26 Dead in India Earthquake

Rain, landslides hamper rescue efforts

(NEWSER) - At least 55 people are dead in India, Nepal, and Tibet after yesterday’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake , and the search for more survivors in remote Himalayan villages is being hampered by rain and landslides. "The situation doesn't look good," a UN official tells Reuters . "My feeling is the death toll and number of injured are going to increase." Helicopters could not fly over affected areas due to thick clouds, but some blocked mountain passes have reopened. More»

No injuries reported

(NEWSER) - Terrifying seconds of a 5.2-magnitude earthquake today panicked some New Delhi residents, who rushed into the streets for protection, reports the BBC . Several office workers reported strong shaking, and a school roof collapsed, but there have been no reports of injuries after the quake hit some 30 miles west of Delhi, which is located near several major fault lines, notes NDTV . "It felt stronger here compared to recent tremors we've felt in Delhi," said a worker in a downtown office building. "The floor shook hard." More»

Al-Qaeda-linked extremists believed to be targeting Asian flights

(NEWSER) - Nepal's only international airport has been placed on high alert after warnings from Indian authorities that it could be the target of a terror plot. Intelligence suggests that flights in Nepal and other South Asian countries are part of a new plot by al-Qaeda, AP reports. Travelers using Kathmandu's airport have been warned to expect long delays. More»

(AP) - Guards hired by the State Department to protect diplomats and staff at the US embassy in Afghanistan live and work in a Lord of the Flies environment in which they are subjected to hazing and humiliation by supervisors, a government oversight group says. In a 10-page letter to Hillary Clinton, the independent Project on Government Oversight contended the situation has led to a breakdown in morale and leadership that compromises security. More»

UN finds child mortality rates uneven in developing nations

(NEWSER) - Citing new child mortality statistics, analysts say a nation's wealth doesn’t always translate into better health for its youngest citizens, the BBC reports. Every year, 10 million children die before their fifth birthday, with 99% of the fatalities occurring in the developing world. But even when conditions improve, survival is often just a “lottery," depending on where a baby is born, said a spokesman for Save the Children. More»