Deadly Avalanche at Mount Manaslu, Nepal -- 11 dead, 8 missing including French, Italian and Canadian

KATHMANDU, NEPAL (Sun, Sep 23) - At least 11 people are feared dead and eight others have gone missing as an avalanche hit the base camp area of Mount Manaslu in Gorkha on Sunday morning.

 

Deadly Avalanche at Mount Manaslu, Nepal -- 11 dead, 8 missing including French, Italian and Canadian

 

 

A Canadian citizen from Revelstoke, B.C. survived in the deadly avalanche; while another Canadian - a cardiologist from Quebec - is still among missing. Other foreigners among missing are reportedly from Italy and France.

 

Two dead bodies, including one of a Nepali national and the other of a German citizen, have been recovered, while at least 9 other were reportedly buried in the loads of snow in the upper region.

 

Dipendra Paude of Nepal's tourism ministry, which controls all international climbing expeditions, told U.K. paper The Telegraph the dead climbers were from Spain, Germany and Nepal.

 

The disaster took place at an altitude of 6000-7000 metres at around 9:00 am (local time) today morning.

 

According to initial information, as many as 24 mountaineers, including some Nepali guides, were in the expedition team under the assistance of Baluwatar-based Thamserku Trekking.

 

The trekking agency, however, claimed that the expedition team included only 14 people.
 

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VIDEO: Mona Lisa skeleton unearthed in St. Ursula, Italy -- Claimed Silvano Vinceti

FLORENCE, Italy (Tue, July 24) – Italian archaeologists have dug out a skeleton today believed to be of Lisa Gherardini, the woman who inspired one of the most emblematic works of Leonardo da Vinci, “Mona Lisa”.

Mona Lisa remains unearthed in St. Ursula, Florence, Italy

Lisa Gherardini (1479-1542), also known as Lisa del Giocondo, is considered by some experts as the model of the famous portrait of the Mona Lisa exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, is undoubtedly one of the world's most familiar paintings.

According to details; archaeologists have found bones near the convent of Sant'Orsola (or St. Ursula) in Italian city of Florence. These remains will be sent to the Department for the Conservation of Cultural Property in Ravenna (northern Italy), to be examined, the researchers said.

A team of archaeologists began excavations in this convent last year after documents have confirmed that Gherardini, wife of a wealthy silk merchant of Florence (Francesco del Giocondo), lived in place after the death of her husband – Francesco del Giocondo.

The documents also revealed that Lisa Gherardini was under the care of his two daughters who were nuns.

Famous art researcher Silvano Vinceti, also head of the team of archaeologists, believes that this discovery, made in an abandoned convent, is particularly exciting. But going further emphasized performed tests of the remains to verify the identity, writes Lusa.

"I can say that we have reached the most exciting part of the investigation," said Vinceti, an expert in solving mysteries related to the art world.

"It is the culmination of our work and we are close to answering the main question: whether or not we find the remains of Lisa Gherardini?" Vinceti said further.

Watch exciting video below:

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Mona Lisa, Silvano Vinceti, Lisa Gherardini, Louvre Museum, Francesco del Giocondo, Leonardo da Vinci, Florence, Sant'Orsola, St. Ursula, Mona Lisa Skeleton, Mona Lisa Remains, Mona Lisa remains found, Mona Lisa remains found in Italy

Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, erupts again on Friday (Watch Video)

SICILY, Italy (Fri, Arr 13) – Italy’s Mount Etna, the highest and most active volcano of Europe, has erupted Friday for 3rd time over the past month, with regular 12 day pauses and 6th time in this particular year.

Mounta Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, erupts again on Friday

Located on the southern Italian island of Sicily, Etna has already erupted 4 times more than its average eruption in any year.

Italian authorities say the ash is not yet making any problems for the nearest international Fontanarossa airport near Catania, the usual victim of Etna’s activity.

No warning has been issued for the residents either.

Watch eruption video below:

Google celebrating birthday of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini and leap year/day

Today is 29^th February; a day that doesn’t comes in every calendar. It actually comes only after every four years and the year in which it comes is called the ‘Leap Year’. 

Google celebrating birthday of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini and leap year/day

2012 is also a Leap Year and the Google has presented a rare 2-in-1 doodle that remembers not only the leap day but also the 220th birthday of the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. Leap year or leap days are remembered in relation to the frogs, the leaping amphibians; therefore Google doodle on February 29 has a number of frogs, all four of them. 

The doodle is inspired by Gioachino Antonio Rossini's famous 1816 comic opera The Barber of Seville (Il barbiere di Siviglia), one of the most performed operas. 

Of the four frogs in the scene, one is at the piano and the soprano is the only one leaping. The barber frog is Figaro and the frog getting a shave is Count Almaviva (Characters created by French playright Pierre Beaumarchais and The Barber of Seville is one of the three Figaro plays penned by him).

Italian Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Tragedy: Rescue operation suspended again on Friday due to wreck movement

ROME, Italy (Jan. 20) – The search and rescue operation on stricken luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia has been halted third time since the disaster took place a week ago, BBC reported.

Costa Concordia: Rescue operation suspended again on Friday due to wreck movement

The suspension of search and rescue operation was ordered due to further tilting of the vessel on the sea ridge on which it rests, increasing the fears that the ship could unexpectedly skid into deeper water.

Earlier, the search and rescue operations were interrupted twice due to the same type of wreck movements, actually kept suspended on Wednesday for the whole day. 

Cosima Nicastro, a spokesperson for the coastguard, told that more wreck movement on Friday forced rescuers on board the ship and divers working in the waters around it to stop work.

Rough waters have also been hindered the rescue work of emergency teams and weather conditions are likely to deteriorate.

Eleven people lost their lives in this disaster of 21^st century Titanic while 21 people are still missing, and finding anyone alive will be a real miracle .

List of dead and missing

• Confirmed dead: Sandor Feher, Hungary, crew; French nationals Pierre Gregoire, Jeanne Gannard, Jean-Pierre Micheaud, Francis Servil, passengers; Italian Giovanni Masia, passenger; Spaniard Guillermo Gual, passenger; Peruvian Thomas Alberto Costilla Mendoza, crew.
• Missing: 21 people plus three unidentified bodies. Nationalities as follows: 12 Germans, six Italians (including one crew member), two French, two Americans, one Peruvian (crew), one Indian (crew)

Costa Concordia Disaster: Nicole Servel, 61, Survived Only Because of Her Husband Francis

ROME, Italy – The tragedy of Costa Concordia is like a real ‘modern day Titanic’ story and a lot of stories are associated with it. Some of the stories have been made public already while some of them will come into light with the passage of time.

Nicole Servel, 61, Survived Only Because of Her Husband Francis

The Costa Concordia disaster showed the world two very different sides of human nature. According to various media reports; the captain of the luxury cruise ship, Captain Francesco Schettino, opted to leave the ship far before the complete evacuation from stricken cruise ship, showing the unethical and selfish side of human nature. 

On the other hand; an elderly couple, among the passengers of the Costa Concordia, left a great example of sacrifice and selflessness.  

The 61-year-old Nicole Servel survived the disaster only because her husband Francis, who gave her the only life jacket they had, when the ship started to sink after disaster hitting rocks and forcing passengers to evacuate.

"I owe my life to my husband," Servel told the media, explaining she doesn't know how to swim. That was the last moment she saw of her husband.

Nicole Servel blames the loss of her husband on the ship's crew, some of whom saved themselves without helping any passengers, Emirates 24/7 reports.

According to latest updates; following the crash, there are 11 confirmed deaths, 29 people still unaccounted for, and several injuries to the 4,200 guests on board.

SOURCE: Emirates 24/7 reports

Share Stocks of Carnival, owner of Costa Concordia, fell 18% after the disaster

LONDON, UK (Jan. 16) - Official sources of British-American Carnival Corporation & Plc, the parent company of stricken luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia, revealed that the company will have to bear a loss up to $95m by the sinking of plunged ship. 

"For the fiscal year ending November 30, the impact to 2012 earnings for loss of use is expected to be approximately $85-$95m or $0.11-$0.12 per share," Carnival said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

Though the company would enjoy an insurance coverage for damage to the ship with an approximately $30m.

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Costa Concordia Tragedy: Video showing modern day Titanic before and after the accident

ROME, Italy (Jan. 16) – The modern ‘Titanic’ tragedy took place on Friday (January 13 2012) when luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground near the island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. As per latest reports it is lying partially capsized, heavily damaged and half-submerged off Isola del Giglio. 

Costa Concordia: A modern day Titanic before tragedy

Costa Concordia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkɔsta koŋˈkɔrdja]) is a Concordia-class cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of British-American Carnival Corporation & Plc. Industry experts quote the ship as a constructive total loss.

Six deaths have been confirmed up to date by the authorities while about 15 are still missing. The captain of the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia is being investigated for manslaughter charges and abandoning the ship, confirmed by prosecutors.

Official sources of the owner company of stricken luxury cruise ship revealed that the company will have to bear a loss up to $95m by the sinking of plunged ship. Company’s shares have already fallen by 18% in London Stock Exchange, though the company has insurance coverage of about $30m for damages to the ship. 

Watch the video below showing Costa Concordia before and after the tragedy.

VIDEO (BBC) -- Costa Concordia Trgedy: Two more bodies found, death toll reaches to five

GIGLIO, Italy (Jan 15) – The death toll climbs up to five as rescue teams have discovered two more bodies onboard the suffering luxury cruise ship, Costa Concordia.  The number of missing has been reduced to 17, including 11 passengers and 6 crew members.

Costa Concordia Trgedy: Two more bodies found, death toll reaches to five

Earlier, a helicopter airlifted a survivor from the capsized hulk of the CostaConcordia.

The bodies of two aged persons were found by rescue teams’ divers in the sunken restaurant of the luxury cruise ship, the Italian Coastguard says. 

Earlier on Sunday, a third survivor was rescued with the help of helicopter after more than 36 hours of the tragic accident. He has a serious leg injury. During the search operations during Saturday night the emergency teams managed to rescue a South Korean honeymoon couple who had been trapped inside the ship for more than 24 hours.

The rescue operation is still under way, but the authorities have reduced the number of missing people from 40 to 17.

Rescue Operation Video: Third Survivor Airlifed from Capsized Costa Concordia after 36 Hours of Tragedy

GIGLIO, Italy (Jan 15) – A third survivor was rescued with the help of helicopter on Sunday (January 15) after more than 36 hours of luxury cruise ship tragedy near the island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany on Friday evening.

Third Survivor Airlifed from Capsized Costa Concordia after 36 Hours of Tragedy

The captain of the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia is being investigated for manslaughter charges and abandoning the ship, confirmed by prosecutors.

The number of missing has been reduced to 17, by the authorities, after the successful rescue operation of a crew member worked in cabin service. He was the third survivor to be found, after a South Korean couple on their honeymoon was rescued late Saturday in the capsized hulk of the ship when firefighters heard their screams.

Three unfortunate passengers are confirmed dead after the huge cruise ship carrying more than 4,200 people ran aground forcing a frenzied and terrifying evacuation. The total number of people missing for had decreased, and there are now six crew members and 11 passengers who haven't been located, Tuscany's regional president Enrico Rossi said.

Photos of Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy -- Exclusive Video of Recue Operations

PORTO SANTO STEFANO, Italy (Jan. 14) – Search operation is underway after three reported killed when an Italian cruise ship capsized off Italian coast. Dozens were reported injured in this accident.

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

According to updates; about 69 passengers are still missing following the 114,500-tonne Costa Concordia, carrying more than 4200 passengers, capsized after striking against underwater rocks near the island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany as passengers sat down to dinner on Friday evening.

Almost 4,200 people, including crew members, were rescued but according to Italian officials about 69 had not yet been accounted for.

Coast guards and divers have spent the morning searching the submerged decks looking for further fatalities, the BBC said.

Italian news agency Ansa said 4,165 out of the 4,234 people on-board had been counted.

The colossal €450 million Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground last night near the island of Giglio. 

The ship carried over 4,200 passengers and crew and was on a 7 day cruise of the Mediterranean.

Initially, the incident caused the Costa Concordia cruise ship to list to one side, now, it is looking as if the ship may well sink.  All those aboard have been evacuated to the nearby island of Giglio which has only one large hotel with 300 beds.

Before watching exclusive video of night-time rescue operation, just see below the pictures of Costa Concordia, inside and outside, after accident:

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Capsized off Tuscany Coast, Italy

Falling Euro Adding More Concerns for Top-rated Euro Zone Countries Like France

EU's Concerns over Dropping Euro

TOKYO, Japan (Nov. 15) – Euro zone debt crisis seems to get deepen with further slipping of the euro on Wednesday against dollar and the yen. The top-rated members of euro zone, like France, are feared to get affected because of increasing pressure on the government bonds of these countries.

The euro drop as far as $1.3460 - the lowest in more than one month period - after the French bond yield spread over benchmark German bonds hit euro-era highs.

Italy’s failure under Mario Monti, former EU Commissioner, to crush fears over the country's long-term political and economic future has led to Italian yields shot back above the critical 7 percent level.

Read More ………… at SFM Tools 

Amanda Knox Back to U.S. after Getting Wild Farewell from Inmates -- Expected to Arrive Seattle Tonight

ROME, Italy – Amanda Knox expected to arrive Seattle today evening after being freed from Italian jail, where she had been for last four years.

Amanda Knox Hugging Corrado Maria Daclon at Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome

“Returned to Freedom” was the code name of the operation under which Knox departure from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport was carefully planned and executed by USA Italy Foundation.

Corrado Maria Daclon, secretary general of the USA Italy Foundation, was there on the Airport to see her off back to USA. Knox gave a big hug to Daclon, which was enough to say thanks for everything these guys have done for her.

Daclon said that Knox said nothing when they departed. "We just hugged and looked at each other." 

Last hours of Amanda Knox in Italy, after the final verdict of her case, were marked by a wild hero's welcome at the prison where she spent the last four years, a James Bond-like car ride to avoid pursuing media, and a police escort to her plane out of Italy.

U.S. Authorities Refused to Allow Sale of Italian Supercar in America

U.S. authorities have refused to allow the sale of Italian supercar ‘Huayra’, twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder carbon-titanium car, due to less-than-required safety standards followed by Pagani, the manufacturer of Huayra.

Italian automaker Pagani had plans to start selling $1 million, 700 horsepower Huayra supercar in the U.S. later this year but federal safety regulators have said "Not so fast."

At about 3,000 pounds, Pagani boasts that the Huayra is the lightest car in its class, enabling it to go from a zero to 60 miles per hour in about 3.5 seconds.

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Exclusive Pictures from the Death Scene of Belgian Cyclist Wouter Weylandt

Reported by madn3wz

RAPALLO, Italy (May 10) - Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt died as a result of race crash during third round of Giro d'Italia. Death scene exclusive pictures are now added here to this report below:

Wouter Weylandt being attended by paramedical team

Wouter Weylandt being attended by paramedical team

Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt has been reported dead as a result of fatal race crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia cycle race.

The 26-year-old Weylandt came off his bike at high speed during a fall about 12m (20km) from the finish.

Paramedics rescue staff cut off his helmet and recklessly attempted to revive him as his body laid static by the roadside.”

Doctor Giovanni Trediciat said: "We arrived immediately as we were behind his group. He was unconscious with a fracture of the skull base and facial damage.

An ambulance took the body away about an hour after the accident.The Belgian rider was racing with Leopard Trek.

The team released a statement saying: "We lost a great teammate and a true friend today.”

Aerial view video of the death scene is also available HERE.

Giro d'Italia Cycle Race; Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt Dies During Third Stage

Wouter Weylandt dies in race crash during Giro dItalia

RAPALLO, Italy (May 09) - Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt has been reported dead as a result of fatal race crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia cycle race.

The 26-year-old Weylandt came off his bike at high speed during a fall about 12m (20km) from the finish.

Paramedics rescue staff cut off his helmet and recklessly attempted to revive him as his body laid static by the roadside.”

Doctor Giovanni Trediciat said: "We arrived immediately as we were behind his group. He was unconscious with a fracture of the skull base and facial damage.

Read updated report and exclusive death scene photos ...... HERE.

Read More and Watch Video of Cycling commentator Anthony McCrossan is talking about the sad incident>>>>>>>>> HERE.

16 Killed, 32 Missing in Capsized Boat, Heading to Italy, Near Libyan Coast

ROME, Italy – According to Ansa news agency; at least 16 Africans have been killed and 32 have still been missing as an overloaded boat, heading to Italy, overturned just few meters away from Libyan coast. 

16 dead 32 missing in a capsized boat near Libyan coast

 Reportedly, the boat had left early Friday with more than 600 people on board. It was following in the paths of another vessel that was carrying 655 migrants to the Italian island of Lampedusa overnight. 

Ansa further reported, quoting a Somali journalist, Aden Sabrie, as saying; there were three babies and several ladies among the 16 bodies recovered. Many of the passengers were survived by swimming to the nearby seashore. 

Incidents of this kind are not uncommon in the Mediterranean. 

Up to 200 people were feared to have drowned exactly a month ago when a boat carrying migrants from Libya capsized in rough seas off Lampedusa.

 The political unrest and economical issues in North Africa have raised the numbers of would-be migrants heading to Italy.

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi Likely to Appear in Court on Monday: Piero Longo, Berlusconi's Lawyer

ROME, March 27, 2011 – Italian media reports citing Piero Longo, lawyer of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, suggest that Mr Berlusconi is set to appear in a court on Monday on account of breach of trust in his business interests.

"The plan is for the prime minister to attend the hearing on Monday but if he has institutional duties it’s obvious that he will not be able to come," said his lawyer Piero Longo, the reports said Sunday.

The hearing in Milan is set to decide whether Berlusconi, a billionaire tycoon-turned-politician whose family now runs his media empire, should stand trial for the case involving his company Mediatrade.

Piersilvio Cipolotti, a member of the law office representing Berlusconi, told media that Berlusconi "could make a spontaneous declaration" at the hearing.

The 74-year-old Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is already a defendant in two trials in progress and is also likely to stand trial starting on April 6 on allegations of having sex with an underage prostitute and then using his position to try and obscure the alleged crime.

The abuse of office charge carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison.

Six Italian Mafia Group (Ndrangheta) Members, Including a Senior Member, Detained in Germany

FRANKFURT – German Police arrested a suspected senior member of the Italian 'Ndrangheta mafia group in Frankfurt on Tuesday, as part of an international raid.

As a part of international raid; one of the alleged senior members of Italian mafia group ‘Ndrangheta’ was detained by police in Frankfurt on Tuesday. 

According to crime investigators’ report; the 43-year-old Italian is supposedly coordinating the activities of ‘Ndrangheta’ in Germany. 

Reportedly, five more suspected members of the same mafia group were captured in the town of Constance, in south-western Germany. 

Police also hunting suspected organized criminals elsewhere, including Switzerland and Italy.

Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Grange Won The Final Gold Medal of Alpine skiing world championships

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – Here on Sunday, final gold medal claimed by Jean-Baptiste Grange of France by winning the men's slalom of the Alpine skiing world championships.

After the first run Grange started leading and maintained his lead to bang Swiss Jens Byggmark by 0.43 seconds. Italy’s Manfred Moelgg picked up bronze medal with just 0.61 seconds behind.

Swiss Jens Byggmark jumped suddenly from sixth to second position to win the silver.