato moments after the tsunami hit.

AssociatedPress February 28, 2010
Associated Press sports columnist Jim Litke breaks down the 2010 Olympics from the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili before the Games got underway to the historic performance by American short track speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno. (Feb. 28)

NewsOnABC February 28, 2010
Thousands of people stripped down outside the Sydney Opera House for photographic artist Spencer Tunick.

NewsOnABC February 27, 2010
Hundreds of thousands of of people lined Sydney’s streets to celebrate gay pride at the 2010 “History of the World” Mardi Gras parade.