International
Forty-five killed, dozens trapped in India landslides
Forty-five killed, dozens trapped in India landslides
Around 45 people have been killed and dozens are feared trapped after heavy rains triggered massive landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The landslides struck hilly areas in Wayanad district in the early hours of Tuesday.
Rescue operations are under way, but are being hindered by heavy rains and the collapse of a crucial bridge.
“We will be able to assess the extent of the damage only after a few hours,” state minister AK Saseendran told BBC Hindi.
State Health Minister Veena George said local hospitals were treating at least 70 injured people. Around 101 people have been rescued so far.
District collector DR Meghasree told reporters that apart from 36 deaths confirmed in Wayanad, nine bodies had floated in the Chaliyar river into neighbouring Malappuram district.
Wayanad, a hilly district which is part of the Western Ghats mountain range, is prone to landslides during the monsoon season.
The landslides have hit several areas in the district, including Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala and Kunhome.
Videos on social media showed muddy water gushing through unpaved streets and forested areas, washing away homes and leaving people and vehicles stranded.
A bridge connecting Chooralmala to Mundakkai and Attamala has collapsed, isolating the two places and making it difficult for rescue personnel to reach trapped families.
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Rashid Padikkalparamban, a resident, told Reuters news agency that at least three landslides had hit the area around midnight, washing away the bridge.
State and national disaster relief teams are conducting rescue operations, and army personnel are expected to reach the area soon. Several locals too have been helping out.
Mr Saseendran also said the army and air force have been asked to airlift trapped families and to erect a temporary bridge.
Raghavan C Arunamala, a local, described the horrifying scenes unfolding in the area.
“I saw a man trapped in the debris shouting for help. Firefighters and rescue workers have been trying to reach him for the last few hours,” he said.
“We fear hundreds of people are trapped inside the villages,” he added.
Wayanad district and neighbouring areas are on alert due to the forecast of heavy rains.
Schools and colleges have been closed in 10 of 14 districts.
In 2019, 17 people had died after a landslide hit Puthumala in Wayanad, around 10km from the areas currently affected.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured the federal government’s help in relief efforts.
Mr Modi also announced compensation of 200,000 rupees ($2,388; £1,857) to the victims’ families and 50,000 rupees to the injured.
Forty-five killed, dozens trapped in India landslides
BBC
International
American man arrested for beating tourist to death at Ireland hotel
American man arrested for beating tourist to death at Ireland hotel
A 30 year old American man whose name was not given by security officials, has been arrested for beating up a 60 year old tourist to death at the Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Laois, Ireland.
The Irish police force commonly known as ‘Garda Síochána’ announced that the incident occurred in the late hours of Tuesday, November 12.
Ballyfin Demesne hotel, is a popular luxury five-star hotel located in Laois, Ireland and special guests such as Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, George Clooney e.t.c had made use of the hotel in times past.
The victim was discovered unconscious in the late hours of Tuesday, November 12 and was then rushed to the hospital were he died due to severe beating inflicted on him by the culprit.
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Independent local councilor James Kelly stated that nearby communities were ‘stunned’ upon learning about the incident at the renowned hotel.
He said, “There would be a lot of staff from the area and they’re totally shocked by what has happened here.
“It’s something we didn’t think we’d be waking up to this morning.”
The police also noted that a senior officer has been assigned to lead the investigation and an incident room has been set up at Portlaoise Garda Station, Ireland.
Furthermore, a family liaison officer will be designated to assist the family of the deceased.
International
FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win
FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win
The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday carried out a raid at the home of Shayne Coplan, CEO of cryptocurrency prediction outlet Polymarket.
Authorities seized Mr Coplan’s phone during the raid, according to New York Post which first reported the incident.
Mr Coplan, 26, has been running the famous platform for bets throughout the 2024 presidential election in the United States.
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It wasn’t immediately clear why the search was conducted, but Polymarket promptly said it might be due to its activities during the election. Users on the platform had correctly predicted Donald Trump was going to defeat Kamala Harris. The company paid out a substantial amount to winners following the election.
“This is obvious political retribution by the outgoing administration against Polymarket for providing a market that correctly called the 2024 presidential election,” a spokesperson for Polymarket said in a statement from its headquarters in New York. “Polymarket is a fully transparent prediction market that helps everyday people better understand the events that matter most to them, including elections.”
It was unclear whether or not the FBI would be filing charges after the raid.
FBI raids home of crypto platform Polymarket CEO, after accurate prediction of Trump win
International
Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion
Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion
Two employees of Givaudan sense colour, a factory known for making colourings for beverages, located in Louisville, Kentucky, United States (US) were killed in an explosion that took place at the company’s facility.
The factory reported that the incident which took place on Tuesday, November 12 in the afternoon have also destroyed buildings around the company.
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Louisville Mayor, Craig Greenberg stated that firefighters managed to rescue and evacuate numerous individuals from the site, including some who sustained life-threatening injuries.
He also confirmed that all employees present at the plant during the explosion have been accounted for.
Earlier reports indicated that at least 11 workers were hospitalized.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
Two dead, buildings destroyed in American factory explosion
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