MH17: 211 victims identified

Eighteen more victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 have been identified this week. This brings the total number of identified victims to 211 reported the Ministry of Security and Justice on Friday.

The relatives of the identified victims have been informed. Of the 18 most recently identified victims, 11 have the Dutch nationality. At the request of the embassies of the countries concerned, the nationalities of the Dutch non- identified victims were not disclosed.

The team of specialists is still busy with the identification in the Corporal of Oudheusden barracks in Hilversum. Experts from several countries look at DNA samples, fingerprints and dental records to identify the victims. It may take months before all the victims will be identified.

Malaysia Airlines crashed on 17 July. All 298 passengers were killed, including 196 Dutch.

Friday 12 September 2014

http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/23074431/__211_slachtoffers_MH17_geidentificeerd__.html

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15 bodies recovered from collapsed Synagogue Church building

Over 15 bodies have been evacuated from the scene of the collapsed building in the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun in Lagos.

Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Friday, Adeboayo confirmed the recovery of the dead bodies, adding that rescue operations were on to evacuate injured persons.

The six-storey building under construction in the Synagogue Church collapsed around 1.00 pm on Friday.The total number of people present at the building may be around 70. They include foreign believers, church members and canteen workers.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the building -- a guesthouse for foreign members of preacher TB Joshua's The Synagogue Church of All nations -- came down in the Ikotun area of the city.

TB Joshua, dubbed "The Prophet", is one of Nigeria's most famous preachers and televangelists with thousands of followers across the world, attracted by his purported healing powers and prophecies.

According to his website, his church "hosts thousands of national and international visitors" every year.

Friday 12 September 2014

http://dailypost.ng/2014/09/12/15-bodies-recovered-collapsed-synagogue-church-building/

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Jammu and Kashmir floods: Google launches crisis map to aid in rescue operation

Google on Friday released updated maps for Jammu and Kashmir, showing areas that are submerged under water and extent of the damage that flood has created in the state. The company said that by combining before and after flood maps of the same area, it hopes to aid in the rescue operations.

"As the flood waters recede in Jammu and Kashmir, the rescue teams will now be able to reach thousands of stranded people. To aid this rescue process, we've created a Crisis map for Jammu and Kashmir with updated satellite imagery," Google said in a blog post . Our hope is that this will help rescue agencies, volunteers and others involved in rescue operations respond to this crisis by identifying flood zones, evacuation routes and weather conditions."

The company said that its maps for Jammu and Kashmir can also be shared on social media sites. This would help the right information reach right people at the right time.

Google had earlier launched People Finder for the flood victims. On Friday, the company said that it was tracking around 7000 people through its People Finder tool.

This is not the first time Google had come out with updated maps in the face of a disaster. When tsunami struck Japan in 2011, Google released updated imagery for the affected areas to help volunteers and government bodies taking part in the rescue operations. Similarly, when typhoon Haiyan struck Philippines, the company updated its maps to show before and after imagery of the affected areas.

Friday 12 September 2014

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/j-k-floods-google-launches-crisis-map-to-aid-in-rescue-ops/1/382488.html

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MH17 crash: Investigation focuses on '25 metal shards'

One part of the forensic investigation into the MH17 plane crash in the Ukraine focuses on 25 metal fragments that were found on bodies of passengers and baggage.

The investigation is examining where these particles came from. From the aircraft itself, from luggage or from a source external to the aircraft such as the missile, says Patricia Zorko of the national police Friday during a press conference. Zorko is leading the criminal investigation done by the police and justice after the disaster. According to Zorko currently about 500 physical traces have been secured, including 25 metal fragments.

Chief prosecutor Fred Westerbeke of the national prosecutor says that the Public Prosecutor is very willing to prosecute the parties responsible for the MH17 plane crash in the Netherlands. The Public Prosecutor in the Netherlands is leading the international crime investigation into those responsible for the disaster.

Dutch officials heading the inquiry say they want to establish whether the iron fragments could prove the theory that a ground-to-air missile struck the plane.

Flight MH17 came down over eastern Ukraine on 17 July, killing all 298 people aboard, mostly Dutch citizens.

The investigation has been hampered by continued fighting near the crash site.

Detectives are relying heavily on forensic samples taken from bodies and baggage, as well as satellite data, interviews with witnesses, computer reconstructions, online evidence and intercepted communications.

Flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.

At a press conference in Rotterdam on Friday, Fred Westerbeke, chief prosecutor for the Dutch national prosecution service, said that the investigation was particularly interested in the origin of 25 pieces of iron, drawn from 500 samples.

"The most likely scenario was that the plane was shot down from the ground," he said.

"If we can establish that this iron is coming from such a missile, that is important information of course," he said. "At this moment we don't know that, but that is what we are investigating."

Friday 12 September 2014

http://www.nltimes.nl/2014/09/12/dutch-police-recover-metal-fragments-mh17-bodies/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29180887

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