Latest News
Volcano Disruption
ASH FROM Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano has been detected in the atmosphere over Ireland in tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
However, the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning said the amounts of ash were small and there had been no deterioration of air quality.
Following its 10th meeting since the eruption of the volcano almost two weeks ago, the taskforce said the EPA had expected to find some ash in the atmosphere associated with the volcanic ash plume, but it had resulted in no ill-effects to air or water.
“Rainwater samples taken from Malin Head last Friday showed fluorine levels well below drinking water limits. The EPA will continue to monitor air and drinking water in the coming months,” a statement from the taskforce said.
“Expert advice to the taskforce remains that any ash likely to come to ground in the coming days will be minimal and have no impact on public health, drinking water or the environment generally.”
The main airports at Dublin, Shannon and Cork are now meeting capacity demand from airlines, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said.
Another great actor has died. On Wednesday morning 10/03/2010 teen idol Corey Haim was found dead, due to an apparent overdose in Burbank California. He was 38. Corey collapsed in the Oakwood apartment belonging to his mother, who was at home at the time and called 911.
It is still possible four different prescription medications that were found in his room may have played a role. The final cause of death has been deferred pending various testing, so the final report is expected in six to eight weeks.
There is no evidence of foul play and the overdose appears to have been accidental.
Haim rose to fame in the cult movie the Lost Boys.
Haim will be buried in Toronto, Ontario, where he was born.
Blast hits Pakistani city
There has been a twin suicide attack in the eastern city of Lahaore. It targeted Pakistani security and at least 39 people have died.
Why?
Taliban militants in Pakistan’s north-west are considered suspects by many people
Security officials say the reason why Lahore is now under threat may be because it has previously been seen as stable.
“Lahore is the only city in Pakistan which has remained relatively peaceful since the 9/11 attacks,” a security official said in May.
“It has been Pakistan’s saving grace, and whoever wants to destabilise the country or the government, would go after Lahore.”
The Taliban militants fighting the Pakistani army have openly admitted carrying out many of the attacks.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, say it’s caused by another militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which the US believes has close ties with al-Qaeda.
Experts say the situation can still be sorted out if both parties agree that getting rid of the militants is in Pakistan’s best interests.
If this does not happen, Pakistan could become the next Taliban state.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last month may have caused billions of dollars more in damage than initially estimated, according to a study released Tuesday by the Inter-American Development Bank.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Christina Julme was scribbling notes in the back of a linguistics class at the State University of Haiti when, in an instant, everything went black.
Guilty Plea Made in Plot to Bomb New York Subway.
The Afghan immigrant at the center of what the authorities described as one of the most serious threats to the United States since 9/11 pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism charges in what he said was a Qaeda plot to detonate a bomb in the New York subway.
Car Bomb Outside Courthouse.
Dissident republicans are being blamed for a car bomb which exploded outside Newry courthouse in Co Down last night.
The PSNI said it was a “sheer miracle” that no-one was killed or injured in the attack which took place after a number of telephone warnings.
Police have downgraded their estimate of the size of the device from up to 800lbs (363 kilos) and said it could have been approximately 250lb.
Illegally Cigarettes Seized.
Customs officers carrying out a search of a business premises in Co Louth today seized a large quantity of illegally imported cigarettes with potential loss to the exchequer of €9.4 million.
The cigarettes were found concealed in cavities in bulk packs of timber in Dundalk this morning.
Officers are currently examining 159 packs of timber to determine if all the packs have been used to conceal the cigarettes.
