Snippet of world News

300 evacuated in Belgium after train carrying chemicals catches fire 

Nearly 300 people were evacuated from their homes in the northwestern city of Ghent, Belgium, after a train carrying chemicals derailed and caught on fire, AFP quotes local authorities as saying. No injuries were reported in the incident that happened around 2:00am local time (24:00 GMT). A series of explosions occurred in the train cars after the fire began, prompting authorities to evacuate residents living nearby. The train was coming from the Netherlands.

Launch of ESA’s Vega rocket postponed due to wild weather 

Bad weather conditions at the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana prompted the delay of the launch of the new European rocket Vega. The rocket’s mission is to deliver into orbit the Proba-V Earth observation satellite, as well as a small spacecraft for Vietnam and a ‘nanosatellitse’ made by Estonian students. The Vega rocket made its maiden voyage in February last year and the rescheduled lift-off is to become its second.

Southern California fire grows  threatens 4,000 homes 

A wildfire in the Los Angeles area has become uncontrollable, covering 28,000 acres, and is now threatening 4,000 homes, authorities stated. The fire began Thursday morning and so far has damaged 15 homes, 15 outbuildings, five commercial properties and led to numerous evacuations. Wildfire has been spreading quickly due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. So far only 20 per cent of the blaze has been contained. More than 950 personnel is one site.

91% of attacks on journalists go unpunished in Mexico 

Eighty-four journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000, while 20 more have disappeared in the past eight years, Mexico's rights commission has revealed. According to the National Human Rights commission, there have been 39 attacks on journalists' media companies since 2005, but only 12 of them have resulted in convictions. The staggering figures show that local authorities have failed to solve 91 per cent of the crimes. The commission said the largest number of attacks have occurred in Mexico City, Veracruz and Chihuahua, urging the government to investigate the crimes. 

US sends envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan 

The US has appointed a new representative in Afghanistan and Pakistan. James Dobbins, previously a US diplomat, will be taking over the position that has been vacant since December. US Secretary of State John Kerry made the announcement late on Friday, after having informed Pakistan’s and Afghanistan’s leaders personally via telephone. Dobbins has ‘deep and longstanding’ relationships in the region, according to Kerry. Dobbins has previously been posted in the region, having been the US diplomatic envoy to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban and representing the US at the Bonn Conference in 2001.

 Bangladesh  factory collapse death toll surpasses 540

The death toll in the Bangladesh factory collapse increased to more than 540 on Saturday, a day after Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith downplayed the effect of the tragedy on the garment industry, saying he didn't believe it was "really serious," AP reported. The government is apprehending those it holds responsible for the disaster in the Dhaka suburb of Savar. It suspended the mayor of Savar and arrested an engineer who had called for the factory's evacuation last week, but was also accused of assisting the owner add three unapproved floors to the eight-story structure. The building owner was arrested earlier. Meanwhile, some are blaming the government over lax building regulations.