Globe Trotting

Two killed in Philippine stampedeMANILA: Two people died and two others were seriously injured on Saturday when hundreds of petitioners r...

Two killed in Philippine stampede
MANILA: Two people died and two others were seriously injured on Saturday when hundreds of petitioners rushed into the Philippine presidential palace to receive dole-outs, a radio report said. Four petitioners were rushed to the hospital after suffering injuries in the commotion, two of whom later died, Cosme Fernandez, a staff of the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital told radio station DZBB.

8220;The four were brought here but two of them died,8221; Fernandez said. President Joseph Estrada ordered an investigation into the incident and dispatched Press under-secretary Icasiano Gutierrez to track the families of the victims.

New Peru PM
LIMA: Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori named a new prime minister and defence minister as part of a shakeup of Peru8217;s political and military leaders that has also toppled its top general.

In a ceremony in the presidential palace, Fujimori swore in Alberto Pandolfi as the new Prime Minister and intelligence Chief Gen JulioSalazar Monroe as the new defence Minister. Pandolfi had been Prime Minister for two years before resigning in June. Fujimori said the remaining 15 members of his cabinet would stay.

Japan quake
TOKYO: Four new earthquakes today jolted a mountain resort in central Japan which has been rattled by a series of tremors for more than two weeks, the state meteorological agency said. The new quakes, centering on Kamikochi, some 200 km north-west of Tokyo, occurred within a space of four hours measuring from 3.4 to 4.3 on the Richter scale, the agency said. The last tremor registered 3.4 and struck at 0429 hrs IST.

Flood warning
BEIJING: China warned on Saturday that catastrophic flooding across the nation was aggravated by excessive logging which has left hillsides barren and defenceless against heavy rains. 8220;Soldiers and civilians are fighting to death to protect the dykes8230; but rampant tree felling is still continuing along the Yangtze river,8221; the official China Daily said in aneditorial. 8220;Tens of thousands of logs flow down the river each day and barren banks are left in many places,8221; it warned. China8217;s flood season has run for more than 60 days this year, compared to an average of 20 days, and each rain storm is producing more severe consequences.