28 December 2004 Tuesday 15 Ziqa'ad 1425 Tragedy calls for biggest relief effort, says UN UNITED NATIONS, Dec 27: The United Nations rushed in more aid to the victims of the devastating Tsunami that struck south Asia as it prepared to launch a flash appeal in what a top UN official called ... Wave was 10 metres high LONDON, Dec 27: The tidal wave that swept the rim of the Indian ocean swelled up to ten metres high, travelled as fast as a moving vehicle and carried billions of tons of water, a British geologist said Monday. ... Earthquake again hits Nicobar islands BANGKOK, Dec 27: An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck India's remote Nicobar islands at 0939 GMT on Monday, but it was not clear whether it would trigger new tsunamis, a Thai seismologist said. ... Woman saw bodies floating 'like dead fish' ROME, Dec 27: "I saw bodies floating like dead fishes," an Italian woman who survived the killer tidal waves in Thailand recounted on Monday. "It was a horrendous scene that I shall never forget." ... Snapshot * Death toll from tsunami in Asia more than 24,000 * 11,000 people killed in Sri Lanka; 800,000 affected * Indian death toll put at 7,000 people * Indonesia reports 5,000 dead * A wall of water up to 10 metres (30 ft) high triggered by the earthquake swept into Indonesia and across the ocean to Sri Lanka, India and southern Thailand ... Differences among Muslims be exploited: US study's recommendation SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 27: A new study of the Rand Corporation - a leading US think tank - advocates that Sunni, Shia and Arab, non-Arab divides should be exploited to promote the US policy objectives in the Muslim world. ... US must pay for damages in Iraq LONDON: Colin Powell invoked it before the invasion, telling aides that if the US went into Iraq "you're going to be owning this place". John Kerry pledged his allegiance to it during the first presidential debate ... US officials 'tried to alert' Asians LOS ANGELES: American officials who detected a massive earthquake off Asia's coast on Saturday tried frantically to warn the deadly wall of water was coming, the head of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Sunday. ... China, Russia to stage joint exercises MOSCOW, Dec 27: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday that Russia and China would conduct their first ever joint military exercises in the latter half of next year on Chinese territory, news reports said. ... Woman bemoans survival THAZHANGUDA, Dec 27: She survived the deadly tsunami that hit India's southern coast at the weekend - but Anjalakshi hardly considers herself lucky. ... Key facts about tsunamis SINGAPORE, Dec 27: Here are some key facts about tsunamis: - Tsunami is a Japanese word that translates as "harbour wave". Often a tsunami is incorrectly referred to as a tidal wave ... God unleashed anger, says villager BANDA ACEH, Dec 27: "It was as if God had unleashed His anger on the people," said Haji Ali, surveying what remained of his Indonesian town after colossal waves swept through, sparing little in their path. ... Wide-awake giant will shake West's strategy LONDON: For those who like to live life on the edge, 2004 has been a year to savour. It's been a white-knuckle ride as the global economy has defied soaring energy costs ... Seychelles 'paradise' turns into 'hell' ANKARA: "A place like a paradise on earth turned into a hell in just one minute. It was a moment of incredible horror," a Turkish tourist in the Seychelles said Monday in the aftermath of huge waves triggered by a quake off Indonesia. ...

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