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Google sets new water goals as droughts worsen
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A picture taken on December 6, 2016 shows Google Groningen logo for the office during the opening of the new Google data center in Eemshaven, near Groningen, Netherlands. Photo by VINCENT JANNINK/ANP/AFP via Getty Images With drought sucking the Western US dry, Google announced new plans to protect vital water resources. Google guzzles up water to cool its data centers, three of which are in the drought-stricken West. To offset its thirst, the company said that by 2030, it wants to replenish 120 percent of the water it consumes. Google guzzles up water to cool its data centers, three of which are in the drought-stricken West Google laid out three strategies to accomplish that goal: using water more efficiently in its operations, partnering with communities to make watersheds healthier, and offering its technologies as tools to predict and prevent water stress. The company has faced pushback from communities near its data center in South Carolina and a new one to be built in Arizona . Residents there were worried that Google would burn through too much of their water. Arizona farmers are already facing deep water cuts because of a historically awful drought . If Google succeeds in replenishing more water than it uses, it will become “water positive.” It’s the latest trend in environmental pledges from companies including Facebook and Microsoft . They’re all in a race with climate change, which is intensifying droughts in already parched places like California, Arizona, and Nevada. Ninety-five percent of Nevada, where Google has two data centers, is in a “severe” drought, according to the US Drought Monitor . And “severe” drought plagues more than 93 percent of California, home to Google’s headquarters. “I grew up in Muir Beach, California, and was fortunate to spend my childhood exploring its beautiful forests and streams. Today, these delicate ecosystems are threatened as the entire west coast of the U.S. is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recorded history,” Google chief sustainability officer Kate Brandt said in a blog post yesterday. Google’s water withdrawal — for data centers and its other operations — more than doubled from 2.5 to 5 billion gallons of water from 2016 to 2019, according to its most recent sustainability report. Over that time, the company invested more heavily in data centers behind its search engine, cloud computing, and YouTube. It now has some two dozen data centers scattered across the globe. There’s a delicate balancing act when it comes to managing energy and water use There’s a delicate balancing act when it comes to managing energy and water use at its data centers. Using water to cool servers uses up less electricity than blasting them with air conditioning. Since Google has also pledged to tackle climate change , it’ll have to cut down on its electricity use to slash its greenhouse gas emissions. But the company will now need to make sure it’s not using up too much water, either. To minimize how much water it needs for its data centers, Google recirculates the water through its cooling systems. It has also tried using seawater and reclaimed wastewater to do the job at some locations. To “replenish” more water than it uses, Google plans to invest in projects that restore or conserve resources in watersheds where it operates. A watershed is an area where water drains into a shared body like a river or lake. Initiatives that Google might support moving forward could include restoring wetlands and forests, or harvesting rainwater. To have the greatest impact, Google will need to focus efforts in watersheds that are struggling the most. Google is also working with environmental and research groups to develop a new app called Global Water Watch. It’s supposed to eventually provide “ world-wide, high-resolution, near-real-time ” water data to help communities better manage their resources. Google will continue to fund other water and conservation projects, it said in yesterday’s announcement. “How do we understand what is real action versus window dressing?” Keeping Google and other companies accountable for the promises they make will be the last piece of the puzzle. It’s critical that these companies disclose the progress they make toward their goals, E&E News reported in August. Less than a third of data center operators measure how much water they consume. “That is sort of the ultimate question in this space: How do we understand what is real action versus window dressing?” Simon Fischweicher, the head of corporations and supply chains at CDP North America, a nonprofit that works with companies and governments to measure their environmental impact, said to E&E News.
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Droughts
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Aeroflot Flight 513 crash
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Aeroflot Flight 513 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight operated by Aeroflot that crashed during takeoff from Kuybyshev Airport in the Soviet Union on 8 March 1965, resulting in the deaths of 30 passengers and crew. It was the first fatal accident involving a Tupolev Tu-124. [1]
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Tupolev Tu-124V with two Soloviev D-20P engines, registered SSSR-45028 to the Soviet Union's state airline, Aeroflot. At the time of the accident the aircraft had accumulated 1,612 flight hours and 1,151 pressurization cycles in service. [1][2]
Thirty passengers and nine crew members were on board the flight. The crew consisted of the following:[3]
Stewardesses Zoya Chicherina and Tamara Kolesnikova worked in the cabin. The aircraft was de-iced before takeoff. In the cockpit, the check captain observing the trainee's performance sat on the right; the trainee sat on the left. The captains and first officer remained in the cabin and did not assist the trainee and check captain during takeoff. Flight 513 took off from the runway at a bearing of 100°. At an altitude of 40–50 meters the angle of attack increased to the point of causing a stall. The Tu-124 never recovered from the stall and crashed into a field of snow. Originally the crew and sixteen passengers died in the crash, but five passengers later died in hospital from their injuries. [4]
The investigation concluded that the accident was most likely caused by:[4]
One member of the investigation board disagreed with the conclusions reached, insisting that the accident was caused by pilot error.
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Air crash
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John Getreu receives life sentence for 1974 murder
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John Getreu waits in a courtroom at the Santa Clara County Superior Court Hall of Justice during a hearing on July 15, 2019. Embarcadero Media file photo by Veronica Weber. Calling the string of strangulation murders and sexual assaults by John Arthur Getreu "evil and despicable crimes," San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles sentenced the 77-year-old man to life in prison and a $5,000 fine on Friday for killing Janet Ann Taylor 47 years ago. a Honda resident Janet Ann Taylor was last seen hitchhiking near Stanford University on March 24, 1974. Her body was found in a roadside ditch in Woodside the next day. She had been strangled. Courtesy San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. "Words cannot begin to express my sorrow in this case," Foiles said. He wished that Taylor's parents were alive to see the man who killed their daughter be brought to justice and hoped all of the families and the surviving victims would get some solace from knowing that Getreu would spend the remainder of his life in prison. A jury convicted Hayward resident Getreu of first-degree murder and infliction of great bodily injury on Sept. 14 after a scant hour of deliberation. His trial lasted 18 days. He murdered Taylor, 21, on March 24, 1974, while she was hitchhiking home after visiting a friend. Her body was found in a ditch on Sand Hill Road near Manzanita Way. The La Honda woman had been strangled, beaten and sexually assaulted. Witnesses, including his family, a former wife, the family of another murder victim and another victim who survived an assault by Getreu provided testimony during his trial. What's local journalism worth to you? Support Palo Alto Online for as little as $5/month. Getreu was previously convicted and imprisoned in Germany when he was 18 years old for the 1963 strangulation, beating and rape of 15-year-old Margaret Williams. Her father, an army chaplain, and his father, who was also an army officer, were serving at a base in Bad Kreuznach. Getreu spent more than six years of a 10-year sentence — the maximum allowed at that time in Germany — behind bars before returning to his family in the U.S. But his penchant for sexually assaulting and strangling pretty, young, dark-haired women apparently continued. In 1975, he took a plea deal for a lesser charge, statutory rape, after being charged with the forcible rape of a Palo Alto teenager who was in his Explorer Scout troop. She testified during the Taylor case that he had also strangled her and threatened to kill her if she didn't submit to his assault. His stepdaughter and an ex-wife have also said off the witness stand that he sexually assaulted the girl for years during her childhood. On Feb. 16, 1973, Leslie Marie Perlov, also 21, was found strangled in a remote area near what is now the Stanford Dish hiking trail, which isn't far from where Taylor's body was found 13 months later. Getreu has been charged with, but not yet tried for, Perlov's murder. Getreu wasn't on anyone's suspect list, however. Although California had the first mandatory sex offender registry law in the nation, dating to 1947, mandatory federal sex offender registration that could link crimes committed in other states wasn't enacted until 1994. The National Sex Offender Registry database, which is used by law enforcement, wasn't established until 1996, two decades after Getreu's crime in Germany and his Palo Alto conviction. Stay informed It was nearly 50 years until modern DNA testing linked him to the Taylor and Perlov murders. (Getreu still faces trial in Santa Clara County for Perlov's death.) On Friday morning, Getreu sat motionless in his wheelchair in court wearing a red jail jumpsuit. A pair of headphones were strapped over his ears so Getreu, who is hearing impaired, could listen to the court proceedings. He remained alert, neither appearing to doze during testimony, nor perking up with interest when photographs of his dead victims were shown on a screen, as he had during his trial. He didn't swivel his head to acknowledge his only son, the sole member of his family who attended the trial and his sentencing. He didn't look at Taylor's friend, James Schroeder, when Schroeder made an impact statement to the court. During the trial, Getreu had fixed a steady gaze on Schroeder and Taylor's then-boyfriend, Russell Bissonnette, during their testimonies. Schroeder and Bissonette, who was also present at the sentencing, had been fast friends who met while students at Cañada College. Taylor was "a quiet force of nature;" a serious student; and a wonderful, beautiful person who was well-spoken, kind and who loved nature, he said. Shortly before she died, Schroeder took photographs of Taylor leaning against his favorite car, he recalled. "I'm so glad to have the pictures," he said in court. The photographs reminded him of Taylor's vibrant life, a life lost before anyone would ever know her promise and what she would bring to the world, he said. The pictures are grainy, he noted. It took a few years before he had the film developed. "It was a simple thing that got lost in the aftermath of Janet's murder," he said. Schroeder said he is glad he was able to testify during the trial. He feels sorry for the Explorer Scout Getreu raped and strangled and for the deaths of Margaret Williams, Perlov and Taylor and the pain their families and friends have experienced. Schroeder said he wished Getreu had faced the death penalty. Still, Getreu "will get the justice he deserves today," he said of the life sentence. Janet Taylor's body was found in a ditch just off the side of Sand Hill Road near Manzanita Road, which falls under Stanford University property, in 1974. Embarcadero Media file photo by Veronica Weber. San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Josh Stauffer read additional impact statements into the court record. He asked the court to add the statements to Getreu's probation file for consideration if he ever comes up for a parole hearing. Judge Foiles admitted the documents. In a moving statement read by Stauffer, Perlov's sister, Diane, noted that she is still traumatized by her sibling's death. She doesn't like tight clothing near her neck and she won't go alone into a parking lot at night. "The scarf wrapped around her neck was mine," she said. Fourteen months apart in age, Leslie was the older sister. She was her protector and dear friend. "No one made me laugh so hard," she said. Families are affected for multiple generations by murder, she noted. It's not only about memories lost, but the robbing of memories and experiences that can never be made. Diane's son cherishes an oil painting of the aunt he never met and he named his daughter after Leslie, she said. "I'm relieved that this convicted killer will not murder again," she said. She asked that Getreu not have any opportunity of parole to eliminate any chance of his relief from his crimes. Stauffer, in his final closing statement, also emphasized the need for Getreu to remain imprisoned to reflect on his crimes. "John Getreu is the definition of a serial killer. He deserves nothing less than to be alone, locked in a cell for the rest of his life; to be haunted by the killings and rapes" he committed, he said. Taylor's family has preferred to remain private. Stauffer said her sister thanked the court for the opportunity to view the trial privately from a livestream in the District Attorney's Office. In a report filed in court, she described her sister as fun, pleasant, outgoing, talkative, smart, beautiful, strong, compassionate and well-balanced. 'Words cannot begin to express my sorrow in this case.' Stauffer also read a victim's impact statement from the brother of Getreu's first known victim, Margaret Williams. Evan Williams, who also testified at the trial, said he was 7 years old when his sister was murdered. Getreu might justify his killings in his mind, leaving their bodies "like trash," but he has seriously damaged other lives. Still, Getreu didn't destroy them. "We have lived and loved," he said. Since his sister's murder in 1963 to this day, Getreu has never showed remorse for his crimes, Evan Williams noted. "When you were on trial in 1964, you tried blaming and shaming Margaret" with "twisted lies" during the trial, he said. "You did not show strength. You showed weakness. You will try to hide in the darkness of your soul. Step up into the light of truth. Stand up and speak the truth," he said. There's one glimmer of hope that Getreu might someday own up to his crimes, Stauffer noted. On page four of the probation report, Getreu said he wants to plead guilty to the murder of Perlov, Stauffer said. If he does so, perhaps then the families can begin to feel some closure to Getreu's crimes, he added. Outside of the courtroom, San Mateo County sheriff's Detective Gordon Currie said the most poignant moment for him during sentencing came while hearing the words of the victims' families. He was struck by the effect of Getreu's crimes on all of the families, including the killer's own. For detectives, a murder and a lack of closure are also emotional and hard. Currie thinks of the many investigators who worked on the Taylor case before him and the avenues of inquiry they went down that only led to dead ends. They didn't have the tools of DNA that he had, he noted. But Currie knows what it is to live and breathe a case for years in hopes of getting justice for a victim and their family, he said. In that moment, when a long-retired investigator gets a call that a case has been solved, there's a tremendous feeling of relief and closure, he said. "It's like we're on a peaceful lake and Getreu is a speedboat leaving long wakes in everyone's life. … I'm glad that he's finally out of gas," he said. Getreu will appear in Santa Clara County Superior Court for a trial-setting conference for Perlov's murder on Jan. 19. Calling the string of strangulation murders and sexual assaults by John Arthur Getreu "evil and despicable crimes," San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles sentenced the 77-year-old man to life in prison and a $5,000 fine on Friday for killing Janet Ann Taylor 47 years ago. "Words cannot begin to express my sorrow in this case," Foiles said. He wished that Taylor's parents were alive to see the man who killed their daughter be brought to justice and hoped all of the families and the surviving victims would get some solace from knowing that Getreu would spend the remainder of his life in prison. A jury convicted Hayward resident Getreu of first-degree murder and infliction of great bodily injury on Sept. 14 after a scant hour of deliberation. His trial lasted 18 days. He murdered Taylor, 21, on March 24, 1974, while she was hitchhiking home after visiting a friend. Her body was found in a ditch on Sand Hill Road near Manzanita Way. The La Honda woman had been strangled, beaten and sexually assaulted. Witnesses, including his family, a former wife, the family of another murder victim and another victim who survived an assault by Getreu provided testimony during his trial. Getreu was previously convicted and imprisoned in Germany when he was 18 years old for the 1963 strangulation, beating and rape of 15-year-old Margaret Williams. Her father, an army chaplain, and his father, who was also an army officer, were serving at a base in Bad Kreuznach. Getreu spent more than six years of a 10-year sentence — the maximum allowed at that time in Germany — behind bars before returning to his family in the U.S. But his penchant for sexually assaulting and strangling pretty, young, dark-haired women apparently continued. In 1975, he took a plea deal for a lesser charge, statutory rape, after being charged with the forcible rape of a Palo Alto teenager who was in his Explorer Scout troop. She testified during the Taylor case that he had also strangled her and threatened to kill her if she didn't submit to his assault. His stepdaughter and an ex-wife have also said off the witness stand that he sexually assaulted the girl for years during her childhood. On Feb. 16, 1973, Leslie Marie Perlov, also 21, was found strangled in a remote area near what is now the Stanford Dish hiking trail, which isn't far from where Taylor's body was found 13 months later. Getreu has been charged with, but not yet tried for, Perlov's murder.
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Famous Person - Commit Crime - Sentence
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Magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 generates the towering tsunami
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HAMAMATSU--An unusual collaboration between a newspaper delivery shop and an eyewear accessory company here led to the development of "randoseru" school backpacks that can be used as makeshift emergency flotation devices if children get caught in a tsunami or heavy flooding. The life-preserving backpack is the brainchild of newspaper delivery agent Joji Shimizu who was left dumbfounded by the loss of life at a public elementary school in northeastern Japan as a result of the towering tsunami generated by the magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. More than 80 pupils and teachers perished that day. It took six years for the two partners to be in a position to commercialize the product, which they are planning to release by the end of the year. Founded 73 years ago in Hamamatsu and now located in the city's Higashi Ward, Sakae Shokai is a leading manufacturer and seller of eyewear accessories such as eyeglass cases and lens cleaning cloths. Installed with cutting and sewing equipment, the company has made a point of assisting other companies to commercialize their product ideas, including Shimizu's pet project, the life-saving randoseru. In 2012, Shimizu, 73, who operates a newspaper delivery shop in the city's Naka Ward, visited the ruined Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, where 84 children and staff members died or were listed as missing in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. He couldn't stop thinking about whether there could have been a way to save those precious lives. He started by making a swim ring out of a urethane material, but gave up on the idea after a friend told him that no child would go to school with a swim ring. Three years later, he came up with the idea of a floating backpack after he saw his first-grader grandchild carrying a randoseru. Life-saving precautions recommended by expert bodies such as the Society of Water Rescue and Survival Research call for taking shelter on elevated ground first before floating face up to wait for help when water levels rise. Conventional randoseru are naturally buoyant. But unless the backpack is attached to the stomach, a person's face would automatically be submerged. Working with Sakae Shokai's president, 62-year-old Takashi Yoshizawa, Shimizu tried out loads of prototypes. The main unit is made of nylon fabric. A 10 centimeter-thick urethane sheet is inserted inside the flap that serves as the lid of the backpack. It can be used as a flotation device by bringing it from the back to the front and placing it on the chest. A thin urethane sheet is also inserted on the back of the backpack to ensure it stays buoyant. The wearer can also float face up longer and in a more stable manner when the backpack is fastened to the body at the armpits and the groin with plastic clips. In the presence of lifeguards, a demonstration with elementary school pupils from Hamamatsu was conducted in a pool in May and again at sea in July. "I felt nervous at first when I couldn't touch the bottom with my feet. But I was able to stay afloat easily once I got the hang of it," said Yuhi Ohara, 9. "I swallowed a bit of water at first but calmed down after I got my face out of the water," said Miku Masuda, 9. Yoshizawa said it was difficult to adjust the balance to enable first- through sixth-graders to float with sustained stability due to different body sizes and other physical attributes. He also made the float section of the backpack detachable to allow several children to grab hold of it and float. The life-saving randoseru is of regular size, although slightly heavier at 1.4 kilograms. The company will pitch the backpack at a price of 49,500 yen ($450), including tax. It has applied for a trademark registration under the nickname of "Ukuran."
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Tsunamis
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1943 Liberator crash at Whenuapai crash
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The 1943 Liberator crash at Whenuapai was an aircraft accident in New Zealand during World War II. [1][2] TVNZ covered the crash during the program Secret New Zealand in 2003, and posited the accident was covered up, due to concerns of reprisals against POWs. [3]
The Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express aircraft, owned by the USAAF and operated using a United Airlines crew, was transferring Japanese men, women, and children of the Consular Corps, to exchange for Allied POWs. [4] On 2 August 1943, it took off from Whenuapai Aerodrome runway 04 at 2:20 am, with rain and fog conditions at minimums for departure, and quickly passed through low stratus. Captain Herschel Laughlin's gyro horizon had inadvertently been left caged – while the instrument displayed level flight, the aircraft entered a steepening bank to the left. [4] The crew detected the problem in a few seconds, but as the aircraft was straightening up and levelling out, it hit the ground at about 322 km/h (200 mph), bounced a few times and exploded. The third bounce threw its first officer, R. John Wisda, out through the canopy; he rolled end over end about 100 metres (330 ft) through mud and reeds. [4] A medic later found him trying to keep warm near a burning tyre. R. John Wisda survived the crash. The major factors of the accident were the lack of a pre-flight checklist, and crew fatigue (126 flying hours in the last 26 days). The crash killed three of the five crew (United States nationals), and eleven of the twenty-five passengers (eight Japanese and three Thai nationals). [5] Two additional passengers died later from injuries. [4] TSS Wahine took the surviving internees from Wellington to Sydney three months later. [6][7][8]
The aircraft crashed to the ground 1¼ miles NNE of Whenuapai airfield. [9]
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Air crash
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2013 Italian social protests
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In 2013, protests occurred in many parts of Italy, starting on 15 November and ending on 18 December although several protests continued until February. Usual targets have been the government, high taxation, red tape, established parties, the European Union, the Euro, the Common Agricultural Policy, and Globalization. [7] The protesters' goals include the overthrow of Enrico Letta's government, the resignation of President Giorgio Napolitano and the dissolution of Parliament. Some went so far as to propose the formation of a military junta to lead the country out of Eurozone. [8][9]
The whole protests, including rallies, demonstrations and blockades of highways and rail service, were dubbed by journalists Pitchfork protests[10][11][12] from the name of one of the leading participants: the Sicilian-based "Pitchfork Movement", which has been active in Sicily since 2011 and was characterised by an autonomist streak. [13] In the 2012 Sicilian regional election the Pitchforks supported either Mariano Ferro (candidate for "People of Pitchworks") or Cateno De Luca (candidate for "Sicilian Revolution"),[14] who both hailed from the Movement for the Autonomies and received a combined 2.5% of the vote. [15]
Several groups, sometimes in conflict one with another, have animated protests, benefiting from a loose or non-existent coordination. They included a diverse bunch of groups: the original Pitchfork Movement, associations of truck drivers, environmental activists, farmers, entrepreneurs, unemployed people, football fans, minor political parties (including New Force and CasaPound, two far-right movements), and a plethora of local groups. [7] The European Federalist Free Entrepreneurs (LIFE), a libertarian and mainly Venetian nationalist[16] organization led by Lucio Chiavegato (a former president of Veneto State), has been playing a big role in Veneto. [17][18][19][20]
The committee which organized the first protests, the "National Coordination 9 December 2013",[21] was led by Mariano Ferro, Lucio Chiavegato and Danilo Calvani (a farmer from Lazio). [22]
In December 2013, Pitchfork spokesman Andrea Zunino claimed that Italy was a "slave" to Jewish bankers; this anti-Semitic remark was widely condemned. [23][24] As a result of this and of neo-fascist infiltrations, Ferro and Chiavegato, who distanced himself from neo-fascists and Italian nationalists, decided not to take part to the 18 December demonstration in Rome. [25]
In March 2014 Chiavegato announced that the 9 December Movement had been dissolved and that he would concentrate again on Veneto only. [26]
In April, Chiavegato and other leading members of the LIFE were arrested, along with other Venetian separatists (including Franco Rocchetta and two members of the Venetian Most Serene Government), for suspected crimes including criminal association for terrorism and subversion of the democratic order. [27] Chiavegato, who endured a 17-day hunger strike in jail,[28][29] was released on 18 April, along with Rocchetta and most of the others, as the tribunal of Brescia did not uphold the accusations. [30][31]
Thousands of students protested in major university centers in the country against proposed spending cuts in the 2014 budget. Scuffles broke out with riot police at some marches as protesters rallied in Rome, Turin and Palermo. [32]
On 26 November 2013 Trasportounito, a truckers' union, announced a strike which would take place from 9 December through 13 December. [33] On 4 December 2013 thousands of people gathered in Brenner, the Austrian-Italian border, to protest the counterfeited goods imported abroad. [34]
Thousands of farmers, lorry drivers, pensioners and unemployed people have taken to the streets in Italy as part of a series of protests against the government and the European Union. [35] Demonstrators stopped train services by walking on the tracks while striking lorry drivers disrupted traffic by driving slowly and blocking roads. [36]
In Turin, police officers used tear gas to disperse demonstrators who had been throwing rocks and bottles at the headquarters of Italy's tax collection agency. Two demonstrators were arrested for violence. An additional number of 32 people were given police warnings for blocking roads. In Savona, near Genova, protesters broke into a bookshop urging the owner to "shut down the store and set fire to the books". On 11 December, violence erupted in Milan when 20 Ajax fans, who had arrived in the city for the Champions League game against AC Milan, got off their bus and hurled beer cans and insults at the demonstrators in the central Loreto Square. Police intervened quickly to break up the fighting, but five Ajax supporters and an Italian peddler were injured. [37][38]
In Rome, hundreds of students clashed with police and threw firecrackers outside a university where government ministers were attending a conference. "Our university isn’t a catwalk for those who peddle austerity" read a banner. Clashes have been also reported in Ventimiglia, a locality on the Italian-French border. [39]
A group of protesters of the neo-fascist movement CasaPound attacked the headquarters of the European Union in Rome. The leader of the movement, Simone Di Stefano, ripped the EU flag from the balcony of the building and replaced it with the Italian one. The protesters have been charged by the police and, after tough fighting, ten of them, including Di Stefano, have been arrested. [40]
After the renouncement of Mariano Ferro and Lucio Chiavegato to take part to the demonstration in Rome, Danilo Calvani, the leader of Lazio's factions of the movement, remained the only one to participate to it. [41] Simone Di Stefano, the Vice-President of the neo-fascist CasaPound said that his movement will take part to the protest. [42] The Ministry of the Interior deployed 2,000 police officers to maintain security. [43]
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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SA Police fined $390,000 over death of cook Debra Summers in freezer
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
A $390,000 fine imposed on South Australia Police over the death of a woman working at its Adelaide Hills training centre is among the largest in the state for breaching workplace safety laws.
It was imposed today over the death of 54-year-old Debra Summers, who died from hypothermia after being trapped in a walk-in freezer at the Echunga facility in 2016.
SA Police was spared the full force of the law, with the South Australian Employment Tribunal discounting the fine by 40 per cent for an early guilty plea.
The force faced a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.
The force will instead have to pay $390,000 plus costs to cover travel expenses for one of Ms Summers's daughters.
Tribunal deputy president Judge Brian Gilchrist found police failed to have any policies or procedures in place to deal with the fact at times, she had to work with "extremely dangerous" equipment.
He was left with the impression that "SAPOL is mortified by the death of the deceased".
"And rightly so," Judge Gilchrist said.
His views were echoed by Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams after the fine was imposed.
"SAPOL are clearly mortified at the death of Deb Summers," she said.
"We're deeply sorry to the family.
"We understand this whole process would have been terrible for them."
The judgment noted police had made substantial safety improvements to the Echunga training site and more than doubled its equipment maintenance budget since Ms Summers' death.
Police have also banned walk-in freezers from any of their sites.
The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), which is responsible for maintaining State Government sites, was also charged over the tragedy.
But SafeWork SA withdrew the charge, instead accepting an "Enforceable Undertaking," which obliges DPTI to conduct a review of its facilities and maintenance to ensure they meet safety requirements.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
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Organization Fine
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2010 Kalgoorlie-Boulder earthquake
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The 2010 Kalgoorlie-Boulder earthquake was a 5.2 Mw earthquake that occurred near the city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia on 20 April 2010, at approximately 8:17 am WST.
The earthquake caused major damage to the historic buildings in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Its epicenter was approximately 10 km (10 mi) southwest of Kalgoorlie, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). The duration of shaking lasted about 10–15 seconds and was felt up to 1,007 km (626 mi) away. [6] It was also the largest recorded in the Goldfields region in terms of magnitude and one of the largest in Australia in terms of resulting damage. [5][7][8][9] No one was killed but two people were treated at Kalgoorlie Hospital for minor injuries resulting from the earthquake. It resulted in the temporary closure of local gold mines including the Super Pit gold mine.
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Earthquakes
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UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira
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UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira (also known as UFC Fight Night 170 and UFC on ESPN+ 28) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 14, 2020 at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasília, Brazil. [2][3]
A lightweight bout between former interim UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Kevin Lee and Charles Oliveira served as the event headliner. [4]
A middleweight bout between Brad Tavares and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 heavyweight winner Antônio Carlos Júnior was scheduled for the event. However, Tavares was forced to pull out of the fight due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. [5] He was replaced by Makhmud Muradov. [6] In turn, Júnior suffered an unspecified injury and the bout was cancelled from the event. [7]
A women's strawweight bout between Paige VanZant and Amanda Ribas was scheduled for the event. However, VanZant was forced to pull out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury. VanZant requested to reschedule the bout one month later, but Ribas decided to remain at the event and Randa Markos stepped in as the replacement. [8]
A flyweight bout between Su Mudaerji and Bruno Gustavo da Silva was scheduled for the event. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, Mudaerji was forced to withdraw from the event as he would not travel to prepare for the fight and was replaced by promotional newcomer David Dvořák. [9]
At the weigh-ins, Lee weighed in at 158.5 lb, 2.5 lb over the lightweight non-title fight limit of 156 pounds. He was fined 20% of his purse and his bout with Oliveira proceeded as scheduled at a catchweight. [10]
On March 12, the UFC announced that this event would take place behind closed doors (for the first time in the promotion's history) after Ibaneis Rocha, the governor of the Federal District (where Brasília is located), announced that large gatherings will be suspended or closed for a period of 5 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] Both the UFC's planned Thursday media day and Friday ceremonial weigh-ins were cancelled ahead of the card, with the official early morning weigh-ins being the only official fighter obligations that remained ahead of fight night. [1] In response, UFC president Dana White stated "We [The UFC] always go overboard with health and safety, and that’s what we’re going to do here", although none of the fighters were tested for the COVID-19 virus by the commission leading up to the event. [11][12]
[13]
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. [14]
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Sports Competition
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1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown crash
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On January 28, 1992, Azerbaijani transport helicopter Mil Mi-8 was shot down by a heat-seeking missile[1] near the town of Shusha. The 1993 report by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on aviation security called it the "most significant incident" involving civil aviation in Central Eurasia. [1]
Serious air warfare during the Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out in January 1992. Azeri aircraft became easy targets for Armenian armed forces. On January 9, the Armenians first claimed to have shot down an Azeri helicopter. More claims followed on January 24, 28 and 31 – all of them over Nagorno-Karabakh, the last being a Mi-8 downed from MANPADs over the village of Huha. [2] On January 31, the Azeris claimed the downings of two Mi-8s that supported the first Armenian offensive. [2]
The Mi-8 helicopter transported 44 persons aboard (41 passengers, all civilians, and 3 crew) when it departed the town of Agdam for Shusha, which was blockaded by Armenians. The craft was downed en route by a surface-to-air missile. All aboard were killed. [2][3][4] According to Azeri journalist Kerim Kerimli, who assisted in collecting bodies at the site and confirmed the number of fatalities, the missile was launched from Stepanakert. [5]
Armenian officials stated that the helicopter was carrying weapons and ammunition to Azeris attacking Armenian villages. [2]
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Air crash
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2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash
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On the night of September 19, 2008, a Learjet 60 business jet (registration N999LJ)[2] operating for Global Exec Aviation crashed during take-off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina. [3][4]
Four of the six people on board died in the crash. The survivors, musician Travis Barker and disc jockey Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, were critically injured. [5] The jet had been due to fly Barker, Goldstein, and their entourage to Van Nuys, California, after their TRV$DJAM band's performance at a concert in Five Points. [6]
The aircraft involved was a Learjet 60 that had first flown in 2006, receiving its airworthiness certificate on December 14. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW305A turbofan engines and had 108.5 flight hours with 123 take off and landing cycles. [7]:7
The captain was Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, California and the first officer was James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, California. Both pilots had joined Global Exec Aviation the same year of the accident. [7]
Captain Lemmon had 3,140 flight hours, including 35 hours on the Learjet 60, though only eight of them were as a captain of that aircraft. An instructor described her as having "excellent" crew resource management. However, she had received several notices of disapprovals during her training. [7][6]
First officer Bland had 8,200 flight hours with 300 of them on the Learjet 60. The director of Global Exec Aviation, who had flown with both crew members of the accident flight, described Bland as "not overly assertive. "[7]
Just before midnight, the plane was heading down the runway for takeoff when the occupants heard a loud bang. [4] According to the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic controllers saw sparks emanating from the plane. [4] The pilots told the control tower that a tire had blown out and they would be aborting the take-off. [6][8] Barker and Goldstein stated that the aircraft felt "out of control" and was swaying back and forth. [1]
The aircraft overran the runway end, crashed through the airport boundary fence, crossed South Carolina Highway 302, and came to rest onto an embankment, bursting into flames. [9] It took firefighters more than an hour to get the fire under control. [8]
Both pilots were killed, as well as passengers Charles Monroe Still, Jr. and Chris Baker. [4][6] The pilot and co-pilot died from smoke inhalation and burns minutes after the crash. [8] Passengers Still, Jr. and Baker died upon impact. [8]
Barker and Goldstein escaped the plane and told first responders four others were on board. Both suffered second and third degree burns and received skin grafts. [3][10][11] Goldstein was asleep at the time of the crash and woke up to Barker screaming. [10] Barker opened the door to the plane and slid down the plane's wing. [10] Goldstein jumped out after him. [10] Goldstein was on fire, but was able to put out the flames by rolling on the ground. [10]
Barker stated that he was covered in jet fuel, and started running and ripping off his clothes. [11] Eventually, he heard someone tell him to stop, drop and roll, which put out most of the fire on his body. [11] Barker had burns on sixty-five percent of his body and was in the hospital for eleven weeks following the accident. [11] He suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder,[11] and did not fly on a plane again until August 2021. [12]
On the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) the pilot indicates she is reacting to the apparent sound of a tire burst and attempting a rejected takeoff. Pieces of a tire were found at the crash site. [13] The plane did not carry a flight data recorder (FDR). The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) report attributed the accident to tire bursts during take-off and the pilot's resulting decision to abort at high speed. [7] Several tires were severely under-inflated and punctured during take-off. [7] Pieces of the tires damaged the plane's hydraulic system, causing the plane's brakes to fail. [6] The captain aborted at 144 knots (267 km/h; 166 mph). The normal operating procedure for Learjet 60s is never to abort above the "go/no-go" decision speed V1 , which for this particular take-off was 136 knots (252 km/h; 157 mph). [7]
The captain therefore aborted the takeoff after V1 , violating these operating procedures. The first officer can be heard saying the appropriate "go go go" on the CVR. A contributing factor was the engines giving full power, even though the pilots were applying reverse thrust. The reason for this was the aircraft's air/ground sensor was damaged by debris and caused the sensor to go to "air" mode. Investigators also found that the captain had limited experience in the Learjet 60 and that the company’s tire pressure inspections were inadequate. [7][6]
Global Exec Aviation estimated that the tire pressure had been checked three weeks before the crash, but investigators stated that the type of tires on the Learjet 60 at the time lose approximately two percent of their pressure per day and would need to be replaced after eight days if they were not properly maintained. [6] Additionally, investigators noted a design flaw in the thrust reverser system which the NTSB believed may have contributed, increasing the severity of the crash. [1]
Both survivors, as well as the estates of two of the deceased, sued for damages from parties including Learjet, tire manufacturer Goodyear, and, in at least Goldstein's case, against the estates of the dead pilots. [14] Barker's case was settled out of court in December 2009 and the terms of the settlement are confidential. [15] The estates of Still, Jr. and Baker also reached settlements.
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Air crash
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Drought-struck Brazil expects Sept rainfall well below average
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Paula, 7, poses with her horse on the cracked ground of Atibainha dam, part of the Cantareira reservoir, in Nazare Paulista, near Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 12, 2015. REUTERS SAO PAULO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Rainfall in key energy-producing regions of drought-struck Brazil is likely to remain well below average in September, the national grid operator ONS said on Friday, doing little to relieve high energy prices and headaches for agribusiness. Brazil, one of the world's agricultural superpowers, is grappling with one of its worst droughts in nearly a century. The lack of rainfall has hurt farmers and forced the country to rely more on costly thermoelectric power plants, stoking inflation and dragging on the economy. With reservoirs low at key hydroelectric dams, the government is encouraging Brazilians to consume less power, but has so far ruled out energy rationing. On Friday, the ONS said it expected energy usage to rise 0.9% next month compared to the same period last year. But it said rainfall in areas where hydroelectric power is produced will remain below average in September. In the southeast and midwest Brazil, where the country's main hydropower reservoirs are located, rainfall should reach just 57% of the historical average for the period, it said.
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Droughts
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Spanish general strike of 1988
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The 1988 Spanish general strike—known locally as 14-D (shortened form of 14 Diciembre)—was a general strike in Spain that took place on December 14, 1988. It was called by the two main trade unions: CCOO and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). Triggered by a significant reform in the labour market, namely a new more flexible contract for inexperienced youngsters with less redundancy pay, the strike was moreover a manifestation of general discontent with Spain's PSOE government policies. The government's economic policies were thought to be too conservative by trade unions and many left-wing voters. The country was completely and peacefully paralyzed for 24 hours, prompting the government to negotiate with the unions. Even the TV signal was turned off by the workers. That flexible contract was retired and welfare state was increased. However, the strike did not prevent a third absolute majority by PSOE, whose leader, Felipe Gonzalez, remained popular. Some economists believe the strike was the cause of a large increase in public spending, which led to an increase in the budget deficit. Others prefer to attribute public spending to the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, the 1992 world fair in Seville, plus the first high-speed train, for the large budget deficit. The budget deficit led to spending cuts which, coupled with a tough monetary policy, led to a recession in 1993. Some minority unions, including the students' union, the anarchist union, CNT, and the second largest teachers' union, STEC, called a strike in the educational sector for 14-D, 2005 to use the symbolic power of 14-D as a strike called by the left against the PSOE government and to protest a new education law which they thought gave too much money to private schools, which are mostly Catholic, in Spain. The strike had limited success due to lack of support from other unions.
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Strike
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X-15 Flight 3-65-97 crash
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X-15 Flight 3-65-97, also known as X-15 Flight 191 (due to being the 191st free flight of the X-15), was a research flight of the North American X-15 experimental aircraft, carrying seven experiments to an actual peak altitude of 266,000 feet. It took place on November 15, 1967, and was piloted by Michael J. Adams. It ended in tragedy when the aircraft broke apart minutes after launch due to technical difficulties, killing the pilot and destroying the plane. Adams's seventh X-15 flight took place on November 15, 1967, in the number three aircraft. At 10:30 in the morning on November 15, the X-15-3 dropped away from underneath the wing of NB-52B mothership at 14,000 m (45,000 ft) over Delamar Dry Lake. Experiments and tests on this flight to 266,000 feet were:
— Boost guidance experiment
— Solar spectrum measurement
— Ultraviolet plume detection
— Micrometeorites collection
— Wingtip pod deflection photography
— Test of Saturn 5 booster insulation on X-15 reentry
— Test of traversing probe in a wingtip experiment pod
While in powered flight, an electrical disturbance distracted Adams and slightly degraded the control of the aircraft; having adequate backup controls, Adams continued. At 10:33 he reached a peak altitude of 81,000 m (266,000 ft). In the NASA 1 control room, mission controller Pete Knight monitored the mission with a team of engineers. As the X-15 climbed, Adams began a planned wing-rocking (rolling) maneuver so an on-board camera could scan the horizon. At the conclusion of the wing-rocking portion of the climb, the X-15 had begun a slow drift in heading; 40 seconds later, when the aircraft had reached its maximum altitude, it was off heading by 15 degrees to the left. As Adams came over the top, the drift briefly halted as the aircraft's nose yawed 15 degrees back to the correct attitude. Then the drift to the left began again; within 30 seconds, Adams's descending flight path was at right angles to the attitude of the aircraft. At 70,000 m (230,000 ft), while descending into the rapidly increasing density of the atmosphere, the X-15 entered a Mach 5 (5,300 km/h) spin. In the NASA 1 control room, there was no way to monitor the heading of the aircraft, so the situation was unknown to the engineers monitoring the flight. Normal conversation continued between Knight and Adams, with Knight advising Adams that he was "a little bit high", but in "real good shape". Adams radioed that the aircraft "[seemed] squirrelly", and moments later repeatedly told Knight that he had entered a spin. The ground controllers sought to get the X-15 straightened out, but there was no recommended spin recovery technique for the X-15, and engineers knew nothing about the aircraft's supersonic spin tendencies. The chase pilots, realizing that the X-15 would never make Rogers Dry Lake, headed for the emergency lakes, Ballarat and Cuddeback, in case Adams attempted an emergency landing. Adams held the X-15's controls against the spin, using both the flight controls and the reaction control jets in the nose and wings. He managed to recover from the spin at 36,000 m (118,000 ft) and went into an inverted Mach 4.7 (5,300 km/h) dive at an angle between 40 and 45 degrees. In theory, Adams was in a good position to roll upright, pull out of the dive and set up a landing. However, due to high gain in the adaptive control system, the X-15 went into limit-cycle oscillations with rapid pitching motion of increasing severity, still in a dive at 49,000 m (160,000 ft) per minute. As the X-15 neared 20,000 m (65,000 ft), it was diving at Mach 3.93 (4,200 km/h; 2,600 mph) and experiencing more than 15 g0 (150 m/s2) vertically, and 8 g0 (78 m/s2) laterally. The aircraft broke up northeast of the town of Johannesburg 10 minutes and 35 seconds after launch. An Air Force pilot, who was filling in for another chase pilot, spotted the main wreckage northwest of Cuddeback Lake. The aircraft was destroyed, and Adams died. NASA and the Air Force convened an accident board. Chaired by NASA's Donald R. Bellman, the board took two months to prepare its report. Ground parties scoured the countryside looking for wreckage, specifically the film from the cockpit camera. The weekend after the accident, an unofficial NASA Dryden Flight Research Center search party found the camera, but could not find the film cartridge. FRC engineer Victor W. Horton organized a search and on November 29, during the first pass over the area, Willard E. Dives found the cassette. The accident board found that the cockpit instrumentation had been functioning properly, and concluded that Adams had lost control of the X-15 as a result of a combination of distraction, misinterpretation of his instrumentation display, and possible vertigo. The electrical disturbance early in the flight degraded the overall effectiveness of the aircraft's control system and further added to pilot workload. The board made two major recommendations: install a telemetered heading indicator in the control room, visible to the flight controller; and medically screen X-15 pilot candidates for labyrinth (vertigo) sensitivity. As a result of the X-15's crash, the FRC added a ground-based "8 ball" attitude indicator in the control room to furnish mission controllers with real time pitch, roll, yaw, heading, angle of attack, and side slip information. A Mike Adams memorial was created by Eagle Scout John Bodylski at the crash site. [citation needed] Adams's name appears on the Space Mirror Memorial.
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Air crash
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New Cross house fire
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The New Cross house fire was a fire that occurred during a party at a house in New Cross, south-east London, in the early hours of Sunday, 18 January 1981. The blaze killed 13 young black people aged between 14 and 22, and one survivor took his own life two years later. [1]
No one has ever been charged in connection with the fire, which forensic science subsequently established started inside the house. Inquests into the deaths were held in 1981 and 2004. Both inquests recorded open verdicts. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, a New Cross Massacre Action Committee (NCMAC) was set up, chaired by John La Rose, which organised a "Black People's Day of Action" on 2 March 1981, when some 20,000 people marched over a period of eight hours through London, carrying placards that bore statements including: "13 Dead, Nothing Said". [2]
The New Cross fire – described by Darcus Howe in 2011 as "the blaze we cannot forget" – is significant as a turning point in the relationship between Black Britons, the police and the media, and marks an "intergenerational alliance to expose racism, injustices and the plight of black Britons". [3]
The party was a joint birthday celebration for Yvonne Ruddock (one of the victims of the fire) and Angela Jackson (who survived) and was held at No. 439, New Cross Road. It began on the evening of Saturday, 17 January 1981, and continued throughout the night and into the early hours of Sunday, 18 January. [4]
At the time, there was a fairly high degree of racial tension in the area and far-right groups, including the National Front, were active locally. There had also been some early complaints from neighbours about excessive noise from the party. A white Austin Princess car was seen driving away from the fire. [5]
The initial police suspicion was that the party had been firebombed, either as a revenge attack or in an attempt to stop the noise; there was also an alternative theory that a fight had broken out, from which the blaze emanated. A forensic science report produced for the Metropolitan Police in 2011 ruled out a firebomb attack, finding instead that the fire had started when somebody in the house set fire to a foam-filled armchair in the front room of the property at 5:40am on Sunday morning. [6] Police also ruled out the theory that a fight had taken place. [7]
One week after the fire, on 25 January, a meeting was held at the Moonshot Club in New Cross, attended by more than one thousand people. The meeting concluded with a march to the scene of the fire and a demonstration there, which blocked New Cross Road for several hours. The New Cross Massacre Action Committee (NCMAC) was set up, chaired by John La Rose,[2] and organised weekly meetings in New Cross, which saw increasing participation as the police investigation announced that there was no evidence of arson and that the fire was believed to be accidental. The Action Committee organised a "Black People's Day of Action" on 2 March, when 20,000 people marched over a period of eight hours from Fordham Park to Hyde Park carrying placards that bore statements including: "Thirteen Dead, Nothing Said", "No Police Cover-Up" and "Blood Aga Run If Justice Na Come". [8] One slogan read: "Dame Jill Knight Set The Fire Alight!" — an apparent reference to a controversial speech by Dame Jill Knight, a right-wing member of the ruling Conservative Party, which was widely interpreted as condoning or even encouraging "direct action" against noisy parties. [9][10]
Tribune described the march as "the largest mass movement for racial justice on British soil at the time", but also noted that "journalists stationed in the offices of Fleet Street chanted monkey noises at the protestors down below. "[11]
A survivor of the fire, Anthony Berbeck, apparently died by suicide on 9 July 1983 by jumping from the balcony of a block of council flats in south London. He had been traumatised by the death of his friends in the blaze. [12]
The inquest into the deaths of the 13 teenagers, began on 21 April 1981. [2] The jury returned an open verdict. In 2002 a new action in the High Court led to an order for a second inquest, which was held in 2004. [13] This second inquest also resulted in an open verdict. [2] The coroner said that the fire was probably started deliberately by one of the guests, but as he could not be sure of this, he returned an open verdict. [14]
On 14 January 2011, an event called "Remembering the New Cross Fire 30 Years On" was held at the Albany Theatre in Deptford. The event was hosted by Kwame Kwei-Armah and was an evening of spoken word, film, discussion and Lovers rock music. It featured contributions from Alex Pascall, Professor Gus John, filmmaker Menelik Shabazz, spoken-word artists El Crisis and Zena Edwards, novelist Courttia Newland and musicians Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson. Many of the victims' families and the survivors attended the event. [15][16]
St. Andrew's Church in Brockley has a strong connection with the victims, as many of them attended the youth club there. In October 2002, Lewisham council installed a special stained-glass window at the church in their memory. [17][18] On 16 January 2011 a memorial service was held there, with speakers including George Francis, chair of the New Cross Fire Parents' Committee, Lewisham Council leader Steve Bullock and Joan Ruddock, MP for Lewisham Deptford. [19]
The victims were also commemorated in January 2011 with a blue plaque from Nubian Jak Community Trust. [20][21] There is a stone memorial in Fordham Park, Deptford, listing those who died; facing the stone memorial is a bench with a memorial inscription. [22] Both were installed in 2012. There is also a memorial to the victims consisting of a park bench, plus 13 trees with a plaque at either end, on Hackney Downs in east London, and a memorial plaque on the wall of Catford Civic Hall listing the names of the "fourteen young people who died in the New Cross Fire of 18th January 1981". In 2017, the "13 Dead, Nothing Said"[23] exhibition was hosted at Goldsmiths College, University of London. The exhibition[24] presents a body of photographs documenting the Black People's Day of Action, taken by Vron Ware, who had attended the march on 2 March 1981. [25]
In 2020, a BBC Radio 4 documentary entitled "From the Ashes of New Cross", an episode in the series Lights Out, was broadcast to mark the 40th anniversary of the fire. [26][27]
Documents and papers related to the New Cross Massacre Action Committee's campaign are held in the archives of the George Padmore Institute and can be accessed by the public. [2][35]
The Black Power group Black Unity and Freedom Party (BUFP) published an account of what happened on the night of the fire in their journal, Black Voice. [36]
Coordinates: 51°28′33″N 0°01′49″W / 51.4757°N 0.0304°W / 51.4757; -0.0304
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Fire
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2 Manitoba restaurants cry ‘tyranny’ after shutdown, $40K fines for health violations
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The owners of two Tuxedo restaurants are complaining about what they call “fascism” after their businesses were shut down for eat-in dining by provincial health officials and fined $40,000.
Corydon Avenue eatery Monstrosity Burger has taken to social media to complain about its treatment by the province, saying the restaurant is facing large fines on top of the dining room closure for violating public health orders by letting unmasked and unvaccinated customers eat-in.
“This country is pathetic and we will lose every last bit of freedom if people dont (sic) stand up now,” Monstrosity Burger said on Instagram.
“The voting system is rigged and isn’t changing anything.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser, describing the government’s actions as “tyranny,” has also been started to help the business fight what it says is a discriminatory health order.
According to the fundraiser, the restaurant has been hit with $40,000 in fines.
That number was confirmed by the province on Tuesday. According to the Public Health Orders report, updated weekly, Monstrosity Burger and its sister restaurant next door, Tuxedo Village Family Restaurant, received six tickets of $5,000 each for violating public health orders last week, and two more the week before.
Read more: 60 tickets, 97 warnings dished out as Manitoba gets set to double fines for health order violations
Tuxedo Village Family Restaurant was also shut down — a business that made headlines last summer after its owner allegedly made a racist Facebook post.
The two restaurants have been openly flouting Manitoba’s health rules throughout the pandemic.
A viral social media video earlier in September appeared to show unmasked Winnipeg police officers picking up an order at Monstrosity Burger. Police told Global News they were aware of the video and were investigating.
Four other places received $5,000 tickets this past week, including CanadaInns Windsor Park, and three places in Winkler, including the Chicken Chef, Loblaws and Topper Family Restaurant.
“These measures are in place to reduce the transmission, therefore reduce the amount of severe outcomes we see that risk the health care system, as well as bringing down the community transmission so we can keep kids in school, for example,” Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin said Tuesday.
“We need all Manitobans to play their role. If we’re going to have a good response to this fourth wave and have some of the things that are most important to us.”
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Organization Fine
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School strike for climate
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School Strike for Climate (Swedish: Skolstrejk för klimatet), also known variously as Fridays for Future (FFF), Youth for Climate, Climate Strike or Youth Strike for Climate, is an international movement of school students who skip Fridays classes to participate in demonstrations to demand action from political leaders to take action to prevent climate change and for the fossil fuel industry to transition to renewable energy. Publicity and widespread organising began after Swedish pupil Greta Thunberg staged a protest in August 2018 outside the Swedish Riksdag (parliament), holding a sign that read "Skolstrejk för klimatet" ("School strike for climate"). [4][5]
A global strike on 15 March 2019 gathered more than one million strikers in 2,200 strikes organised in 125 countries. [1][6][7][8] On 24 May 2019, the second global strike took place, in which 1,600 events across 150 countries drew hundreds of thousands of protesters. The events were timed to coincide with the 2019 European Parliament election. [7][9][10][11]
The 2019 Global Week for Future was a series of 4,500 strikes across over 150 countries, focused around Friday 20 September and Friday 27 September. Likely the largest climate strikes in world history, the 20 September strikes gathered roughly 4 million protesters, many of them schoolchildren, including 1.4 million in Germany. [12] On 27 September, an estimated two million people participated in demonstrations worldwide, including over one million protesters in Italy and several hundred thousand protesters in Canada. [3][13][14]
In November 2006 the Australian Youth Climate Coalition was formed to organise climate change actions involving youth and school children. [15] In 2010 in England there were school walkouts over climate change, linked to a Climate Camp. [16] In late-November 2015, an independent group of students invited other students around the world to skip school on the first day of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. On 30 November, the first day of the conference, a "Climate strike" was organised in over 100 countries; over 50000 people participated. [17] The movement focused on three demands: 100% clean energy; keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and helping climate refugees. [18]
On 20 August 2018, the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg,[19] then in ninth grade, decided to not attend school until the 2018 Sweden general election on 9 September after heat waves and wildfires in Sweden. [4] She has said she was inspired by the teen activists at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who organised the March for Our Lives. [20][21] Thunberg protested by sitting outside the Riksdag every day during school hours with a sign that read "Skolstrejk för klimatet" ("school strike for climate"). [22] Among her demands were that the Swedish government reduce carbon emissions per the Paris Agreement. On 7 September, just before the general elections, she announced that she would continue to strike every Friday until Sweden aligns with the Paris Agreement. She coined the slogan FridaysForFuture, which gained worldwide attention, and inspired school students across the globe to take part in student strikes. [23]
Thunberg travelled to New York City on a two-week journey by sailboat to continue calling attention to the work needed to address the climate crisis. She participated in school strikes being planned in the U.S on 20 September, and soon after she spoke at the UN Climate Summit on 23 September 2019, in New York City. [24]
Strikes began to be organised around the world, inspired by Thunberg, starting in November 2018. In Australia, thousands of students began to strike on Fridays, ignoring Prime Minister Scott Morrison's call for "more learning in schools and less activism". [25] Galvanised by the COP24 Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, strikes continued at least in 270 cities[23] in December in countries including Australia, Austria,[26] Belgium, Canada,[27] the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Japan, Switzerland,[28][29] the United Kingdom, and the United States. [23][30]
In 2019, strikes were organised again in the countries listed above and in other countries, among them Colombia, New Zealand, and Uganda. [31] Mass strikes took place on 17 and 18 January 2019, when at least 45000 students protested in Switzerland and Germany alone, against insufficient policies on global warming. [32][33][34] In several countries, including Germany and the UK, pupils demanded the change of laws to reduce the voting age to 16 so that they could influence public elections in favour of the youth. [35][36]
In Germany, regional groups were organised, communicating autonomously within WhatsApp groups and spreading their messages using flyers and social media. By February 2019, more than 155 local groups were counted by the movement. [37]
In United States, organizers coordinated on a state-by-state level and communicated autonomously within Slack groups and spreading their messages using flyers and social media. By February 2019, more than 134 groups were counted by the movement. The organizations Sunrise Movement, 350.org, OneMillionOfUs, Earth Uprising, Future Coalition, Earth Guardians, Zero Hour, and Extinction Rebellion helped to coordinate. [37]
The Belgian environment minister for Flanders, Joke Schauvliege, resigned on 5 February 2019 after falsely claiming the state security agency had evidence that the school strikes in Belgium were a "set‑up". [38]
In the United Kingdom, on 13 February 2019, following open letters in support of the socio-political movement Extinction Rebellion in 2018, 224 academics signed an open letter giving their "full support to the students" attending the School Strike for Climate action. [39][40] On Friday 15 February, more than 60 actions in towns and cities within the United Kingdom took place, with an estimated 15000 strikers taking part. [39][41][42]
Climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, addressed a Fridays for Future climate strike in Potsdam, Germany that same day. [43] On 21 February 2019, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, stated his intent to spend hundreds of billions of euros on climate-change mitigation, amounting to a fourth of the EU budget. He announced this in a speech next to Greta Thunberg, and media credited the school-strike movement with provoking the announcement. [44]
On 5 March 2019, 700 German-speaking researchers signed a statement in support of the school strikes in that country. [45] Other researchers were invited to support the statement and it has been signed by over 26800 scientists from mainly Germany, Austria and Switzerland. [46][47]
On 9 May 2019, during a European Union summit in Sibiu, representatives of the movement from all over Europe met with several national leaders of European countries and handed them an open letter, which was signed by over 16000 European climate strikers and their sympathisants. [48][49][50]
On 15 March 2019, a series of school strikes urging adults to take responsibility and stop the climate change took place. More than a million people demonstrated in about 2200 events worldwide across 125 countries. [1][6][7][8]
On 1 March 2019, 150 students from the global coordination group of the youth-led climate strike (of 15 March), including Thunberg, issued an open letter in The Guardian, saying:[51]
We, the young, are deeply concerned about our future. [...] We are the voiceless future of humanity. We will no longer accept this injustice. [...] We finally need to treat the climate crisis as a crisis. It is the biggest threat in human history and we will not accept the world's decision-makers' inaction that threatens our entire civilisation. [...] Climate change is already happening. People did die, are dying and will die because of it, but we can and will stop this madness.
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Strike
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U.S. Announces Withdrawal From Nuclear Arms Treaty With Russia
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by: CNN Wire US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a press briefing in the State Department in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2019. (Credit: ERIC BARADAT/AFP/Getty Images)
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Friday that the US is suspending the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a key pact with Russia that has been a centerpiece of European security since the Cold War.
“For years, Russia has violated the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty without remorse,” Pompeo said, speaking from the State Department. “Russia’s violations put millions of Europeans and Americans at greater risk.”
“It is our duty to respond appropriately,” Pompeo said, adding that the US had provided “ample time” for Russia to return to compliance.
The long-expected suspension, which has raised concerns about a renewed arms race with Moscow and put European allies on edge, goes into effect on Saturday. Pompeo’s announcement starts a 180-day clock to complete withdrawal unless Russia returns to compliance with the 1987 agreement.
President Donald Trump and his senior officials had been signaling for months that they were ready to pull out of the INF treaty, which the US accuses Moscow of violating since 2014.
“The United States has fully adhered to the INF Treaty for more than 30 years, but we will not remain constrained by its terms while Russia misrepresents its actions,” Trump said in a statement Friday. “We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other.”
Later, at the White House, the President hinted to reporters that he’d be open to negotiations on a new treaty but did not mention Russia by name — the only other signatory to the pact.
“I hope that you’re able to get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty that would be much better, but certainly I would like to see that,” Trump said, according to pool reports. “But you have to have everybody adhere to it and you have a certain side that almost pretends it doesn’t exist.’
“So unless we’re going to have something we all agree to we can’t be put at the disadvantage of going by a treaty, limiting what we do, when somebody else doesn’t go by that treaty,” Trump said.
While Russia and the US are the only two parties to the treaty, but it significantly affects European security.
The ground-based nuclear tipped cruise missiles covered by the bilateral agreement can fly between 310 to 3,100 miles, making them a threat to Europe, where officials have unanimously backed the US decision, even as they consider their next steps and admit having little to no optimism that the treaty can be saved.
In a statement, NATO said America’s allies “fully support” the US decision because of Russia’s threat to Euro-Atlantic security and its refusal to provide any credible response or take any steps towards full and verifiable compliance.
NATO urged Russia to use the next six months to “return to full and verifiable compliance to preserve the INF Treaty.”
“We are heading into a direction we have not been in in 40 years: no arms control limits or rules that we are both following, and that is very dangerous,” said Lynn Rusten, a senior director for arms control and nonproliferation at the National Security Council during the Obama administration who is now a vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
US officials and lawmakers have expressed concern that the treaty is allowing China to gain a military advantage, as Beijing is not bound by the INF treaty’s limits on intermediate range missiles that currently constrain the US.
Trump appeared to confirm this in his Friday remarks to reporters, saying, “first of all you have to add countries” to the treaty.
But a senior US administration official denied Beijing is a factor.
“There’s a lot of discussion about China,” this official said, briefing reporters on the suspension. “It is a reality that China is unconstrained, it is a reality they have more than 1,000 of these weapons, but for the United States this has nothing to do with China. This is solely about Russia’s violation of this treaty.”
“We simply cannot tolerate this kind of abuse of arms control,” the official said.
Russia has consistently denied being in violation of the treaty, and on Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said talks with the US hadn’t yielded progress.
“Unfortunately, there is no progress. The US position remains rather tough and ultimatum-like,” Ryabkov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.
“We told the US side that it is impossible to hold dialogue in the conditions of attempted blackmailing of Russia,” he added.
Senior US administration officials countered Thursday by laying out Russia’s repeated efforts to get the US to agree to dissolve the treaty and years of American effort to get Russia to comply, including 35 diplomatic engagements ranging from the highest political levels to technical talks.
“We have, unfortunately, very little to show for it,” said a US official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, stressing that “the onus is on Russia.”
“Russia continues to deny its violations … Russia will have this chance. If they are truly interested in preserving this treaty, this is their final chance,” the official continued. “It would be in Russia’s best interests to return to full and verifiable compliance.”
This official noted the “remarkable unity” among the US and its European allies, but European officials say they’re concerned about the treaty dissolving and say they will use the six-month window to urge Russia to comply.
“It is clear to us that Russia has violated this treaty and that’s why we need to speak to Russia,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a press conference in Berlin on Friday, shortly before the US announced its intention to suspend the treaty.
Germany will ”do everything we can” to use the six-month deadline after the termination to hold further talks with Russia, Merkel said.
European officials discussing the fallout in the coming months point to a possible increase in Russian cyber activities, including its influence campaigns, Russia is likely to use the US withdrawal as an excuse to deploy systems elsewhere and the certainty of finger-pointing, as Moscow works to assign blame.
“Russia will feel more legitimized to continue what it’s doing now, but also increasing some of its efforts on missile technology and deploying them,” said a European official.
A second European official said that “they will threaten, they will try to divide NATO, they’ll do anything but stay quiet.” The Russians will likely argue that “this is about the US and the US trying to destabilize the international order,” this official said, stressing that Europe has been united in its stance, alongside the US, that Russia has been violating the treaty.
“The bigger picture is what kind of sign you’re sending out, what message you’re sending,” said a third European official. “For us, this treaty was extremely important for our security. What are we looking at instead” if it is scrapped, the official asked.
Submit Copyright 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Tear Up Agreement
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Trump withdraws from Iran nuclear deal, isolating him further from world
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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he is quitting the Iran nuclear deal, pitting him against the United States' closest allies and leaving the future of Tehran's nuclear ambitions in question. "It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement," Trump said from the White House Diplomatic Room. "The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing we know exactly what will happen." In announcing his long-telegraphed decision, Trump said he would initiate new sanctions on the regime, crippling the touchstone agreement negotiated by his predecessor. Trump said any country that helps Iran obtain nuclear weapons would also be "strongly sanctioned." Fact-checking Trump's Iran speech "This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," the President said in remarks that, at times, misrepresented the international agreement's provisions . "It didn't bring calm, it didn't bring peace, and it never will." Trump's decision could have explosive consequences, straining longstanding US alliances, disrupting oil markets and boosting tensions in the Middle East, even if the US reversal doesn't lead Iran to restart its atomic program. While Trump supporters praised the move, analysts and critics said it undermines Washington's credibility in future negotiations -- particularly with North Korea -- and potentially empowers the very hardliners in Iran that Trump vilified in his remarks. It also further isolates Trump on the global stage, where he has angered even the staunchest US allies by reneging on US commitments to the Paris climate accord and pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. US officials growing increasingly concerned Iran could attack Israel Former President Barack Obama , who rarely comments on his successor, issued a statement describing Trump's move as a "serious mistake" that could leave the US with a "losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East." Some of the US' closest allies, the UK, France and Germany, issued a statement expressing "regret and concern" about the decision, emphasizing Iran's compliance with the deal and their "continuing commitment" to the Joint Commission Plan of Action, as the deal is formally known. Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, said he had ordered the country's atomic industry to be ready to restart industrial uranium enrichment, while the country's foreign minister said he would work with the pact's remaining partners -- France, the UK, Germany, China and Russia -- to see whether they could ensure "full benefits for Iran. Outcome will determine our response," Javad Zarif tweeted. Tensions in the region are high, with US officials citing "concerns" that Iran might attack Israel, without citing their evidence for the claim, while Israel called up reserves and the State Department issued a security alert for US citizens in the Golan Heights. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told CNN that he fears that "new crises" will break out in the Middle East as a result of the US decision. "We don't need new crises in the region," Erdogan told CNN's Becky Anderson. US foes used the decision to portray the US as an international outlier, underscoring that the US, not Iran, is now technically in violation of the deal. European leaders 'disappointed' in Trump's withdrawal from Iran deal "The position promulgated by Washington represents a significant violation of the JCPOA," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, describing Trump's decision as "new confirmation of Washington's incompetence." The Russians also said that US "claims regarding Iran's absolutely legitimate nuclear activities are just a cover for keeping political scores with the country." Indeed, senior Trump administration officials -- including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats -- have said Iran is adhering to its commitments under the deal. But Trump has argued while they may be sticking to the letter of the accord, they have violated its spirit by fostering discord in the region, supporting groups like Hezbollah, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Syrian regime. Trump derided the deal as an embarrassment that gave the regime dollars at the same time it sponsored terrorism. "At the point when the US had maximum leverage, this disastrous deal gave this regime -- and it's a regime of great terror -- many billions of dollars, some of it in actually cash -- a great embarrassment to me as a citizen," Trump said. Lawmakers, such as Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, backed the decision. "I support US withdrawal from the flawed, dangerous Iran nuclear deal," Toomey said, calling for the US to develop harsh new sanctions to punish Iran for "its grotesque human rights abuses, openly hostile aggression in the Middle East, extensive ballistic missile testing, and support for terrorism." Sanctions don't go into effect for months Trump's Iran decision raises the stakes on North Korea The sanctions could take months to go into effect as the US government develops guidance for companies and banks. But reapplying the sanctions -- which were lifted in exchange for Iran's commitment to curb its nuclear program -- will effectively cripple the 2015 accord that Trump has deemed a disaster. The grace period could allow for further negotiations between US allies on a side agreement that addresses Trump's concerns about the missile program and Tehran's support for terror groups. Trump said Tuesday he was open to finding diplomatic means to address his concerns. But even if a deal is struck, it's not clear how they would convince Iran to sign on, or whether Russia and China -- two other partners to the deal -- would agree. New US sanctions will undoubtedly cause companies to reconsider investments in Iran and European firms may have no choice but to scale back or risk running afoul of US rules. Questions surrounding the announcement also highlighted a seeming lack of strategic planning by the Trump administration. US officials admit that during negotiations with European officials about a side deal to address Trump's concerns about missiles and Iran's regional activities, they did not discuss what they would do if the US walked away from the deal. No Plan B "We did not talk about a Plan B because we were focused on negotiating a supplemental agreement," a senior State Department official said Tuesday, "so we did not -- we did not talk about Plan B." That official said the US is prepared to sanction Europeans with the end goal of creating a "global coalition" to work toward a comprehensive agreement that addresses all US concerns about Iran using the leverage of economic isolation. It's a plan that has former officials scratching their heads. "It's very difficult to see how we get a better deal given that Iran would have no reason to go back to the negotiating table and no reason to trust us," said Andrew Keller, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for sanctions and counter threat finance. "Even if we were to get the Europeans to agree to something, what is the administration's plan to get the Russians on board, the Chinese on board, not to mention the Iranians," Keller said. "And if there's not a plan for a new and better deal, how can we possibly be safer outside of this one?" The State Department official said the administration doesn't know whether or to what degree Europeans will be on board -- discussions with European allies began this afternoon, the official said -- nor how Iran will react. National security adviser John Bolton, an Iran hawk who nonetheless told people he was committed to providing all options to Trump, offered a variety of paths, including reimposing all sanctions, applying new sanctions, or allowing for more time to negotiate with the Europeans. Trump determined that more time would not bridge disagreements, most pointedly his demand that Iran's nuclear program be curbed past the current deal's sunset in 2030. Some White House officials were caught off guard when Trump announced on Twitter Monday that he was planning to make the announcement. Most aides expected him to wait until closer to Saturday, when the deadline for issuing a sanctions waiver landed. One US official suggested the timing was moved up so as not to impede next week's opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, another move that could cause jitters in the Middle East.
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Tear Up Agreement
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Jakob Ingebrigtsen Wins Men’s 1500 Meters in an Olympic Record
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American Cole Hocker finishes 6th. Sprinting past front-running Timothy Cheruiyot off the final turn, 20-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won the men’s 1500-meter final in 3:28.32 on August 7 in Tokyo. His time broke the Olympic record of 3:31.65, set just two days ago by Kenyan Abel Kipsang in the semifinals. Cheruiyot, the 2019 world champion, held on for second in 3:29.01, just ahead of Josh Kerr of Great Britain, the bronze medalist in 3:29.05. Cole Hocker, the NCAA and U.S. Trials champion, finished sixth in a personal best of 3:31.40. He was the sole American in the final.
Ingebrigtsen and Cheruiyot are no strangers on the track. This was the 13th time the two have clashed, but it was the first time the Norwegian beat his Kenyan counterpart.
“I’ve been struggling with eating for the last couple of weeks because I have been waiting so long for this race,” Ingebrigtsen said. “This is what you want as a professional runner. I’ve been able to do it [win gold] first try, and I feel like I am just getting started. But at the same time, I have been dreaming of this for my whole life. It’s great.”
Cheruiyot, the fastest in the world this year, had said before the race he expected a sub-3:30 winning time. He made that prediction come true by taking the lead at the end of the first lap and forcing the pace in the same way that he did to win the world title two years ago. But this time, Ingebrigtsen was able to stay in contact through the final turn, and then use his superior closing speed to outrun the Kenyan.
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The fast pace was a sharp contrast to the 2016 Olympic final, a sit-and-kick affair won by American Matthew Centrowitz in 3:50.00, the slowest winning time since the 1932 Olympics. (Centrowitz finished ninth in his semifinal in Tokyo and didn’t advance to today’s final.) “Jakob is a good racer, he is a young athlete, he is coming fast, so I’m happy about the race,” Cheruiyot said. “He’s a good racer, and I want to say to him congratulations.”
Today’s gold is Ingebrigtsen’s first medal on the world stage. He placed 4th and 5th in the 1500 and the 5,000 meters at the 2019 World Championships, respectively, but his status has been growing leading up to these Olympics. He’s the youngest of the famed running brothers from Norway. His father, Gjert, coaches Ingebrigtsen and his older brothers, Filip and Henrik, who have both established their own impressive track careers. Filip earned a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the 2017 IAAF World Championships, and Henrik was the 2012 European champion in the 1500 meters.
This past June at a Diamond League meet in Florence, Italy, Jakob ran a European record time of 12:48.45 in the 5,000 meters, but he focused solely on competing in the 1500 for the Olympics.
“This is not me winning this race. If it wasn’t for my brothers, my family and my fiancee, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this,” Ingebrigtsen said. “It’s not just me; it is a whole team around me that’s incredible.”
Bothered by a hamstring strain, Cheruiyot finished fourth in the 1500 in the Kenyan Olympic Trials in June and was initially left off the team. He was named to the Kenyan squad in July after running a world-leading time and personal best of 3:28.28 at the Monaco Diamond League. The second-place finisher at the Kenyan Trials, Kamar Etyang, was removed from the Kenyan team because the relatively unknown 18-year-old hadn’t undergone the requisite number of out-of-competition drug tests. The quick final provided several personal bests throughout the field. Along with Kerr and Hocker, Kipsang ran another PR of 3:29.56, Adel Mechaal of Spain took fifth in 3:30.77, and Michal Rozmys of Poland was eighth with a best of 3:32.67. The top seven finishers ran better than the Olympic record before these Tokyo Games started (3:32.07).
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Break historical records
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1955 Yuzha earthquake
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The 1955 Yuzha earthquake (1955年鱼鲊地震) occurred on September 23, 1955, at 15:06 UTC (23:06 local time). The epicenter was located in the area around Lazha (拉鲊), Dalongtan (大龙潭) Township, Renhe District, Panzhihua and Yuzha (鱼鲊) Township, Huili County. Lazha then belonged to Yongren County, Yunnan and now within Sichuan. Yuzha then belonged to Huili County, Sichuan as it still does. The earthquake had a magnitude of Ms 6.8. [1]
728 people were reported dead and 1547 injured in the earthquake. [2] More than 15000 rooms collapsed. [1] Eight people died and seven houses collapsed in the Xigeda (昔格达) Village. [3] Cracks ranging from 10 to 70 cm in width and 100 to 1,500 m in length occurred on hillsides and ridges. [1] Landslides were observed along both banks of the Jinsha River. [3] Many villages on both banks of the Jinsha River were destroyed. [1] Rivers and springs dried up, and many new springs appeared. Changes of water level in wells and ditches were reported. Many villages on both banks of the Jinsha River were destroyed. Along the Jinsha River and its surrounding gullies, large quantities of rocks broke, fell, and dammed up the gullies. In the Jinsha River, waves surged 1 m high. The maximum intensity reached MM IX. [1] The shaking could be felt as far as about 400 km away. [3]
The Xigeda-Yuanmou fault (昔格达—元谋断裂带), about 270 km long, is the seismogenic structure of this earthquake. [4] From the distribution of the isoseismals of this earthquake, it was suggested that there is a three-layered structure. There is a rupture layer, and there are two complete rock layers located in both sides of the rupture layer. The rupture layer is the place where the stress was concentrated and released and has the role of reflecting the seismic wave propagation. [5]
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Earthquakes
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2021 Uttarakhand flood
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The 2021 Uttarakhand flood, also known as the Chamoli disaster,[1] began on 7 February 2021 in the environs of the Nanda Devi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site[2] in the outer Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand state, India It was caused by a large rock and ice avalanche consisting of material dislodged from Ronti peak. It caused flooding in the Chamoli district, most notably in the Rishiganga river, the Dhauliganga river, and in turn the Alaknanda—the major headstream of the Ganges The disaster left over 200 killed or missing, most were workers at the Tapovan dam site. According to early reports, the flooding was speculated to have been caused by a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier breaking off early on 7 February, releasing the water trapped behind the ice, and causing a glacial lake outburst flood. [8] Other reports suggested that satellite images imply that a landslide may have triggered the events. On 8 February 2021, The Times, London, reported that a flood was caused by a portion of glacier being torn away and causing a landslide. In satellite images, a 0.5 mi (0.80 km) scar is visible on the slopes of Nanda Ghunti, a 20,700 ft (6,300 m) peak on the southwestern rim of the Nanda Devi sanctuary, a wall of mountains surrounding the Nanda Devi massif (Maps 2, 3, and 4). [11] According to an article in Scientific American, 12 February 2021, data from Planet Labs was interpreted by Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist at the University of Calgary, to suggest that a hanging glacier "15 football fields long and five across" had separated from a mountain and plummeted into the Ronti Gad, a tributary of the Rishiganga (Map 3, 30° 28' N, 79° 45' E; Map 2, lowest left-bank tributary). [12]
According to BBC News, four scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India flew over the site in a helicopter, took photographs, and gathered other data; they consider the hanging glacier that cracked and plunged into the Rishiganga basin, to have been attached to a subsidiary peak, Raunthi, 5,600m (18,372ft), just below Nanda Ghunti (Map 3, Ronti, at the intersection of 81 and 423). [13] According to Dr. Kalachand Sain, director of the Wadia Institute, climate change is the major factor in the rapid freezing and thawing of ice that causes glacier fractures. [14] A subsequent analysis by Carbon Brief highlighted how though climate change probably didn't directly cause the outburst -- instead a landslide or similar geological change triggered it-- however, the environmental changes caused by climate change probably contributed to the geographic conditions that allowed for the disaster. [15]
In June 2021, the International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters' published a study that confirmed a large rock and ice avalanche as the cause of the disaster. [4] The result was based on data from earth observation satellites, as well as seismic records, numerical model results, and eyewitness videos. The authors estimate the avalanche at about 27 million cubic meters, consisting of 80% rock and 20% glacier ice. The glacier ice turned into water over the course of the 3.2km elevation difference from the peak, which further worsened the impact by causing a debris flood wave. [5]
Among the places most severely hit by the floods are Joshimath, Rini, Nanda Devi National Park, Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Plant and Sridhar. [16]
The disaster left over 200 killed or missing. [4] As of May 2021, "83 bodies and 36 human body parts out of a total of 204 people missing have been recovered so far. "[17] Of the missing and dead, 140 were workers at the Tapovan Hydropower Plant site. [18]
The 13-megawatt Rishiganga power project in Rini, on the Rishiganga river, a tributary to the Dhauliganga River, was damaged and 35 laborers working on the project were missing as of February 2021. [19] The Chamoli district in Uttarakhand appeared to have been hit hardest by the surging Dhauliganga River. [20] The Dhauliganga Dam at the confluence of the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers (at WikiMiniAtlas30°33′45″N 79°34′33″E / 30.56250°N 79.57583°E / 30.56250; 79.57583) was washed away by the floodwaters. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat stated that flash floods also impacted a much larger hydro project owned by the NTPC with around 176 laborers working on a project which had two tunnels where those workers were trapped. [23] Senior police officials told media that a bridge in the Tapovan area that connected 13 villages was washed away in the avalanche. [24]
Many villages were evacuated as authorities emptied two dams farther down the river to stop the floodwaters from reaching towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh. [25] Two C-130J Super Hercules with 3 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the rescue mission. The geographic state of the area prior to the disaster has been described as "fragile". [15][26] According to The New York Times, scientists had warned the Government of India for many years that the Himalayas had been warming at a dangerously high rate and the region's ecosystem had become too physically exposed to the dangers of development projects. [27] Dr. Ravi Chopra, the director of the People's Science Institute in Uttarakhand and a member of a scientific committee appointed by India's Supreme Court in 2014, had advised against building dams in the paraglacial zone, i.e. river valleys in which the floor is higher than 7,000 feet, but the Government of India disregarded their objections. [27] According to Dr. Chopra, both the hydro-electric power projects that were washed away in the flood were constructed in this zone. [26] According to another committee led by Dr. Chopra and appointed by India's Supreme Court in 2020, per the New York Times, the Government of India had built 500 miles of highway—much 33 feet wide—in the hills of Uttarakhand in order to improve approaches to Hindu temples in the high Himalayas, overriding the advice of its own experts,[28] The headman of Reni, the village most adversely affected by the flood, stated that the village residents feared that the blasting of the rocks during the hydropower dam's construction would bring on dangerous landslides. [27] “We used to hear blasting and see the rocks shift,” he said. “When this project was under construction, half of our village slid. We requested to be shifted from here to another place. The government said they would do it, but it never happened.”[27]
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Floods
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1983 Luzon earthquake
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The 1983 Luzon earthquake struck the Philippines at 20:17 PST (UTC+08:00) on August 17. The shock had a surface wave magnitude of 6.5 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong), killing 16 people and injuring 47. Seven towns were damaged, several buildings collapsed, and electricity was cut off in Laoag. Features like sand volcanoes and cracks formed during the quake. The earthquake struck at 8:18 PM[4] and surface wave magnitude of 6.5. [3] It was the most powerful earthquake to strike the Philippines in seven years. Shaking lasted 20 seconds and damaged seven towns extensively,[4] its greatest damage occurring near Pasuquin, Laoag, Sarrat, and Batac in the Ilocos Norte province. [3]
Early reports claimed that 17 were killed and 80 were injured,[4] but these numbers were later revised to 16 and 47, respectively. [3] A four-storey building collapsed, and the salesmen inside waited as long as 17 hours to be rescued; one man was rescued only to die in the hospital. Two or three other buildings also collapsed, including one filled with people in San Nicolas. Churches were damaged in Bacarra, Vintar, and Sarrat; the Sarrat church was the site of the wedding of Ferdinand Marcos' daughter Irene, and it toppled, destroying its altar and the orchestra loft from the wedding. [4] A 300-year-old statue of Saint Monica fell apart, and its head landed on the ground intact. [4] Electricity was cut off in Laoag,[5] and downed a bridge elsewhere. [2]
Sand volcanoes and cracks as long as 24 m (79 ft) formed,[5] and as it ruptured, soil liquefaction and landslides occurred. A tsunami was reported but never confirmed. [3] Tremors also extended to Manila. [3]
The earthquake occurred exactly seven years after the 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake, which measured 7.9 Ms and caused about 8000 deaths. [6]
PAGASA listed its magnitude at 5.7,[5] but the United States Geological Survey still lists it at 6.5. [3] It was assigned a Rossi–Forel scale rating of VII (Very strong tremor), indicating the potential to be damaging. [2]
In the destroyed church in Bacarra, church members wrote notes asking God for forgiveness and believing it was his warning. [4] Reports from Manila's radio stations claimed many casualties, and a news agency reported that there were at least 100 people trapped in a downed building. The wrecks of collapsed buildings were searched, and the dead were removed from the rubble. There were two aftershocks following the main shock. [5]
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Earthquakes
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Day one of Trump presidency: Withdraw from the TPP
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President Obama with foreign leaders at a 2010 meeting about the TPP. (CNSNews.com) – President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that on his first day in office next January he will begin the process of withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a prospective trade deal which has been a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s “rebalance” to Asia, but which Trump while campaigning called “horrible.” Trump said in an online video message on priorities for his first 100 days that he has asked his transition team “to develop a list of executive actions we can take on day one, to restore our laws and bring back our jobs. It’s about time.” “On trade, I am going to issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country,” he said. “Instead, we will negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.” Trump characterized the move a part of a plan to advance the simple core principle of “putting American first.” “Whether it’s producing steel, building cars, or curing disease, I want the next generation of production and innovation to happen right here, on our great homeland, America – creating wealth and jobs for American workers,” he said. The TPP partners the U.S. with 11 countries on either side of the Pacific – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has said the agreement would usher in more than $130 billion a year in estimated GDP growth and more than $350 billion in additional exports. But Trump during the campaign described the TPP as “horrible” and “one of the worst trade deals,” adding that “I’d rather make individual deals with individual countries. We will do much better.” Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time negotiations for the deal were launched, also opposed it during her presidential campaign – despite having praised it in earlier years, saying in 2012 that it set “the gold standard in trade agreements.” ‘There is no free lunch’ During a series of meetings in New Jersey on Sunday, Trump on Sunday met with Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor who is believed to be in the running to be commerce secretary in a Trump administration. “They engaged in a conversation regarding negotiating the best foreign deals, American manufacturing and job creation,” the transition team said in a statement afterwards. Ross is known to be critical of free trade deals. “Free trade is like free lunch,” he said in a Fox Business interview last August. “There is no free lunch. Somebody wins and somebody loses and unfortunately we’ve been losing with these stupid agreements that we’ve made.” DNC delegates protest against the TPP at the Democratic National Convention in July. (AP Photo, File) Trump’s announcement Monday came three days after Obama met with the other TPP leaders in Peru and, in the words of a White House readout, “discussed the United States’ continued strong support for trade, our commitment to strengthening ties to the Asia-Pacific, and the need to remain engaged in an increasingly interconnected world.” “President Obama discussed his support of high-standard trade agreements like TPP, which level the playing field for American workers and advance our interests and values in the economically dynamic and strategically-significant Asia-Pacific region,” it said. The readout said Obama had urged the other TPP partners’ leaders “to continue to work together to advance TPP.” During a press conference in Lima on Sunday, Obama said his meeting with the TPP partners had been “a chance to reaffirm our commitment to the TPP, with its high standards, strong protections for workers, the environment, intellectual property and human rights.” “Our partners made very clear during the meeting that they want to move forward with TPP; preferably, they’d like to move forward with the United States.” Obama said that not moving ahead with the TPP “would undermine our position across the region and our ability to shape the rules of global trade in a way that reflects our interests and our values.” In a speech last September, Secretary of State John Kerry urged Congress to pass the TPP during the lame duck session. “We can’t just stand up and say to the world, ‘Hey, we’re a Pacific power.’ We have to show it in our actions and in our choices,” he said at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “We can’t talk about the ‘rebalance’ to Asia one day and then sit on the sidelines the next, and expect to possibly send a credible message to partners and to potential partners around the world.” Trump’s other priorities Other measures listed by Trump in Monday’s video included: –canceling “job-killing restrictions on the production of American energy, including shale energy and clean coal” –formulating a rule saying that for every new regulation introduced, two old regulations must be eliminated –tasking the Pentagon and joint chiefs of staff to develop a comprehensive plan to protect the nation’s vital infrastructure from cyber or other types of attack –directing the Department of Labor to investigate all visa program abuses “that undercut the American worker” –introducing a five-year ban on executive officials working as lobbyists after leaving the administration, and a lifetime ban on executive officials lobbying on behalf of foreign governments “These are just a few of the steps we will take to reform Washington and rebuild our middle class,” he concluded.
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Withdraw from an Organization
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Gas explosion in Chinese apartment building kills 8
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Eight people were killed by an explosion and fire Saturday caused by a leak from a liquefied gas cylinder in an apartment building in northeastern China, a state news agency reported.
Five others were hospitalized with injuries after the predawn fire in the coastal city of Dalian, the Xinhua News Agency said. It said the cause was under investigation.
More details are awaited in this regard.
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Gas explosion
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1997 Jabalpur earthquake
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The 1997 Jabalpur earthquake occurred on May 22, at 04:21:31 AM in Jabalpur District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The epicenter of the earthquake was located near Koshamghat village. [4][5] According to geologist Dr V. Subramanyan, former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), the earthquake was caused by movement on the Narmada Fault. [6][7]
Major damage occurred to structures in the Jabalpur District, Mandla District, Seoni District and Chhindwara District in Madhya Pradesh. Jabalpur and Mandla were the worst affected districts. A total of 887 villages were affected. Approximately 8,546 houses collapsed and nearly 52,690 houses were partially damaged. [4] Some aftershock activity occurred, but they did not cause any additional damage. Longitudinal ground cracks were observed in some locations of the affected area[4]
The affected region consisted of both rural and urban areas and the campus of the Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University was the worst affected structure in the urban area. Diagonal cracks occurred in walls, buildings were partially collapsed and the hostel for postgraduate students was severely damaged. Approximately 1,500 houses owned by the Indian Railways were damaged. In Jabalpur, a 500,000 gallon-capacity shaft-supported water tank for storage and distribution of drinking water sustained both horizontal cracking and diagonal cracking. Some earthen dams located in the districts of Jabalpur and Mandla reportedly developed longitudinal cracks. [4]
The search and rescue operation after the earthquake was relatively small. Only raw materials for food were supplied to the victims rather than cooked food because of the summer heat. The Indian Army was called in to aid. Many people were given cloth tents as temporary shelters. In rural areas persons whose houses had collapsed were provided with 18 wooden posts and 50 wooden purlins for reconstruction and cash assistance of 3,000 rupees. [4] MPs belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to donate their one day's salary to the victims. [8]
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Earthquakes
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News organisations fined more than $1 million for contempt of court in George Pell trial
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
Some of Australia's most well-known newspapers, websites and radio stations have been slugged more than $1 million in fines for being in contempt of court during the child sex abuse trial of Cardinal George Pell.
A dozen major media outlets including the Herald and Weekly Times, which runs the Herald Sun, and Fairfax Media, which runs the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review, were today ordered by Victoria's Supreme Court to pay more than $1,100,000 after pleading guilty to breaching a suppression order.
The biggest fines were reserved for the publishers of The Age, fined $450,000, and news.com.au, which was fined $400,000.
Cardinal Pell's child sex convictions were later overturned by the High Court of Australia, and he has always maintained his innocence.
"The reporting of News Life Media, the publisher of news.com.au, and The Age Company, publisher of The Age, in particular constituted a blatant and wilful defiance of the court's authority," Justice John Dixon said.
"They each took a deliberate risk by intentionally advancing a collateral attack on the role of suppression orders in Victoria's criminal justice system.
"How publication of information might interfere with the proper administration of justice is a matter for a court, not for media organisations or their journalists and editors.
"The potential for harm at the time of publication was very real, running as far as the possibility that further prosecution of Pell after the cathedral trial would not have been possible."
The Australian Financial Review was slugged $162,000, while Nine's Today Show received a $30,000 fine.
The publisher of the Daily Telegraph was fined $21,000 while the publishers of the Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Geelong Advertiser and the Adelaide Advertiser were each hit with $1,000 each.
"I am persuaded beyond doubt that the information derived from the trial … frustrated the purpose and intended effect of the suppression order in a significant degree," Justice Dixon said.
"It is significant because the respondents necessarily usurped the function of the court in protecting the proper administration of justice by determining for themselves where the balance ought to lie."
The next biggest fine went to Fairfax Media, which publishes the Australian Financial Review, slugged $162,000.
The 12 media outlets were also ordered to pay $650,000 in costs.
On Friday, Justice Dixon said that some of the media outlets pushed "fatuous" excuses for breaching the suppression order.
"They apparently felt obliged over an unambiguous suppression order to answer their reader's inquiries as to why there was no local coverage of a developing story in international publications," he said.
"They considered that, 'The cat was out of the bag'. They were not reporting information derived from the trial because they were reporting information published elsewhere," he said.
Justice Dixon said the purpose of the suppression order was to protect Cardinal Pell's legal rights.
"It was never imagined that simply not identifying Pell as the accused would achieve that purpose. It did not matter that the media perceived the parameters of the public interest debate had shifted, and any such perception was wrong," he said.
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Organization Fine
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2010 Serbia earthquake
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The 2010 Serbia earthquake (also referred to as the Kraljevo earthquake) occurred on 3 November in central Serbia just several kilometers from Kraljevo. [4] The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). [5] The shock was felt across the country, including the capital Belgrade, and in neighboring countries. Two people were killed and over 100 suffered light injuries. There were 5,967 structures that sustained some damage, 1,551 declared unsafe for use and require repairment, and 138 were damaged beyond repair. There were more than 350 aftershocks, including a magnitude Mwr 4.3 earthquake on November 4.
The earthquake had magnitude of 5.3 and took place at 01:56 local time (00:56 UTC). [13] The epicenter of the earthquake was located ten kilometers north of Kraljevo near the village of Vitanovac. Following the earthquake electricity, phone lines and water supply were interrupted in Kraljevo region. Emergency situation was declared throughout the region. Schools as well as several dozen other structures have been sealed until the inspection verifies them as safe for use. Most damage was done near the epicenter, where around 70% of buildings in the village of Vitanovac have suffered damage. The Government of Serbia released emergency aid for food and supplies and announced that the aid for reconstruction will be given from budget reserve as the emergency aid budget was already spent on flood recovering during the summer. [11][14] Most of the damage was to the older structures. [15]
A crack appeared on the northern facade of the 13th-century Žiča monastery. The Serbian government is seeking help from UNESCO for the recovery. [16]
Two people were killed in the village of Grdica near Kraljevo. The victims, a couple aged 67, died in their home when the roof and a concrete slab fell over their bed. [17]
The earthquake was strongly felt throughout the country, including the capital Belgrade, as well as in Bulgaria (damage was caused in Belogradchik[18]) and Romania. [19][20] The intensity was MM VI in Kraljevo and MM IV in Belgrade. [21]
A special account was opened for donations and as of November 25, 225 million RSD were collected. [96]
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Earthquakes
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Parts of Caribbean island of St. Vincent are unrecognizable after volcano erupts
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As the volcano continues to spew ash and pyroclastic flow, a deadly mixture of superheated gases, rock and mud, the ongoing danger has complicated efforts to deliver aid. "It's not like a hurricane where you get hit and it's over," said Britnie Turner, the CEO of Aerial Recovery Group, a disaster management company bringing in supplies from the US. Volcano erupts for a second time on Caribbean island of St. Vincent The pandemic has also hurt efforts to help Vincentians impacted by the volcano, she said. "Donations across the world have dropped dramatically since Covid started but don't stop giving," Turner said. "Even though we are all experiencing pain. Even though the world is a little bit of a different place, we still need to help our neighbors." Ash and smoke billow as the La Soufrière volcano erupts on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent on April 9. In Miami, Michael Capponi, the founder and executive director of the non-profit Global Empowerment Mission, is filling containers with pre-packed boxes of food, water, face masks and hand gel to send to the island. He called the disaster a "migrational crisis" as residents flee from the volcano to the south of the island and said his local partners on the ground still have been unable to assess the full extent of the damage. St. Vincent on red alert for 'imminent' volcanic eruption "You have a foot of ash on everyone's roofs," Capponi said. "You have all the crops that are completely destroyed that won't grow back for quite a while. Then you have boulders that were on fire that literally came through people's roofs." Gonsalves said the government estimates that the volcano has already inflicted more than $100 million in damage in the last two weeks, with much more likely to come as scientists predict the volcanic activity could last for four months. Volcanoes Fast Facts The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and even if St. Vincent is spared a direct hit, the heavy summer rains pose a new danger. "There's a lot of material," Gonsalves said. "Stone and ash and they rest on mud. The rains will lubricate and they will add to the weight and they will come down at a very fast pace." Gonsalves said the disaster his country is facing may only be beginning. He said he has written President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for assistance. "It's not going to be an easy struggle but we are not a people of lamentations," he said.
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Volcano Eruption
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1943 RAF Hudson crash
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The 1943 RAF Hudson crash was an aerial accident that killed two people. The aircraft crashed in a forced landing attempt near RAF St Eval, Cornwall, England, following engine failure. FH168 was a Lockheed Hudson IIIA (a lend-lease A-29-LO serial no 41-36969 and c/n 414-6458), operated by No. 38 Wing RAF, based at RAF Netheravon. On 19 May 1943, it was en route from RAF St Eval to RAF Gibraltar when it crashed and burned 7 miles (11 km) south of St. Eval. The aircraft was unable to maintain height due to one engine failing, and the load it was carrying. Air Commodore Sir Nigel Norman, on his way to the Middle East for an Airborne Forces Planning Conference, died as a result of the crash. The only other airman killed in the crash was Pilot Officer (Obs) Arthur Rotenberg, who is buried in St Columb Major Cemetery. [1]
The surviving crew and passengers were rescued by two nearby farm workers – William Richards and Eddie Thomas – and a nearby member of the Royal Observer Corps, George Gregory. In 1945, Gregory was awarded the British Empire Medal for his brave actions during the rescue of the crew. [2]
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Air crash
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April 2011 Miyagi earthquake
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The April 2011 Miyagi earthquake (Japanese: "2011 Miyagi Prefecture earthquake" (2011年 宮城県沖地震, 2011-Nen Miyagi-ken-oki jishin)) occurred off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, approximately 66 kilometres (41 mi) east of Sendai, Japan. The Mw7.1 thrust earthquake was classified as an aftershock of the March 11 Tōhoku earthquake, and occurred at 23:32 JST (14:32 UTC) on Thursday, 7 April 2011. Several tsunami warnings were issued for the northeastern coast of Honshu; however, they were all canceled 90 minutes later. [5] Over 3 million households in the area were left without power, and several nuclear plants suffered minor inconveniences. There was no major structural damage, but the quake killed at least 4 people and injured 141. [6]
The Mw7.1 submarine earthquake occurred at a focal depth of 49 km (30.4 mi) in the western Pacific Ocean on 7 April 2011 at 14:21 UTC, approximately 66 km (41 mi) east of Sendai. The quake was a direct result of thrust faulting on or near the subduction zone plate boundary between the Pacific and North American Plates. Initially estimated at a magnitude of 7.4, the tremor was felt in several areas near the east coast of Honshu as an aftershock of the 11 March magnitude 9.0 megathrust Tōhoku earthquake. The aftershock sequence of this event is ongoing since 11 March, and includes over 58 earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater up until 7 April 2011, with only two others of magnitude 7.0 or greater. [1]
Although the quake was located several miles offshore, moderate to very strong shaking was reported as far inland as Tokyo, about 333 km (207 mi) from its epicentre. [7] Upon the detection of the earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for Miyagi Prefecture, as well as tsunami alerts for Iwate Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture and the Pacific Rim. Waves of between 0.5 and 1 m were anticipated, and residents along coastal areas were urged to evacuate. All warnings and alerts were canceled within 90 minutes, however. [8] The tremor caused widespread power outages, with power still not restored to some 3.6 million households across several prefectures by 8 April. [9] Nuclear power plants within the region also suffered from the outages; two of three power lines supplying power to fuel coolers were cut off at the Onagawa power plant. [10] Radioactive water consequently leaked out of spent fuel pools at three of its reactors, though no change in the radiation levels outside the plant was reported. [11] Five coal-powered power plants also shut down, adding to concerns over energy shortages. Fukushima I power plant, which had earlier been struck by the 11 March quake, evacuated its workers as a safety precaution, but the plant sustained no damage. [9]
Four people were reported dead as a result of the earthquake, including an elderly woman in Yamagata Prefecture who lost power to her medical ventilator. [4] An additional 141 people suffered minor injuries, ranging from cuts and bruises to bone fractures. [10] No major losses were reported, though some roads sustained damage, as well as a few homes. [12] The Nikkei index fell sharply at the closing but rebounded the next day when reports of limited damage were confirmed. [13][14]
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Earthquakes
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2014 Murmuri earthquake
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The 2014 Murmuri earthquake occurred on August 18 in the Zagros Mountains of Iran with a moment magnitude of 6.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The dip-slip shock injured 60–330 people and was followed by a number of high intensity aftershocks. The area had not seen a large seismic event since developments in Earth observation satellites allowed scientists to more precisely study earthquakes. [2] Observations made using Interferometric synthetic aperture radar imply that different faults were ruptured by the mainshock and the largest aftershock, each leading to different surface deformations. [2]
Phone lines, water, and electricity were cut off. [4] Eight villages were hit particularly hard, each losing around half of the homes in the area. [4]
In the several days following the mainshock, four strong aftershocks occurred. Within the first twenty-four hours, events with magnitudes of 5.6 Mw and 5.4 Mw occurred, each having a Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). Just over six hours later, a 6.0 Mw and intensity VIII (Severe) shock occurred. Several days later, a 5.6 Mw (intensity VII) shock occurred.
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Earthquakes
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Maspero demonstrations
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The Maspero Massacre initially started as demonstrations on October 2011 by a group dominated by Egyptian Copts in reaction to the demolition of a church in Upper Egypt claimed to be built without the appropriate license. [1] The peaceful protesters who intended to stage a sit-in in front of the Maspiro television building were attacked by security forces and the army, resulting in 24 deaths, mostly among the Coptic protestors, and 212 injuries, most of which were sustained by Copts. [2]
The peaceful protesters gathered in peaceful chants, angered by a statement made publicly by Aswan's governor, Mustafa Kamel el-Sayyed, who, after the destruction of the church in Aswan, denied the existence of the church, and then later retracted his statements, and claimed instead that the construction of the church was illegal. It was later revealed that extremist followers of the Salafist Islamic sect had pronounced threats and made demands for Aswan’s Christian congregation not to have any loudspeakers in the church and to limit the visibility of any Christian symbols such as crosses on the church structure. In order to defuse tensions, the Aswan governorate organized a meeting between Salafist and Coptic leaders, wherein the Copts refused the latter demand of eliminating crosses and steeples. The threats eventually escalated to actual destruction of the church by the extremists, and to the subsequent statements by the Aswan governor. It was this incident that led to the protest, which is presented in the following details based on a number of credible sources. [3]
The march set out towards Maspiro from the downtown poverty-stricken neighborhood of Shubra, densely populated by both Muslims and Christians. Reporters agree that it was a sizeable demonstration comparable to the numbers at the 28 January protest, the day when Mubarak sent army vehicles to confront protesters. [4] Protesters were also angry about an injury sustained by a Christian priest during the violent confrontation by army and police at Wednesday’s demonstration at Maspiro, when a smaller group had been demonstrating against the situation in Aswan. When the protests started, Egyptian state television anchor Rasha Magdy, urged[5] "honorable" citizens to go "protect" the military. Reports suggest that the army began using violence even before the protesters reached Maspiro. Gunshots were heard from the end of Shubra Street and rocks were thrown from a nearby bridge. The protesters responded in chants against the Field Commander. The attacks suddenly stopped as the protesters proceeded on Galaa Street. As they crossed the Al Ahram headquarters, one rock was thrown at the building. Reports suggest this was in response to Al Ahram’s poor coverage of violence against Copts in a recent issue. [citation needed]
Army attacks resumed when the protesters turned the corner at Ramsis Hotel and reached Maspiro. Witnesses saw two armored personnel carriers crushing protesters to death, and soldiers firing wildly at the congregation, followed by riot police throwing tear gas. These incidents have been documented by video and later broadcast on CNN. [6] Reports count between 24[7] and 27 deaths, mostly Coptic civilians, and over 300 injured. State television within minutes of violence first reported the death of three soldiers and requested that all noble Egyptian patriots protect the military against the "violent crowd of Copts," also alluding to "foreign infiltrators" inciting violence. That evening, state television continued to broadcast a manipulated version of the story claiming the protesters were armed and that a "conflict" had broken out between civilians and military personnel with riot police, leaving deaths and injuries on both sides. Later, the Department of Health released another statement indicating that there were no military deaths and associating all bodies with deceased civilian protesters. [citation needed]
According to an official statement by the Egyptian military, it was the protesters who first attacked the army resulting in the death of three police officers. They claim to have responded by firing blank cartridges, and that military personnel were being pulled out of their armoured vehicles and attacked by rioters, which they claim caused other military personnel to panic and "mow down" some protesters "accidentally" as they drove off. [8] Human rights organisations have dismissed the Army's response as partial. [9]
Several international media outlets, including BBC and CNN, picked up this version of the events. Egyptian state television later retracted the claims when it broadcast a mild report on the events the following day but continued to exhibit a reluctance to condemn the actions of the army. [10]
Public figures, including prominent Muslim and Coptic leaders, demanded the prosecution of army generals. The military council then called for the civilian Prime Minister to investigate the incident and identified 15 suspects to be tried in military courts. The military council and state television remain targets of heated criticism from prominent activists and journalists. The representatives at the state television have not issued any statements, but a newscaster has publicly expressed feeling "ashamed" to be working for an institution that proved "itself to be a slave for whoever rules Egypt". [11] Activists also blame state television for provoking sectarian tensions. Governor Mustafa Kamel El Sayyed reportedly said that the demolition of the Church was agreed to by the local Coptic community and absolved himself of any responsibility in the tragic events at Maspiro. [12] The Ministerial Cabinet announced it will amend laws pertaining to the construction of houses of worship and toughen the anti-discrimination laws, but local human rights activists doubt the effectiveness or follow-through of the Cabinet’s approach. [13]
Identical promises have been made following other similar incidents (recently and in the more distant past) without any amend the archaic laws that require only non-Muslims to receive permission to build houses of worship. In addition, the Egyptian military, which is responsible for these deaths, has taken over the investigation, prompting Human Rights Watch to issue a statement which concluded that "official denials suggest investigation will be flawed". [14]
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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Armed man gets away with cash in Sterling bank robbery
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A group of Loudoun residents seeking the ouster of five scho… At Tuesday night's Purcellville Town Council meeting, Erin R… An armed man robbed a Sterling bank Saturday morning, getting away with an undisclosed amount of money, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. The robbery occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday at a Bank of America branch in the 45400 block of Dulles Crossing Plaza when the suspect approached a teller and demanded cash while displaying a gun. The suspect fled the area in a dark-colored SUV. No one inside the bank was injured, according to the LCSO. The suspect is described as a Black male wearing a blue jacket, blue jeans, and a black mask that was partially covering his face, the sheriff’s office said. Anyone with any information about the possible identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective S. McCormack at 703-777-1021. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are asked to call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 or submit a tip through the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office app.
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Bank Robbery
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1953 Skyways Avro York disappearance crash
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On 2 February 1953, an Avro York four-engined piston airliner registered G-AHFA of Skyways Limited disappeared over the North Atlantic on a flight from the United Kingdom to Jamaica. [1] The aircraft had 39 occupants including 13 children. [2]
The Avro York was a military trooping flight for the British Air Ministry from Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom to Jamaica with six crew and 33 passengers, including soldiers with their families. [1][3] The aircraft had stopped at Lajes Field in the Azores and departed at 23:25 on 1 February 1953 for Gander Airport in Newfoundland. [1] The aircraft transmitted Positional Operational Meteorological Reports at approximately one-hour intervals from 00:10 to 04:25 on 2 February. [1] At 04:10 the aircraft position was given as 44°32'N 41°38'W. [1] At 05:31 Gander heard an Urgency signal from the aircraft giving a position a minute before the message as 46°15'N 46°31'W. [1] The urgency signal was followed by a distress message SOS, SOS, SOS DE G-A the message stopped abruptly and no further communications from the aircraft were heard. [1]
An extensive air and sea search failed to find any trace of the aircraft or the 39 occupants. [1][2] The following day (3 February) United States Coast Guard cutter Campbell reported several large oil patches and dye markers about 120 miles south-west of the last reported position of the aircraft; the Campbell reported that the search area had snow squalls. [4]
The Avro York (registration: G-AHFA[5]) had been built in 1946 and had completed 6,418 hours total flying time. [6] It had a valid certificate of airworthiness issued three days before the disappearance and had been completely overhauled in November 1952. [6] The aircraft was owned by the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation and operated by Skyways Limited. [3]
The aircraft was first registered to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production on 20 March 1946. [7] It was registered to British South American Airways (BSAA) on 20 August 1946 and operated with the name "Star Dale". [7][8] It was sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) on 3 September 1949. [7] BOAC sold the aircraft in 1951 and it was registered to the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation on 11 December 1951. [7]
A public inquiry was opened in London at Holborn Town Hall on 2 July 1953 to consider possible causes of the loss of the York. [6] The Solicitor General representing The Crown absolved the crew from blame; he also ruled out sabotage or contaminated fuel. [6] On the second day the Chief Investigation Officer of the Accidents Investigation Branch (AIB) gave an opinion that it may have been an uncontrollable fire in one of the aircraft's engines. [9]
The report of the inquiry was issued on 3 December 1953 and stated that the cause was unascertainable. [3] The court found the loss was not contributed by any wrongful act or default of any person or party. [3] It was concluded that the urgency signal was transmitted at a normal speed and possibly not an indication that urgent assistance was required, quickly followed by a hasty distress signal indicated that whatever the trouble it developed in a sudden and violent manner. [3]
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Air crash
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T&T’s ‘invisible’ unemployed
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Although the U.S. economy was officially in recession when the planes struck on 9/11, it bounced back quickly after the attacks. Growth slumped over the final months of 2001, but by January 2002 consumers and businesses had regained their nerve. Politicians and the press pointed to the rebound as evidence of America's resilience — a testament to the country's vaunted power of capitalist self-renewal. Two decades later another threat, this one in the form of a virus crowned with spikes, would put tens of millions of Americans out of work virtually overnight, snuffing out the longest economic expansion in U.S. history. The economy has since regained its footing, yet any claim that we are now made whole rings false. Like the grueling slog that followed the 2008 financial crisis, this latest recovery only papers over existing fault lines: inequality, political dysfunction, systemic racism and, perhaps most worrying, a withering public belief (at least in some quarters) in the merits of democracy. In this light, events such as 9/11, the housing bust and the COVID-19 pandemic should be viewed less as the root causes of economic woe than as symptoms of deeper structural instability. This fragility has left millions of Americans — perhaps most Americans — vulnerable to the ordinary tremors of the business cycle, let alone the seismic episodes that increasingly rattle our way of life. This is what decay looks like. Of course, fear that the U.S. is on the retreat — "declinism," as such views are sometimes pigeonholed — is nothing new. Concerns over what some perceive as the nation's fading competitiveness, leadership voids and diminished standing in the world have long been a staple among economists, historians and many others. Often, these anxieties flare as other countries rise to challenge American hegemony (Japan in the 1980s, China today) and as the U.S. licks its wounds following foreign policy failures (Vietnam, Afghanistan). What's different now? Perhaps nothing. Great powers tend to go off course slowly and over many decades, like the British empire or the Soviet Union, as external shocks and internal strife gradually erode people's standards of living. History also suggests that those in charge are often the least willing and able to correct course if only because they are the most invested in steering dead ahead. "There's very little feeling of existential threat to political decision makers that would otherwise bring them to take personal risks on policy," Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group, told CBS MoneyWatch. That will make it harder for the U.S. to address problems like inequality, he said. By contrast, many Americans appear to feel nothing if not existentially threatened by the soul-crushing economic insecurity that is a defining feature of life in much of this country today. A short, but by no means exhaustive, list of what accounts for that precarity: stagnant and volatile income, soaring education costs, spotty health care, feeble job protections, low union membership, inadequate supplies of affordable housing, and paltry retirement savings. As Yale University political scientist Jacob Hacker wrote more than a decade ago in his book "The Great Risk Shift": "Increasingly, all of us — even those of us with good jobs and good pay, with children and spouses, with homes and college degrees — are riding the new economic roller coaster. And yet most of us seem to feel that we are riding it alone." One sign of the rot: the U.S. tax system, including massive cuts for the rich and corporations delivered by the Trump administration in 2018. Since 1980, the tax rate for people in the highest income bracket (in 2021, those earning at least $518,000 per year) has plunged to 37% from 70%. Over the same period, the top corporate rate fell to 21% from 46%, the lowest level since 1939, according to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Not surprisingly, how much the U.S. collects in taxes as a share of GDP has fallen to 16.3% from 18.5%. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the Trump tax cuts will add nearly $2 trillion to the nation's annual budget deficit over 10 years. What such numbers really add up to is that the U.S. has less money to spend on real priorities, such as upgrading the country's decrepit infrastructure and shifting its economy away from fossil fuels. Another effect of this upward drift in wealth — one feeding into the political alienation evident across much of the American electorate — is a widening gap between rich and poor since 9/11. "Changes in tax policy have turbocharged inequality, starting with the Bush tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 and culminating with the Trump tax reform of 2018," said Gabriel Zucman, an associate professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley and a leading expert on inequality. "The upshot is a tax system where, all taxes included, billionaires now have lower effective tax rates than the middle-class — a new engine of inequality." It's worth noting this engine not only increases the gulf between the 1% and 99%, it affects everyone. As of 2019, the top 25% of millennials, Generation X and baby boomers ranked by net worth owned at least three-quarters of their generation's financial assets, according to a new report by the National Institute on Retirement Security. Inequality along racial and ethnic lines also distorts the economy and stifles growth. Over a 30-year period, gaps between White and minority Americans in employment, earnings, education and other measures have cost the U.S. nearly $23 trillion, according to a new paper from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Boston University. Inevitably, of course, the economy is profoundly different now than it was 20 years ago. For one, by the broadest measure the economy has more than doubled in size: GDP today is approaching $23 trillion, compared with $11 trillion in 2001. Back then, companies like Exxon, General Motors and IBM reigned supreme, while Sears still remained a darling of investors. Today, the old guard has been eclipsed by Amazon, Apple, and assorted health and biotech players, reflecting the ubiquity of digital technology as well as the country's aging population and their consumer needs. Meanwhile, surging corporate profits in the years since 9/11 have pushed the stock market to new heights — arguably a sign of Wall Street's resilience since the attacks briefly shuttered the New York Stock Exchange. But beneath such surface advancements lies a troubling reality that the latest iPhone and runaway stocks can't fix: Two decades later, the nation is economically, culturally and politically divided in ways that pose fundamental questions about America's future. What will the next 20 years bring? Exotic financial instruments like the ones that helped cause the housing crash tend to immolate themselves, while vaccines have proved good medicine for the coronavirus. But global warming is a planetary challenge, with all the complexities that entails. It's hard to shrug off the conviction that climate change is a cataclysm that will make all previous economic crises seem like passing squalls. The costs, already visible through the flames and floods that now mark our weather cycle, are at this stage nearly incalculable. On the political front, battling climate change will almost certainly require abandoning the commonly held belief that gradual reform is preferable and embracing more urgent and transformative change. Carbon emissions are indifferent to political polls. The status quo is untenable. Just as we look back on 9/11, and rue the missed chances to have stopped the attacks, future generations will study the current moment. Will they see a country that rose from the ashes, or just ashes? Former CIA directors, insiders and national security experts retrace the agency's steps around 9/11 and detail the mission to hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in "Race Against Time: The CIA and 9/11." The special airs Friday, September 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and will be available to stream on the CBS News app and Paramount+ on September 11.
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Financial Crisis
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Volcanic activity from Mount Agung was detected
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Volcanic activity from Mount Agung, a volcano on Indonesia's Bali island, was detected from Nov 21 and the alert was raised to the maximum level on Tuesday (Nov 28). There are about 100,000 people living on the slopes of the volcano. Of these, only about 40,000 residents have evacuated and Indonesian authorities must forcibly evacuate the remainder, local reports said. Over the past week, pictures of the crater on the holiday island have shown it spewing clouds of smoke and glowing red. What are the different stages of a volcanic eruption and what does each stage mean? The Straits Times breaks it down. During this phase, magma rich in dissolved gas fills the magma chamber of the volcano, which can be tens of kilometres underground, with temperatures up to more than 1,000 deg C. Tremors are often felt at the surface, and the volcano expands. There is also increased seismic activity. At this point, steam may be seen rising from the volcano, as water inside the volcano evaporates when in contact with hot magma. As the pressure builds in the magma chambers, energy is gained for an eruption. Last Tuesday, Mount Agung began spewing thick ash and steam in a phreatic eruption, United States-based volcanologist Janine Krippner told the BBC in a report. Such an eruption refers to the expulsion of pressurised steam from inside the volcano. It occurs due to the heating up of water by the magma inside the volcano. The resulting expansion and explosion of the steam can shatter rocks, hurl large blocks and volcanic ash hundreds of metres in the air, and excavate a crater in the ground. Finally, the explosion of pent-up gases - such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide - pushes the magma up the conduit or opening channels in the volcano. Fused particles fall as ash, and the pressure enlarges the conduits. A red or orange glow may be seen as the hot magma reaches the surface. As the magma flows out of the volcano, it cools and turns into lava. In the ending phase, the magma chamber of the volcano empties, and the walls of the conduit are weakened and collapse, creating a crater or caldera. Eruptions can create ash clouds that reach up to 32,000m in height. These clouds consist of tiny mineral particles that can travel hundreds of kilometres. Even if the actual activity within the volcano has ceased, volcanic mud flows known as lahars can still be dangerous. Images from Bali show thick grey volcanic mud flows snaking through greenery - these lahars are created when ash and rock deposits from the volcano combine with rainwater. Such volcanic debris flows can produce locally destructive flooding in drainage systems below the eruptive vents.
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Volcano Eruption
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Officials in the Fujian port city of Quanzhou are being accused of attempting to conceal the serious ramifications of a chemical spill
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Officials in the Fujian port city of Quanzhou are being accused of attempting to conceal the serious ramifications of a chemical spill which has threatened the health and livelihood of local fishermen and residents.
The spill occurred early on Sunday morning as a toxic substance called C9 aromatic hydrocarbon was being transferred onto a chemical tanker ship at a petrochemical wharf in the city’s Quangang district. During the transferring process, an old tube connecting the vessel to the wharf broke, spilling out 6.9 tons of the stuff into the water.
The product of refining crude oil, C9 is typically used as a solvent in paints and coatings. It is toxic to humans and releases harmful pollutants into the air when exposed to sunlight.
In a government-run clean-up effort, 100 boats and 600 people were quickly dispatched to use absorbant-materials to get the C9 out of the water. By Monday, the district government announced that the water and air in the area were both back to normal.
However, things certainly didn’t seem normal to local residents. The spill occurred near to a village and a number of fish farms. Afterward, fishermen reported an awful stench that still pervaded over the water in the area, charging that their farms had been contaminated and their fish killed.
Soon, reports also started coming out that people were beginning to fall ill.
Caixin talked to one man who said that his father had suddenly started to vomit and experience swelling in his hands. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with “gas poisoning.” According to the article, other locals showed similar symptoms.
On Thursday, the Quangang government was forced to come clean, announcing that 52 people had become sick following the spill with symptoms like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Ten of them remained in the hospital including one who had fallen into the contaminated water and contracted pneumonia.
Locals have charged officials with failing to properly handle the spill, failing to warn villagers to stay away from the water on Sunday and employing fishermen instead of professionals to clean up the mess. “Previously, after a typhoon, the police and border guards would all send people down to close off the pier,” one villager told Caixin. “No one would be allowed to enter, and the boats would get pulled up one by one. This time, something so poisonous was spilled, but no measures were taken.”
With so much government criticism, discussion surrounding the spill has been tightly controlled on Weibo. While some reports remain up, many comments have also been deleted. At the moment, Free Weibo ranks “Quangang” as the most censored term on the social media network.
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Environment Pollution
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Diners down with food poisoning after 5-star hotel buffet in Tsim Sha Tsui
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At least 32 people were struck by a bout of food poisoning after eating at a buffet restaurant in the five-star Mira Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The Center of Health Protection (CHP) said in a statement Monday that those affected experienced symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever. They ate at the restaurant on Oct. 9 or 10.
Most of them sought medical advice, including three that were hospitalized.
Local media identified the restaurant as Mira Hotel’s YAMM, which serves lunch and dinner buffets with a variety of seafood such as raw oysters and cooked lobster.
It’s not the first time that food poisoning incidents have been linked to upscale hotel buffets. Two years ago, thirteen people fell ill after eating a dinner buffet at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Causeway Bay. And in 2016, the Excelsior Hotel—which closed in 2019—pulled oysters off their menu after several diners who ate the seafood showed signs of food poisoning.
The CHP and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) are investigating the food poisoning episode at YAMM, according to the Monday statement.
According to the Hong Kong Economic Times, YAMM said Monday that it would close for four days and reopen on Thursday. Coconuts has reached out to the restaurant for comment.
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Mass Poisoning
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NKY Meals on Wheels Merges with Cincinnati Senior Services
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Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky announced a merger Tuesday with Cincinnati Area Senior Services (CASS) to form one of the region's largest community-based organizations that provide direct services to seniors. The merger will serve more than 10,000 seniors annually with about 150 employees and 800 volunteers. The number of meals delivered to seniors’ homes per year is likely to exceed 1.4 million. The organizations have chosen to use the name “Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY” because of the strong, positive recognition of the Meals on Wheels brand, a news release said. The leaders of both nonprofits are confident this action will position the organizations to provide the best possible services for many years, an announcement said. “This merger makes a bold statement and a promise: working with our communities, our combined organization will tackle the challenges facing us so that every senior enjoys the support and dignity that they deserve,” said Jennifer Steele, who will serve as CEO of the merged organization. The larger scale of the organization, along with a $4 million grant last year from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, will fuel innovation to bring about transformational change, the announcement said. The leaders also believe there is a significant opportunity to eliminate duplication of services between the organizations. “This is a great day for seniors and together we are going to do amazing things,” said Tracey Collins, CEO of CASS. She will be chief integration officer for the merged organization. “It just makes sense with limited funding to join forces and strengthen our services for seniors.” The organizations have similarities, including their main missions to help seniors live independently and to thrive. Both organizations have substantial Meals on Wheels programs that provide food and a check on the well-being of seniors. Combined, the organizations have more than 135 years of work for seniors. The merged organization plans to retain all existing programs and services and said that no one will lose their jobs. In fact, more job opportunities are expected. “The merger of Meals on Wheels and CASS makes sense from every angle,” said Michael Murphy, who will be the new board vice-chair. “By coming together, these two strong organizations gain efficiencies that will allow them to channel their focus on continued growth and innovation. Every senior, and every person who cares about them, should celebrate this news -- and anticipate many good things to come as a result.” Dan Driehaus, who will be the chair of the new board, emphasized the important role that the delivery drivers play in checking on seniors. “Amazon knows how to deliver a box. We know the importance of visiting seniors to check on their welfare. We take time to observe their environment. We chat. We listen. We care. For many of our seniors, our meal delivery person might be the only person they interact with all day. Our meal delivery is simply an extension of our interest in their well-being.”
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Organization Merge
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West Air Sweden Flight 294 crash
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West Air Sweden Flight 294 was a cargo flight of a Canadair CRJ200 from Oslo to Tromsø, Norway that crashed on 8 January 2016. A malfunction in one of the inertial reference units had produced erroneous attitude indications on one of the instrument displays. The crew's subsequent response resulted in spatial disorientation, leading to the loss of control of the aircraft. [1][2][3]
The aircraft was built in 1993 and was operated by Lufthansa CityLine as D‑ACLE until the end of 2006. It had a manufacturer's serial number (MSN) of 7010 and had two General Electric CF34-3B1 engines. [4] The aircraft then underwent a cargo conversion re‑designating, it as a CRJ200-PF (Package Freighter). The aircraft had been operated by West Air Sweden since 2007 as SE‑DUX. [5] At the time of the crash, it had accumulated more than 38,600 flight hours and 31,000 flight cycles. [6]
The 42‑year‑old Spanish captain had around 3,200 flying hours, of which 2,016 were on this aircraft type; the 33‑year‑old French first officer had 3,050 flying hours, of which 900 were on this aircraft type. [3]
The aircraft departed Oslo-Gardermoen Airport at 23:11 hours local time for a flight to Tromsø Airport. The aircraft carried 4.5 tonnes (4,500 kg; 9,900 lb) of mail. While in cruise at Flight Level 330, at approximately 23:31, the aircraft transmitted a Mayday call before communication and radar tracking were lost by air traffic control. Aircraft tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft fell 6,485 metres (21,275 ft) over a period of 60 seconds (389 km/h; 242 mph) at 00:18, based upon data transmitted by the aircraft's transponder. [7]
Both Norwegian and Swedish authorities searched for the aircraft, discovering the wreckage at 03:10 in the morning. The crash site was located at an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in a remote area near Lake Akkajaure, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Norwegian border. The aircraft remains were spread in a circle approximately 50 metres (160 ft) in diameter, which was said to suggest a high‑energy impact. [8]
The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (Swedish: Statens Haverikommission, or SHK) opened an investigation into the crash. [9] On 9 January 2016, the flight data recorder (FDR) was found severely damaged as well as parts of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). The CVR was, however, not intact, and the part containing the memory functions was missing. The following day, the missing parts of the CVR were found, alongside human remains. [10][11] On 12 January, SHK reported that the distress call from the pilots contained the word "Mayday" repeated, with no further information. On 26 January, Statens Haverikommission reported that they had managed to read both CVR and FDR, and were analysing and validating the recordings. [8]
On 19 March, in their interim report, SHK revealed:
After 17 seconds from the start of the event, the maximum speed (VMO) of 315 knots was exceeded. The overspeed warning was activated and the vertical acceleration turned to positive values. Another 16 seconds later, the first officer transmitted a "MAYDAY" message that was confirmed by air traffic control. The indicated airspeed then exceeded 400 knots and the stabilizer trim was reactivated and reduced to 0.3 degrees nose down. The Pilot in Command called "Mach trim" after which engine power was reduced to idle. During the further event, the last valid FDR value shows that the speed continued to increase up to 508 knots while the vertical acceleration values were positive, with maximum values of approximately +3G. FDR data shows that the aircraft's ailerons and spoilerons mainly were deflected to the left during the event. [12]
The final report was published by SHK on 12 December 2016. [3] The inquiry reached the following conclusion:
The accident was caused by insufficient operational prerequisites for the management of a failure in a redundant system. Contributing factors were:
The accident is featured in the second episode of Season 20 of Mayday, also known as Air Crash Investigation. The episode is titled "Impossible Pitch". [13]
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Air crash
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2017–2018 protests in France
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The yellow vests protests, or yellow jackets protests is a series of populist[66] grassroots[67] weekly protests in France, at first for economic justice[68] and later for institutional political reforms, that began in France 17 November 2018. After an online petition posted in May 2018 had attracted nearly 1 million signatures, mass demonstrations began on 17 November. [69] The movement was initially motivated by rising crude oil and fuel prices, a high cost of living, and economic inequality; it claims that a disproportionate burden of taxation in France was falling on the working and middle classes,[70][71][72] especially in rural and peri-urban areas. [33][73] The protesters have called for lower fuel taxes, a reintroduction of the solidarity tax on wealth, a minimum wage increase,[41] among other things. On 29 November 2018, a list of 42 demands was made public and went viral on social media, becoming de facto a structuring basis for the movement, covering a wide range of eclectic topics, mostly related to democracy, and social and fiscal justice. [40][74] After President Emmanuel Macron made an address on TV on 10 December announcing the cancellation of the fuel tax increase and other social measures, the movement evolved, and the citizens' initiative referendums became its unique revendication. [41] The participation in the weekly protests diminished due to the violences, in particular the loss of eyes or hands or neurological disorders by protesters due to the controversial use of blast balls by the police,[75][76][77] and the protests eventually stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France. The movement spans the political spectrum. According to one poll, few of those protesting had voted for Macron in the 2017 French presidential election; many had showed political alienation by not voting, or had voted for far-right or far-left candidates. [78] Rising fuel prices initially sparked the demonstrations. Yellow high-visibility vests, which French law requires all drivers to have in their vehicles and to wear during emergency situations, were chosen as "a unifying thread and call to arms" because of their convenience, visibility, ubiquity, and association with working-class industries. [79] The protests have involved demonstrations and the blocking of roads and fuel depots, some of which developed into major riots,[80] described as the most violent since those of May 68. [81] The police action, resulting in multiple incidences of loss of limb, has been criticised by politicians and international media; it has sometimes resulted in police officers being charged for their violent behaviour. [82] The movement has received international attention. Protesters in many places around the world have used the yellow vest as a symbol. [83][84] About 3 million people participated in the yellow vests movement. [85]
The issue on which the French movement centred at first was the projected 2019 increase in fuel taxes, particularly on diesel fuel. [86] The yellow vest was an accessible symbol for the protests, as all French drivers have been required to have one in their vehicles since 2008. [79]
Already low in early 2018 (47% approval in January 2018),[87] French president Emmanuel Macron's approval rating had dipped below 25% at the beginning of the movement. [88] The government's method of curbing the budget deficit had proven unpopular, with Macron being dubbed président des très riches ("president of the very rich") by his former boss François Hollande. [89]
Late in June 2017, Macron's Minister of Justice, François Bayrou, came under pressure to resign, due to the ongoing investigation into the financial arrangements of the political party (MoDem) he leads. [90][91] During a radio interview in August 2018, Nicolas Hulot had resigned from the Ministry of the Environment, without telling either the President or the Prime Minister of his plans to do so. [92] Criticized for his role in the Benalla affair, Gérard Collomb tried to resign in October 2018 as Minister of the Interior—leaving himself with only two jobs, as senator and mayor of Lyon—but saw his resignation initially refused, then finally accepted. [93][94]
In the 1950s, diesel engines were used only in heavy equipment so, to help sell off the surpluses in French refineries, the state created a favorable tax regime to encourage motorists and manufacturers to use diesel. [95] The 1979 oil crisis prompted efforts to curb petrol (gasoline) use, while taking advantage of diesel fuel availability and diesel engine efficiency. The French manufacturer Peugeot has been at the forefront of diesel technology, and from the 1980s, the French government favoured this technology. A reduction in VAT taxes for corporate fleets also increased the prevalence of diesel cars in France. [96] In 2015, two out of every three cars purchased consumed diesel fuel. [95]
The price of petrol (SP95-E10) decreased during 2018, from €1.47 per litre (USD $6.24/gallon) in January to €1.43 per litre (USD $6.07/gallon) in the last week of November. [97]
Prices of petrol and diesel fuel increased by 15 percent and 23 percent respectively between October 2017 and October 2018. [98] The world market purchase price of petrol for distributors increased by 28 percent over the previous year; for diesel, by 35 percent. Costs of distribution increased by 40 percent. VAT included, diesel taxes increased by 14 percent over one year and petrol taxes by 7.5 percent. [98] The tax increase had been 7.6 cents per litre on diesel and 3.9 cents on petrol in 2018, with a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol planned for 1 January 2019. [99][100]
The taxes collected on the sale of fuel are:
The protest movement against fuel prices mainly concerns individuals, as a number of professions and activities benefit from partial or total exemptions from TICPE. [31][101]
The protesters criticized Édouard Philippe's second government for making individuals liable for the bulk of the cost of the carbon tax. As the carbon tax had progressively been ramping up to meet ecological objectives, many who have chosen fossil fuel-based heating for their homes, outside of city centres—where a car is required—are displeased. President Macron attempted to dispel these concerns in early November by offering special subsidies and incentives. [102][103]
Diesel prices in France increased by 16 percent in 2018, with taxes on both petrol and diesel increasing at the same time and a further tax increase planned for 2019, making diesel as expensive as petrol. [104] President Macron is bearing the brunt of the protesters' anger for his extension of policies implemented under François Hollande's government. [104]
The government decided in 2017 to cut the speed limit on country roads from 1 July 2018 from 90 to 80 km/h (50 mph) with the aim to save 200 lives each year, after research found that "excessive or unsuitable" speed was involved in a third (32 percent) of fatal road accidents. The change was opposed and was a factor in the rise of the yellow vest movement. It was seen as another tax via citations [105] and a failure to understand the needs of rural residents who are totally reliant on their cars. Vandalism of traffic enforcement cameras grew significantly after the yellow vest movement began. [106][107][108]
Sparked by claims that the fuel tax was intended to finance tax cuts for big business[109] (a characterization that French President Emmanuel Macron has objected to, stating that the fuel tax was intended to discourage fossil fuel use as a way to combat climate change[110][102]) and including many people motivated by economic difficulties due to low salaries and high energy prices,[111] the yellow vests movement has called for redistributive economic policies like a wealth tax, increased pensions, a higher minimum wage, and reduced salaries for politicians. [112][113] While some commentators have claimed that the movement was a backlash to policies meant to combat climate change,[114][115] a communique released by the movement calls for a "real ecological policy", including fuel and kerosene taxes for ships and airplanes, but objects to policies like the gas tax that hit the poor and working class most heavily. [116][117]
No one knows how the high-visibility yellow vest came to be chosen as the symbol and uniform for the movement, and no one has claimed to be its originator. [79] The movement originated with French motorists from rural areas who had long commutes protesting against an increase in fuel taxes, wearing the yellow vests that, under a 2008 French law, all motorists are required to keep in their vehicles and to wear in case of emergency. [80] The symbol has become "a unifying thread and call to arms" because yellow vests are common and inexpensive, easy to wear over any clothing, associated with working class industries, highly visible, and widely understood as a distress signal. [79] As the movement grew to include grievances beyond fuel taxes, non-motorists in France put on yellow vests and joined the demonstrations, as did protesters in other countries with diverse (and sometimes conflicting) grievances of their own.
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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1909 Borujerd earthquake
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The 2006 Borujerd earthquake occurred in the early morning of 31 March in the South of Borujerd with destruction in Borujerd, Silakhor and Dorood areas of the Loristan Province in western Iran. The centre of the earthquake was in Darb-e Astaneh village south of the Borujerd City. The earthquake measured 6.1 on the moment magnitude scale. This powerful earthquake shook the entire land of Loristan Province and most areas of Hamedan Province, Markazi Province and destroyed many villages in Khorramabad, Alashtar and Arak County as well. More than 180 aftershocks followed the main earthquake in April, May and June and people had to stay outside for several weeks. A lighter foreshock happened the night before, and people stayed outside overnight and this reduced the number of casualties significantly. However, the mainshock at 4:47 am on 31 March shook Borujerd, Dorud and other towns and villages on Silakhor Plain for more than 55 seconds. More than 40 major historical monuments of Borujerd were destroyed by the earthquake and 30% of the historical downtown of the city (2.7 kmª) was ruined or damaged thoroughly. Other monuments damaged by the earthquake include:
Apart from UN agencies e.g. UNESCO and UNICEF, there are other international agencies functioning in the field, including MSF, Caritas Italy, Operation Mercy, ACH Spain and ACT Netherlands. [5]
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Earthquakes
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1947 Aden riots
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The 1947 Aden riots were three days of violence in which the Jewish community of Aden (in modern-day Yemen) was attacked by members of the Yemeni-Arab community in early December, following the approval of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine on 29 November 1947. It was one of the most violent pogroms in modern times against Mizrahi-Jewish communities in the Middle East, resulting in the deaths of 76–82 Jews,[1] 33 Arabs, 4 Muslim Indians, and one Somali,[2] as well as wide-scale devastation of the local Jewish community of Aden. [1][3]
The riots were a significant embarrassment for the British government, particularly given that the British-raised Aden Protectorate Levies were blamed for causing many unnecessary deaths. [4]
By the mid-20th century, Aden was under British rule (today part of Yemen) and had a community of around 5,000 Jews living alongside the Muslim population. [5][1] In the 1930s, there were rare religiously-motivated outbreaks of anti-Jewish violence, as well as a relatively small riot in May 1932 in which Muslims accused Jews of throwing excrement into a mosque courtyard. [5][6] Sixty people, including 25 Jews, were injured, but there were no fatalities. [7] The Farhi synagogue was desecrated. [6]
In the 1940s, visits of Palestinian Arabs to Aden and expressions of anti-Jewish sentiments became common. [5] The Adenese-educated Arab population had become exposed to Egyptian newspapers, as well as radio broadcasts of Voice of the Arabs from Cairo, which incited political awareness and prepared the grounds for the anti-Jewish riot of November 1947 and later the 1967 withdrawal of the last British forces. [5]
On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 181(II), titled: "Recommendation to the United Kingdom, as the mandatory Power for Palestine, and to all other Members of the United Nations the adoption and implementation, with regard to the future government of Palestine, of the Plan of Partition with Economic Union". [8]
This was an attempt to resolve the Arab-Jewish conflict by partitioning Mandatory Palestine into "Independent Arab and Jewish States and the Special International Regime for the City of Jerusalem". Following the vote by the UN on partition of Mandatory Palestine, wide scale protests took place across the Arab countries and communities, with Aden being no exception. [9]
The riots occurred in December 1947, several days after the United Nations' approval of the partition plan. On 2 December, a three-day strike was called to protest the decision. [10] Demonstrations in the Jewish quarter of Aden led to stone and bottle throwing between Jews and Muslims. [11] Jewish houses and shops were looted, and military control was declared when the crisis exceeded the capacity of the small police force. [11] The main military force available was the 1,800-strong Aden Protectorate Levies who were locally recruited soldiers with British and Arab officers. [11] Assistance was also received from several British warships, which sent landing parties, and the equivalent of two companies of British infantry flown in from the Canal Zone. [10] Order was not restored until 6 December. [11] The British government was severely embarrassed by the riots, noting privately that they were urging the Arab states to protect their Jews when they themselves were unable to. [10]
On the second day, rifle fire began. [11] The Levies proved unreliable and worse; some fired indiscriminately and probably contributed to the casualties. [11]
The main violence of the riots occurred in three locations. In Aden town (also called Crater), an attempt to impose a curfew was largely unsuccessful. [11] Jewish schools and houses were looted and set alight. [11] In the port towns of Steamer Point and Tawahi, most of the Jews were evacuated but some whose presence was not known to the police were killed. [11] Several Arabs who were apparently innocent were shot accidentally. [11] In the Arab town of Sheikh Othman, which had a large Jewish compound, a military contingent arrived to evacuate the 750 Jews to safety. However, several declined to leave and were later found dead. [11]
The official casualty count was 76–82 Jews (6 persons were unidentified) and 38 Arabs killed, and 76 Jews wounded. [11] At least 87 Arabs were known to have been wounded but many others failed to report their condition. [11] The dead included one Indian Medical Officer and one Levy. [11]
More than 100 Jewish shops were looted and 30 houses burned. [11] An official enquiry conducted by Sir Harry Trusted determined that many individual Levies were sympathetic to the rioters and did not act to control them. [11] Nine Levies were imprisoned for looting. [11] Trusted put most of the blame on Yemeni "coolies," workers temporarily in the country who "have a low standard of life, are illiterate, fanatical and, when excited, may be savage. "[11] He did not find claims of Jewish sniping to be convincing, though the Governor Sir Reginald Champion secretly reported to the British government that the two military fatalities were killed "almost certainly by Jewish sniper. "[10] Jewish leaders acknowledged "many instances of Arabs and Indians sheltering and otherwise befriending their Jewish neighbours. "[11]
The Aden government established a second enquiry, under magistrate K. Bochgaard, to consider claims for compensation. [12] Claims totalling more than one million pounds were submitted, exceeding the total annual income of the colony. [12] On the grounds that most of the damage was inflicted by non-residents of Aden, Bochgaard awarded £240,000 with a maximum of £7,500 per claim. [12] The Aden government then further reduced the maximum per claim to £300 with some options for interest-free loans, much to the anger of the Aden Jewish community. [12]
Shortly after the riots, Aden's Jewish community almost entirely left, together with most of the Yemeni Jewish community. [citation needed]
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Riot
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1916 Atlanta streetcar strike
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The Atlanta streetcar strike of 1916 was a labor strike involving streetcar operators for the Georgia Railway and Power Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Precipitated by previous strike action by linemen of Georgia Railway earlier that year, the strike began on September 30 and ended January 5 of the following year. The main goals of the strike included increased pay, shorter working hours, and union recognition. The strike ended with the operators receiving a wage increase, and subsequent strike action the following year lead to union recognition. The streetcar strike followed a previous labor dispute regarding linemen of the Georgia Railway and Power Company earlier that year. In June, the linemen requested a ten percent wage increase from the company, which was refused. Following this, the linemen brought William Pollard of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to the city to help organize a labor strike (a local of the IBEW in Atlanta had been established years earlier in 1890). [1] On August 12, the linemen went on strike over the firing of five linemen, of whom three had union affiliations. [1][note 1] The strike ended as the company agreed to reinstate the two non-union affiliated men and, while not recognizing the IBEW, did acknowledge the linemen's right to unionize. [1] The local newspapers gave relatively little coverage of the event. [2] Preston S. Arkwright, then-President of Georgia Railway and Power, alleged that following this incident, Pollard began to assist in the unionizing of the streetcar operators. [3] Hardy Teat of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen assisted,[4] and together they began to organize streetcar operators under the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). [3] On September 28, Pollard was called to the offices of the Atlanta Chief of Police under accusations of plans to incite violence and a riot. [5] Two days later, Pollard was called to testify before Atlanta Mayor James G. Woodward, where Woodward warned him that he would be arrested if a strike were to occur. [6][7]
On September 30 at 6 pm, Teat called The Atlanta Journal to notify them that a strike involving conductors and motormen of the Atlanta Railway had commenced. The main goals of the strike were higher wages, union recognition, and shorter hours. [8] Additionally, the strikers were opposed to the mandatory membership in the company's "benevolent society", which required dues of 50 cents per month. [8][9] In downtown Atlanta, several streetcars were left abandoned as the operators deserted their posts. [5][8] Because of the profile the operators held among Atlanta's blue-collar workers, the strike received a considerable degree of support from the general public. [5][10] In East Point, Georgia, a crowd of several hundred had formed to cheer as 16 cars were abandoned. [8] Georgia Railway had prepared for the strike by assembling 30 men[note 2] to take over, and within a few minutes of the strike's beginning, the streetcars in downtown were again running, though suburban routes, such as those in East Point and Fort McPherson, were not resumed. [8]
Following the commencement of the strike, large groups of spectators and strike supporters formed in downtown, with strikers yelling at passing streetcars and urging the operators to join the strike. [12] While The Atlanta Constitution initially reported that the crowd's were "boisterously good-natured", the crowds became more restless as the strike carried on. [13][14] Strikers began to shout at the replacement workers, calling them scabs and attempting to pull them from the streetcars and steal their badges and caps. [9][13] By 10:30 pm, the company called all their streetcars to return to their carbarns, citing a lack of protection from the police. [11][9] Within an hour of this, a federal judge in Atlanta issued a restraining order on two unions and several union leaders. [9] As the dispute continued, incidents of violence regarding the strikes were reported. Around 9 pm, a streetcar stop was torched, and there were many reports of strikers greasing tracks and damaging streetcars. [13] Dynamiting was reported in several cases, including an incident in which two women were severely injured. [15] However, there is debate as to who was responsible for the incidents of dynamite. Several streetcar operators, interviewed years after the strike, alleged that the company had placed dynamite on several streetcars and blamed the union. [15][16]
On October 2, a group of prominent Atlanta citizens held a meeting at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and formed a committee on law and order. [13] This group, headed by an executive committee that had Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Griggs Candler as its chairman, collaborated with the police and county commissioners during the course of the strike. [13] On October 3, the president of the newly created Amalgamated Association Local 732 released five points as the cause of the strike, which included long hours, low wages, mandatory membership in the company's benevolent society, expression of political opinions as grounds for firing, and claims that issues were caused by outside interference. [17] That same month, strikers and strike supporters began operating jitneys in order to recuperate lost wages and put more pressure on the railway company. [18][19] While Woodward had banned the strikers from addressing the public from public areas, such as the Henry W. Grady statue,[7] on October 13, a pro-strike rally at the Municipal Auditorium was attended by approximately 8,500 people. [20] Among these supporters were local members of the Socialist Party of America. [21]
In November, Warren Akin Candler, brother of Asa Candler and a Bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, banned the use of Methodist churches in the city for strike meetings. Prior to this, many pro-strike meetings were held in the city's Methodist churches. [22] That same month, Pollard, who had been indicted for insurrection, was placed on trial. [23] On December 6, his case ended with a mistrial. [24] On January 5, 1917, the company agreed to a pay increase for the operators, but refused to rehire fired union members or recognize the union. [25][13] While this ended the strike, tensions between the union and company remained high for several months afterwards regarding the lack of union recognition, and on July 16, 1918, another strike commenced. [26] Lasting only four days, this subsequent strike ended with arbitration from the National War Labor Board and lead to the company agreeing to recognize the union. [26][27]
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Strike
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Google appeals France's 'disproportionate' $591 million fine in copyright row
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The logo of Google is pictured during the Viva Tech start-up and technology summit in Paris, France, May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
PARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Google (GOOGL.O) said on Wednesday it was appealing against a 500 million euro ($591 million) fine imposed by France's antitrust watchdog in July over a dispute with local media about paying for news content.
The fine came amid increasing international pressure on online platforms such as Google, part of Alphabet Inc, and Facebook (FB.O) to share more of the revenue they make from using media outlets' news.
"We disagree with a number of legal elements, and believe that the fine is disproportionate to our efforts to reach an agreement and comply with the new law," said Sebastien Missoffe, head of Google France.
"We continue to work hard to resolve this case and put deals in place. This includes expanding offers to 1,200 publishers, clarifying aspects of our contracts, and sharing more data as requested by the French Competition Authority."
The French antitrust body imposed the sanction on Google for failing to comply with its orders on how to conduct the talks with publishers.
It said on Wednesday that Google's appeal, which will be ruled on by Paris' court of appeal, would not hold up the fine, which the U.S. tech giant must still pay. It could not say how long the appeal process would take.
The case focused on whether Google breached temporary orders issued by the authority, which said such talks should take place, within three months, with any news publishers that asked for them. read more The watchdog said in its July 13 decision that the U.S. tech group must come up with proposals within the next two months on how it would compensate news agencies and other publishers for the use of their content. If it does not do that, the company would face additional fines of up to 900,000 euros per day.
($1 = 0.8465 euros)
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Organization Fine
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Covid-19: Business failure numbers still below pre-pandemic levels
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Although it's been over a decade since the 2008-09 financial crisis, there are still plenty of lessons to be learned from this particular economic downturn. We have enjoyed an economic recovery, to be sure, although it has been rather uneven—especially for people on the lower end of the income bracket with little to no investments or savings. Unfortunately, those people represent nearly half of the U.S., and while there may have been easy money to be made given ultra-low interest rates and other stimulants, too many hard-working people had no means to take advantage of them. The aftermath of the crisis produced reams of new legislation, the creation of new oversight agencies that amounted to an alphabet soup of acronyms like TARP, the FSOC, and the CFPB—most of which barely exist today—new committees and sub-committees, and platforms for politicians, whistle-blowers and executives to build their careers on top of, and enough books to fill a wall at a bookstore, many of which still exist. As the COVID-19 pandemic sends the economy into a tailspin once again, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve Bank are looking back at the lessons learned from the last economic downturn to see how to help reduce some of the severity. Let’s get some of the shocking statistics out of the way, and then we can dive into the lessons—both learned and not learned—from the crisis: There are many more statistics that paint a picture of the economic destruction and loss surrounding that era, but suffice to say, it left a massive crater in the material and emotional financial landscape of Americans. We’d like to believe that we learned from the crisis and emerged as a stronger, more resilient nation. That is the classic American narrative, after all. But like all narratives, the truth lives in the hearts and, in this case, the portfolios of those who lived through the great financial crisis. Changes were made, laws were passed, and promises were made. Some of them kept, some of them were discarded or simply shoved to the side of the road as banks were bailed out, stock markets eclipsed records and the U.S. Government threw lifelines at government-backed institutions that nearly drowned in the whirlpool of irresponsible debt they helped to create. To be sure, policymakers made critical decisions in the heat of the crisis that stemmed the bleeding and eventually put us on a path to recovery and growth. It's easy to Monday morning quarterback those decisions, but had they not been made with the conviction and speed at the time, the results would likely have been catastrophic. Let’s examine a handful of those lessons for some perspective: The notion that global banks were "too big to fail," was also the justification lawmakers and the governors of the Federal Reserve leaned upon to bail them out to avert a planetary catastrophe that may have been several times worse than the crisis itself. To avoid a ‘systemic crisis’, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed, a mammoth 2,300-page piece of legislation authored by two former Congressmen: Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd. The Act gave birth to oversight agencies like the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB), agencies that were intended to serve as watchdogs on Wall Street. Dodd-Frank also subjected banks with assets over $50 billion to stress tests and reined them in from speculative bets that could’ve crippled their balance sheets and hurt their customers. Banks of all sizes, including regional banks, credit unions, and bulge bracket firms, decried the legislation, claiming it hobbled them with unnecessary paperwork and prevented them from serving their customers. Then, President Trump promised to "do a number," on the bill and succeeded in getting Congress to approve a new version in May 2018. This version included far fewer limitations and bureaucratic hurdles. Meanwhile, the FSOC and the CFPB are shadows of their former selves. Still, you can’t argue that the banking system is healthier and more resilient than it was a decade ago. Banks were over-leveraged and over-exposed to house-poor consumers from 2006-09. Today, their capital and leverage ratios are much stronger, and their businesses are less complex. Banks face a new set of challenges today—centered around their trading and traditional banking models—but they are less at risk of a liquidity crisis that could topple them and the global financial system. Banks had also made careless bets with their own money and sometimes in ways that were in blatant conflict with those they had made on behalf of their customers. So-called "proprietary trading" ran rampant at some banks, causing spectacular losses on their books and for their clients. Lawsuits piled up and trust eroded like a sandcastle in high tide. The so-called Volcker Rule, named after former Chair of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker, proposed legislation aimed at prohibiting banks from taking on too much risk with their own trades in speculative markets that could also represent a conflict of interest with their customers in other products. It took until April of 2014 for the rule to be passed—nearly 5 years after some of the most storied institutions on Wall Street, like Lehman Bros. and Bear Stearns, disappeared from the face of the earth for engaging in such activities. It lasted only four more years, until May 2018, when current Fed Chair Jerome Powell voted to water it down, citing its complexity and inefficiency. Still, banks have raised their capital requirements, reduced their leverage, and are less exposed to sub-prime mortgages. Neel Kashkari, President of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank and former overseer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), had a front-row seat to the crisis and its aftermath. He still maintains that big global banks need more regulation and higher capital requirements. This is what he told Investopedia: The boiler at the bottom of the financial crisis was an overheated housing market that was stoked by unscrupulous lending to un-fit borrowers, and the re-selling of those loans through obscure financial instruments called mortgage backed securities. After which, these mortgage backed securities wormed their way through the global financial system. Un-fit borrowers were plied with adjustable rate mortgages that they couldn’t afford; interest rates began to rise at the same time home values starting declining. Banks in Ireland and Iceland became holders of toxic assets that had originated after flimsy mortgages in places like Indianapolis and Idaho Falls were bundled and sold. Other banks bought insurance against those mortgages, creating a house of cards built on a foundation of homebuyers who had no business buying a home. Mortgage originators were high on the amphetamine of higher profits, and investors fanned the flames by bidding their share prices higher without care or concern for the sustainability of the enterprise. After all, home prices continued to rise, new homes were being built with reckless abandon, borrowers had unfettered access to capital and the entire global banking system was gorging at the trough—even as the stew turned rotten. What could go wrong? Nearly everything, it turns out. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—the two government-sponsored entities that underwrote much of the mortgage risk and resold it to investors—had to be bailed out with taxpayer money and taken into receivership by the federal government. Foreclosures spiked, millions of people lost their homes, and home prices plummeted. In 2021, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac still exist under the conservatorship of the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA).1 More than ten years later, the housing market has recovered in all major cities and lending, to a degree, has become more stringent. Markets like Silicon Valley and New York City have boomed as the "technorati" and banking sets have enjoyed a raging bull market and sky-high valuations. Even though it took them longer, cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, and regions in the Rust Belt, have also recovered. Today, borrowers are not as exposed to adjustable rates as they were a decade ago. According to JP Morgan, just about 15% of the outstanding mortgage market is at an adjustable rate. Interest rates are much lower than in 2008; even future increases are not likely to topple the market. While lending standards have tightened, at least for homebuyers, risky lending has not been completely eliminated: it still runs rampant for car loans and short-term cash loans. In 2017, $25 billion in bonds backing subprime auto loans were issued. While that’s a fraction of the $400 billion worth of mortgage backed securities issued, on average, every year, the lax underwriting standards for car loans are eerily similar to the risky mortgages that brought the global financial system to its knees a decade ago. One natural reaction in a crisis is to look for someone to blame. In 2009, there were plenty of people and agencies who could have been hit squarely with the blame. However, actually proving that someone used illegal means to profit off of gullible and unsuspecting consumers and investors is far more difficult. Banks behaved badly: Many of the most storied institutions on Wall Street and Main Street clearly put their own executives’ interests ahead of their customers. But none of them were charged or indicted with any crimes. Many banks and agencies did appear to clean up their acts, but Wells Fargo is a good cautionary tale. Phil Angelides served as the chair of the Financial Inquiry Commission following the crisis. His goal was to get to the root of the problem and discover how the global economy was brought to its knees. He tells Investopedia he is far from convinced that any meaningful lessons were learned, especially to the degree that a future crisis can be prevented. Investors have enjoyed a spectacular run since the depths of the crisis. The S&P 500 is up nearly 150% since its lows of 2009, adjusted for inflation. Ultra-low interest rates, bond-buying by central banks—known as —and the rise of the FAANG stocks have added trillions of dollars in market value to global stock markets. We’ve also witnessed the birth of roboadvisors and automated investing tools that have brought a new demographic of investors to the market. But, what may be the most important development is the rise of exchange traded products and passive investing. Assets allocated to exchange traded funds (ETFs) topped $5 trillion this year, up from $0.8 trillion in 2008, according to JPMorgan. Indexed funds now account for around 40% of equity assets under management globally. While ETFs offer lower fees and require less oversight once launched, there is a growing concern that they will not be so resilient in the face of an oncoming crisis. ETFs trade like stocks and offer liquidity to investors that mutual funds do not. They also require far less oversight and management, hence their affordability. ETFs were relatively new in 2008-09 (except for the originals like SPDR, DIA, and QQQ). Most of these products have never seen a bear market, much less a crisis. The next time one appears, we’ll see how resilient they are. It's crazy to imagine, but Facebook (the "F" of the FAANG stocks) did not go public until 2012. Amazon, Apple, Google, and Netflix were public companies, but far smaller than they are today. It is definitely true that their outsized market caps reflect their dominance among consumers. But their weights on index funds and ETFs is staggering. Their market caps are as big as the bottom 282 stocks in the S&P 500. A correction or massive drawdown in any one of them creates a whirlpool effect that can suck passive index or ETF investors down with it. The lessons from the 2008-09 financial crisis were painful and profound. Swift, unprecedented, and extreme measures were put into place by the government and the Federal Reserve at the time to stem the crisis, and reforms were put into place to try and prevent a repeat of the disaster. Some of those, like ensuring that banks aren’t too big to fail and have ample cash reserves to stem a liquidity crisis, have stuck. Lending to unfit borrowers for homes they can’t afford has waned. But, broader reforms to protect consumers, investors, and borrowers have not. They are in the process of being repealed and watered down as part of more broad efforts to deregulate the financial system. While there may be a general consensus that we are safer today than we were a decade ago, it’s difficult to really know that until we face the next crisis. We know this: It won’t look like the last one—they never do. That’s the thing about crises and so-called ‘black swans’. Cracks begin to appear, and before anyone is ready to take a hard look at what is causing them, they turn into massive tectonic shifts that upend the global order. During the economic fallout from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the central bank took many of these lessons to heart, working aggressively and quickly to prop up the financial economy as millions of Americans found themselves unemployed and stuck at home. As investors, the best thing to do is to stay diversified, spend less than we make, adjust our risk tolerance appropriately, and be skeptical of anything that appears too good to be true.
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Financial Crisis
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Houston family hospitalized after Christmas tamale tradition causes carbon monoxide poisoning
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At approximately 4:48 a.m. Friday, fire crews were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 3900 block of Hollister Road in reference to a hazmat incident. Once on scene, firefighters located seven members of a family, four adults and three children, suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. One of the adults was reported unconscious at the scene.
The victims were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The family’s neighbor said the family had cooked tamales on a barbecue pit outside their apartment. When they were done cooking, the family brought the pit inside their apartment while the ashes were still smoking.
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Mass Poisoning
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Reba McEntire Addresses Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Divorce: I Hope They ‘Pull Through This’
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McEntire, 66, was asked about mentoring Clarkson, 39, through her divorce , having been through two herself. The “Survivor” singer was married to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987 and then to Narvel Blackstock from 1989 to 2015. While she and the producer, 65, have split, McEntire still considers Brandon, 44, to be family.
Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and Brandon Blackstock. Shutterstock (3)
“You know, I love them both. Brandon’s my stepson, Kelly’s my good friend ,” the veteran performer told Extra in an interview published on Saturday, October 9.
She continued, “I am pulling for both of them. I hope they’re happy and healthy and pull through this.”
The Reba sitcom star didn’t directly address if she’d given Clarkson any guidance but instead hoped others would send the exes some positive thoughts. “I pray everyone gives them the encouragement that they can because they need it right now, both of them do,” the Oklahoma native added. “I love them both with all my heart.”
Read article
Brandon and Clarkson married in 2013 and share daughter River, 7, and son Remington, 5. They announced their split in June 2020 with The Voice coach citing “irreconcilable differences ” in the divorce filing.
Since then, the two have been battling it out in court. Us Weekly confirmed in July that the “Since You’ve Been Gone” singer was ordered to pay Blackstock nearly $200,000 per month starting in April. The agreement was temporary, with a source noting that there will be a “formal settlement” later.
Clarkson was recently granted the right to her Montana property, which her ex wanted to claim as marital property. Brandon has expressed a desire to leave the entertainment industry behind to be a rancher, but the American Idol champ didn’t want to hold onto her ranch , citing the “financial burden” in court documents, obtained by Us. If her ex fails to pay the $81,000 in maintenance costs each month, Clarkson can file a motion to sell.
While the two were legally declared single , the divorce is set to be finalized in January.
Read article
Though it isn’t clear if McEntire was one of Clarkson’s divorce mentors, the “Wrapped in Red” songstress has said that speaking to friends is a huge help during tough times.
“I mean, it’s no secret,” she said during Sunday Today With Willie Geist in September 2020. “My life has been a little bit of a dumpster . Personally, it’s been a little hard the last couple of months. I’ve been talking to friends that have been through divorce. I don’t know how people go through that without having some kind of outlet because it is the worst thing ever for everyone involved.”
Listen to Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood as each week the editors of Us break down the hottest entertainment news stories!
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Famous Person - Divorce
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AFL commentator Brian Taylor airlifted to hospital after explosion
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AFL commentator Brian Taylor was airlifted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering burns in a gas explosion on his farm in Gippsland, Victoria.
The Channel 7 commentator and former Richmond and Collingwood player was reportedly airlifted to the Alfred Hospital after suffering 'minor' burns to his face.
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According to The Herald Sun, emergency services were called to the Walhalla property around midday and paramedics treated Taylor at the scene.
The local fire brigade said the incident was caused by an explosion with a gas fridge.
With mounting pressure on his future at Carlton, take a look back at the journey David Teague has been on since taking over as coach in 2019.
“Assisting Ambulance Victoria in Walhalla this afternoon with a minor gas explosion from a gas fridge causing injuries to a male occupant of the household, who was airlifted to hospital for treatment,” the Erica and District Fire Brigade posted on Facebook.
“We wish them speedy recovery.”
A Channel 7 spokesperson confirmed it was Taylor who was injured.
The 59-year-old is expected to make a full recovery and return to his TV duties this weekend.
“He keeps a low profile,” Walhalla resident Frank Ryan told The Herald Sun about Taylor.
“He doesn’t big note himself or anything like that. You wouldn’t even recognise him in the street.”
Meanwhile, Perth is all-but certain to host the AFL grand final for the first time after Optus Stadium was officially named the standby venue for the season decider.
The final game of the season is poised to be moved from the MCG for the second-consecutive season amid Melbourne's latest coronavirus outbreak.
The showpiece game hasn't been officially taken away from Melbourne yet, with the league waiting on the Victorian government inevitably relinquishing the MCG's hosting rights.
Standing in the way is the AFL's contract with the state government for the MCG to be the home of the grand final until at least 2058.
Last year the AFL and the Victorian government were able to work out a one-year extension of that landmark deal before the grand final was shifted to the Gabba in Brisbane.
Metropolitan Melbourne will remain in a hard lockdown until at least September 2, with a high chance it could be extended further, ruling out a large crowd at a sporting event in Victoria for the immediate future.
"Today I had a conversation with the West Australian premier (Mark) McGowan ... where we let them know that Optus Stadium would be the home of the AFL grand final in the event that it is not able to happen at the MCG," AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday.
The AFL has made it clear it wants the remainder of the season to be played in front of crowds with the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium expected to host other finals in coming weeks.
"It is not in my contemplation to play a grand final without a crowd," McLachlan added.
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Gas explosion
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2018 Manila Pavilion Hotel fire
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On 18 March 2018, a fire broke out at the Manila Pavilion Hotel in Manila, Philippines. The hotel, located in the Ermita district of Manila, was filled with foreign tourists at the time of the fire who were mostly able to evacuate through the hotel's fire exits. The fire, burning on the lower floors of the hotel, sent smoke upward and trapped some employees and guests as it spread throughout the complex. The fire began in the morning hours when many of the guests were awake, enabling evacuation efforts.Fire rescue operations worked to save several dozen guests from the rooftop of the hotel as smoke chased guests upward. Over 300 guests were evacuated from the hotel safely,[1] and firefighters were dually challenged by heavy winds and huge quantities of smoke as they attempted to extinguish the blaze. 19 people were believed trapped on the fifth floor by fire officials, who worked for hours determining a safe way to free them. [2] Employees could be seen fleeing from the building covering their mouths with handkerchiefs to block out the thick smoke as fire burned around the second and lower floors. The fire caused 6 fatalities and sent 23 people to the hospital as it raged for over 9 hours. The fire was burning intensely throughout the 2nd and lower floors, creating a challenge for Philippine fire experts to initially identify the origin of the inferno. [3] Firefighters reported that several floors of the hotel were "totally damaged" but the investigation was still incomplete at that time. [4] It was reported that the fire rekindled past 11 am, on 20 March but was soon re-extinguished. [5]
Officials initially stated that 4 people were killed by smoke inhalation. [6] The death toll decreased to three as Manila Doctors Hospital reported one of those believed dead from smoke inhalation was revived in critical condition, but increased to 6 as more victims were found or died. [7] At least 3 fatalities occurred when casino employees, including security, were trapped by smoke in the casino's treasury room, with the final count in the building ending at 5. [8]
The hotel's casino operator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., stated that 3 of their employees had died and two closed-circuit television operators were missing. [9] Director of Manila Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Johnny Yu later gave a figure of 5 fatalities to the press. The director announced the fire's sixth fatality on March 21, an employee of the hotel's casino who had been in critical condition since the fire. [10]
The Philippine National Red Cross (PRC) responded to the fire, and reported that it was raised to a fifth alarm fire at 10:10 am. [11]
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Penrith Panthers fined $10,000 after excited fans breached COVID-19 health orders at grand final
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
Penrith Panthers have been fined $10,000 after excited fans were seen mingling, hugging and drinking while standing at the club during last Sunday's National Rugby League grand final, in breach of COVID safety orders.
NSW Liquor and Gaming said footage showed the club's patrons "couldn't contain their enthusiasm", but the behaviour was "not fair" on the club, its staff or the community.
"We expect better behaviour from patrons who need to be aware of the rules when attending a venue," Liquor and Gaming director of compliance Dimitri Argeres said.
"At the same time, venues need to make sure they are adequately implementing their safety plans particularly when higher patron numbers are expected due to special events."
The Olympic Stadium was also fined $5,000 for public health order breaches during the grand final after people gathered together on the stadium's balcony to watch the game.
Two other venues at Sydney Olympic Park, the Brewery at the Novotel and the Locker Room were also fined $5,000 for breaches.
Liquor and Gaming warned that COVID transmission was still a risk at sport finals, school formals and party season functions for Christmas and New Year.
"These are all events where caution can be forgotten," Mr Argeres said.
"But don't forget life isn't quite back to normal yet and if we want to enjoy summer with our friends and families, we need to keep COVID transmission low."
There have been four new cases of COVID-19 in NSW, but health authorities say today's only case of community transmission was reported on Friday.
Three cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine — there are now 4,232 cases across NSW.
There were more than 13,000 people tested in the last 24 hours but NSW Health have urged more people from south-west Sydney to come forward for testing.
"It's vital that you come forward for testing right away if you have even the mildest of symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough, fever or symptoms that could signal COVID-19," Christine Selvey said.
A teenager who goes to Cabramatta High School in Sydney's south-west tested positive after visiting Flip Out trampoline park at Prestons.
NSW Health said the teen went to the trampoline park at the same time as a known case and is linked to a cluster of five cases at Hoxton Park.
Cabramatta High School is closed for cleaning and staff and students have been advised to self-isolate.
HSC exams at the school were not affected, although those taking tests on Monday will be contacted about arrangements for exams that day.
"The school is working closely with NSW Health to identify close contacts," Dr Selvey said.
NSW Health said anyone who visited the trampoline centre on Sunday, October 25 between 11:00am and 2:00pm is now considered a close contact and must get tested straight away.
Anyone who went to Flip Out on Sunday, October 25 after 2:00pm is now considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms.
Health authorities are also urging Halloween trick-or-treaters tonight to take coronavirus precautions.
People are being advised to give out individually wrapped lollies, and avoid sharing masks and costumes. Anyone who is sick or in self-isolation is reminded not to open the door for trick-or-treaters.
See our full coverage of coronavirus
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This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
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Continental Airlines Flight 603 crash
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Continental Airlines Flight 603 was a scheduled McDonnell Douglas DC-10 flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Honolulu International Airport. On March 1, 1978, it crashed during an aborted takeoff, resulting in the deaths of four passengers. [1][a]
The aircraft involved in the accident was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, registered N68045, which had made its first flight in 1972. [1]:4,48[3]
The captain was 59-year-old Charles E. Hershe, who was operating his last flight before retirement. [2] He had been with Continental Airlines since 1946 and had logged 29,000 flight hours, including 2,911 hours on the DC-10. [1]:46
The first officer was 40-year-old Michael J. Provan, who had been with Continental Airlines since 1966 and had 10,000 flight hours, with 1,149 of them on the DC-10. [1]:46
The flight engineer was 39-year-old John K. Olsen, who had been with the airline since 1968. He was the least experienced member of the crew with 8,000 flight hours, 1,520 of them on the DC-10. [1]:46–47
The aircraft began its take-off from Los Angeles International Airport at approximately 9:25 am. During the take-off roll, the recapping tread of the No. 2 tire on the left main landing gear separated from the tire and the resulting overload caused that tire to blow out. That in turn, imposed an overload on the No. 1 tire on the same axle, resulting in a second blowout almost immediately after the first blowout. Pieces of metal from the rims of the failed tires then damaged the No. 5 tire on the left main gear, causing it to also blow out. Although captain Hershe initiated the abort procedure at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) below V1 speed, it became apparent the aircraft could not stop within the confines of the runway. This was the direct result of the partial loss of braking power following the failure of the three tires on the left main gear, and also because the runway was wet. The captain steered the aircraft to go off the end of the right half of the runway in an effort "to go beside the stanchions holding the runway lights" and thus avoid a collision with the approach light stanchions, which were positioned immediately beyond the end of the runway. [1]:2 About 100 feet (30 m) beyond the end of the runway, the left main gear broke through the non-load bearing pavement, which caused it to collapse rearward. Portions of the failed gear punctured fuel tanks in the left wing, immediately starting a fuel fire on the left side. [1]
The aircraft slid to a stop approximately 664 feet (202 m) beyond the departure end of the runway. Because of the fire on the left side of the aircraft, all passengers evacuated on the right side. All four emergency evacuation slides on the right side of the aircraft were affected by the heat and failed at some point during the evacuation. [1]:31 Flight 603's flight crew and an off-duty pilot worked quickly to guide passengers to alternate exits as the slides failed, actions later commended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for saving lives and reducing the number of injuries. [1]:38 Passengers who were still on board after the last slide failed were forced to either jump to the ground, or use a slide rope deployed from the first officer's cockpit window. [1]:31
Of the 186 passengers and 14 crew on board, two passengers died due to burning and smoke inhalation. [2] Moreover, 28 passengers and three crew members were seriously injured during the evacuation. Two of the seriously injured passengers died as a result of their injuries about three months later. [a]
A large portion of the aircraft's left section was destroyed. [1]:3 The aircraft subsequently was written off as a hull loss. The accident represents the second fatal accident and fifth hull loss of a McDonnell Douglas DC-10. [3]
During its investigation, the NTSB found the No. 2 tire failed because it threw off its (recapped) tread. The No. 1 tire then failed because it was overloaded and had fatigue in its ply structure. The No. 5 tire then failed, because it was hit with a piece or pieces of metal from either the No. 2 or the No. 1 wheel. The failure of that third tire on the left main gear probably contributed to the gear breaking through the non-load bearing pavement beyond the end of the runway, which in turn caused the gear to collapse and puncture the fuel tanks. Additionally, the NTSB stated: "The tires on the aircraft may have been operated in the overdeflected condition, since the average inflation pressure was less than the optimum pressure for maximum gross weight. "[1]
The NTSB made recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including that the FAA prohibit mounting on the same axle different models of tires which had different load-bearing characteristics and also that greater load-bearing characteristics be required in tires manufactured in the future. [1] The NTSB also issued a series of recommendations regarding improvements to aircraft evacuation safety, including development of more durable and fire-resistant slides, and the placement of evacuation ropes at emergency exits for use in the event of slide failure. [4]
After the investigation of this accident was completed, the FAA made a number of rule changes improving runway performance, including updated tire rating criteria, performance standards, and testing requirements. [5] In addition, the FAA mandated changes to the design of evacuation slides to increase their capacity, improve fire resistance, and inflate at a quicker speed. [5]
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Air crash
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Police investigate shooting in Woodbridge
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/ Updated:
Dec 12, 2021 / 08:27 PM EST
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WOODBRIDGE, Va. (WDVM) – Police are investigating a shooting at a nightclub in Woodbridge where four people were injured.
According to Prince William County Police, the shooting happened on Dec. 12 at The Palace located on 13989 Jefferson Davis Hwy and the Prince William Pkwy. Officers responded to the scene while on proactive patrol in the area when they heard the gunshots, police said.
Three male security guards and a female bystander were struck by gunfire, police said. During the investigation, police said the suspect had a verbal argument inside the palace, which escalated into the parking lot when the suspect shot towards the crowd striking the victims. The shooter then fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan.
The four victims were transported to a nearby hospital with injuries not life-threatening, police said. The suspect has not been located at this time.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5’3”-5’8” with a thin build, tan complexion, clean-shaven face, a tattoo below his right eye, and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket or shirt, dark-colored jeans, and white shoes.
If you have any information about the incident, call the Prince William County Police Department at 703-792-7000.
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Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate
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Xinjiang coalmine accident traps 21 - China state media
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Rescuers work at the site where a coal mine flooded in Hutubi county, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China April 11, 2021. China Daily via REUTERS April 10 (Reuters) - Twenty-one miners are trapped in a flooded coalmine in northwest China's Xinjiang region, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday, citing a local emergency department. A section of the mine filled with water, leading to power outages just after 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday when 29 miners were working at the site in Hutubi county, the report said. Eight miners have been lifted out. State media outlet Global Times said 12 of the miners who remain trapped have been located and are expected to be rescued. The location of nine others has been determined, but their condition is unknown, the newspaper said. The 12 are on a platform around 1.2 km(4,000 feet) below ground, and the layout of the mine is complex, complicating rescue efforts, it said. Emergency workers have set up several water pumps at the site. Chinese mines are among the deadliest in the world. Ten gold miners were confirmed dead in January following an explosion in a mine in coastal Shandong province. In December, 23 people were killed after being trapped in a mine in the southwestern city of Chongqing. Three months earlier, 16 people died in a coalmine in the same area.
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Mine Collapses
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2011 Malawian protests
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The 2011 Malawi protests were protests aimed at winning political and economic reforms or concessions from the government of Malawi. [6] On 20 July, Malawian organisations protested against perceived poor economic management and poor governance by President Bingu wa Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party. [7] After the first two days of protests, 18 deaths, 98 serious injuries and 275 arrests had been reported. [1] Further demonstrations were organised on 17 August and 21 September[8] The first protest was later cancelled due to the intervention of a UN representative in initiating a dialogue; however, the talks broke down with more protests planned for Red Wednesday through a national vigil. [9][10]
The protesters' grievances were highlighted in a 15-page petition which included a list of 20 demands:[11][12]
After several weeks of protests, on 19 July, the government issued an order banning civil society organisations from protesting. [6] A day before the protest, the government set out to intimidate potential protestors. Two vehicles belonging to the independent private radio station Zodiak Radio were set alight by masked men. [13] In the commercial capital Blantyre, five official DPP vehicles carrying DPP Youth Cadets (a youth wing of the DPP) were seen driving around the city waving machetes. [13] The government obtained an injunction to stop the protests. [14]
A coalition of 80 Civil societies and NGOs, religious and student groups (collectively known as 'Concerned Citizens') chose 20 July 2011 as a day of national protest against economic and administrative management. [15] Prominent civil and human rights organisations like the umbrella NGO Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) and the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) were both a part of the Concerned Citizens group and played a central role in planning the protest. It also included the Malawi Law Society and the Council of Churches. [16] Mutharika then scheduled a public lecture for the same day to which he invited all citizens, NGO's and civil societies upon registration. The Concerned Citizens largely said that they would not attend a 'lecture' by the president because they wanted dialogue and their concerns to be addressed. Pro-government supporters then scheduled a pro-government protest on the same day, 20 July. On the morning of 20 July 2011, mass anti-government protests began in the major cities of Mzuzu, Blantyre, and the capital Lilongwe. Protests also occurred in Zomba, Kasungu, and Ntchesi. The Concerned Citizens were wearing red shirts and other articles of clothing and called themselves the "Red Army for Democracy and Peace." The protests began peacefully with participants singing the national anthem, taking photos, holding signs and giving speeches. Many were waving the old Malawi flag the public display of which had been banned by the Mutharika government.
The government response to these protests included preemptive arrests of civil society leaders. Police assaulted MCP spokesperson Nancy Tembo, Joyce Banda's sister Anjimile Oponyo, The Nation journalist Kondwani Munthali and the head of the HRCC Undule Mwakasungula. There was a clamp down by police on anyone wearing red clothes which was particularly violent in Mzuzu. Police forces began to disrupt broadcasts by radio stations, and ordered journalists not to report on the protests. Anti-government citizens clashed with security forces in the northern cities of Mzuzu and Karonga and Blantyre. [3][17]
After the national lecture by President Mutharika, which failed to address the grievances of the protesters, tensions grew further and looting of targeted business and properties began. Business properties of political allies of the president were targeted, along with the homes of two police officers in the north that had participated in the clampdown of protesters with excessive force. The violence continued to grow largely in the major cities. Although the protests were only planned for 20 July, they continued the next day because of the manner in which the government responded to the protests. The government did not acknowledge that there was discontent in the country and clamped down on journalists, radio stations, citizens and protesters wearing red. On 21 July the army was sent in to reinforce riot police already present in Mzuzu, Blantyre, Ntchesi, and in the capital Lilongwe. At least two people were killed amid widespread looting in the suburbs of Lilongwe as Mutharika vowed to "use any measure I can think of" to quell the unrest. [2]
The director of the Church and Society rights organisation, Moses Mkandawire, said that the government had blocked funeral processions for seven of those killed in the previous two days' protests. "We have been stopped by the government with our arrangements to bury the seven heroes. The government says it will provide transport to have the seven buried in their respective [village] homes. "[18] Al Jazeera reported that many of these protest leaders had received death threats and gone into hiding for fear of arrest or worse. [8]
Vice President Joyce Banda, one of the opposition leaders Mutharika accused of inciting unrest, publicly endorsed the protests against Mutharika's government and stated "regret" for deaths, injuries, and property damage incurred during the demonstrations. Banda, thought to be entertaining a run for the presidency in 2014, suggested poor economic conditions, corruption, and weak democratic institutions had forced Malawians to take to the streets. She said she had appealed to Mutharika to hold a dialogue with the United Kingdom, the former colonial power of Malawi with which the Mutharika administration had recently become embroiled in a diplomatic row, over the Cochrane-Dyet cable in the hopes of forging an agreement to provide Malawi with economic relief. [19]
Rafiq Hajat, the director of the Institute for Policy Interaction warned Mutharika that if he did not address protesters' demands by 16 August, demonstrations would resume on 17 August with the goal of ending his regime. The Public Affairs Committee, a group composed of both Christian and Muslim activists, also warned that "should [the] government continue to harass people for no proper reasons, another demonstration will be inevitable. Bullets and tear gas have never triumphed over the will of the people. "[8]
The Concerned Citizens of Malawi staged another protest on 17 August in the form of a national vigil for the victims of the 20 July protest. The vigil was, however, cancelled a day before the protests due to the intervention of the United Nations who engaged civil society groups and the government in dialogue. [20] The dialogue later broke down because of what the civil society groups said was continued intimidation being faced outside the meeting. [21]
A string of arson cases were also reported, including fires at the offices of Rafiq Hajat and the home of Reverend MacDonald Sembereka. [22][23] wa Mutharika was accused of being behind the arsons, particularity since he threatened protest leaders by saying he would "smoke you out." He later denied being behind the arsons. [24] No one has been arrested or found guilty of partaking in the arson cases, but the government has condemned them.
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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Hotspots in four countries on brink of famine, UN warns
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Parts of Yemen, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and South Sudan are all at risk of falling into famine, while 16 other countries are at high risk of acute hunger, the UN warns. Hotspots in four countries – Burkina Faso, Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria – are on the brink of severe levels of food insecurity and could potentially fall into famine within three to six months as the coronavirus pandemic erodes people’s ability to access food, a new United Nations report warned on Friday. The Early Warning Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity Hotspots report conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) found that millions of people who were already facing hunger are on the brink of famine as the pandemic plunders employment, disrupts agricultural activities, slashes remittances and sends crude prices spiralling. “We are at a catastrophic turning point. Once again, we face the risk of famine in four different parts of the world at the same time,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP director of emergencies. Burkina Faso, Yemen, Nigeria and South Sudan were already facing a dangerous combination of conflict, mass displacement, economic crisis and climate and agricultural calamity. COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions and lockdowns that followed have only exacerbated the pain. Up to 80 percent of the people experiencing acute food insecurity are farmers, herders, fishers and foresters. COVID-19 has disrupted their ability to work their land, care for their animals, go fishing and access markets to sell their produce, Luca Russo, an agricultural economist at FAO, told Al Jazeera. “They have little cash reserves to fall back on and could be forced to abandon their livelihoods,” Russo warned. “Once a poor family does that, getting back on their feet again becomes difficult.” “Declines in farming household mean that poor farming families will have less money to buy food and meet critical needs. The amount available for other expenses like education, health spending will be cut. So we are not just talking about hunger here,” Russo added. The FAO and WFP analysis lists another 16 countries and territories – from Haiti to Zimbabwe – as at risk of rising levels of acute hunger and urges developed countries to take urgent action to avoid an international food emergency. Already in 2019, 135 million people were facing a food crisis or emergency in 55 countries and territories. How conflicts play out, whether humanitarian agencies have access to populations in need, what the pandemic does to food prices, and how governments deal with the currently burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic will continue to affect food systems. Rainfall and harvest outcomes are also an important factor. In Latin America and the Caribbean region, Haiti is at risk due to irregular rain coupled with deeply rooted economic crises. Venezuelans, in the throes of a deep economic crisis and recession, are also at risk of acute hunger. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 22 million people are estimated to be acutely food insecure – the highest number ever registered for a single country. Burkina Faso, where conflict, displacement and COVID-19 have upended employment and food access, the number of hungry people has almost tripled this year compared with 2019. And the situation is particularly dreadful in Yemen, where conflict and an economic crisis has led to severe suffering for the population, particularly for women and children. The Hotspots report warns that unless critical action is taken fast, the world could experience its first outbreak of famine since it was last declared in 2017 in parts of South Sudan. Famine is the most severe of five phases used by the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) system to chart escalating degrees of food insecurity. But the FAO and the WFP underscore that the situation is severe and people suffer and die from hunger before international agencies actually declare a famine. “When we declare a famine it means many lives have already been lost. If we wait to find that out for sure, people are already dead,” said WFP’s Velden. In Somalia in 2011, for example, 260,000 died from starvation. While the famine was declared in July, most people had already died by May. Troops brought together at joint training sites across South Sudan were leaving due to a lack of food, UNMISS said. Malnutrition in Yemen worsened in 2020 due to factors including coronavirus pandemic, global economic downturn. A women-run solar station near the front line in Abs is empowering its owners and improving life in their community. The UN’s World Food Programme says seven million people worldwide have already died from hunger this year.
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Famine
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London Sevens
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The London Sevens is an annual rugby sevens tournament held at Twickenham Stadium in London. It is part of the World Rugby Sevens Series. London was added to the World Series for the first time in 2001. [1] For many years the London Sevens was the last tournament of each season but the Paris Sevens became the last stop on the calendar in 2018. The current titleholder of the London Sevens is Fiji, who beat Australia in the 2019 final. The London Sevens is one of the more popular stops on the World Series. The 2011 London Sevens set a single-day attendance record of over 54,000 fans, surpassing the attendance record set by the Dubai Sevens. [2] The tournament has also drawn over 100,000 fans over the course of the weekend, making it one of the largest attended recurring events on the Twickenham stadium calendar. [3]
Uniquely, the 2013 edition was not only the final event in the series, but also incorporated the World Series Core Team Qualifier. In Sevens Series terminology, "core teams" are those that are guaranteed a place in all series events in a given season. Unlike all other series events, the 2013 London Sevens had only 12 teams competing for series points, namely the top 12 core teams on the season points table following the season's penultimate tournament, the Scotland Sevens. The Core Team Qualifier involved eight teams—the winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series; four teams advancing from the World Series Pre-Qualifier, held as part of the Hong Kong Sevens; and the three core teams at the bottom of the season table after the Scotland Sevens. The top three teams at the end of the Core Team Qualifier became core teams for the next season. [4]
World Rugby, then known as the International Rugby Board, chose to change its core team qualifying process in advance of the 2013–14 series, reducing the number of promotion/relegation places from three to one, and also using only the Hong Kong Sevens for the core team qualifier. Accordingly, the London Sevens returned to its traditional 16-team format from 2014 forward. [5]
The teams that have won the tournament, as part of the World Rugby Sevens Series, on multiple occasions are:
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Sports Competition
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Hotel Vendome fire
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The Hotel Vendome fire in the United States was the worst firefighting tragedy in Boston history. Nine firefighters were killed during the final stages of extinguishing a fire on June 17, 1972. The Hotel Vendome was on the southwest corner of the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street, in the Back Bay area of Boston. The Vendome was a luxury hotel built in 1871 in Back Bay, just north of Copley Square. A massive expansion was undertaken in 1881 according to plans by architect J. F. Ober and completed in 1882. [1]
During the 1960s, the Vendome suffered four small fires. In 1971, the year of the original building's centennial, the Vendome was sold. The new owners opened a restaurant called Cafe Vendome on the first floor, and began renovating the remaining hotel into condominiums and a shopping mall.
The building was largely empty the afternoon of Saturday June 17, 1972, except for a few people performing renovations. One of the workers discovered that a fire had begun in an enclosed space between the third and fourth floors, and at 2:35 PM rang Box 1571. A working fire was called in at 2:44 PM, and subsequent alarms were rung at 2:46 PM, 3:02 PM, and 3:06 PM. A total of 16 engine companies, five ladder companies, two aerial towers, and a heavy rescue company responded. The fire was largely under control by 4:30 PM. Several crews, including Boston Fire Department Ladder 13 and Engines 22 and 32, remained on scene performing overhaul and cleanup. At 5:28 PM, abruptly and without warning, all five floors of a 40-by-45-foot (12 m × 14 m) section at the southeast corner of the building collapsed, burying Ladder 15 and 17 firefighters beneath a two-story pile of debris. Nine of the firefighters died, making this the worst firefighting disaster in Boston history in terms of loss of life. The men who were killed were:
District Fire Chief John P. Vahey wrote a comprehensive report on the Vendome fire. [2] Although the cause of the original fire was not known, the subsequent collapse was attributed to the failure of an overloaded seven-inch steel column whose support had been weakened when a new duct had been cut beneath it, triggered by the weight of the firefighters and their equipment on the upper floors.
On June 17, 1997—the 25th anniversary of the Vendome fire—a monument was dedicated on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a few yards from the site of the fire. The monument features a fireman's helmet and coat cast in bronze draped over a low arc of dark granite. An inscription bears the timeline of the fire and the names of the men who died. One faces the site of the fire when reading the names.
After the fire, the Vendome was successfully renovated, hosting 110 residential condominium units and 27 commercial units, including a restaurant.
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Fire
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Ian Paisley claims Boris Johnson promised to 'tear up' NI Protocol
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol shortly after he made the EU deal, DUP MP Ian Paisley has claimed. The PM reportedly made the remarks before MPs voted on the deal in 2019. The claims followed comments from Boris Johnson's ex-adviser who said the plan was to "ditch the bits we didn't like". That prompted the Irish deputy PM to warn countries considering trade deals with the UK that it is a nation that "doesn't necessarily keep its word".
The protocol, agreed by the EU and UK in the Brexit deal, keeps Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods and allows free-flowing trade with the EU.
But the UK now says the arrangement imposes too many barriers, as it means goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Britain face checks and controls.
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On Wednesday, the EU revealed its plan to reduce checks on those goods.
The proposals include scrapping checks on most food products being shipped to, and remaining in, Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
The EU said their new plan would remove about 80% of spot checks and cut customs paperwork by 50%.
However, the measures fall short of UK demands to fundamentally change the protocol by removing the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from an oversight role.
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Tear Up Agreement
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Air India Flight 855 crash
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Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight that crashed during the evening of New Year's Day 1978 about 3 km (1.9 mi; 1.6 nmi) off the coast of Bandra, Bombay (now Mumbai). All 213 passengers and crew on board were killed. An investigation into the crash determined the most likely probable cause was the captain becoming spatially disoriented after the failure of one of the flight instruments in the cockpit. It was Air India's deadliest aircraft crash until the bombing of Flight 182 in 1985. It was also the deadliest aviation accident in India until the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in 1996. As of 2021[update], Flight 855 is still the second deadliest aircraft crash in both of these categories. [1][2]
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-237B,[note 1] registration VT-EBD, named Emperor Ashoka. It was the first 747 delivered to Air India, in April 1971. [3][4]
The flight crew consisted of the following persons:
The aircraft departed from Bombay's Santa Cruz Airport (later Sahar Airport, now called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport). The destination was Dubai International Airport in Dubai. [1][6]
Approximately one minute after takeoff from runway 27, Captain Kukar made a scheduled right turn upon crossing the Bombay coastline over the Arabian Sea, after which the aircraft briefly returned to a normal level position. Soon it began rolling to the left, and never regained level flight. [7][8]
The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage revealed that Captain Kukar was the first to notice a problem, when he said, "What's happened here, my instruments ..." The captain was explaining that his attitude indicator (AI) had "toppled", meaning that it was still showing the aircraft in a right bank. First Officer Virmani, whose presumably functional AI was now showing a left bank (and not noticing the captain's concern), said, "Mine has also toppled, looks fine." It is believed that the Captain mistakenly took this to mean that both primary AIs were indicating a right bank, in effect confirming what he believed he was seeing. It was after sunset and the aircraft was flying over a dark Arabian Sea, leaving the aircrew unable to visually cross-check their AI instrument readings with the actual horizon outside the cockpit windows. [1][9][additional citation(s) needed]
The Boeing 747 had a third backup AI in the center instrument panel between the two pilots, and the transcripts of the cockpit conversation showed Flight Engineer Faria telling the captain, "Don't go by that one, don't go by that one..." trying to direct his attention towards that third AI, or perhaps to another instrument called the turn and bank indicator, just five seconds before the aircraft impacted the sea. [10]
The captain's mistaken perception of the aircraft's attitude resulted in him using the aircraft flight control system to add more left bank and left rudder, causing the Boeing 747 to roll further left into a bank of 108 degrees and rapidly lose altitude. Just 101 seconds after leaving the runway, the jet hit the Arabian Sea at an estimated 35-degree nose-down angle. There were no survivors among the 190 passengers and 23 crew members. [1][11]
The partially recovered wreckage revealed no evidence of explosion, fire, or any electrical or mechanical failure; and an initial theory of sabotage was ruled out. [12]
The investigation concluded that the probable cause was "due to the irrational control inputs by the captain following complete unawareness of the attitude as his AI had malfunctioned. The crew failed to gain control based on the other flight instruments. "[13][14][failed verification]
US Federal District Judge James M. Fitzgerald, in a 139-page decision issued 1 November 1985, rejected charges of negligence against the Boeing Company, Lear Siegler Inc, the manufacturer of the attitude director indicator, and the Collins Radio division of Rockwell International, which manufactured the backup system in a suit related to the crash. Steven C. Marshall, the attorney for Boeing asserted that the crash had been caused by Captain Madan Kukar, who he said was "flying illegally under the influence of diabetic drugs, a condition compounded by his alcoholic intake and dieting in the 24 hours before the flight," and not due to equipment malfunctions. The suit was dismissed in 1986. [6][15][16]
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Air crash
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From Obama to Steve Jobs: The greatest commencement speeches of all time
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Updated 1029 GMT (1829 HKT) May 13, 2021 Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time What makes a commencement speech great? Wit, wisdom and a joke or two are just some of the ingredients required to keep the attention of graduates -- and hopefully inspire them for life. Scroll through to discover more about the most memorable speeches of all time. Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Actor Denzel Washington, University of Pennsylvania, 2011 -- "The world needs a lot -- and we need it from you, the young people. So get out there. Give it everything you've got -- whether it's your time, your talent, your prayers, or your treasure. Because remember this: You'll never see a U-haul behind a hearse." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Talk show host and television producer Oprah Winfrey, Harvard University, 2013 -- "Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Actor Robert De Niro, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, 2015 -- "When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense. You aren't just following dreams, you're reaching for your destiny." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Actor and writer Mindy Kaling, Dartmouth College, 2018 -- "If you have a checklist, good for you. Structured ambition can sometimes be motivating. But also, feel free to let it go. Yes, my culminating advice from my speech is a song from the Disney animated movie 'Frozen.'" Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Former First Lady Michelle Obama, YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 -- "Deep and loving connections with others, honest work that leads to lasting contributions to your community. The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. Don't deprive yourselves of all that. There is no substitute for it." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Artist Makoto Fujimura, Belhaven University, 2011 -- "The arts are not a peripheral luxury for the elite few, but a central necessity, how a civilization is to be defined, and how our humanity is to be restored." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Technology businessman Michael Dell, University of Texas at Austin, 2003 -- "Recognize that there will be failures, and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, for there is very little learning in success." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Author George Saunders, Syracuse University, 2013 -- "What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded ... sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Actor and producer Kerry Washington, George Washington University, 2013 -- "When you leave here today and commence the next stage of your life, you can follow someone else's script, try to make choices that will make other people happy, avoid discomfort, do what is expected and copy the status quo or you can look at all that you have accomplished today and use it as fuel to venture forth and write your own story. If you do, amazing things will take shape." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Stanford University, 2005 -- "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time US soccer player Abby Wambach, Barnard College, 2018 -- "Joy. Success. Power. These are not pies where a bigger slice for her means a smaller slice for you. These are infinite. In any revolution, the way to make something true starts with believing it is. Let's claim infinite joy, success, and power -- together." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wellesley College, 2015 -- "Do not twist yourself into shapes to please. Don't do it. If someone likes that version of you, that version of you that is false and holds back, then they actually just like that twisted shape, and not you." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Former US President Barack Obama, Howard University, 2016 -- "Change requires more than just speaking out -- it requires listening, as well. In particular, it requires listening to those with whom you disagree, and being prepared to compromise." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Journalist and activist Gloria Steinem, Tufts University, 1987 -- "Whatever you want to do, do it now. For life is time, and time is all there is." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Actor Chadwick Boseman, Howard University, 2018 -- "When I dared to challenge the system that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me, the path to my destiny." Photos: The most memorable commencement speeches of all time Poet and playwright Seamus Heaney (left), University of Pennsylvania, 2000 -- "Remember that the anchor of your being lies in human affection and human responsibility, but remember also to keep swimming up into the air of envisaged possibilities; and to keep on finding new answers to the question that (Benjamin) Franklin said was the noblest in the world, the question which he himself framed and which asks, 'What good may I do in the world?'" (CNN) The annual blitz of commencement speeches is upon us. Steel yourself for pithy aphorisms, sage advice, and a dose of imposter syndrome from some of the greatest (or most famous) minds available to the US college system. Graduation speeches, delivered to classes either by a student or an invited guest, are not a uniquely American tradition. But nowhere has the practice lodged itself in popular culture quite like the US. Every year the oratorial arms race escalates, with universities one-upping each other, often announcing bookings many months in advance. If a speaker can touch on the zeitgeist, even better. Arguably the most famous doctor in the world right now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will deliver speeches at no less than four colleges this month alone. With some speeches delivered to new graduates in person and others virtually, this year, like the one before, will be a little different than usual. Either way, who is invited can be as important as what they say, with the caliber of the speaker often viewed as a reflection on the universities themselves.
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Famous Person - Give a speech
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Reveal And Brainspace Merge to Become Leading Artificial Intelligence Powered eDiscovery Platform
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K1 Invests More Than $200 Million, Making the Combined Company a Dominant Force Driving AI Innovation in Law CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reveal, a global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery platform, and Brainspace, a global provider of visual analytics for eDiscovery and investigations, announced today that they have joined forces. The combination creates a technology powerhouse bringing together two leading artificial intelligence and analytics engines, propelling the next evolution of legal technology. K1 Investment Management (“K1”), a leading investment firm focused on high-growth enterprise software companies, has invested over $200 million in the combined organization. “We look forward to accelerating investment into both companies’ technologies to create a world-class software platform that allows customers to streamline all their eDiscovery requirements.” “Backed by K1, Reveal’s merger with Brainspace has set into motion the next phase of AI innovation in the practice of law. Fueled by some of the world’s most powerful AI technology and underpinned by the Reveal review platform, we are ushering in a new era of automation in legal technology,” said Wendell Jisa, founder & CEO of Reveal. In less than six months, Reveal has acquired NexLP and merged with Brainspace to combine the two leading eDiscovery AI solutions and create a “single pane of glass” platform for their customers’ eDiscovery needs. This superior user experience enables clients to manage data, control costs, and extract key insights all in one place. Customers will now have access to the entire suite, including Reveal’s industry-leading processing, early case assessment, AI and review functionality, as well as Brainspace’s data analytics engine. “Reveal is helping our customers gain insight and foresight in a rapidly evolving space by leveraging augmented intelligence models,” said Dave Deppe, president of UnitedLex. Eric Crawley, vice president of Global Advanced Technologies and Managed Review at Epiq Systems, added, “Epiq has a long history of leveraging NexLP and Brainspace analytics to provide clients with differentiated methods and solutions, including portable AI models. We’re excited to partner with Reveal as we continue to innovate around advanced analytics for legal technology.” K1’s investment will be used to fuel growth, including expanding the sales and marketing teams, building additional functionality within the products, and hiring within R&D, data science and customer success to augment the client experience. “The eDiscovery market is undergoing rapid change and K1 is excited to partner with the Reveal and Brainspace teams to create the category leader in the industry,” said Tarun Jain, vice president at K1. “We look forward to accelerating investment into both companies’ technologies to create a world-class software platform that allows customers to streamline all their eDiscovery requirements.” The strategic merger of Reveal and Brainspace is another significant chapter in each company’s growth story, with the combined company becoming one of the largest legal-focused AI providers globally. Customers include leading legal service providers, law firms, corporations and government agencies around the globe. For more information about the combined company and its AI platform for legal, enterprise and government organizations, visit www.revealdata.com and www.brainspace.com. About Reveal Reveal is the industry’s only eDiscovery platform powered by artificial intelligence. As a cloud-based software provider, Reveal offers the full range of processing, early case assessment, review, infrastructure and artificial intelligence capabilities. Reveal clients include law firms, Fortune 500 corporations, legal service providers, government agencies and financial institutions in more than 40 countries across five continents. Featuring deployment options in the cloud or on-premise, an intuitive user design, multilingual user interfaces and the automatic detection of more than 160 languages, Reveal accelerates legal review, saving users time and money. About Brainspace For more than a decade, Brainspace has been on the leading edge of analytics and machine learning, delivering innovative solutions for complex data challenges in investigations, eDiscovery, intelligence mining, compliance, and alternative data. The most comprehensive and trusted platform of its kind, Brainspace's patented analytics technology accelerates the process of identifying what matters. Harness the power of the industry's leading Augmented Intelligence platform to surface insights, slash risk, and solve problems at Brainspace.com. About K1 K1 builds category-leading enterprise software companies. As a global investment firm, K1 assists high-growth businesses to achieve successful outcomes, and invests alongside strong management teams that continue to guide their organizations on a day-to-day basis. With over 100 professionals, K1 changes industry landscapes by assisting with operationally-focused growth strategies designed to assist portfolio companies scale efficiently. Since inception of the firm, K1 has partnered with over 140 enterprise software companies including industry leaders such as Apttus, Buildium, Checkmarx, ChiroTouch, Clarizen, ControlUp, Emburse, FMG Suite, Granicus, Graduway, IronScales, Litera Microsystems, Onit, Rave Mobile Safety, RFPIO, Smarsh, WorkForce Software and Zapproved.
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Organization Merge
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2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships
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The 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships were the World Championships for track cycling in 2016. They took place in London in the Lee Valley VeloPark from 2–6 March 2016. [1]
As the last major track cycling event prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics, the championships were particularly important for cyclists and national teams aiming to qualify for the track cycling competitions at Rio 2016. [2][3] Hosts Great Britain finished top of the medals table with five gold, one silver and three bronze medals. Tickets prices for the 12 different sessions ranged between £15 and £90, with student and over 60s discounts available. Higher priced tickets were tickets with better seating locations, afternoon (final) sessions and the sessions at the weekend. On 20 February 50,000 tickets were sold, with most of the sessions sold out. [4]
For the championships 200 volunteers were recruited and helped in a variety of roles during set-up and across the event, from programme sellers and accreditation distributors to media and sports. The schedule of events was as follows:[5]
390 cyclists from 45 countries were registered for the championships. [25] The registered riders from Egypt and Morocco did not participate. The number of registered cyclists per nation is shown in parentheses. Note that not all registered riders competed at the championships.
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Sports Competition
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2019 Bihar encephalitis outbreak
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In June 2019, an outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) occurred in Muzaffarpur and the adjoining districts in Bihar state of India resulting in deaths of more than 150 children, mainly due to hypoglycemia. In subsequent months more cases and deaths were reported. The cause of outbreak is unclear. Malnutrition, climate, hygiene, inadequate health facilities, and lack of awareness are considered as contributing factors. The lychee fruit toxins are also cited as plausible cause of AES. Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) have occurred previously in the northern regions of Bihar state and eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The first case of AES in Muzaffarpur district was recorded in 1995. [1][2][3] There were 143 deaths in 2013, 355 in 2014, 11 in 2015, four in 2016, 11 in 2017 and 7 in 2018. [1][4] In most recent years, the death toll had remained under 20. [2]
In June 2019, an outbreak of AES occurred in 222 blocks of Muzaffarpur and the adjoining districts in Bihar. [2][5]
As a result of the outbreak, total 154 children died in first three weeks of June 2019. [6] A total of 440 cases of AES were admitted to hospitals in these three weeks. [4] At least 85 children of them died at the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), the largest state-operated hospital in Bihar, while at least 18 children died at the Kejriwal Matrisadan, a trust-run hospital, in these weeks. [4][7] Most of them were aged between 1 and 10 years. [8][9][10]
In subsequent months of July, August and September; at SKMCH; 30, 18 and at least 12 cases were reported. Total 647 cases of AES including 161 deaths were reported between 1 June and 20 September 2019. [11]
The term acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) was coined by the World Health Organisation in 2008. [12] The symptoms of AES include an acute onset of fever and associated clinical neurological manifestations such as mental confusion, disorientation, delirium, convulsions, or coma. [12][13] Early symptoms include headaches and vomiting, along with sudden hypoglycemia (drops in blood sugar levels), but may lead to coma, brain dysfunctions, and inflammation of the heart and lungs. Those that survive AES may have long-term neurological weaknesses. [14] The severe hypoglycemia can cause death. [15] The syndrome is locally known as Chamki Bukhar in Bihar. [10][6][16]
The cause of the outbreak is unclear. [17][18]
AES can be caused by different microorganisms including virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites and spirochetes, as well as chemicals and toxins. AES mostly affects children below 15. [12][19] In India, AES was chiefly associated with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) before 1975. The JEV cases and outbreaks became more frequent and endemic regions developed between 1975 and 1999. After 1999, non-JEV cases and outbreaks of AES were increasingly reported caused by other viruses including Chandipura virus (CHPV), Nipah virus (NiV), and enteroviruses. After 2012, it is observed that the cause shifting to JEV. [12][13] Initial examination shows little sign of the JEV or other viral routes in the affected children. [2] A study by AIIMS Patna found the presence of enterovirus. [20]
High temperature, humidity, malnutrition, poor hygiene and lack of awareness are known aggravating factors of AES. [18][21][4][1] Cases of AES tend to occur during the country's monsoon season. [14] In June 2019, the temperature in Muzaffarpur had remained above 40?C (104?F) and the rains were delayed which might have aggravated the situation. [4][20] It was the second-longest heatwave in the region. [22] Poverty and malnutrition is widespread among children in the region. Malnourished children lack a buffer stock of sugar as glycogen in the liver which puts them at higher risk of hypoglycemia. [20][23][17] Awareness campaigns were carried out in MarchCApril 2019 but were not conducted later due to the 2019 Indian general elections. The local administration was not watchful due to the few cases of AES in recent years. [4]
The region is the largest producer of lychee fruits in India. A 2014 study published in Lancet found that the methylene cyclopropyl acetic acid and hypoglycin A found in unripe lychee (Litchi chinensis) fruit can cause hypoglycemia and cited them as plausible cause of AES outbreaks. A diet heavy on unripe lychee fruits without having an otherwise full meal later in the day may put malnourished children at risk of hypoglycemia. [6][15][2][21][20] Others disputed the findings citing the unlikeliness of very large consumption of unripe lychee fruits, lack of cases in healthy, well-nourished children and many other pediatric illnesses causing hypoglycemia. [24][20][23] Health officials reported that most of the victims suffered severe hypoglycemia. [25][26]
The hospitals and primary health centres lacked the required facilities to treat children. [4]
The Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia payment of ?4 lakh (US$5,600) to the next of the kin of the children who died from AES. [10][8] He also visited the hospital and ordered the expansion of the hospital. [7][27]
The union minister of health Harsh Vardhan visited and announced the set-up of 100-bed pediatric ward at the SKMCH as well as five virology laboratories in Bihar. He also announced the upgrade of the India Meteorological Departments observatory in Muzaffarpur for better study of climate. Seven pediatric intensive care units are being established.
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Disease Outbreaks
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2013 Southeast Asian floods
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The 2013 monsoon season (August 2013 – December 2013) saw large-scale flooding return to Indochina after a calmer 2012 monsoon season. Poverty stricken Cambodia was hardest hit, with some 83 deaths. Countries affected also include Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Philippines has seen the annual typhoon related occurrences, which often pummel into Indochina. Flooding and/or related typhoon damage is an annual occurrence in all of Southeast Asia. However, deforestation, land subsidence, poor drainage, have exacerbated existing problems, while development of infrastructure such as dams, drainage, and pumps have lessened it elsewhere. Despite a long history of devastation and little spread of news outside the region, more global attention has been paid to Southeast Asian flooding as it has become a manufacturing hub in the global supply chain and major tourist destination. 83 people, half of them children were killed and Preah Khan temple of Angkor Wat complex sustained damage. [3] Death toll updated to 104 Oct.9[6]
Severe flooding occurred in Eastern Thailand, especially in the provinces of Sa Kaeo, Prachin Buri, Chon Buri. Floods unrelated to the monsoon occurred in Phuket. Despite government assurances after the 2011 disaster, flooding has shutdown two factories at an Amata estate. [7] As of Oct 9th, 28 out of 77 Thai provinces had been affected and 39 people had been killed, but the health ministry put the death toll at 51,[8] with more than 3 million people affected since July. [9]
As of 22 September 2013, the floods had made some 300,000 people homeless. [10]
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Floods
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Crossair Flight 498 crash
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Crossair Flight 498 was a commuter flight from Zurich, Switzerland, to Dresden, Germany, that crashed two minutes after takeoff in the Swiss municipality of Niederhasli on 10 January 2000. The seven passengers and three crew members aboard the two-turboprop engine Saab 340b aircraft all died on impact. It was the first fatal crash for the Swiss regional airline Crossair in its 25-year history. [1]
The official report into the disaster found that the crash was due to a loss of control resulting from multiple human failures. [2]
The Saab 340B is a twin-engined turboprop commuter plane. [3] Before the hull loss of Crossair Flight 498, there had been only four crashes worldwide of the 400 Saab-340 plane types since 1984 of which two were hull losses. [3][4][5] The two hull losses were a 1994 KLM Cityhopper crash that killed three in the Netherlands and a 1998 Formosa Airlines crash that killed 13 in Taiwan. [6]
Crossair was in the process of phasing out its fleet of 34 Saab-340 type planes; at the time of the accident it had replaced 17 of them with Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets. The remainder of its Saab fleet was retired during the course of 2001 and 2002. [5]
The 33-seat Saab 340B airplane used for Crossair Flight 498 had been leased to Crossair from Moldavian Airlines since 1 October 1999. [6] It had accumulated 24,000 flying hours since its first flight in November 1990. [4] This type of airplane had a very good safety record. [3][failed verification] The plane was carrying no freight or mail. There were no indications that anything was wrong with the aircraft. It was due for its next regular maintenance check 21 days later, on 31 January 2000. [6]
The three-person crew was made up of Moldovan captain Pavel Gruzin, 41, Slovak co-pilot Rastislav Kolesár, 35, and a French flight attendant. [6][7] Gruzin had 8,100 hours of flying time, with 1,900 in the Saab 340 type. Kolesár had about 1,800 total hours, with 1,100 hours in the Saab 340 type. [6][8]
The plane was scheduled to depart from Zurich Airport on Monday, 10 January 2000, at around 6:00 p.m. and arrive at Dresden Airport a few hours later. [8][9] The cold, drizzly weather was normal for the area,[4]
After the seven passengers and three crew members boarded, the plane was cleared for takeoff on time at 5:54 p.m. (16:54 UTC). [2]:108 The aircraft departed Runway 28 heading west. [8] From takeoff, the plane climbed normally. But after 7.2 kilometers (4.5 mi; 3.9 nmi) the plane suddenly started to lose altitude and turn to the right instead of following the approved flight path to the left. When air traffic controllers asked the pilot if he meant to turn right, they were answered with "Stand by," followed by a loss of radio contact. [6]
At 5:56 p.m. (16:56 UTC), one minute and 56 seconds into the flight, the plane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into a field. [6][3] Officials later determined that the plane went into a diving right turn before vanishing from radar screens. [6] Burning wreckage was scattered for 200 to 300 metres near houses in Niederhasli, some 5 kilometres (3 mi; 3 nmi) northwest of the runway at Zurich's Kloten airport. [3] The flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered from the accident scene, both heavily damaged. [8] There were no survivors. [3]
Four of the passengers were Germans, while the other three passengers were French, Swiss, and Spanish. At the time of the crash, Crossair was a majority owned subsidiary of SAirGroup. [5] The crash of Crossair Flight 498 was the first time in Crossair's 25-year history that the regional airline had lost an aircraft,[5] and was the deadliest accident to hit the SAirGroup since the crash of Swissair Flight 111, an MD-11 flying from New York to Geneva that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia on 2 September 1998, killing all 229 aboard. [3]
The crash came about in the midst of a bitter labor-management dispute between Crossair and its pilots over a possible pay raise and work rules changes. The pilots' union had just canceled pay agreements with Crossair in December 1999, with a termination effective in summer 2000. In addition, and prior to the accident, two Crossair pilots told Swiss media that some foreign pilots employed by Crossair posed a safety risk because of an insufficient knowledge of English. These two pilots were fired by Crossair, but were then elected to head the pilots' union, "Crossair Cockpit Personnel (CCP)". [6][8] An investigation of the accident later revealed that the pilot Gruzin and copilot Kolesár were only able to communicate with each other in English, but Gruzin's ability to speak English was too limited to hold more than a basic conversation. [10]
After the crash, both Crossair and CCP, including the pilots who had previously spoken to the media and been fired, publicly stated that the coincidence between the accident and the dispute was very unfortunate and that reports about pilot error being involved in the crash were speculation,[8] although this conclusion was later established to be the probable cause of the accident. [2]:108
An examination of pilot Pavel Gruzin's body revealed traces of the drug phenazepam, a benzodiazepine-class sedative in his muscle tissue. [10] Investigators also found an open packet of the Russian-made drug in baggage belonging to Gruzin. [10]
According to the Investigation Report of the Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the accident was attributable to the flight crew losing control of the aircraft for the following reasons:[2]:107
According to this same Investigation Report, the following factors may have contributed to the accident:[2]:107
The investigation did look at the possibility of electromagnetic interference and tested a similar aircraft using mobile phones. It concluded that there were "no indications that aircraft systems were negatively affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI)". The season 13 episode "Lost in Translation" of Canadian TV series Mayday (also known as Air Disasters and Air Emergency in the U.S. and Air Crash Investigation in the UK and the rest of the world) portrays the disaster.
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Air crash
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1993 Kagoshima Heavy Rain
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The 1993 Kagoshima Heavy Rain was a series of heavy torrential rains which hit Kagoshima, Japan with debris flow in the early part of August 1993. The formal name in Japanese was the "August 1993 Heavy Rain" (平成5年8月豪雨). The death toll was 71, and about 2,500 people who were in cars, buses and trains were saved by fishing boats and ferries which carried them to Kagoshima through the Kagoshima Bay. The 1993 Japanese rainy season was longer than usual, as a high pressure area in the Pacific Ocean was weak, marking a cold summer. The Japan Meteorological Agency had earlier declared the end of the rainy season only to cancel it. Toward the end of July, three typhoons landed; of them, two on Kyushu. In August, Typhoon No. 7 came close to Kyushu, and toward the end of August, Typhoon No. 11 approached the Kanto area and later landed on Hokkaido. A total of six typhoons landed in Japan. The cold summer lowered production of rice and led to the rice shortages in the Heisei era. The total rain amounted to 1000 mm in southern Kyushu, causing landslides or floods. On August 1, torrential rain in the Aira district reached 104 mm an hour at Mizobe, 405 mm in one day. The death toll reached 23 in the central parts of Kagoshima Prefecture. National Highway No.10, Kyushu Expressway Motorway and Japan Railway railroads were completely out of service. Buildings in the Sakurajima Service Area were destroyed. On August 6, Kagoshima city was badly hit with 99.8 mm /hour rain (at Kohriyamacho). There were 48 people who were killed and one was lost. Of the five stone bridges built in the Edo era on Kohtsuki River, two were destroyed. The damage caused by the debris flow was large. In the Ryugamizu area, where mountains were close to the sea, and highways and railroads are situated, 22 debris flows occurred and 2500 people were trapped in 1200 cars, as well as buses and trains, until they were saved by fishing boats and ferrys which carried them to Kagoshima city through Kagoshima Bay.
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Floods
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Lebanon battles swarms of locusts
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Army helicopters are spraying agricultural land in northeast Lebanon to help farmers battle swarms of locusts that flew to the country in what a UN agency said was a "very rare" event caused by a change in the wind direction, Reuters reports. The agriculture ministry, which is on full alert, said yesterday large numbers of the locusts had been destroyed. There have been no big farming losses so far but there are concerns that more swarms could be blown to the south of Lebanon, caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Mortada told Reuters. "We managed in little time to destroy huge numbers but some have escaped and there are large quantities still, mostly in the Hermel area of Marjaheen," Mortada said. The locusts, which threaten crops, are the latest addition to a long list of challenges faced by Lebanon, which is battling its worst financial crisis in decades. READ: Locust swarm in Makkah eradicated by Saudi authorities The Baalbek-Hermel region in the northeast has mostly livestock farming with a few cherry plantations affected by the locusts so far whereas Lebanon's south has more agricultural land. "We are ready for anything that may occur," Mortada said. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said the occurrence was unusual for the area but that a change in wind direction had blown the locusts in from Saudi Arabia to Jordan and onwards to Syria and Lebanon. "It is a very rare occurrence… the breeding grounds were on the Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia's northern coast, so they were blown in through Jordan and Syria," Maurice Saade, the FAO representative in Lebanon, said. "But so far it is under control and I certainly see nothing to panic about," he said. Tonnes of dead fish have washed up on the banks of a lake on Lebanon's Litani river, engulfing a nearby village in a pungent smell, in a disaster blamed on polluted waters, Reuters reported. Volunteers collected rotting fish carcasses near the Qaraoun lake on Lebanon's longest river, the Litani, where activists have… Smugglers have packed tonnes of dead fish which have washed up on the banks of Lebanon’s Litani River and smuggled them to Syria to sell as “frozen fish”, Lebanese media outlets reported. According to media reports, nearly 40 tonnes of fish have washed up on the banks of Litani River, near the… Somalia has declared a state of emergency on Thursday over a new generation of desert locust swarms that have caused major damage to farmlands. On its official Twitter account, Somali state television announced that the country's Ministry of Agriculture had declared a state of emergency due to the desert locust…
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Insect Disaster
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Serbia joins CERN as its 23rd Member State
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24 MARCH, 2019
Today, CERN welcomes Serbia as its 23rd Member State, following receipt of formal notification from UNESCO that Serbia has acceded to the CERN Convention.
“Investing in scientific research is important for the development of our economy and CERN is one of the most important scientific institutions today. I am immensely proud that Serbia has become a fully-fledged CERN Member State. This will bring new possibilities for our scientists and industry to work in cooperation with CERN and fellow CERN Member States,” said Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of Serbia.
“Serbia has a longstanding relationship with CERN, with the continuous involvement of Serbian scientists in CERN’s major experiments. I’m very happy to see that Serbia’s initiative to seek membership status of CERN has now converged and that we can welcome Serbia as a Member State,” said Ursula Bassler, President of the CERN Council.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Serbia as our 23rd Member State. The Serbian scientific community has made strong contributions to CERN’s projects for many years. Membership will strengthen the longstanding relationship between CERN and Serbia, creating opportunities for increased collaboration in scientific research, training, education, innovation and knowledge-sharing,” said Fabiola Gianotti, CERN Director-General.
“As a CERN Member State, Serbia is poised to further the development of science and education as our scientists, researchers, institutes and industry will be able to participate on the world stage in important scientific and technological decision-making,” said Mladen Šarčević, the Serbian Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development.
When Serbia was a part of Yugoslavia, which was one of the 12 founding Member States of CERN in 1954, Serbian physicists and engineers took part in some of CERN’s earliest projects, at the SC, PS and SPS facilities. In the 1980s and 1990s, physicists from Serbia worked on the DELPHI experiment at CERN’s LEP collider. In 2001, CERN and Serbia concluded an International Cooperation Agreement, leading to Serbia’s participation in the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, in the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, as well as in the ACE and NA61 experiments. Serbia’s main involvement with CERN today is in the ATLAS and CMS experiments, in the ISOLDE facility, which carries out research ranging from nuclear physics to astrophysics, and on design studies for future particle colliders – FCC and CLIC – both of which are potentially new flagship projects at CERN.
As a CERN Member State, Serbia will have voting rights in the Council, CERN’s highest decision-making authority, and will contribute to the Organization’s budget. Membership will enhance the recruitment opportunities for Serbian nationals at CERN and for Serbian industry to bid for CERN contracts.
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Join in an Organization
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1906 Meishan earthquake
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The 1906 Meishan earthquake (Chinese: 1906年梅山地震; pinyin: 1906 nián Měishān Dìzhèn) was centered on Moe'akhe (Chinese: 梅仔坑; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Môe-á-kheⁿ), Kagi-cho, Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Meishan, Chiayi County, Taiwan) and occurred on March 17. Referred to at the time as the Great Kagi earthquake (Chinese: 嘉義大地震; pinyin: Jiāyì Dà Dìzhèn), it is the third-deadliest earthquake in Taiwan's recorded history, claiming around 1,260 lives. The shock had a surface wave magnitude of 6.8 and a Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The earthquake struck at 06:43 local time on 17 March 1906, at a focal depth of 6 kilometres (4 mi). The event created the Meishan fault, a fault with a length of 25 kilometres (16 mi) stretching through modern-day Chiayi County. [2] Aftershocks continued throughout the day, hampering rescue efforts. [3]
Reports vary slightly, but according to the official Central Weather Bureau summary, the casualties and damage were as follows:[4]
Fusakichi Omori, a pioneering seismologist from Japan who arrived shortly after the earthquake believed that the high number of casualties was due to the construction of the local houses. Loosely cemented with mud, the combination of sun-dried mud brick walls and heavy roofing beams was thought to be responsible for many dwellings collapsing, killing or injuring the inhabitants. [5] He also found evidence of soil liquefaction, and stated that the town of Bishō (Meishan) had been completely destroyed by the quake. [5]
Omori's figures give slightly different casualty rates, and very different statistics for building damage:[5]
The veteran missionary William Campbell wrote:
I was there soon after, and had a profound feeling of sadness on seeing whole streets covered with fallen beams and other debris; on seeing, too, so many traces of the awful suffering on every side. Within Ka-gi city, and a limited area around, 1,216 persons were suddenly thrust out into the eternal world. Not fewer than 2,306 persons were seriously injured, and 13,259 houses laid low. The great mysterious Power then tore the earth into deep, open chasms in several places. [6]
The Japanese colonial authorities in Taihoku (Taipei) sent teams of medical personnel to assist, and Campbell reported that shortly after the earthquake reconstruction efforts were well advanced. [7] At the time some writers suggested a link between the Meishan quake and the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which occurred a month later,[8] while some religious groups linked it not only with the San Francisco disaster, but also an earlier earthquake in Cambria, Italy and other natural disasters as a sign of the end-times. [9]
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Earthquakes
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Montenegro becomes 192nd UN Member State
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Montenegro becomes 192nd UN Member State
From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!
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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Republic of Montenegro became 192nd member state of the United Nations , following a vote in the General Assembly .
After the protocol officers had escorted the Montenegrin delegation to their seats in the Assembly, flag-raising ceremony took place in front of UN headquarters in New York City . Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the newest member by praising non-violent and democratic process that gained Montenegro its independence from state union of Serbia and Montenegro , through an independence referendum , on May 22, 2006.
Montenegro is the latest country to be admitted to the UN, following the international recognition of East Timor in 2002.
Sources
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Join in an Organization
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Laurene Powell Jobs echoes late husband Steve Jobs in commencement speech: ‘Let his words guide you as they’ve guided me’
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Laurene Powell Jobs delivered the commencement address on Monday to the University of Pennsylvania 2021 graduation class.
In her speech, she echoed the advice her late husband, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, gave her.
“Steve used to say your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work,” Powell Jobs said.
“And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Let his words guide you, as they’ve guided me,” she said.
Powell Jobs also encouraged students create their own set of values and practices to shape their lives and careers.
“They don’t have to be grandiose but they must be regular. Make space for them and make time. Tend to your soul and to your community, infuse your values into every part of what you do and how you live,” she said.
“Your values should be like your fingerprints, proof of where you have been and what you have touched.”
Powell Jobs is the founder and president of the Emerson Collective, an umbrella organization for her philanthropic and business endeavors that focus on education, immigration, climate and cancer research and treatment. She is also an alumna of Penn, earning her B.A. in political science from the College of Arts and Sciences and a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School.
“Laurene is a most inspiring example of the leadership, philanthropy, and advocacy of Penn grads determined to make a positive impact on our society and world,” University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann said in a press release.
During the commencement ceremony, Powell Jobs also received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, the release said.
Don’t miss: John Legend to Duke University grads: Don’t submit to ‘zero-sum thinking’ to get ahead
This story has been updated to include remarks from Powell Jobs’ commencement speech. Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox
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Famous Person - Give a speech
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Dallas Mavericks CEO Delivers HPU Commencement Address
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Today, High Point University honored all graduates from the Class of 2020, as well as master’s and doctoral students from the Class of 2021. A second ceremony for Class of 2021 undergraduates will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
HIGH POINT, N.C., May 7, 2021 – “Finally, this is YOUR day!”
That’s what Cynt Marshall, the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, told graduates at High Point University today during one of two Commencement ceremonies.
Members of the Class of 2020, whose graduation was delayed last year due to the pandemic, as well as master’s degree and doctoral degree recipients from the Class of 2021, walked across the High Point University Commencement stage during an outdoor ceremony with physical distancing. The Class of 2021 bachelor degree recipients will do the same tomorrow.
Marshall, the first Black woman to serve as CEO of an NBA team, addressed the resilience of these graduates.
“Graduates, most of you represent the year of perfect vision, 2020,” she said. “By the time you left HPU last year, a few things were clear: the world had changed, some of your school and job plans had to be put on hold and you were going to have to be agile. Many things have come sharply into focus over the last 14 months. But today, Class of Perfect Vision, I hope you can see how much we love you, how much we admire your resilience, how thankful we are that you returned today, and how proud we are of you. Class of 2020, we see YOU!”
HPU President Nido Qubein led the university’s charge to reimagine graduation for an outdoor event with physical distancing so that all HPU graduates could welcome six family members. He reminded graduates that HPU’s mission was always to prepare students for the world as it will be, not as it is. In 2020, the importance of that mission became more clear than ever.
“When you live with a growth mindset, when you hone your life skills, when you live by your values, you can forge a path forward,” Qubein said. “You can figure ‘IT’ out. You can light pathways for others. And yes, you can be a beacon of light that inspires the world. We may be celebrating one year after you received your diploma, but we are celebrating, together.”
Murphy DiRosa, who served as president of the Class of 2020, acknowledged the adversities the class endured the last few months of their senior year due to the pandemic.
“We left for spring break not knowing that we just had our last moments together,” said DiRosa, who today received her bachelor’s degree in event management, as well as her master’s degree in communication and business leadership. “We all planned to thank our favorite professors, dining staff and security members, and we never got the chance to. And yes, these things hurt. But we also grew and learned from them. We learned to never say no to a new opportunity, to be grateful for what we have and to thank those that have stood by us for our four years and shaped us to become who we are today. So take the time now to thank those people.”
Highlights from the High Point University Commencement Speech Delivered by Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks:
Marshall delivered an impactful message that appropriately harnessed the power of sports terminology as it relates to life.
“The ball is in your court,” she told graduates. “Did y’all really think you were going to leave today without getting a basketball-related message from me, HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence?”
Marshall recognized sports management majors in the audience. In her role as HPU’s Sports Executive in Residence, she has worked with these students on campus and hosted a group of them at the Dallas Mavericks for an externship. She also recognized HPU athletes.
“Your ball is now different, and the playing field is the same as mine,” Marshall said. “You are playing the game of life, and your ball is a collection of choices that you get to hold each day.”
Here are a few excerpts from Marshall’s speech encouraging students to focus on these areas of their life.
Teammates – “Constantly ask yourself, who else is on the court with you? Who are you doing life with now? Always keep good company. Run with good people who are doing good things and who will help you keep your court safe.”
Tip-off – “The game has begun, and the ball has been tipped your way. High Point University has equipped you to pick up the ball and make good decisions. Sometimes, you will have many decisions to make and competing priorities.”
Rebound – “Sometimes, you will make a bad decision. Sometimes, you will take the shot and miss it. Sometimes, the light you think you see at the end of the tunnel is a train coming at you. In the game of life, bad things do happen to good people. But there will always be someone there to help you rebound with grace.”
As is tradition at HPU’s graduation, a bald eagle soared over the graduates at the end of the ceremony to symbolize the ideals of free enterprise, independence and the ability to pursue new opportunities in America.
The graduates received a blanket after the ceremony to give to their mothers in honor of Mother’s Day.
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Famous Person - Give a speech
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Southwest Gas meets with Corporation Commission after recent gas leaks
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. seek to previous 12… 6 seek to 10%, 20% … 60% Southwest Gas says the pipe in reference is a DriscoPipe 8000 or "m8000" and they've been working to replace these kinds of plastic pipes in the desert for the last seven years after an explosion in 2014. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Southwest Gas had a meeting with the Arizona Corporation Commission today to discuss the causes of three major recent gas leaks, where some led to explosions and fires.
"I see no greater calling as a commissioner than to protect Arizonans from incidents such as what occurred in Chandler on August 26, 2021," said commissioner Sandra Kennedy. "We cannot allow Arizonans to be afraid of the pipe below their very feet."
In August, there was an explosion at Platinum Printing in Chandler that injured four people.
"Platinum Printing was not connected up to any natural gas before this explosion," said attorney Tom Ryan. "That pipe that was installed was a pipe that wasn't supposed to be used because it had a tendency to degrade early, especially in super heated areas like Arizona."
Southwest Gas states that an "error in the construction records misidentified the type of gas pipe" used near Platinum Printing, which resulted in that pipe section not being included in the replacement efforts.
Ryan is representing the two brothers who own Platinum Printing and were severely burned in the explosion.
"Southwest gas has some explaining to do and I think it would be wise for Southwest Gas to really re-evaluate the pipes that are out there and to begin the process of removing them," Ryan said. "To leave this pipe in the ground and not know which pipe is out there even like in this situation, it puts every Arizonan at risk. That's not good for Southwest Gas, and more importantly it's not safe for us."
Southwest Gas says the pipe in reference is a DriscoPipe 8000 or "m8000" and they've been working to replace these kinds of plastic pipes in the desert for the last seven years after an explosion in 2014. This type of pipe was installed between 1980 and 2001.
"In summary, the company has decided to treat all the plastic pipe installed between 1999 and 2001 as m8000 pipe. All this pipe has been introduced into m8000 pipe protocols and mitigation measures," said a representative of Southwest Gas.
Southwest Gas says the pipe that caused the Chandler explosion was mislabeled, and therefore not in their mitigation system.
"If they had been accurate, then they would have had the increased attention under our current practices and would have been taken care of before," Southwest gas said. "As long as the pipe is in the program, we feel very confident that the risk is mitigated."
Another major event they focused on was a gas leak that evacuated a Scottsdale neighborhood. Southwest Gas said this was also due to a DriscoPipe 8000 that was inactive, however it was not properly mapped in their system.
"Had the service been properly identified in the company's mapping system, it would have been part of the mitigation efforts that have been implemented by the company," Southwest Gas told the ACC.
The other event is the 7th Avenue bridge fire that closed down the bridge for several months after a massive fire. The gas company says that gas leak was caused by a connector that had been tampered with or vandalized.
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Gas explosion
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Lauda Air Flight 004 crash
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Lauda Air Flight 004 was a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Vienna, Austria. On 26 May 1991, the thrust reverser on the No.1 engine of the Boeing 767-300ER operating the flight deployed in flight without being commanded, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled dive, break up, and crash, killing all 213 passengers and the 10 crew members on board. It was the deadliest aviation incident involving a Boeing 767 at the time and the deadliest aviation incident in Thai history. The crash marked the aircraft type's first fatal incident and third hull loss. [1][2][3] Lauda Air was founded and run by Formula One world motor racing champion Niki Lauda who was personally involved in the accident investigation. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 767-300ER that was powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4060 engines and delivered new to Lauda Air on 16 October 1989. [4] The aircraft was registered OE-LAV, was named Mozart [5]:21 and was the 283rd Boeing 767 built. [5]:4 At the time of the incident, the No.2 engine had been on the airframe since assembly of the aircraft (7,444 hours and 1,133 cycles) whereas the No.1 engine (with the faulty thrust reverser) had been on the aircraft since October 3, 1990 and had accumulated 2,904 hours and 456 cycles. [5]:4
At the time of the accident, Lauda Air operated three weekly flights between Bangkok and Vienna. [6] On 26 May 1991, at 23:02 ICT, flight NG004 (originating from Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport), a Boeing 767-3Z9ER, took off from Don Mueang International Airport for its flight to Vienna International Airport with 213 passengers and ten crew, under the command of American Captain Thomas J. Welch (48) and Austrian First Officer Josef Thurner (41). [5]:4[7][8][9][10][11]
At 23:08, Welch and Thurner received a visual warning indicating that a possible system failure would cause the thrust reverser on the number one engine to deploy in flight. Having consulted the aircraft's quick reference handbook, they determined that it was "just an advisory thing" and took no action. [1]
At 23:17, the number one engine reversed thrust while the plane was over mountainous jungle terrain in the border area between Suphan Buri and Uthai Thani Provinces in Thailand. Thurner's last recorded words were, "Oh, reverser's deployed". [12][5]:55 Just after Thurner said this, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded a shuddering sound, followed by a metallic snap. Lift on the aircraft's left side was disrupted due to the reverser deployment, and the aircraft immediately began a diving left turn. The CVR recorded a second metallic snapping sound, followed by various alarms and Welch's last recorded words, which were, "Jesus Christ!" followed by "here, wait a minute", and then, "damn it!" Following this, the CVR recorded an increase in background noise, followed by several loud bangs, and then stopped recording. The extreme stress of the dive caused sections of the rudder and right elevator to fail and break off as the crew attempted to arrest the descent; The control surfaces were not designed to bear such massive loads. This was followed by the complete separation of the right horizontal stabilizer, and then moments later the rear section of the fuselage failed and broke off, taking the rest of the tail with it. The loss of the tail made the dive even more severe, and the aircraft went into a vertical nose down pitch, reaching a speed of Mach 0.99, and may have broken the sound barrier, at which point the entire right wing failed and detached, which ignited a fireball according to eyewitness accounts. The remains of the aircraft broke up mid-air at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) before impacting the ground. [13] Most of the wreckage was scattered over a remote forest area roughly one square kilometre in size, at an elevation of 600 m (2,000 ft), in what is now Phu Toei National Park, Suphan Buri. The wreckage site is about 6 kilometres (4 mi; 3 nmi) north-northeast of Phu Toey, Huay Kamin (Thai: ห้วยขมิ้น), Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri Province,[5] about 100 kilometres (62 mi; 54 nmi) northwest of Bangkok, close to the Burma-Thailand border. [6][14] Rescuers found Welch's body still in the pilot's seat. [15]
Volunteer rescue teams and local villagers looted the wreckage, taking electronics and jewellery,[16] so relatives were unable to recover personal possessions. [17] The bodies were taken to a hospital in Bangkok. The storage was not refrigerated and the bodies decomposed. Dental and forensic experts worked to identify bodies, but twenty-seven were never identified. [18]
Speculation circulated that a bomb may have destroyed the aircraft. The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing wire services it did not identify, stated that "the search for a motive is difficult because politically neutral Austria has generally stayed out of most international conflicts – such as the Persian Gulf War – that have made other countries' airlines the targets of terrorist attacks. "[19]
The flight data recorder was completely destroyed, so only the cockpit voice recorder was of use. Pradit Hoprasatsuk, the head of the Air Safety Division of the Thailand Department of Aviation, stated, "the attempt to determine why the reverser came on was hampered by the loss of the flight data recorder, which was destroyed in the crash". [20] Upon hearing of the crash, Niki Lauda traveled to Thailand. He examined the wreckage and estimated that the largest fragment was about five metres (16 ft) by two metres (6.6 ft), which was about half the size of the largest piece in the Lockerbie crash. [21] In Thailand, Lauda attended a funeral for 23 unidentified passengers, and then traveled to Seattle to meet with Boeing representatives. The official investigation, led by Thailand's Aircraft Accident investigation Committee, took about eight months, and was released with the "probable cause" stating: "The Accident Investigation Committee of the Government of Thailand determines the probable cause of this accident to be [an] uncommanded in-flight deployment of the left engine thrust reverser, which resulted in loss of flight path control. The specific cause of the thrust reverser deployment has not been positively identified. "[22] Different possibilities were investigated, including a short circuit in the system. Due in part to the destruction of much of the wiring, no definitive reason for the activation of the thrust reverser could be found. [5]
As evidence started to point towards the thrust reversers as the cause of the accident, Lauda made simulator flights at Gatwick Airport which appeared to show that deployment of a thrust reverser was a survivable incident. Lauda said that the thrust reverser could not be the sole cause of the crash. [23] However the accident report states that the "flight crew training simulators yielded erroneous results"[5]:21 and stated that recovery from the loss of lift from the reverser deployment "was uncontrollable for an unexpecting flight crew". [5]:41
The incident led Boeing to modify the thrust reverser system to prevent similar occurrences by adding sync-locks, which prevent the thrust reversers from deploying when the main landing gear truck tilt angle is not at the ground position. [5][24] Aviation writer Macarthur Job has said that "had that Boeing 767 been of an earlier version of the type, fitted with engines that were controlled mechanically rather than electronically, then that accident could not have happened". [12]
Lauda stated, "what really annoyed me was Boeing's reaction once the cause was clear. Boeing did not want to say anything. "[22] Lauda asked Boeing to fly the scenario in a simulator that used different data as compared to the one that Lauda had performed tests on at Gatwick Airport. [25] Boeing initially refused, but Lauda insisted, so Boeing granted permission.
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Air crash
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July 2013 Southeastern United States floods
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The January 2013 Southeastern United States floods occurred from January 14 to 17, and resulted in mudslides and washouts throughout the southern Appalachian Mountains region. At the height of the flooding, 50 roads were declared impassable in Greene County, Tennessee alone. [4] A similar storm system brought more flooding rain to the region from January 27 to 31. [5]
As a result of the heavy rainfall, a January 16 landslide claimed a 200-feet section of U.S. Route 441 (known locally as "Newfound Gap Road") in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. [6] The road, which crosses Newfound Gap at the Tennessee state line, was closed until April 15.
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Valley Glen explosion that sent 2 to hospital not caused by gas leak; evidence of marijuana grow found in garage: LAFD
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by: Steve Kuzj, Nouran Salahieh, Lauren Lyster, Chris Wolfe Investigators found no evidence a gas leak caused the explosion at the Valley Glen home late Sunday that sent two men to the hospital and resulted in evacuations, officials said Monday.
They also found no signs it was caused by a THC extraction lab, but there was evidence of marijuana being grown in the garage area, and that is part of the investigation, the Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted. When firefighters first arrived at the scene just before 9:30 p.m. in the 12700 block of West Archwood Street, they found no active fire but clear signs of a “significant explosion,” LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said.
Crews saw a 59-year-old man outside the home and transported him to a hospital with critical burn injuries. “Firefighters then detected the smell of natural gas and worked to locate and secure the leak,” Scott said.
At the same time, crews were systematically searching the house in shoulder-deep debris. That’s when they heard a “faint tapping noise,” the captain said.
They started pulling away the debris and found a 46-year-old man buried deep in the rubble.
They used a chainsaw to carefully remove the debris around him, then pulled him to safety before taking him to a hospital.
There were seven residents living in the home at the time. The other five — a man, woman and three children — were not injured. Another woman, a neighbor, was medically evaluated at the scene but she declined transport to the hospital.
The home was red-tagged by Department of Building and Safety, officials said.
A total of 13 homes surrounding the explosion site had to be evacuated, including seven that sustained damage from the debris.
On Monday, debris could be seen littering the street surrounding the badly damaged home.
Aerial video from Sky5 showed the wreckage stretching beyond the home, including a garage door which was apparently thrown three houses away and pieces from the home in trees.
The Los Angeles Police Department will lead the invesigation ito the explosion, with LAFD arson investigators helping.
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Gas explosion
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Austin first responders help dozens with carbon monoxide poisoning, fire officials say
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As many Central Texas residents went without power for a second night on Tuesday as temperatures dipped into the low 20s, some in Travis County have tried to heat their homes with charcoal and propane, exposing themselves to possible carbon monoxide poisoning.
Austin firefighters early Wednesday said over the past 24 hours they responded to more than 20 calls asking for help with toxic exposure. Many of the calls had multiple patients, according to Austin fire officials.
Austin-Travis County EMS medics early Wednesday said over the past 24 hours they also responded to 38 calls for carbon monoxide poisonings.
As power outages continue, Austin firefighters warned residents Wednesday to keep propane and charcoal outside of their homes.
"I understand people are cold, but it's just too dangerous," an Austin fire official said Wednesday.
Austin fire from noon Tuesday until midnight responded to 2,340 calls in the Austin metro area and another 270 in other parts of Travis County. Firefighters during a normal 24-hour period respond to an average of just 500 calls, according to firefighters.
The Austin fire calls Tuesday included:
Broken water pipes: 511
Public assistance, including fallen tree removals: 30
Collisions: 20
Fires: 3
Wires arcing/downed utility lines: 1
Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded to 1,323 calls for service from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday until midnight Wednesday. Medics usually respond to about 400 calls on average during a 24-hour period, EMS officials said.
The EMS calls included:
193 calls about ice-related falls
69 calls about environmental exposures
38 calls about carbon monoxide poisonings
31 traffic collisions with injuries, including five rollovers
This is a developing story; check back to the American-Statesman for updates.
#ATCEMS Incident Summary 2/16:
Today was another record breaking day, with #ATCEMSMedics & communications staff responding to 1,323 calls for service.
Austin, we know you're tired & cold, but we're almost out of the woods! Please help us help you, by staying home & staying safe! pic.twitter.com/lgdRL7XURd
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Mass Poisoning
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1926 Women's World Games
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The Women's World Games were the first international women's sports events in track and field. The games were held four times between 1922 and 1934. They were established by Alice Milliat and the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale (FSFI)[1][2] to compensate for the lack of women's sports at the Olympic Games. [3][4] The games were an important step towards women's equality in sports. A forerunner tournament was held in Monte Carlo in March 1921. Women were allowed to take part in the Olympic games since 1900[1] (II Olympiad in golf and tennis, III Olympiad in archery, IV Olympiad in archery, figure skating and tennis, at the V Olympiad swimming was added as well). In 1919 Milliat started discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the IAAF to also include women's track and field athletics events in the 1924 Olympic Games. On refusal Milliat organised a first competition in 1921 called the Women's Olympiad in Monte Carlo; further editions were held in 1922 and 1923. [2][3] In 1924 the 1924 Women's Olympiad was held at Stamford Bridge in London. On 31 October 1921, Milliat then formed La Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale (FSFI) with the purpose to oversight international women's sporting events and the inclusion of women's events in the Olympics. [2][3][5]
A European version of the women's games was hosted in 1931 in Florence and was known as the Olimpiadi della Grazia (Olympics of Grace). [6]
In response to the refusal of the IAAF to include women's events in the 1924 Olympic Games[2] the FSFI also organized the first Women's Olympic Games in Paris in 1922. [1][2][3][5]
The IOC objected to the FSFI using the word "Olympic" in the title of its events. After negotiations the IOC and the IAAF therefore agreed to include 10 athletic events in the 1928 Olympic Games and in exchange Milliat altered the title to "Women's World Games". [5] They finally included only 5 events (100 meters, 800 meters, 4 x 100 meters, high jump and discus [3]) and only as an experiment. [1]
The FSFI did not find this satisfactory and organised the third Women's World Games in Prague in 1930 and the fourth games in London in 1934. Following some protracted arguments between the FSFI on the one hand and the IOC and IAAF on the other, the FSFI and an IAAF commission agreed that the IAAF should take control of all international women's athletic events in return for the IAAF recognising all FSFI records, a complete programme of women's Olympic events, and the IAAF holding the fifth Women's World Games in Vienna in 1938. In the event, while the 1936 IAAF Congress agreed to recognise FSFI records, it otherwise only agreed to proposing a somewhat expanded programme of Olympic events to the IOC (the IOC refused) and holding a programme of women's events in the 1938 European Athletics Championships in place of the Women's World Games. The FSFI ceased operations in 1938[3] without ever accepting or rejecting the IAAF's decisions. Four regular events were held, a planned 5th was cancelled as women participated in the 1938 European Athletics Championships. [2][4]
Ofer Idels (2021). How to lose gracefully in an internationally selfish world: gender, the “New Jew” and the underestimation of athletic performance in interwar Palestine, Journal of Modern Jewish Studies
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Sports Competition
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1963 Elephant Mountain B-52 crash
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On 24 January 1963 a United States Air Force Boeing B-52C Stratofortress with nine crew members on board lost its vertical stabilizer due to buffeting stresses during turbulence at low altitude and crashed on Elephant Mountain in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States, six miles (9.7 km) from Greenville. The pilot and the navigator survived the accident. [2]
The crew's training mission was called a Terrain Avoidance Flight to practice techniques to penetrate Advanced Capability Radar (ACR) undetected by Soviet air defense during the Cold War. ACR training flights had already been made over the West Coast of the United States on Poker Deck routes. This was to be the first low-level navigation flight, utilizing terrain-following radar, in the Eastern United States.
The crew, consisting of two 99th Bombardment Wing Standardization Division crews based at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and two instructors from the 39th Bombardment Squadron, 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing at Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico, was briefed for six hours the day before the accident. They had the choice of flying over either the Carolinas or Maine. [2]
The B-52C departed Westover AFB at 12:11 p.m. on Thursday, 24 January 1963, and was scheduled to return to Westover at 5:30 p.m.[4]
The crew spent the first 95 minutes of the flight calibrating their equipment. Upon receiving updated weather information for both available routes, they chose the northern one. They were supposed to begin their low-level simulated penetration of enemy airspace just south of Princeton, Maine, near West Grand Lake. From there, they would head north to Millinocket and fly over the mountains in the Jo-Mary/Greenville area. They planned to turn northeast near Seboomook Lake and southeast near Caucomgomoc Lake to proceed through the mountains of northern Baxter State Park. After crossing Traveler Mountain, the aircraft was supposed to climb back to altitude over the Houlton VOR Station. [2]
One hour later, around 2:30 p.m. the Stratofortress crossed the Princeton VOR, descended to 500 feet (150 m) and started its simulation of penetrating enemy airspace at low altitude with an airspeed of 280 knots (520 km/h; 320 mph). The outside temperature was −14 °F (−26 °C) with winds gusting to 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and 5 feet (1.5 m) of snow on the ground. [4][5]
Approximately 22 minutes later, just after passing Brownville Junction in the center of Maine, the aircraft encountered turbulence. When the pilot and crew commander, Westover's Most Senior Standardization Instructor Pilot, started to climb above it, the vertical stabilizer came off the plane with a "loud noise sounding like an explosion". [3][5] Having suffered severe damage, the B-52C went into a 40-degree right turn, with nose pointed downward. The pilot gave the order to abandon the aircraft when he could not level it.
Only the upper flight deck crew members of the B-52C have ejection seats that eject them upwards. The seats of the pilot, copilot, and electronic warfare officer (a navigator also trained in electronic warfare) function at any altitude, as long as the airspeed is at least 90 knots (170 km/h; 100 mph), which is the minimum required to inflate their blast propelled parachutes. The lower-deck crew members eject on a downward track. Hence, the navigator and radar navigator cannot safely eject at altitudes less than 200 feet (61 m). Spare crew members do not have an ejection seat at all. They must use parachutes and either jump out of the navigators' hatch after the navigators have ejected or drop out of the aircraft's door. [5] The tail gunner has his own unique escape option: he can sever the tail gun and jump aft out the resulting hole in the rear. [6][7]
The navigator, who was operating as electronic warfare officer, ejected first. He was followed by the pilot and the copilot; there was neither enough altitude nor time for the six lower-deck crew members to escape before the aircraft crashed into the west side of Elephant Mountain at 2:52 p.m.
The copilot suffered fatal injuries, striking a tree 1 mile (1.6 km) away from the main crash site. The pilot landed in a tree 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground. He survived the night, with temperatures reaching almost −30 °F (−34 °C), in his survival-kit sleeping bag atop his life raft. The navigator's parachute did not deploy upon ejection. He impacted the snow-covered ground before separating from his ejection seat about 2,000 feet (610 m) from the wreckage with an impact estimated at 16 times the force of gravity. He suffered a fractured skull and three broken ribs. The force bent his ejection seat and he could not get his survival kit out. He survived the night by wrapping himself in his parachute. [2][4]
A grader operator on a remote woods road witnessed the final turn of the Stratofortress and saw a black smoke cloud after impact. [2] Eighty rescuers from the Maine State Police, the Maine Inland Fish and Game Department, the Civil Air Patrol, as well as Air Force units from Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine, along with others from New Hampshire and Massachusetts and other volunteers, went to work. Search aircraft were on the scene, but they searched too far south and east to locate the wreckage before nightfall. [3]
After the crash site was located the next day, Scott Paper Company dispatched plows from Greenville to clear 10 miles (16 km) of road of snow drifts up to 15 feet (4.6 m) deep. The rescuers had to use snowshoes, dog sleds and snowmobiles to cover the remaining mile to the crash site. At 11 a.m. the two survivors were airlifted to a hospital by a helicopter. [3][4]
The crash was caused by turbulence-induced structural failure. Due to buffeting stresses,[2] the stabilizer shaft broke[1] and the B-52's vertical stabilizer came off the plane. It was found 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from where the plane struck the mountain side. [4] With the loss of the vertical stabilizer, the aircraft had lost its directional stability and rolled uncontrollably. Originally, the B-52 was designed to penetrate Soviet airspace at high altitude around 35,000 feet (11 km) and high speed around 450 knots (830 km/h; 520 mph) to drop nuclear weapons. When the US intelligence realized that the Soviets had implemented a sophisticated, layered and interconnected air defense system with radar controlled surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), the US Air Force decided the B-52 would have to penetrate the Soviet airspace at low altitude (around 500 feet or 150 metres) and high speed to stay underneath the radar. However, low altitude, high speed flight operations put enormous stress on an aircraft's structure, especially when flying near mountains, up and down ridges and through valleys due to lee waves and the rotor. The B-52 was not designed for this kind of operation. 56-0591, a B-52D, took off from Larson AFB, Washington, on 23 June 1959 and experienced a horizontal stabilizer turbulence-induced failure at low level and crashed.
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UN special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener warns of risk of ‘large-scale civil war’ following February 1 coup.
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UN special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener warns of risk of ‘large-scale civil war’ following February 1 coup.
As Ebrahim Raisi is tipped to win presidential election, some Iranians have contrasting views on voting’s true effect.
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Government Job change - Election
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Sydney's Odyssey Bar Restaurant fined $10,000 for 'multiple dancefloors' amid coronavirus restrictions
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
A bar and restaurant in Sydney's inner-west has been slapped with a $10,000 fine after video emerged of large groups mingling and dancing throughout the venue.
CCTV from Odyssey Bar Restaurant in Leichhardt revealed the infringements, which remain prohibited across the state under coronavirus restrictions.
It came as NSW recorded zero local cases of coronavirus among more than 20,000 swabs taken in the 24 hours to 8:00pm on Tuesday.
It is the fourth consecutive day no new locally acquired infections have been found.
Four cases were found in hotel quarantine. Elsewhere, NSW Health issued a fresh alert late on Wednesday after virus fragments were found in two sewage pumping stations that serve more than 18,500 residents. One serves about 5,860 residents in North Kellyville and Rouse Hill. The second station serves 12,650 people across Rouse Hill, Box Hill, The Ponds, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Quakers Hill and Acacia Gardens. People are being told to get tested even if they have the mildest of symptoms.
A pop-up clinic has been set up in The Fiddler hotel car park in Rouse Hill. It is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. Liquor & Gaming director of compliance Dimitri Argeres said a lack of social distancing led to two $5,000 fines being issued for the Odyssey venue.
"It's hard to fathom how staff could have failed to notice and stop things getting out of hand as patrons had in effect created multiple dancefloors," Mr Argeres said.
Inspectors said they found 94 breaches of coronavirus restrictions when they visited more than 70 hospitality venues in Sydney last Friday.
Mr Argeres said of the 74 hospitality venues inspected, 13 were not registered as COVID-safe, 39 did not have a current safety plan, 20 had issues with record keeping, seven were not properly adhering to social distancing, two had hygiene issues and 13 had no COVID-19 safety marshal.
"Such a high level of breaches is simply unacceptable and puts at risk all the hard work in containing the spread of COVID-19," he said.
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Mr Argeres said one venue had not registered as COVID-safe, had no safety plan, had not recorded any patron details since July, had no conditions of entry and had not spaced seating and tables to allow for physical distancing.
"Another venue had no safety plan and no sign-in register or records kept at all — and perhaps most concerningly, did not understand any of the Public Health Order requirements when questioned by inspectors," Mr Argeres said.
A team of 30 inspectors from the NSW Department of Customer Service are embarking on a second safety blitz across Sydney's south-west on Wednesday.
Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors will also be visiting pubs and clubs screening the second State of Origin rugby league game tonight to check for COVID-19 compliance.
But the degree of violations were not reflected in other industries: out of the 47 hair and beauty salons inspected by SafeWork NSW, just one warning letter was issued. NSW Fair Trading found all 79 retail shops inspected to be fully compliant.
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Organization Fine
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New York shirtwaist strike of 1909
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The New York shirtwaist strike of 1909, also known as the Uprising of the 20,000, was a labour strike primarily involving Jewish women working in New York shirtwaist factories. It was the largest strike by female American workers up to that date. Led by Clara Lemlich and the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, and supported by the National Women's Trade Union League of America (NWTUL), the strike began in November 1909. In February 1910, the NWTUL settled with the factory owners, gaining improved wages, working conditions, and hours. The end of the strike was followed only a year later by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which exposed the plight of immigrant women working in dangerous and difficult conditions. [1]
During the 20th century American textile workers of all categories—and female textile workers in particular—were subjected to abysmal working conditions, marked by crowded, unsanitary facilities, long work days, and miserable wages. Production in the garment-making capital of New York City during the first decade of the century was split between 600 shops and factories, employing 30,000 workers and producing an estimated $50 million worth of merchandise annually. [2]
Women were frequently trapped by an internal subcontracting system, which made extensive use of home work and additionally limited entry into skilled "operator" positions by relegating many to the ranks of "learners"—a category of convenience which had little correlation to actual level of skill or experience. [2] These so-called "learners" often earned no more than $3 or $4 a day—a small fraction of the typical wages of $7 to $12 made by semi-skilled "operators," who were generally male. [2] At the top of the garment industry hierarchy were the skilled pattern-makers and cutters, who were almost exclusively male. [2]
Garment industry workers often worked in small sweatshops. [3] Work weeks of 65 hours were normal, and in season they might expand to as many as 75 hours. Despite their meager wages, workers were often required to supply their own basic materials, including needles, thread, and sewing machines. Workers could be fined for being late for work or for damaging a garment they were working on. At some worksites, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, steel doors were used to lock in workers so as to prevent workers from taking breaks, and as a result women had to ask permission from supervisors to use the restroom. [4]
The industry was dominated by immigrant workers, including prominently Yiddish-speaking Jews, about half of the total, and Italians, who comprised another one-third. [3] About 70% of the workforce was female, about half of whom were under 20 years old. [3]
In the production of shirtwaists (blouses) in particular, the workforce was nearly all Jewish women. Some of them had belonged to labour unions in Europe before their immigration; many of the Jewish women in particular had been members of the Bund. Thus, they were no strangers to organized labour or to its tactics. Indeed, Jewish women who worked in the garment industry were among the most vocal and active supporters of women's suffrage in New York. [4]
In September 1909, employees at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory went on strike. [5] On November 22, 1909,[5] a meeting was arranged at the Great Hall[6] of Cooper Union, where Local 25 voted for a general strike. [5] The meeting had been organized by International Ladies Garment Workers Union. [6]
In attendance at the meeting was Clara Lemlich, a 23-year old garment worker,[6] originally from Ukraine. [7] Lemlich was already on strike, and she had been hospitalized after hired thugs assaulted her on the picket line. [6] At the meeting, Lemlich had been listening to men speak about the disadvantages and cautions about the shirtwaist workers going on a general strike. After listening to these men speak for four or more hours, she rose and declared in Yiddish that she wanted to say a few words of her own. After rising to the podium, she declared that the shirtwaist workers would go on a general strike. [8] She said, "I have no further patience for talk. I move we go on a general strike!”[6] Her declaration received a standing ovation and the audience went wild. Clara then took an oath swearing that if she became a traitor to the cause she now voted for, then that the hand she now held high wither from her arm. [8]
On the 24th of November, less than one day after the strike had been declared, 15,000 shirtwaist workers walked out of the factories, with more joining the strike the following day. [9] The numbers swelled to 20,000 to 30,000 strikers,[5] and the strike became known as the Uprising of the 20,000. [6] Most of the strikers were young women between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five years old. 75%-80% were Eastern European Jewish immigrants and 6-10% were Italian immigrants. [5]
Strikers protested against long work hours and low wages. They demanded a 20 percent pay raise, a 52 hour work week, additional payment for overtime hours, and improved safety conditions. [10]
The factory owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, were vehemently anti-union and did not accept the demands. [10] Instead, they hired thugs[10] and prostitutes[5] to assault the strikers. Meanwhile, the thugs bribed police officers so that strikers would be arrested for minor infringements. [10]
The strikers gained sympathy from many upper class women of New York society, also known as the "mink brigade." Many of these women belonged to the Colony Club, an exclusive club that did not admit Jews, which made the alliance unexpected. Members of the "mink brigade" included Anne Tracy Morgan, the daughter of J.P. Morgan,[5] and Alva Belmont,[11] the former wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt. [12] In 1908, Morgan had begun organizing a women's auxiliary group for the National Civic Federation, which aimed to improve the working conditions for women. By 1909, when the shirtwaist strike had broken out, the "mink brigade" was able to connect with the strikers through the Women’s Trade Union League (WTUL). The WTUL aimed to unite working-class women with middle-class women (who were known as "allies"). The union put members of the "mink brigade" into the picket line alongside the striking workers. When the upper-class women were arrested alongside the striking workers, the arrests made front-page news (which did not occur when the strike only included working-class women). Belmont rented New York Hippodrome for a rally in support of the workers, and wealthy women donated in support of the cause.
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Strike
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2011 Iraqi protests
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The 2011 Iraqi protests came in the wake of the Tunisian revolution and 2011 Egyptian revolution. They resulted in at least 45 deaths, including at least 29 on 25 February 2011, the "Day of Rage". Several protests in March were against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain. [2][3]
Protests also took place in Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq's north, and lasted for 62 days. In an effort to prevent potential unrest, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that he will not run for a third term in 2014, and called for a constitutional term limit. [4]
Nevertheless, hundreds of protesters gathered in several major Iraqi urban areas on 12 February (notably Baghdad and Karbala) demanding a more effective approach to the issue of national security and investigation into federal corruption cases, as well as government action towards making public services fair and accessible. In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs. Israel's Haaretz reported that a 31-year-old man in Mosul died after he self-immolated in protest against unemployment. Haaretz also reported a planned "Revolution of Iraqi Rage" to be held on 25 February near the Green Zone. [5]
Hundreds of protesters gathered in several major Iraqi urban areas, most notably in Baghdad and Karbala, demanding a more effective approach to the issue of national security and an investigation into federal corruption cases, as well as government action towards making public services fair and accessible. [6][7][8] In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs. [9]
On 29 February, up to 2,000 protesters took over a provincial council building in the city of Kut. The protesters demanded the provincial governor resign due to a lack of basic services such as electricity and water. Up to three people were reported killed and 30 injured. On 17 February, two people were killed as protesters threw stones at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, headed by Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region in Sulaimaniya, Iraqi Kurdistan. [10]
On 18 February, around a thousand demonstrators blockaded a bridge in Basra, demanding the resignation of the provincial governor. [11]
Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Al-Kubaisi (Arabic: عبد العزيز الكبيسي) resigned from his post as the Director General at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, gave up his military rank, and removed it from his shoulders on television. [12] Following this step, he was arrested by security forces. Al Kubaisi described the Iraqi government as corrupt and called on all officers to declare their resignation and join the demonstrators, who are planning a demonstration on 25 February. [12]
The three officers, including one colonel, responded to this call and announced their resignations. Uday Zaidi, who has previously organized protests, revealed that these officers have joined the demonstrations. Zaidi told Al Jazeera that the 37 personnel from the Ministry of Interior have also resigned and joined the crowds of demonstrators. [12]
On 24 February, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist famous for the 2008 shoeing incident, was arrested for allegedly taking part in the protests. Al-Zaidi is popular in Iraq for what Iraqis see as his act of defiance. [13]
Major protests were held throughout Iraq on 25 February, centering on the nation's high unemployment, corruption, and poor public services. [14] During the protests, crowds stormed provincial buildings, in addition to jailbreaking prisoners and forcing local officials to resign. At least twenty-nine people were killed across the country as a result of protests on this day, though the deadliest protests took place in Iraqi Kurdistan. [15][16][17]
Protests were diminished from the 25 February "Day of Rage," due to the deaths that resulted during it. Hundreds were detained by Iraqi security forces, including journalists, artists, and intellectuals. One of the artists that was arrested, Hussam al-Ssair, later stated that "It was like they were dealing with a bunch of al-Qaeda operatives, not a group of journalists. "[17]
New protests arose at Baghdad and Basra against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain. [2]
At Kerbela about 3,000 people demonstrated against Saudi-Arabia. [18] Nouri al-Maliki criticized the Saudi intervention. [19]
Beginning on 9 April 2011, the 8th anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein, the protests escalated with thousands protesting in Baghdad's Tahrir Square and all over the country. [20][21][22] The protests extended to anger at the US occupation and culminated on 26 May 2011 with a demonstration organized by Muqtada al-Sadr. Reports of participants vary from 20,000 (Iran's Press TV),[23] to 100 thousand (Iraq's official Al Sabaah)[24] to half a million people (Baghdad's independent New Sabah [ar]). [25] (The highest figures are not unlikely, as similar protests by Muqtada al-Sadr have drawn up to a million people, as in 2007[26] and 2012. [27])
About 400 protesters converged on Tahrir Square in Baghdad after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's deadline for reform expired. [28]
Dozens protested in Tahrir Square, calling for Oil Minister Karim Luaibi to be fired, a planned port named for ex-President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak to be scrapped, and political prisoners to be released. [29]
The 2011 Dohuk riots refers to riots by Muslim Kurds on 2 December 2011 which were instigated by Friday prayers' sermons calling for Jihad against liquor stores and massage parlours in Zakho in the Dohuk Governorate, Iraq. The riots soon developed to looting and burning down of Assyrian and Yazidi-owned properties in other towns in Iraqi Kurdistan over the next couple of days. In response to the initial round of protests, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that his ministers who do not improve their ministries face dismissal. An MP also called for provincial elections to be brought forward by two years.
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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Korean Air Flight 801 crash
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Korean Air Flight 801 (KE801, KAL801) was a scheduled international passenger flight operated by Korean Air. The flight crashed on August 6, 1997, on approach to Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, in the United States territory of Guam, killing 229[a] of the 254 people aboard. The aircraft crashed on Nimitz Hill in Asan-Maina, Guam, while on approach to the airport. [2] The National Transportation Safety Board cites poor communication between the flight crew as probable cause for the air crash, along with the captain's poor decision-making on the non-precision approach. [1]
Flight 801 was normally flown by an Airbus A300, but since Korean Air had scheduled the August 5–6 flight to transport Chamorro athletes to the South Pacific Mini Games in American Samoa,[3] the airline designated HL7468, a 12-year-old Boeing 747-300 delivered to Korean Air on December 12, 1984,[1]:16,28 to fly the route that night. [3][4]
The flight was under the command of 42-year-old Captain Park Yong-chul (Korean: 박용철, Hanja: 朴鏞喆, RR: Bak Yong-cheol. M-R: Pak Yongch'ŏl)[5] The captain had close to 9,000 hours of flight time (with 3,192 of them on the Boeing 747) and had recently received a Flight Safety Award for negotiating a 747 engine failure at low altitude. [6] Park had originally been scheduled to fly to Dubai, United Arab Emirates; since he did not have enough rest for the Dubai trip, he was reassigned to Flight 801. [1]:3,15 The first officer was 40-year-old Song Kyung-ho (Korean: 송경호, Hanja: 宋慶昊, RR: Song Gyeong-ho, M-R: Song Kyŏngho), who had more than 4,000 hours' flying experience (with 1,560 hours on the Boeing 747), and the flight engineer was 57-year-old Nam Suk-hoon (Korean: 남석훈, Hanja: 南錫薰, RR: Nam Seok-hun, M-R: Nam Sŏkhun),[7] a veteran pilot with more than 13,000 flight hours, including 1,573 hours on the Boeing 747. [1]:12
Flight 801 departed from Seoul-Kimpo International Airport (now Gimpo International Airport) at 8:53 p.m. (9:53 p.m. Guam time) on August 5 on its way to Guam. It carried three flight crew members (the two pilots and the flight engineer), 14 flight attendants, and 237 passengers from 4 countries,[1]:11,23 a total of 254 people. Of the passengers, three were children between the ages of 2 and 12 and three were 24 months old or younger. [1]:45,57 Six of the passengers were Korean Air flight attendants, who were deadheading. [1]:3,15
The flight experienced some turbulence, but was uneventful until shortly after 1:00 a.m. on August 6, as the jet was preparing to land. There was heavy rain at Guam so visibility was considerably reduced and the crew attempted an instrument landing. The glideslope Instrument Landing System (ILS) for runway 6L was out of service. However, Captain Park believed it was in service, and at 1:35 am managed to pick up a signal that was later identified to be from an irrelevant electronic device on the ground. The crew noticed that the aircraft was descending very steeply, and noted several times that the airport "is not in sight." Despite protests from flight engineer Nam that the detected signal was not the glide-slope indicator, Park pressed on[8] and at 1:42 am, the aircraft crashed into Nimitz Hill, slightly south of the community of Nimitz Hill Annex, about 3 nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) short of the runway, at an altitude of 660 feet (200 m). Of the 254 people on board, 229 died as a result of the crash. One survivor, 36-year-old Hyun Seong Hong (홍현성, also spelled Hong Hyun Sung) of the United States, occupied Seat 3B in first class, and said that the crash occurred so quickly that the passengers "had no time to scream"[9] and likened the crash to "a scene from a film. "[1]:45[10]
The rescue effort was hampered by the weather, terrain, and other problems. Emergency vehicles could not approach due to a fuel pipeline, destroyed by the crash, blocking the narrow road. United States Navy Seabees of NMCB-133 were some of the first on the scene as they utilized their earth moving equipment to clear roadways and timber from the crash site approach. The Seabees used backhoes to crack open the still-burning plane to rescue survivors and erected mortuary tents for first responders. There was confusion over the administration of the effort; the crash occurred on land owned by the United States Navy but civil authorities initially claimed authority. The hull had disintegrated, and jet fuel in the wing tanks had sparked a fire that was still burning eight hours after impact. [1]:9,45–48
Governor Carl Gutierrez found 11-year-old Rika Matsuda, from Japan, who boarded the flight with her mother, 44-year-old Shigeko. [11][12] They were heading to Guam on vacation. Rika Matsuda described what happened to her and her mother to interpreters. [9] Shigeko could not free herself from the aircraft and told Rika to run away. Luggage piled on the girl and her mother as the crash occurred; Rika Matsuda said her mother, unable to free herself, asked her to leave. [9] Shigeko died in the fire. After escaping from the aircraft, Rika discovered a surviving flight attendant, Lee Yong Ho (이용호). They stayed together until Gutierrez discovered them. [13] Rika Matsuda, treated at Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning, was released on August 7, 1997, and was reunited with her father, Tatsuo Matsuda. The two were then escorted to the Governor House where they were the guests of Gutierrez and the First Lady of Guam, Geri Gutierrez, for several days; afterwards Rika and Tatsuo Matsuda flew to Japan. [2][14]
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident. A special weather observation made at 01:32, ten minutes before the impact, reported:
Wind 090° at 6 knots; visibility—7 miles; present weather—shower vicinity; sky condition—scattered 1,600 feet, broken 2,500 feet, overcast 5,000 feet [above ground level]; temperature—27° C; dew point—25° C; altimeter setting 29.85 inches Hg; remarks—showers vicinity northwest-northeast. [1]:20
Another special weather observation made at 01:47, five minutes after the impact, reported:
Wind variable at 4 knots; visibility—5 miles; present weather—light rain shower; sky condition—few 1,500 feet, scattered 2,500 feet, overcast 4,000 feet; temperature 26° C; dew point 24° C; altimeter 29.85 inches Hg. [1]:21
The crew had been using an outdated flight map that was missing a 724 foot obstruction symbol depicted at the NIMITZ VOR and that map stated the Minimum Safe Altitude while crossing the NIMITZ VOR for a landing aircraft was 1,300 feet (400 m) as opposed to the updated altitude of 1,440 feet (440 m). [1]:36 Flight 801 crashed near the NIMITZ VOR, which is situated on Nimitz Hill at a height of 680 feet (210 m) at 1:42 am, when it descended below the minimum safe altitude of 1,440 feet (440 m) during its landing approach. The report also identified that the captain may have mistakenly believed that the airplane was closer to the airport
than it was and that there may have been confusion about the location of the Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) in relation to the airport, with the crew anticipating the VOR/DME to be located at the airport. The DME was sited at the NIMITZ VOR some 3.3 nmi (3.8 mi; 6.1 km) from the airport and such a configuration had not been part of Korean Air's simulator training, the crew's training for such non-precision approaches having been carried out in scenarios where the DME was located at the airport. Nevertheless the correct DME distances were shown on the approach chart. [1]:144
The NTSB was critical of the flight crew's monitoring of the approach, and even more critical of why the first officer and flight engineer did not challenge the captain for his errors. Even before the accident, Korean Air's crew resource management program was already attempting to promote a free atmosphere between the flight crew, requiring the first officer and flight engineer to challenge the captain if they felt concerned. [1]:59 However, the flight crew only began to challenge the captain six seconds before impact, when the first officer urged the captain to make a missed approach. According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), the flight crew had suggested to the captain that he made a mistake, but did not explicitly warn him.
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Air crash
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Air Algérie Flight 702P crash
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Air Algérie/Phoenix Flight 702P, named Oasis and registered 7T-VEE, was a Boeing 737 owned by Air Algérie and leased by Phoenix Aviation which crashed on 21 December 1994 near Coventry Airport, England. All five on board were killed. On the day of the accident, the aircraft departed Amsterdam for a routine flight to Coventry, where live animals were to be loaded on board for export to the Netherlands and France. Weather at Coventry was poor and deteriorated steadily during the day; by the time the aircraft reached the Coventry area, the runway visual range for the main runway at Coventry Airport was only 700 metres. The aircraft was not properly equipped to receive the updated radio-navigational broadcast for the runway in question, so the pilots elected to be guided in by a radar controller using Surveillance Radar Approach (SRA). This was unsuccessful and the captain elected to call a missed approach and eventually divert to the East Midlands Airport. [1]
Approximately 90 minutes after landing at East Midlands, visibility at Coventry improved significantly. The flight departed East Midlands at 9:38 local time in order to make a second attempt to land at the scheduled destination. During the second SRA-guided approach, the aircraft descended well below the glide slope and collided with an 86-foot (26 m)-high electricity transmission tower situated on the extended centreline of the runway approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from the runway threshold. The collision caused severe damage to the left engine and to the structure of the left wing; the aircraft rolled to the left and dropped, taking the roof of 6 terraced houses in Sunbury before crashing into Binley, Coventry woodland and catching fire. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) determined that the accident was caused by the flight crew allowing the aircraft to descend significantly below the minimum descent height for the approach without gaining sight of the approach lighting or runway threshold. The AAIB also found that the crew had failed to cross-check altimeter height indications during the approach, that the non-handling pilot failed to call out the minimum descent height as the aircraft reached that altitude, and that the flight crew's performance had been impaired by the effects of fatigue. [2]
A brass plaque remembering the event is now located in Middle Ride, close to the crash scene, which was erected on the 10th anniversary of the accident by the Willenhall Wood Residents Association. [3]
Air Accidents Investigation Branch
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Air crash
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East Coast Jets Flight 81 crash
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East Coast Jets Flight 81 was a business jet flight operated by East Coast Jets, that crashed on July 31, 2008 while attempting a go-around at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport near Owatonna, Minnesota, killing all eight passengers and crew on board. The flight originated in Atlantic City International Airport, and was scheduled to land in Owatonna. The crew made a go-around attempt after the aircraft touched down, but it overran the runway, hit Approach Lighting System fixtures, stalled and crashed, with the main wreckage coming to rest 2,400 ft (730 m) from the runway end. The aircraft operating the flight was a Hawker 800 registered as N818MV, manufactured in 1991. East Coast Jets began operating it in June 2003. [1]:8
The captain was 40-year-old Clark Jon Keefer, a former flight instructor who had been with East Coast Jets since 2005. [2][3] He had 3,600 flight hours including 1,188 hours on the Hawker 800. Keefer also had 874 hours on Learjet aircraft. totaling 2,062 flight hours on turbine-engine aircraft. The first officer was 27-year-old Daniel D'Ambrosio, who had been with East Coast Jets for less than a year and had previously worked for Colgan Air but quit during training due to an unexpected transfer of location. D'Ambrosio had 1,454 flight hours, with 295 of them on the Hawker 800. He also had two hours on Learjet aircraft, with a total of 297 hours on turbine-engine aircraft. [1]:6–8[4][5]
After first travelling from its base airport at Lehigh Valley International Airport[6] to Atlantic City to pick up passengers, East Coast Jets Flight 81 departed from Atlantic City International Airport at 8:13 am, en route to its destination, Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in Minnesota. [7]
At 9:45 am, Flight 81 was cleared for landing, and the aircraft touched down on assigned runway 30. Noticing that there was insufficient runway length remaining for the jet to stop, the crew decided to go around. As it began to take off again, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and impacted elements of the Approach Lighting System. This caused the aircraft to bank hard to the right until it was upside down before crashing into a cornfield 2,400 ft (730 m) from the runway. Seven occupants died on impact. One survived the crash, but she died less than two hours later in a hospital. [8]
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators deduced that the aircraft crashed due to a failed go-around. [1]:x Because the jet had no flight data recorder on board, NTSB investigators used the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and eyewitness accounts. Because of the wet runway, the idea of possible hydroplaning was discussed, however it was ruled out later on. [1]:87 Investigators determined that the pilots hadn't begun the go-around earlier before overrunning Runway 30. The pilots failed to apply full brakes, and moved the airbrake handle towards the OPEN position instead of selecting the proper DUMP position during the landing. [clarification needed] which would have safely brought the aircraft to a stop even after it overran the runway. The pilots were also criticized that they continued the attempt to go-around after overrunning the runway. The NTSB cited the pilots' error in attempting a go-around as the primary cause of the accident,[1]:89 concluding that the aircraft would have come to rest within the runway safety margins. [1]:87 The NTSB cited other contributing causes, and issued a series of recommendations. [9][10]
In the NTSB's final report, it states the following:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the captain's decision to attempt a go-around late in the landing roll with insufficient runway remaining. Contributing to the accident were, 1, the pilots' poor crew coordination and lack of cockpit discipline; 2, fatigue, which likely impaired both pilots' performance; and 3, the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration to require crew resource management training and standard operating procedures for Part 135 operators. [1][11]
The NTSB issued 14 Safety Recommendations as a result of this accident. [1]:90–91
The six passengers were all connected with the construction of Atlantic City's gigantic Revel Casino, the city's tallest building, then under construction. They had flown to Minnesota to meet with the glass-walled project's glass manufacturer. [7] Wrongful death actions were filed on behalf of the passengers' families and were settled around the same time as the NTSB's report. The casino was described by some as a "memorial" to the flight's passengers. [12]
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Air crash
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Leaving World Health Organization marks major foreign policy blunder
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Donald Trump Warren backs expanding the Supreme Court Trump allies urge McCarthy to remove Kinzinger, Cheney from House GOP conference Agency managing Trump's DC hotel lease failed to probe ethical conflicts: report MORE has announced that the United States will withdraw from the World Health Organization. Founded in 1948, it has become one of the most capable international institutions in existence, proving critical in the fight to prevent and contain deadly diseases such as polio, ebola, cholera, yellow fever, and most recently, the coronavirus. While some international institutions have exhibited various forms of overstretch and problems, the World Health Organization has remained true to its mission. This decision for the United States to withdraw has three major consequences. First, it undermines the global efforts to respond to the coronavirus crisis. This is not a time to pursue ideological vendettas against the World Health Organization. Many mistakenly believe its assistance in the battle against the coronavirus is only limited to tracking the disease and publishing new information on its transmission and treatment. However, the World Health Organization employs more than 7,000 staffers spread across 150 country offices. These workers are multilingual, connected with local governments and private organizations, and trained to work in host nations. No United States agency can match such capabilities. By preventing a resurgence of the coronavirus in developing nations, the World Health Organization will save lives and decrease the chances that an epidemic will rebound over to the United States. The World Health Organization is more important now than it has been since the ebola outbreak in Africa. This is certainly not the time to withdraw United States support. Second, it steps back from our important commitment to provide global public goods that benefit all countries, particularly the United States. This has been a fixture in American foreign policy since 1945. Withdrawal from the World Health Organization is indeed the latest in a series of pullbacks from international commitments which confirm the negative appearance that the United States no longer cares to maintain or support the precise system it helped create out of the wreckage of World War Two. The commitment to free trade and management of international crises through multilateral institutions define that order. It benefits all nations, especially the United States. This is not an order policed directly by the American government, but one that polices itself, reducing the burdens that would otherwise fall on the United States. Leaving the World Health Organization is another abandonment of the system which presidents of both parties built to benefit our country over the last 75 years. Third, it creates new opportunities for potential challengers such as China and Russia to question American leadership of this order. Nature abhors a political vacuum, so as the United States withdraws from the world stage, other powers will seek to fill the void. While China and Russia are still not yet in a position to directly challenge the United States, their trajectory of growth and aggression suggest that their time could come. These two nations already regularly interfere with our American policies all around the world, ranging from Chinese cyberattacks on our business and government targets to Russian aggression over parts of Europe and the Middle East. Withdrawing from the World Health Organization at the time when American leadership is so critical hands an easy propaganda victory to our competitors. Whether it is a friendlier rise of Europe or a more hostile rise of China, the United States is opening the door to its own replacement by leaving its international commitments. Great powers rise and fall, but rarely do they throw away leadership of the international system voluntarily. That is exactly what this administration is doing by pulling out of the only multilateral institution capable of dealing with pandemics like the coronavirus that threaten stability.
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Withdraw from an Organization
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Joy and scepticism as Myanmar frees hundreds held since coup
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Families wait outside Insein prison after Myanmar's authorities announced to free around 700 prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar June 30, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer June 30 (Reuters) - Myanmar freed more than 2,000 detainees on Wednesday, among them journalists and others who the ruling military said had been held on incitement charges for taking part in protests, local media reported. The release was described by some activists as a ploy by the ruling military to divert attention from an ongoing security crackdown. The army has been under pressure from Western countries and Myanmar's neighbours to release thousands of people detained during protests since it ousted the elected government of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1. Many of the military's opponents have been held, some convicted, under a law that criminalises comments that could cause fear or spread false news and is punishable by up to three years in jail. Suu Kyi is on trial for a similar offence, among others, and remains in detention. Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun said most of those freed had been charged with incitement for joining protests. "A total of 2,296 people have been released. They took part in protests but not in leading roles. They didn't participate in violent acts," he told Irrawaddy new site. Reuters could not reach Zaw Min Tun for further comment. Videos posted on social media showed a stream of mostly young detainees pouring off buses from Yangon's colonial-era Insein prison, smiling, waving and embracing family members who wept as they arrived. Others showed a succession of buses leaving the rear entrance of the jail, with passengers leaning from windows and waving at small crowds that gathered outside. The military has struggled to impose order since it took power, with daily protests nationwide and paralysing strikes. Ethnic insurgencies that beset Myanmar for decades have flared anew and civilians angered by a wave of arrests have taken up arms against security forces. Insein prison chief Zaw Zaw had earlier told Reuters that some 700 people would be released, without giving a reason. He did not respond to subsequent calls seeking comment. The news portal Myanmar Now said its reporter Kay Zon Nway was freed after 124 days charged with incitement. "Like many other political detainees, she was unfairly arrested. She has suffered a lot in prison. But today, I'm glad to see her again in great spirits," Swe Win, Myanmar Now's editor-in-chief said in a text message. The Irrawaddy said six journalists were freed altogether. State-run MRTV made no mention of the release in its nightly newscast. Western countries have demanded political prisoners be freed and condemned the military takeover. Myanmar's neighbours in April sought a commitment from its military rulers to initiate dialogue, end the violence and release detainees. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit based in Thailand, said the mass release was engineered to give the impression the military's sweeping crackdown had eased. "Today's events intend to make it seem like there has been a relaxation in the junta's oppression. This is not the case," it said in a statement. More than 5,200 people are being held, according to AAPP. It also says 883 people have been killed - a figure challenged by the military leadership, which has blamed the unrest on "terrorists" among supporters of Suu Kyi's party. Reuters has been unable to confirm the numbers. On Tuesday, the army-run Myawaddy television said authorities had dropped charges against 24 celebrities on wanted lists under the anti-incitement law. Salai Za Uk Ling of the Chin Human Rights Organisation, a group from Chin state, a centre of opposition to the takeover by the military, said the release was "quite meaningless" and intended to appease the international community. He said people were still being arrested daily in Chin state and elsewhere in Myanmar. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm his statement. "We will face this same problem until they stop the unlawful arrests," he added. "People will not feel safe in their homes." Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox. Melbourne's pubs and cafes can have unlimited patrons from Thursday night, while stadiums can return to full capacity as authorities lifted nearly all remaining COVID-19 restrictions for the vaccinated residents in Australia's second-largest city. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Information, analytics and exclusive news on financial markets - delivered in an intuitive desktop and mobile interface. Access to real-time, reference, and non-real time data in the cloud to power your enterprise. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.
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Famous Person - Commit Crime - Release
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2015 Kazan Shopping Center fire
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The 2015 Kazan Shopping Center fire occurred on 11 March 2015 when a fire and partial collapse of the Admiral shopping complex in the Russian city of Kazan killed at least 17 people with 55 more injured. [1][2]
The fire reportedly started in a first floor cafe, next to the Admiral center. [3] The building collapsed, trapping 25 individuals under the rubble. [4]
A security guard initially attempted to extinguish the fire himself, and there was a delay in calling for first responders. It affected an area of 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet). [3]
Five hundred riot police were sent to seal off the center and create a line around the building as business owners attempted to re-enter the building and save goods. [3] A fire train and helicopter were also used in order to get the fire under control. [5]
Kazan law enforcers reported that the number of injured by the fire had exceeded 30, with nineteen people being transported to the hospital and fourteen going to the doctors or hospitals on their own choice. [5]
On March 12 it was reported that based on reports by workers and relatives, five people were confirmed dead and 25 missing. [6] By March 14, the number of deceased victims had risen to 15 with 17 more missing,[7] the final death total of 17 was released on March 15 with eight foreign nationals being identified among the dead. [8]
Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov stated that managers of the center had failed to comply with fire safety regulations. [4] He also decreed a Republic-wide day of morning, and that the families of each Russian citizen among the victims would receive 1 million rubles (US$16,000) in compensation, and foreign victims would have the cost of transporting the remains covered. [8]
Investigators have detained the shopping centers director and at the time were looking into multiple theories including arson. [4]
Two firefighters have received widespread criticism with the selfie style photo in front of the burning building, and officials are investigating over whether they should be removed from their positions. The Regional Emergency Situations Department stated that the actions of the two are "not characteristic of those who work hard every day, tirelessly saving lives. "[9]
A local court sanctioned the arrest of the shopping mall's chief executive on charges of fire safety regulations. [7] The Russia Investigative Committee placed Minzilya Safina a former bailiff to a wanted list for failure to enforce a regional courts 2013 decision to rectify the shopping centers numerous fire safety violations. [8]
Coordinates: 55°48′04″N 49°03′52″E / 55.8011°N 49.0644°E / 55.8011; 49.0644
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Fire
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Accenture Acquires Strategy Activation Consultancy Root Inc. to Accelerate Organizational Culture and Transformational Change Using Creative and Experiential Approaches
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Root Inc., a consultancy with 30 years of experience helping Global 2000 organizations activate strategies and transform cultures using creative and visual methods to accelerate employee engagement and change effectiveness. Root joins Accenture’s Talent & Organization / Human Potential team, strengthening its organizational change management capabilities with multiple new experiential and digital assets designed to engage people intellectually and emotionally and do so rapidly and at scale. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “By adding Root’s unique digital-based creative capabilities to ours, we will help companies go beyond change management design or measurement and toward activating transformational change at scale.” With 130 experts located in Ohio and Illinois, Root collaborates with clients to create and share their strategy and transformation stories in new and different ways that authentically connect with people, drive meaningful conversations, and create ownership for change. One of Root’s key organizational change methodologies is the Root Learning Map® experience. Used by nearly 1,000 organizations globally, the Root Learning Map uses a large visual format, combined with data and dialogue to illustrate a company’s change journey. This is designed to get employees engaged and immersed in the strategic changes happening across their organizations and connected to their individual roles, resulting in accelerated and sustained strategic change. “At Accenture, we search for disruptive innovations and methodologies to guide and support our clients as they undertake transformation journeys,” said Christie Smith, global lead for Talent & Organization / Human Potential at Accenture. “By adding Root’s unique digital-based creative capabilities to ours, we will help companies go beyond change management design or measurement and toward activating transformational change at scale.” Root complements Accenture’s recent Talent & Organization / Human Potential acquisitions – fable+, Cirrus, Future State, and Kates Kesler – all of which aim to expand client offerings and create new ways to deliver value with a deep understanding of client needs and market challenges. “Our unique ability to help organizations bridge the gap from strategy creation to strategy activation in a way that connects people’s hearts and minds to strategic change is a tremendous complement to Accenture’s focus on being the voice of change,” said Rich Berens, CEO at Root. “We have always been a champion for people and deeply understanding how they are affected by change. We are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Accenture family and work across the globe to impact the lives of even more people positively and help organizations be more successful in their transformational efforts.” About Accenture Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 537,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. Accenture’s Talent & Organization / Human Potential connects people and technology to unlock human ingenuity and drive enterprise wide change. To learn more, visit https://www.accenture.com/us-en/services/talent-organization-human-potential-index.
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Organization Merge
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Faecal bacteria at dangerously high levels in popular Brisbane waterway, creek users not told
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A popular recreational creek in northern Brisbane regularly records dangerous levels of faecal bacteria in council testing, but many people using the waterway have told the ABC they know nothing about it. Experts warn exposure to the dangerously high levels of enterococci bacteria recorded in Cabbage Tree Creek could cause urinary tract, ear and skin infections.
The Brisbane City Council regularly tests all the city's waterways for pollution.
Levels of enterococci above 40 per 100 millilitres are considered a risk to human health, according to national guidelines spelt out on the BCC water monitoring website.
Last October, tests recorded a dangerously high pollution level of more than 16,000 organisms per 100mL in Oxley Creek in Brisbane's south-west.
Then a month later, Cabbage Tree Creek near the popular Boondall Wetlands recorded an enterococci pollution level of 14,000 — 350 times the safe limit.
While this was a spike in the pollution level, water in the creek regularly exceeded the safe limit for faecal pollution, with BCC estimating its long-term pollution average to be 563 faecal organisms per 100ml.
Biomedical expert Professor Flavia Huygens from the Queensland University of Technology said those results were particularly concerning for Cabbage Tree Creek, which is used regularly by canoeists and recreational fishers.
"Anything above 500 organisms per 100mL of water is considered to be a risk to people who are exposed, so 14,000 organisms is definitely a very high risk for contracting some form of illness," Professor Huygens said.
"There have been many reports in the past where water contamination has caused public waterways to be shut down."
For the past five years the northern Brisbane waterway has experienced consistently high levels of the harmful bacteria.
Cabbage Tree Creek's pollution level spiked again on May 10, when BCC recorded 7,300 organisms per 100ml.
The water is tested monthly in winter and fortnightly during summer months. But Ben Jones, who lives two houses from the council's testing site, said he had been unaware of the problem.
"We've never heard anything about it, not even from the neighbours but definitely not the council — I had no idea," he said.
He said his son regularly went fishing at the testing site.
BCC environment committee chairman David McLachlan said information about the bacteria threat was on the council's website.
"If people are interested or want to know what the condition of the waterway is, they're encouraged to go to the council website," he said.
Signs in the area warn of the presence of bacteria and increased levels after heavy rainfall.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Brisbane president Thomas Grice said no-one was ever contacted when high levels of bacteria were recorded in Cabbage Tree Creek.
"If there is an issue, people who enjoy the creek should be made aware of it, to be careful," he said.
"Especially in this day and age — there are plenty of ways to inform people and communicate with people."
Phil Plant from Sandgate Canoe Club agreed BCC should be doing more to inform the public.
"You do have to go and find the information, so it is not particularly transparent," he said.
"It would be good to have some sort of warning system in place if they do have high readings rather than just taking a few days and putting on the website."
Councillor McLaughlin said he was willing to consider ways to improve awareness.
"If there's a need for better education about what happens after heavy rain events in our creek systems, I'm happy to take that forward as a recommendation," he said.
Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) owns and operates the Sandgate Sewage Treatment plant adjacent to Cabbage Tree Creek.
Spokeswoman Michelle Cull said the effluent released into the creek was monitored regularly.
"The water is tested for a number of different things including the enterococci," she said.
"UV disinfection kills the bacteria in the waste water, so it is treated to a very high level."
A 2012 QUU and BCC report showed the bacteria was predominantly caused by bats and horses, but there has been no further testing to confirm the source of recent bacteria levels.
Under its environmental licence, QUU is permitted to bypass the total water treatment process in heavy rainfall.
Ms Cull said during a bypass the water was not tested before being released into the creek.
"If a bypass does occur, the waste water is heavily diluted by storm water and it has also undergone partial treatment, including screening and removal of grit," Ms Cull said.
She said the bypasses "potentially contribute to bacteria levels in the creek".
A bypass occurred last November, the day before pollution was found to have spiked in Cabbage Tree Creek.
Professor Huygens said the water should be tested weekly and that BCC needed to determine the "disease-causing ability" of the enterococci levels.
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Environment Pollution
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The Russian famine of 1921–1922
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The Russian famine of 1921–1922, also known as the Povolzhye famine, was a severe famine in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic which began early in the spring of 1921 and lasted through 1922. This famine killed an estimated 5 million people, primarily affecting the Volga and Ural River regions,[1] and peasants resorted to cannibalism. [2][3] The famine resulted from the combined effects of economic disturbance because of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, exacerbated by rail systems that could not distribute food efficiently. One of Russia's intermittent droughts in 1921 aggravated the situation to a national catastrophe. Hunger was so severe that it was likely seed-grain would be eaten rather than sown. At one point, relief agencies had to give food to railroad staff to get their supplies moved. [4]
Before the famine began, Russia had suffered three and a half years of World War I and the Civil Wars of 1918–1920, many of the conflicts fought inside Russia. [5] There were an estimated 7–12 million casualties during the Russian Civil War, mostly civilians. [6]
Before the famine, all sides in the Russian Civil Wars of 1918–21—the Bolsheviks, the Whites, the Anarchists, the seceding nationalities—had provisioned themselves by seizing food from those who grew it, giving it to their armies and supporters, and denying it to their enemies. The Bolshevik government had requisitioned supplies from the peasantry for little or nothing in exchange. This led peasants to drastically reduce their crop production. The rich peasants (kulaks) withheld their surplus grain to sell on the black market. [7][8][9] In 1920, Lenin ordered increased emphasis on food requisitioning from the peasantry. Aid from outside Soviet Russia was initially rejected. The American Relief Administration (ARA), which Herbert Hoover formed to help the victims of starvation of World War I, offered assistance to Lenin in 1919, on condition that they have full say over the Russian railway network and hand out food impartially to all. Lenin refused this as interference in Russian internal affairs. [5]
Lenin was eventually convinced—by this famine, the Kronstadt rebellion, large scale peasant uprisings such as the Tambov Rebellion, and the failure of a German general strike—to reverse his policy at home and abroad. He decreed the New Economic Policy on March 15, 1921. The famine also helped produce an opening to the West: Lenin allowed relief organizations to bring aid this time. War relief was no longer required in Western Europe, and the ARA had an organization set up in Poland, relieving the Polish famine which had begun in the winter of 1919–20. [10]
The early 1920s saw a series of famines. The first famine in the USSR happened in 1921–1923 and garnered wide international attention. The most affected area being the Southeastern areas of European Russia, including Volga region. An estimated 16 million people may have been affected and up to 5 million died. [11]
In the summer of 1921, during one of the worst famines in history, Vladimir Lenin, head of the new Soviet government, along with Maxim Gorky, appealed in an open letter to "all honest European and American people", to "give bread and medicine". [12] In an open letter to all nations, dated 13 July 1921, Gorky described the crop failure which had brought his country to the brink of starvation. [13] Herbert Hoover, who would later become the U.S. President, responded immediately, and negotiations with Russia took place at the Latvian capital, Riga. [13] A European effort was led by the famous Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen through the International Committee for Russian Relief (ICRR)[14]
Hoover's ARA had already been distributing food aid throughout Europe since 1914. After the Germans invaded Belgium in 1914, Hoover set up the Belgian Relief committee to alleviate the devastation and starvation that followed. As World War I expanded, the ARA grew, when it next entered northern France, assisting France and Germany from 1914 to 1919. [15] In 1920 and 1921 it provided one meal a day to 3.2 million children in Finland, Estonia, various Russian regions, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and Armenia. When it began its emergency feeding operation in Russia, it planned to feed about one million Russian children for a full year. [16] Other bodies such as the American Friends Service Committee, the British Friends' War Victims Relief Committee and the International Save the Children Union, with the British Save the Children Fund as the major contributor, also later took part. [17] As historian Douglas Smith writes, the food relief would likely help "save communist Russia from ruin". [18]
America was the first country to respond, with Hoover appointing Colonel William N. Haskell to direct the American Relief Administration (ARA) in Russia. Within a month, ships loaded with food were headed for Russia. The main contributor to the international relief effort would be the American Relief Administration (ARA), founded and directed by Hoover. [19][12][20] Although it had agreed to provide food for a million people, mostly children, within a year it was feeding more than ten times that number daily. [21]
The ARA insisted it have complete autonomy as to how the food would be distributed, stating its requirement that food would be given without regard to "race, creed or social status", a condition stated in Section 25 of the Riga agreement. [12] U.S. spokesmen said they would also want to have storage facilities built in Russia, wrote journalist Charles Bartlett, and would expect to have full access to those to assure that food was distributed properly. [13][a]
Hoover also demanded that Russia use some of its gold holdings to defray the cost of the relief effort. He secured $18 million from the Russian leadership, $20 million from the U.S. Congress, $8 million from the U.S. military, and additional money from U.S. charities, to arrive at a total of approximately $78 million from all those sources. [13] After an agreement was finally signed at Riga, the U.S. set up its first kitchen in Petrograd, where 1.6 million people had already starved to death. [13]
For almost two years now a scant two hundred Americans, on a battle line far longer than the western front, have been fighting a foe more pitiless than any the allied armies faced. From the Baltic to the Caspian Sea, from the Crimea to the Urals, they have conquered the famine, saved more lives than were lost in the World War, healed a sorely-suffering people of the diseases which threatened to sweep the whole of Europe, won the benedictions of a great, but stricken, nation, achieved the world's greatest adventure in humanity! W. Howard Ramsey, newspaper editor[21]
Over ten million people were fed daily, with the bulk of food coming from the ARA. The ARA had provided more than 768 million tons of flour, grain, rice, beans, pork, milk, and sugar, with a value at the time of over $98 million. [13] In order to transport and distribute the food after it was collected in the U.S., the ARA used 237 ships, under the direction of 200 Americans, and with the help of 125,000 Russians on location, unloading, warehousing, hauling, weighing, cooking and serving the food in more than 21,000 newly established kitchens. [21]
But even after the food had reached the people in need, Col. Haskell, informed Hoover of an unexpected new danger. He explained that fuel was unavailable for heating or cooking, and millions of Russian peasants had clothing consisting mostly of rags, which would lead to certain death from cold exposure during the approaching winter.
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Famine
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Air France Flight 4590 crash
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Air France Flight 4590 was an international charter flight, from Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, flown by an Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde. On the afternoon of Tuesday, 25 July 2000, at 16:44:31 local time (UTC 14:44:31), the aircraft serving the flight (registration F-BTSC) ran over debris on the runway during takeoff, blowing a tyre, and sending debris flying into the underside of the left wing, and into the landing gear bay. The fuel tank inside the left wing was full, and the resulting lack of air space in the tank caused it to rupture and send fuel pouring outward with great force when debris from the tyre struck the wing thus creating a shock wave that weakened the tank. Debris flew into the landing gear bay and severed power wiring, making it impossible to retract the gear as the aircraft climbed. Sparks produced by the broken wiring ignited fuel from the ruptured fuel tank. The fire reduced thrust in engines 1 and 2. Lack of thrust, the high drag caused by the inability to retract the gear, and fire damage to the flight controls made the aircraft impossible to control. It crashed into a hotel in nearby Gonesse two minutes after takeoff, killing all 109 people on board and four people[1] in the hotel, and critically injuring seven people in the hotel. [2]
The flight was chartered by German company Peter Deilmann Cruises. The passengers were on their way to board the cruise ship MS Deutschland in New York City for a 16-day cruise to Manta, Ecuador. [3][4] It was the only fatal Concorde accident during its 27-year operational history. [5]
The aircraft involved was a 25-year-old Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde (registration F-BTSC, serial number 203) that had its maiden flight on 31 January 1975 (during testing the aircraft's registration was F-WTSC). The aircraft was purchased by Air France on 6 January 1976. It was powered by four Rolls-Royce Olympus 593/610 turbojet engines, each of which was equipped with afterburners. The aircraft's last scheduled repair took place on 21 July 2000, four days before the accident; no problems were reported during the repair. At the time of the crash, the aircraft had flown for 11,989 hours and had made 4,873 take-off and landing cycles. [2]:21–35[6][7]
The cockpit crew consisted of the following:[2]:18–20[8]
The wind at the airport was light and variable that day, and was reported to the cockpit crew as an eight-knot (15 km/h; 9 mph) tailwind as they lined up on runway 26R. [2]:17,170
Five minutes before the Concorde departed, Continental Airlines Flight 55, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, took off from the same runway for Newark International Airport and lost a titanium alloy strip that was part of the engine cowl, identified as a wear strip about 435 millimetres (17.1 in) long, 29 to 34 millimetres (1.1 to 1.3 in) wide, and 1.4 millimetres (0.055 in) thick. [2]:17,107[9] The Concorde ran over this piece of debris during its take-off run, cutting the right front tyre (tyre No 2) and sending a large chunk of tyre debris (4.5 kilograms or 9.9 pounds) into the underside of the left wing at an estimated speed of 140 metres per second (310 mph). [2]:115 It did not directly puncture any of the fuel tanks, but it sent out a pressure shockwave that ruptured the number 5 fuel tank at the weakest point, just above the undercarriage. Leaking fuel gushing out from the bottom of the wing was most likely ignited either by an electric arc in the landing gear bay (debris cutting the landing gear wire) or through contact with hot parts of the engine. [2]:120–123 Engines 1 and 2 both surged and lost all power, then engine 1 slowly recovered over the next few seconds. [2]:17 A large plume of flame developed, and the flight engineer shut down engine 2 in response to a fire warning and the captain's command. [2]:166[BEA 1]
Air traffic controller Gilles Logelin noticed the flames before the Concorde was airborne and informed the flight crew. [2]:17 However, the aircraft had passed V1 speed, at which point takeoff is considered unsafe to abort. The plane did not gain enough airspeed with the three remaining engines as damage to the landing gear bay door prevented the retraction of the undercarriage. [2]:134–135 The aircraft was unable to climb or accelerate, and its speed decayed during the course of its brief flight. [10]:33–37 The fire caused damage to the inner elevon of the left wing and it began to disintegrate,[2]:164[11] melted by the extremely high temperatures. Engine number 1 surged again, but did not fully recover, and the right wing lifted from the asymmetrical thrust, banking the aircraft to over 100 degrees. The crew reduced the power on engines three and four in an attempt to level the aircraft, but they lost control due to deceleration and the aircraft stalled, crashing into the Hôtelissimo Les Relais Bleus Hotel. [3][12][13][14] A video of the burning plane on takeoff and the aftermath of the crash was captured by a passing driver. [15]
The crew was trying to divert to nearby Paris–Le Bourget Airport, but accident investigators stated that a safe landing would have been highly unlikely, given the aircraft's flightpath. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded the last intelligible words in the cockpit (translated into English):[16][17]
Co-pilot: "Le Bourget, Le Bourget, Le Bourget." Pilot: "Too late (unclear)." Control tower: "Fire service leader, correction, the Concorde is returning to runway zero nine in the opposite direction." Pilot: "No time, no (unclear)." Co-pilot: "Negative, we're trying Le Bourget" (four switching sounds). Co-pilot: "No (unclear)." Fire service leader: "De Gaulle tower from fire service leader, can you give me the situation of the Concorde?" (two gongs and sound of switch, followed by another switch and sounds likened to objects being moved)
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion)
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion)
Pilot: (unclear, sounds like exertion)
End of recording
All the passengers and crew, and four employees of the Hotelissimo hotel were killed in the crash. [18][19] Most of the passengers were German tourists en route to New York for a cruise. Notable passengers included German football manager Rudi Faßnacht and German trade union member Christian Götz. [18][19][20]
Until the crash, Concorde had been considered among the world's safest aeroplanes. [22] The crash was a direct cause of the end of the aircraft's career. [23]
A few days after the crash, all Concordes were grounded, pending an investigation into the cause of the crash and possible remedies. [24]
Air France's Concorde operation had been a money-losing venture, and it is claimed that the aeroplane had been kept in service as a matter of national pride;[25] British Airways claimed to make a profit on its Concorde operations. [26][27] According to Jock Lowe, a Concorde pilot, until the crash of Air France Flight 4590 at Paris, the British Airways Concorde operation made a net average profit of about £30M (equivalent to £51M today) a year. [28] Commercial service was resumed in November 2001 after a £17M (£28M today) safety improvement service, until the type was retired in 2003. [28]
The official investigation was conducted by France's accident investigation bureau, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA). Post-accident investigation revealed that the aircraft was over the maximum takeoff weight for ambient temperature and other conditions, and 810 kg (1,790 lb) over the maximum structural weight,[2]:32,159[BEA 2][BEA 3][29][30] loaded so that the centre of gravity was aft of the take-off limit.
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Air crash
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Photos of the Dam Collapse Near Brumadinho, Brazil
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Efforts to find remaining survivors have ramped up in towns devastated by the collapse of a huge dam, which released a torrent of muddy iron-ore waste in Southeast Brazil. On Friday, the dam, owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale, collapsed near the town of Brumadinho, sending tons of sludge down into the valley below, damaging or destroying houses, farms, and vehicles. Authorities have reported at least 60 deaths, with another 290 people still listed as missing—and warnings have been issued about another dam nearby that is also at risk of failure. An aerial view taken after the collapse of a dam that belonged to Brazil's giant mining company, Vale, near the town of Brumadinho in southeastern Brazil on January 25, 2019 # A view of the Córrego do Feijão mine near the town of Brumadinho in the state of Minas Gerias in southeastern Brazil on January 27, 2019, two days after the collapse of a dam # An aerial view shows a destroyed bridge after a dam collapse in Brumadinho on January 26, 2019. # Emerson dos Santos stands on the debris of his mother's house in Brumadinho on January 26, 2019. Rescuers in helicopters on Saturday searched for survivors while firefighters dug through mud in a huge area in southeastern Brazil that was buried by the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste. Dos Santos's mother was not in the house and survived the tragedy. # An aerial view after a dam collapsed near Brumadinho on January 25, 2019 # People from the community of Parque da Cachoeira look at damage in the mud-hit area a day after the dam collapse, on January 26, 2019. # Firefighters searching for bodies at the Mina do Cafe dam had to immediately leave the area when the water level suddenly rose, near the town of Brumadinho, on January 26, 2019. # Destroyed vehicles and rail cars lie strewn along railroad tracks after the dam collapse in Brumadinho on January 26, 2019. # A car lies covered in debris after the dam collapse near Brumadinho on January 26, 2019. # An aerial view shows a destroyed house after a dam collapsed in Brumadinho on January 26, 2019. # A woman cries as she sees the damage caused by the mining waste a day after the dam collapse in Brumadinho, on January 26, 2019. # Mud sits in the remains of a house struck by the disaster in Córrego do Feijão, near Brumadinho, on January 27, 2019. # An aerial view of a fallen bridge taken after the collapse of the dam on January 25, 2019 # An aerial view of an area affected by a mudslide after the dam collapse, photographed on January 27, 2019 # A rescue worker tries to reach a cow that is stuck in a field of mud, two days after the dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, on January 27, 2019. # People look at a road buried in mining waste a day after the dam collapse, in Brumadinho, on January 26, 2019. # A view from the yard of a house affected by the outflow after the dam burst, photographed in Brumadinho, on January 27, 2019 # Firefighters are resupplied as they search for victims of the dam collapse on January 28, 2019. # Military firefighters carry the body of a victim recovered from the mud-hit area in Córrego do Feijão, near the town of Brumadinho, on January 27, 2019. # A view from above of the dam-burst site on January 25, 2019 # A man looks at the Paraopeba River, affected by mud, a day after the dam collapse, on January 26, 2019. # Rescue workers carry away a body they pulled from the mud after the dam burst on January 28, 2019. # Rescuers and firefighters search for victims four days after the collapse, near the town of Brumadinho, on January 28, 2019. # Military firefighters hose each other down after searching for mud-stricken people in Córrego do Feijão on January 27, 2019. # A member of the rescue team reacts upon returning from the mission on January 27, 2019.
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Mine Collapses
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Three Volcanoes Are Erupting Simultaneously in Alaska
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Things are heating up in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Four remote volcanoes are active in the archipelago jutting from the 49th state, which is part of the “ring of fire” where the Pacific tectonic plate meets several others. Three of the volcanoes are erupting or spewing steam and ash while the fourth is exhibiting elevated surface temperatures, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), a joint program by the United States Geological Survey, Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. Scientists set the threat level to “orange,” indicating eruptions are underway, for the Great Sitkin, Pavlof and Semisopochnoi volcanoes, reports Mark Thiessen of the Associated Press. Currently, Cleveland is “yellow” because of signs of unrest. All four are located in remote sections of the Aleutians. The Pavlof volcano, located on the peninsula, is the most active. Episodic low-level ash emissions and minor explosions have been detected by a webcam set up on the summit of the 8,261-foot stratovolcano, which is usually covered in snow and ice. Pavlof, which last erupted in 2016, is about 35 miles northeast of Cold Bay, a city of 108 people. The community is not considered at risk at this time. “It’s a very sneaky volcano,” Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, tells AP. “It can get going without much warning.” The other three volcanoes are located on islands further along the archipelago separating the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Scientists detected a lava fountain at the summit of Great Sitkin, also a stratovolcano with a caldera and dome. Great Sitkin Island has two small villages with less than 400 people. The volcano on the uninhabited island of Semisopochnoi has been erupting intermittently, sending plumes of ash 10,000 feet into the air, reports Jenna Romaine of Changing America. So far, Cleveland, located on the western end of Chuginadak Island, has exhibited low levels of seismic activity, while satellite imagery has detected elevated surface temperatures, according to AVO updates. This volcano last erupted in 2020. Scientists continue to closely monitor the volcanoes for signs of changes or increases in activity. “That may sound like a disaster movie in the making, but the states of eruption aren’t all that dramatic so far,” reports Danielle Banks, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel. Pavlof, she adds, is considered “one of the most active volcanoes in Alaska.” These are not the only volcanoes under watch in the United States. Currently, two other volcanoes—one in Hawaii and another near Guam—are also showing signs of activity, reports the Weatherboy website. Located on the big island of Hawaii, Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on earth, has experienced a series of earthquakes in recent days but has not erupted. Pagan near Guam in the South Pacific Ocean has also exhibited earthquakes as well as smoke emissions.
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Volcano Eruption
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US sending a clear message through Defender-Europe 21
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The US has just launched one of its largest military exercises, called Defender-Europe 21. Taking place across much of Europe, this military exercise serves two important purposes. Firstly, it demonstrates America’s commitment to European security through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). After all, there is no greater way of visibly demonstrating commitment to NATO than by a large-scale presence of US forces in Europe. Secondly, such a large-scale exercise allows the US to practice and rehearse the logistics of moving thousands of soldiers and all their equipment almost halfway around the world. This is no easy feat. Doing so during a global pandemic makes it even more challenging. Defender-Europe 21 is a massive military exercise. The main part of it began last week and will continue through June. However, the preparatory work started in March. Twenty-six countries are participating in the exercise; most are NATO members but some, such as Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine and Kosovo, aspire to join the alliance someday. In total, 28,000 troops will take part. Defender-Europe 21 is also big in geographical terms. Sixteen countries across Europe will host training exercises and related activities on their territories. The US is also sending more than 2,000 members of the National Guard from five states. There is even an African component to the exercise. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, the US and NATO have done a lot to bolster defenses in central and eastern Europe. There has been an increased military presence in the Baltic states. There has been a renewed focus on the Black Sea region. Crucially, since 2014, the members of NATO have started to spend more on their armed forces than they were. However, the one big piece of the puzzle that had been missing was the US conducting a large-scale training exercise that involves deploying thousands of soldiers from North America to Europe. During the Cold War, such training exercises were held regularly. When NATO was squaring off against the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union, it conducted an annual military exercise called Operation Reforger (return of forces to Germany). This exercise was designed to prove that America could move conventional military forces rapidly from the US to Germany in the event of war with the Soviet Union. Since 2014, experts have been calling on the US to conduct a similar military exercise, as it had been so long since the last one. Defender-Europe 21 is the first large-scale training exercise to be held in Europe since the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Last year, Defender-Europe 20 — at the time billed as the largest US training exercise in Europe in a quarter of a century — had to be curtailed because of the coronavirus outbreak. The fact it was not completed makes this year’s exercise even more important. The thousands of multinational soldiers that are participating in the exercise will have to follow strict COVID-19 prevention and mitigation procedures that include a testing process and, in some cases, quarantine. This offers a unique opportunity to train for the mass mobilization of forces during a global pandemic. The thousands of US troops being flown to Europe from North America are rehearsing how to come to the defense of a country that might be a victim of outside aggression that triggers NATO’s collective security guarantee. Luke Coffey Defender-Europe 21 is also the first large-scale US military exercise in Europe since the Russian military buildup along the border with Ukraine last month. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Russian troops have mobilized along the border with Ukraine and in occupied Crimea. There are important differences between Defender-Europe 21 and what Russia did recently. Firstly, the US has been very transparent and even notified the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe last November about the details of the exercise. Russia did not show the same level of transparency with its recent military buildup. Also, the US has stressed the defensive nature of Defender-Europe 21. The thousands of US troops being flown to Europe from North America are not training to attack or invade a country. They are rehearsing how to come to the defense of a country that might be a victim of outside aggression that triggers NATO’s collective security guarantee. Finally, the US is operating in European countries at the request, and with the permission, of those countries. In the case of Russia’s recently military buildup, a large part of it took place inside occupied regions of Ukraine. It is also interesting to look at who is not participating in the exercise. In the past, Azerbaijan and Armenia have participated in American military exercises in Europe. Coming on the heels of the Second Karabakh War between the two countries, Defender-Europe 21 could have been a good opportunity for the US to lead some confidence building efforts between the two nations. In the case of Armenia, it is likely that behind the scenes Russia vetoed its participation in the exercise. It is not clear why Azerbaijan is not participating. Another missed opportunity has to do with Africa. Even though the main focus of Defender-Europe 21 is Europe, the exercise also has an African component. US Africa Command, which is co-located in Europe alongside the US European Command, is conducting a military-training exercise called African-Lion 21, which is linked to Defender-Europe 21. Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and Ghana are the locations where American military exercises will take place. However, with southern Europe and North Africa sharing many of the same security concerns, it would have been a great opportunity to see African troops train alongside European counterparts in southern Europe. Not only are the thousands of US troops who are heading to Europe a reminder of the importance of deterrence, they will also set the tone for some big geopolitical events in the near future. In the coming weeks, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in person. NATO has a summit planned for next month. Meanwhile the fighting in eastern Ukraine will continue for the foreseeable future. Therefore, Defender-Europe 21 will serve as an important event for the US, NATO and the rest of Europe.
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Military Exercise
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Partygoers fined for flouting COVID-19 rules on Thailand's Koh Phangan
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
More than a hundred participants in a party in a bar on a popular Thai island, including 89 foreigners, have received suspended jail terms and fines for breaking national coronavirus restrictions.
Police arrested the 109 partygoers in a raid on Tuesday night on the Three Sixty Bar on Koh Phangan in southern Thailand.
The foreigners are from more than 10 countries, including the US, the UK, Russia, Switzerland and Denmark.
The island in Surat Thani province is a popular destination for young backpacking travellers and is known for its all-night, full-moon beach parties.
However, Thailand barred virtually all tourists from entering the country in April 2020 because of the coronavirus.
Police said they tracked plans for the party on social media, where the bar promoted the event to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
The court conducted the trial over a video link. The judge sentenced each defendant to one month in jail, which was suspended if they have good behaviour for a year.
He also fined them 4,000 baht ($173.60) each.
The Thai organizer and two Thai bartenders were given fines of 10,000 baht ($434) and two years in jail, also suspended for a year.
One of the partygoers, Russian Dmitry Kopylov, apologised on Thursday for his actions.
"I wanted to say sorry," he said. "Nobody wants to make any kind of problem or do something wrong."
The party organiser said he had made an honest mistake.
"I thought Surat Thani province was in the COVID-19 green zone," Pongdaran Limochakul said.
"We didn't have any new cases for 14 days. So I thought we were allowed to organise an activity."
Until recently, Thailand appeared to have the disease under control, with very few cases of local transmission.
But a new outbreak has led to cases in many provinces, forcing a reimposition of some restrictions.
On Thursday, authorities reported 756 new cases, pushing Thailand's total to 16,221.
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Organization Fine
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Sulphur dioxide from Caribbean volcano reaches India
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The sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from a volcanic eruption in the Caribbean reached India April 16, 2021 sparking fear of increased pollution levels in the northern parts of the country and acid rain. Sulphur dioxide reacts with water to form sulphuric acid which can come down with rainfall. “Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from La Soufriere volcano eruption in the Caribbean have reached all the way to India,” tweeted the World Meteorological Organisation on April 16. Volcanic “plumes can cause aviation and air quality hazards. The injection height is needed to initialise forecast models that predict the downwind evolution of the plume,” Ralph Kahn, a climatologist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), said in a release on NASA’s Earth Observatory Website. La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent Island in the West Indies started erupting on April 9 after spewing out lava into a dome and threatening to erupt since December 2020. The last time the volcano had erupted was in 1979. “Of the 45 currently erupting volcanoes on Earth, La Soufriere is among those that worry volcanologists the most,” says NASA’s Earth Observatory website. This is because of its “explosive and erratic eruption style”. The volcanic eruptions that occurred on April 10 were energetic enough for the plumes to be recorded at a height of 20 kilometres above the Earth’s surface by the Multi-Angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite. NASA scientists have found evidence for the entry of sulphate aerosol particles (precursors for sulphuric acid) in the stratosphere, the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. “Scientists watch closely for emissions reaching the relatively dry stratosphere because particles last much longer and travel much farther than if they remain in the lower, wetter troposphere,” said NASA on its website. This might be the reason that the particles have reached as far as India and will likely travel beyond to reach South East Asia. Volcanic emissions reaching the stratosphere can have a cooling effect on global temperatures. “The most significant climate impacts from volcanic injections into the stratosphere come from the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid, which condenses rapidly in the stratosphere to form fine sulphate aerosols,” says the United States Geological Survey’s website. “The aerosols increase the reflection of radiation from the Sun back into space, cooling the Earth’s lower atmosphere or troposphere,” it added. Bigger eruptions during the past century have caused a decrease in temperature of 0.27 degree Celsius or more on the Earth’s surface for up to three years. “The current thinking is that a volcano needs to inject at least 5 teragrams of SO2 into the stratosphere to have measurable climate impacts,” explained Simon Carn, a volcanologist at Michigan Technological University in the United States. La Soufrière has delivered around 0.4-0.6 teragram of SO2 into the upper atmosphere which is the highest-ever recorded after satellites started observing the Earth’s atmosphere in the mid 20th century. The amount of SO2 being vented out by the volcano could increase if the eruptions continue. NASA scientists also surmise that moderate eruptions are usually far greater in number than huge eruptions and could have a greater cumulative impact.
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Volcano Eruption
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