Propane Gas Tanker On Fire On M56

Propane tanker fire shuts M56 motorway near Chester.

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A tanker carrying propane gas has caught fire, shutting the M56 motorway near Chester, with trains and air travel also affected.

Firefighters are tackling the lorry fire, which started just before 15:00 BST on the westbound carriageway.

The motorway has been closed in both directions between junctions 12 and 15 near Stanlow and Frodsham.

A cordon has been set up and motorists are being evacuated from their vehicles and moved to a safe distance.

The road is closed in both directions and drivers are advised to avoid the area. Air traffic control has been advised of the incident.

Trains have been stopped on the lines between Manchester and Chester, and Ellesmere Port and Helsby. The Liverpool to Runcorn train line is also closed.

Residents in the Helsby, Hapsford and Elton are advised to stay indoors and close their windows and doors.

origina post found her http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-33854932

Kabul international airport rocked by blast

Kabul international airport rocked by blast killing five, injuring 16, police say

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At least five people have been killed and 16 injured when the a car bomb exploded near the entrance of Kabul's international airport, officials say.

The attack, which the Taliban claimed responsibility for, came after a wave of bombings across Afghanistan on Friday.

Smoke billowed from the scene of the attack and human remains were found strewn across the explosion area.

Ambulances rushed to the area and were seen removing bodies.

"The explosion occurred at the first checkpoint of Kabul airport," deputy Kabul police chief Sayed Gul Agha Rouhani said.

The area is where passengers undergo the first round of body checks before entering the airport.

The toll was confirmed by Kabul CID chief Fraidoon Obaidi, who said the explosion was caused by a suicide car bomb.

origina post found herhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-10/kabul-airport-rocked-by-blast/6686772

South Korea.North Korea

South Korea blames North for mine blasts, vows 'harsh' response

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South Korea has accused North Korea of planting landmines that maimed two soldiers on border patrol, sending military tensions on the Korean peninsula soaring as it threatened to make Pyongyang pay a "harsh price".

The Defence Ministry said it believed three landmines exploded in the incident last Tuesday, hitting a patrol in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) - a buffer zone stretching 2 kilometres on either side of the actual frontier line dividing the two Koreas.

"We are certain they were North Korean landmines planted with an intention to kill by our enemies who sneaked across the military border," ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said.

One soldier underwent a double leg amputation, while the other had one leg removed.

In a statement, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military would make North Korea "pay a harsh price proportionate for the provocation it made."

Describing the attack as a "baseless act" and "wanton violation" of non-aggression accords, the statement urged the North to apologise for the attack and punish those responsible.

The Defence Ministry declined to comment on what was meant by the term "harsh price" or to speculate on the options being considered for a response.

Analysts said the type of incident made a proportionate response difficult to gauge.

"Realistically, it's hard to see what South Korea can actually do," Dan Pinkston, Korea expert at the International Crisis Group in Seoul, said.

"It's an unacceptable breach of the armistice terms, but you don't want to escalate the situation so it spins out of control. It's very difficult," Mr Pinkston said.

origina post found herhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-10/skorea-blames-north-for-mine-blasts/6685710