title
stringlengths 1
7.43k
| text
stringlengths 111
32.3k
| event_type
stringlengths 4
57
| date
stringlengths 8
14
⌀ | metadata
stringlengths 2
205
⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913
|
The Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913 and the subsequent police mutiny and riots was a breakdown in public order in Indianapolis, Indiana. The events began as a workers strike by the union employees of the Indianapolis Traction & Terminal Company and their allies on Halloween night, October 31, 1913. The company was responsible for public transportation in Indianapolis, the capital city and transportation hub of the U.S. state of Indiana. The unionization effort was being organized by the Amalgamated Street Railway Employees of America who had successfully enforced strikes in other major United States cities. Company management suppressed the initial attempt by some of its employees to unionize and rejected an offer of mediation by the United States Department of Labor, which led to a rapid rise in tensions, and ultimately the strike. Government response to the strike was politically charged, as the strike began during the week leading up to public elections. The strike effectively shut down mass transit in the city and caused severe interruptions of statewide rail transportation and the 1913 city elections. A riot that lasted four days broke out on November 2 when strikebreakers attempted to restart transit services. At its height, eight to ten thousand rioters flooded downtown Indianapolis and vandalized the city's main business district. Numerous workers, strikebreakers, policemen, and bystanders were injured. Two strikebreakers and four union members were killed. The city police were unable to control the situation and refused orders to combat the rioters as the violence worsened. After pleas for help from city leaders following continued rioting on Election Day, Governor Samuel Ralston called out the Indiana National Guard and put the city under martial law on the evening of November 5. On November 6, an angry crowd surrounded the Indiana Statehouse, listed their grievances, demanded the military leave the city, and threatened more violence if their demands were not met. Ralston addressed the crowd to promise concessions if the workers would return to work. His speech was credited by the press with ending the strike. After three days of peace, the military withdrew from the city. The Indiana General Assembly met later that month and enacted Indiana's first minimum wage laws, regular working hours, workplace safety requirements, and began projects to improve the city's tenement slums. Arbitration between the company and its employees by the Indiana Public Service Commission resulted in a decision mostly favoring the company. The employees were permitted to unionize, guaranteed wage increases, a minimum monthly salary, and certain days off work. The company, however, was permitted to continue hiring non-union employees and to bar union membership solicitation on the company's property. Beginning with the rapid industrial growth that began in Indiana during the gas boom of the late 19th-century, labor unions began to form with goals of increasing wages and providing other benefits to workers through collective bargaining. The Indianapolis Traction and Terminal Company was founded to own and operate the streetcar terminal in downtown Indianapolis, and operate the Indianapolis Street Railway under a lease agreement for a term of 31 years. In 1892 the employees of Indianapolis Traction and Terminal Company launched a short-lived strike. The company was the primary public transportation provider in Indianapolis and operated the central transportation hub for the city of Indianapolis and state of Indiana. The company offered small concessions, and the workers returned to work without unionizing. [1]
Leaders of AASEREA continued a campaign to unionize public transportation companies in American cities. The Indianapolis Street Railway Company, a smaller transportation company, did unionize in 1899 when its employees became part of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America (AASEREA). [1] After a series of successful AASEREA supported strikes, the latest in Cincinnati, Ohio during May 1913, the union leaders turned their attention back to Indianapolis. [2][3]
John J. Thorpe, vice president of AASEREA led the renewed unionization effort, and he and a group of men traveled to Indianapolis. Drawing support from union employees of the Indianapolis Street Railway Company, Thorpe began a campaign to unionize the employees of the Traction and Terminal Company in August 1913. [2] The 900 non-union employees of the Traction and Terminal Company were generally paid much less and worked longer hours than the union workers of the smaller transportation company, and Thorpe considered them to be a prime target for the union organizing attempt. [3]
A committee, headed by Thorpe, was established to recruit employees and headquartered itself at Labor Hall. Throughout September and October, many employees began to join the union, but the Terminal and Traction Company responded by firing employees who joined and refused to recognize the union. [4] After the failure of their initial attempt to have the union recognized by the company, the committee petitioned the United States Department of Labor to mediate discussions between them and the management of the business. On October 27, 1913, the department offered Ethelbert Stewart, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to mediate. To begin negotiations, the workers' committee submitted a list of grievances to the company and Stewart. [4] The company, however, refused his services, denied there was a labor problem and said no attempt at unionizing was being made. They insisted that only a small minority of workers were behind the troubles and alleged that it was outside influences behind the unionizing effort. [2] In a later report, the Department of Labor claimed that had their offer of mediation been accepted, the subsequent strike and riot could have been averted. [5]
The company feared the unionization attempt and hired labor spies to follow the union leaders and determine their plans. [3] The company leadership thought the AASEREA's demands were unreasonable, and believed it to be unfair for the employees' wages to exceed the income the business provided its shareholders. [6] The union men discovered the spies and attacked and injured them. This began a rapid rise in tensions. Less than half of the company's employees had joined the AASEREA, denying Thorpe's committee enough support from the company's employees to enforce a strike. The AASEREA instead sought assistance from other Indianapolis unions. [4] On October 30, a letter signed by Thorpe and other members of the committee was sent to Robert L. Todd, President of the Traction and Terminal Company. In the letter he made a series of demands, including wage increases, reduced work hours, and the reinstatement of men fired for joining the union. The committee informed the company that the demands had to be met if a strike was to be averted. [2]
On the night of Halloween, October 31, pro-union men called a mass meeting at Labor Hall and those in attendance resolved to support the strike.
|
Strike
| null | null |
U.S. notifies U.N. of withdrawal from World Health Organization
|
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration of if circumstances change. The withdrawal notification, delivered on Monday, makes good on President Donald Trump’s vow in late May to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO, which he has harshly criticized for its response to the coronavirus pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence. The move was immediately assailed by health officials and critics of the administration. The withdrawal notice was sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday and will take effect in a year, on July 6, 2021, the State Department and the United Nations said on Tuesday. Guterres, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 WHO constitution, “is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met,” his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said. Under the terms of the withdrawal, the U.S. must meet its financial obligations to the WHO before it can be finalized. The U.S., which is the agency’s largest donor and provides it with more than $400 million per year, currently owes the WHO some $200 million in current and past dues. In late May, less than two weeks after warning the WHO that it had 30 days to reform or lose U.S. support, Trump announced his administration was leaving the organization due to what he said was its inadequate response to the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in China’s Wuhan province late last year.
|
Withdraw from an Organization
| null | null |
Hotel 't Silveren Seepaerd fire
|
The Hotel 't Silveren Seepaerd fire took place in the night of 28 September 1971 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. [1]
Hotel 't Silveren Seepaerd was a hotel-restaurant on the Stationsplein in Eindhoven. A fire broke out during the night, causing a flashover on the ground floor, and swiftly expanded over all four storeys of the hotel. The escape routes in the hotel were poorly lit, and because of the smoke development in the hotel, escape was nearly impossible. The cause of the fire was never found. At approximately 5:30 CET a bus driver discovered a fire in the restaurant of the hotel. The driver alerted the porter, but because there had already been so much smoke development, they did not dare enter the hotel. The fire department arrived a few minutes later to see several guests who lay in the streets after jumping from the hotel windows, and many others visibly trapped on the upper floors. The fire fighters initially focused on saving as many hotel guests as possible before extinguishing the fire. Only at 7:45 in the morning the fire was declared under control; rendering the fire safe took up an entire day. Of the 86 people in the hotel, 11 were killed, two as a result of attempting to escape. An additional 19 guests were (severely) injured. The previous day, the Chemie Halle began their stay in the hotel. They had played a match on 15 September against PSV Eindhoven in the first round of the 1971–72 UEFA Cup in Halle. One of the Chemie Halle players, 21-year-old midfielder Wolfgang Hoffmann, died in the fire, while several others were injured. [2] The return match, to be played in Den Bosch, never took place. The fire in Hotel 't Silveren Seepaerd resulted in strict fire safety regulations for hotels and restaurants. The hotel was never rebuilt. Nowadays there is an apartment complex at the former location of the hotel. After the fire there was no compensation for the victims by the insurance companies. [1] On 28 April 2006 PSV played a friendly match against Hallescher FC in remembrance of the fire. [3]
|
Fire
| null | null |
When to see the total lunar eclipse and 'flower' supermoon
|
Here is what else you can look forward to in 2021: Meteor showers The Milky Way is seen from the Glacier Point Trailside in Yosemite National Park, California. The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is best seen from the southern tropics and will peak between July 28 and 29, when the moon is 74% full. Interestingly, another meteor shower peaks on the same night -- the Alpha Capricornids. Although this is a much weaker shower overall, it has been known to produce some bright fireballs during its peak. It will be visible for everyone regardless of which side of the equator they are on. The Perseid meteor shower, the most popular of the year, will peak between August 11 and 12 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the moon is only 13% full. Here is the meteor shower schedule for the rest of the year, according to EarthSky's meteor shower outlook : • October 8: Draconids • November 4 to 5: South Taurids • November 11 to 12: North Taurids • November 17: Leonids • December 13 to 14: Geminids • December 22: Ursids Solar and lunar eclipses This year, there will be two eclipses of the sun and two eclipses of the moon -- and three of these will be visible for some people in North America, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac . 3 missions prepare to explore Mars and other space news to expect in 2021 An annular eclipse of the sun will happen on June 10, visible in northern and northeastern North America from 4:12 a.m. ET to 9:11 a.m. ET. The sun won't be fully blocked by the moon, so be sure to wear eclipse glasses to safely view this event. November 19 will see a partial eclipse of the moon, and skywatchers in North America and Hawaii can view it between 1 a.m. ET and 7:06 a.m. ET. And the year will end with a total eclipse of the sun on December 4. It won't be visible in North America, but those in the Falkland Islands, the southern tip of Africa, Antarctica and southeastern Australia will be able to spot it. Visible planets Skywatchers will have multiple opportunities to spot the planets in our sky during certain mornings and evenings throughout 2021, according to the Farmer's Almanac planetary guide . It's possible to see most of these with the naked eye, with the exception of Neptune, but binoculars or a telescope will provide the best view. Mercury will look like a bright star in the morning sky from June 27 to July 16 and October 18 to November 1. It will shine in the night sky from August 31 to September 21, and November 29 to December 31. A beginner's guide to stargazing (CNN Underscored) Venus, our closest neighbor in the solar system, will appear in the western sky at dusk in the evenings from May 24 to December 31. After the moon, it's the second-brightest object in our sky. Mars makes its reddish appearance in the morning sky between November 24 and December 31, and it will be visible in the evening sky through August 22. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is the third-brightest object in our sky. It will be on display in the morning sky through August 19. Look for it in the evenings August 20 to December 31 -- but it will be at its brightest from August 8 to September 2. Saturn's rings are only visible through a telescope, but the planet itself can still be seen with the naked eye in the mornings through August 1 and in the evenings August 2 to December 31. It will be at its brightest during the first four days of August. Binoculars or a telescope will help you spot the greenish glow of Uranus on the mornings of May 16 to November 3 and the evenings of November 4 to December 31. It will be at its brightest between August 28 and December 31. And our most distant neighbor in the solar system, Neptune, will be visible through a telescope in the mornings through September 13 and during the evenings September 14 to December 31. It will be at its brightest between July 19 and November 8.
|
New wonders in nature
| null | null |
President Announces Withdrawal From JCPOA and Reimposition of Nuclear-Based Sanctions on Iran
|
On May 8, 2018, President Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement reached in July 2015 between Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, and Germany in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for phased economic sanctions relief. A White House Fact Sheet indicated that Iran entered the JCPOA in bad faith, citing Iran’s destabilizing role in conflicts throughout the Middle East, continued development of its ballistic missiles, support for terrorist organizations, and human rights abuses. The JCPOA and the United Nations Security Council Resolution that endorsed the deal included mechanisms for implementing a sanctions “snapback” in the event of a JCPOA violation, but the Trump Administration elected to withdraw unilaterally from the JCPOA without relying on these procedures.
To implement the withdrawal, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NPSM) directing the Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State to “immediately begin taking steps to reimpose all United States sanctions lifted or waived in connection with the JCPOA.” The NPSM called for all sanctions relief pursuant to the JCPOA to be rescinded within 180 days. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Trump Administration officials have explained that primary and secondary sanctions will be reimposed after 90- or 180-day “wind-down” periods, depending on the business activity, and that failure to halt sanctioned activity by the end of the wind-down period would risk “severe consequences.”
On May 8, OFAC published a statement providing additional details regarding the reimposition of sanctions. OFAC also published new FAQs detailing subsequent expected changes to the Iran sanctions program pursuant to the president’s directive and the US withdrawal from the JCPOA.
Background
The United States made several changes to the US Iran sanctions program pursuant to the JCPOA. Most US “secondary” sanctions on Iran – which impose restrictions on non-US persons for doing business in certain sectors of the Iranian economy, or with certain Iranian entities or individuals – were lifted or waived during the time of the US government’s participation in the JCPOA. In addition, several hundred Iranian companies, individuals and vessels were removed from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List administered by OFAC. While most aspects of the comprehensive “embargo” on trade between the United States and Iran remained in effect during the JCPOA, the United States issued limited authorizations for US persons to conduct additional business with Iran for the import of certain foods and carpets from Iran and, in some circumstances, for the export of commercial passenger aircraft, parts and services to Iran. The US government also authorized non-US subsidiaries of US companies to conduct certain business with Iran under General License H issued by OFAC.
As a presidential candidate, President Trump took the position that the JCPOA represented a “bad deal” for the United States, and President Trump promised to renegotiate the deal if elected. In April and July 2017, pursuant to the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA), the Trump Administration certified Iran’s continued compliance with the JCPOA. However, on October 13, 2017, President Trump announced a strategic review of the JCPOA, stating that he “cannot and will not” continue to make certifications under INARA. In January 2018, when the Trump Administration issued the periodic waivers of statutory sanctions required to provide JCPOA sanctions relief, President Trump declared that the US would not issue any additional periodic waivers unless the United States’ European allies negotiated a “supplemental agreement” that strengthened the JCPOA. On May 8, 2018, despite having “engaged extensively with our allies and partners around the world,” President Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the JCPOA.
Reimposition of Sanctions
President Trump’s NSPM indicates that “all” of the sanctions waived or lifted under the JCPOA will be reimposed. These changes most likely will be implemented through new Executive Orders (EOs) from the president; termination of the periodic statutory sanctions waivers that have been issued by the Secretary of State; and changes to licenses, licensing policy, and the SDN list that will be made by OFAC. While there are numerous questions still outstanding about how the new sanctions may be implemented on a practical level, it is clear that the greatest impact of the reimposition of the sanctions will be on non-US entities, including non-US entities owned or controlled by US persons.
Consistent with the approach that the US government has taken in several other sanctions programs, the Trump Administration softened the impact on businesses of “immediate” reimposition of sanctions by establishing a series of wind-down periods for different types of sanctionable conduct. In the post-announcement press briefing, State Department officials noted that the wind-down periods would “allow both US companies [and] foreign companies as well to end contracts, terminate business, get their money out of wherever the sanctions target is – in this case, Iran.” The stated goal of the wind-down periods is to reduce the impact of sanctions on business and avoid “unintended consequences on our allies and partners.”
The statement and the FAQs issued by OFAC on May 8 provide additional important details on the mechanics for reimposing sanctions, although a number of issues will require further clarification and detail.
Secondary Sanctions Secondary Sanctions Subject to 90-day Wind-down Period
In FAQ 1.2, OFAC explained that a number of secondary sanctions will be reimposed after a 90-day wind-down period that ends on August 6, 2018. These sanctions apply to the pre-JCPOA sanctions that had been in place in the following business activities and sectors, as well as sanctions on “associated services” related to these activities and sectors:
Although the administration has not provided more specific information regarding the sanctions that will be reimposed, some of the specific sanctions that appear most likely to be reimposed at the end of this 90-day wind-down period include:
FAQ 1.2 indicates that business “undertaken pursuant to the US sanctions relief provided for in the JCPOA” that is related to activities and sectors specified in the FAQ should wind down prior to August 6, 2018.
Secondary Sanctions Subject to 180-Day Wind-down Period
In FAQ 1.3, OFAC indicated that other secondary sanctions will be imposed after a 180-day wind-down period prior to reimposing sanctions on the following entities, sectors, and activities, as well as sanctions on “associated services” related to these entities, sectors, and activities:
Again, while the administration has not provided more specific information regarding the sanctions that will be reimposed, some of the specific sanctions that appear most likely to be reimposed after this 180-day wind-down period include:
FAQ 1.3 indicates that business “undertaken pursuant to the US sanctions relief provided for in the JCPOA” that is related to activities and sectors specified in the FAQ should wind down prior to November 5, 2018.
Primary Sanctions
Aviation Sector Activity
In FAQs 4.1 and 4.2, OFAC indicated that it will no longer consider new or pending license applications under the Statement of Licensing Policy for Activities Related to the Export or Re-export to Iran of Commercial Passenger Aircraft and Related Parts and Services (JCPOA SLP). With respect to the specific licenses issued under the JCPOA SLP that are currently operative, FAQ 4.2 indicates that OFAC expects to revoke these licenses and replace them with “authorizations to provide for a wind-down period that will end on August 6, 2018.”
In FAQ 4.3, OFAC indicated that it also expects to revoke, “as soon as is administratively feasible,” General License I, which authorized US persons to enter into, and to engage in transactions that are ordinarily incident to the negotiation of and entry into, contingent contracts for activities eligible for authorization under the JCPOA SLP. In place of General License I, OFAC expects to issue a revised authorization for a 90-day wind-down of activities authorized pursuant to this General License.
FAQs 4.1 and 4.2 indicate that OFAC will still consider applications pursuant to the safety of flight licensing policy set forth in 31 C.F.R. § 560.528.
General License H
Non-US entities owned or controlled by US persons will no longer be authorized under OFAC General License H to engage in certain activity related to Iran. FAQ 4.4 explains that General License H will be revoked “as soon as is administratively feasible,” and will be replaced with a more narrowly scoped authorizations to allow US-owned or US-controlled foreign entities, to engage in all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to wind down activities that were previously authorized by November 4, 2018. After November 4, 2018, US-owned or US-controlled foreign entities again will be required to apply for specific licenses from OFAC in order to conduct nearly any activity related to Iran.
Iranian-Origin Foodstuffs and Carpets
OFAC FAQ 1.2 indicates that “following the 90-day wind-down period that ends on August 6, 2018, the US government will revoke” the JCPOA-related authorizations for activities related to the importation into the United States of Iranian-origin carpets and food stuffs and certain financial transactions general license at 31 C.F.R. §§ 560.534, 560.535. In FAQ 2.1, OFAC indicates that “[a]s soon as administratively feasible, OFAC intends, via Federal Register publication, to replace” these licenses with “more narrowly scoped authorizations to allow US persons and, as appropriate, US-owned or US-controlled foreign entities, to engage in all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to wind down activities.”
Other Issues Related to Sanctions Reimposition
“New” Business During the Wind-Down Periods
The US government’s posture with respect to “new” business with Iran during the wind-down periods is not clear. On the one hand, statements have been made by the National Security Advisor and by a State Department official indicating that “new” contracts are precluded during the wind-down period. On the other hand, OFAC’s guidance is not clear on this point, and could be read to suggest that new activity is not prohibited, so long as it is completed during the wind-down period.
OFAC FAQ 2.2 states, “Can I engage in new activity involving Iran if the activity will not extend beyond the relevant wind-down period?” OFAC’s response does not provide a direct answer to that question, but reiterates that entities engaged in activity consistent with the JCPOA should take steps to wind-down that activity by the applicable wind-down dates. OFAC’s response notes that “[w]hen considering a potential enforcement or sanctions action with respect to activities engaged in [after the wind-down dates] OFAC will evaluate efforts and steps taken to wind-down activities and will assess whether any new business was entered into involving Iran during the applicable wind-down period.”
The Treasury Department’s statement notes that the State Department has issued “necessary statutory sanctions waivers” to allow for the wind-down periods for secondary sanctions, although the waivers have not been made public. Treasury’s statement and OFAC’s FAQs also indicate repeatedly that, “as soon as is administratively feasible,” OFAC expects to replace existing licenses with new authorizations to allow the wind down of transactions and activities. (It is possible that the revised licenses and authorizations issued by OFAC will provide further clarity on this point.) Treasury’s statement further notes that “at the end of the 90-day and 180-day wind-down periods, the applicable sanctions will come back into full effect.”
Post-Wind Down Period Payments
Even after the applicable wind-down periods, FAQ 2.1 notes that OFAC will allow certain payments to non-US, non-Iranian persons that fully delivered goods or services to an Iranian counterpart before the end of the relevant wind-down period in fulfillment of a written contract or agreement that was entered into before May 8, 2018, provided that the transaction was in compliance with applicable sanctions laws at the time. The FAQ notes, however, that US persons and the US financial system cannot be involved in such payments. It is not clear from the FAQs whether or how the wind-down provisions would apply to payments for purchases of goods or services from Iran.
Re-designation of SDNs
Pursuant to the JCPOA, OFAC moved many entities that met the definition of “Government of Iran” or “Iranian financial institution” from the SDN list to a newly-established “List of Persons Identified as Blocked Solely Pursuant to Executive Order 13599” (the EO 13599 list). Other persons were removed from the SDN list and were not added to any other OFAC lists.
In FAQ 3.1, OFAC indicated that it expects to return the “Government of Iran” or “Iranian financial institution” entries from the EO 13599 list to the SDN list no later than November 5, 2018. The FAQ further states that beginning on November 5, 2018, activities with “most persons” moved from the EO 13599 List to the SDN List will be subject to secondary sanctions, and that such persons “will have a notation of ‘Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions’ in their SDN List entry.”
FAQ 3.2 states that, no later than November 5, sanctions will be reimposed “as appropriate” against other persons removed from OFAC sanctions lists as of the date of the JCPOA. Persons against whom sanctions are reimposed and who are subject to secondary sanctions will also have a notation of “Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions” in their SDN List entry.
Officials from the State Department clarified that the re-designation of individuals as SDNs will not occur overnight, stating that OFAC’s “aim is to relist all of those individuals and entities by the end of the six-month wind down” period. The officials went on to state that this was done both “for practical reasons, but also for policy reasons,” including to allow for a full six-month wind-down of energy-related and petroleum-related activities.
Prior Guidance
FAQ 1.5 clarifies that, due to the change in policy, OFAC’s new guidance regarding Iranian sanctions supersedes past FAQs (most notably, the lengthy FAQs issued by OFAC in January 2016) to the extent that they are inconsistent. Among other things, the explanation of wind-down periods in the new FAQs supersedes the explanation from the earlier FAQs.
US Sanctions Implementation Issues to be Monitored
A number of issues critical to US Iran sanctions policy bear careful monitoring moving forward:
“Enforcement” of US Iran Sanctions
Multiple US government officials have suggested that the Trump Administration will aggressively implement and “enforce” the reimposed sanctions. Secretary of State Pompeo stated that “sanctions will go into full effect and will remind the Iranian regime of the diplomatic and economic isolation that results from its reckless and malign activity.” In a press briefing held by unidentified senior State Department officials shortly following the announcement, the State Department emphasized that the purpose of the reimposition of sanctions was to target companies that do business with Iran. One of the State Department officials noted that the Trump Administration wanted to rebuild the “extensive architecture of secondary sanctions” that was used previously as “leverage” to engage with countries “to partner with us to build the economic isolation of Iran.” Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin has also indicated at a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 22, 2018, that the administration has “communicated with our European partners” that the administration will be enforcing the secondary sanctions against Iran.
That said, sanctions implementation and “enforcement” is resource-intensive and will fall to the State Department and OFAC at a time when the agencies also face demands to implement sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, and in other areas of the world. It is a practical reality that the administration will need to prioritize its resources, and it remains to be seen how Iran secondary sanctions implementation will compare to these other priorities.
“Significant Reduction” Exceptions
According to FAQs 5.1 and 5.2, OFAC will reimpose sanctions on foreign financial institutions that help conduct or facilitate the purchase of Iranian crude oil pursuant to section 1245(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. However, there is an exception from these sanctions for countries that have “significantly reduced” imports of Iranian crude oil. The “significant reduction” exception in Section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the NDAA by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, applies if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and other agencies, has determined that the country with primary jurisdiction over the foreign financial institution has significantly reduced its purchases of Iranian crude oil during a specified period of time. Notably, the president already fulfilled the first requirement of the exception when he announced on May 14, 2018 that there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions.
While petroleum-related sanctions take effect on November 4, 2018, the State Department will evaluate and make determinations at the same time as to whether foreign countries have made a “significant reduction” in the volume of their purchases of Iranian crude oil. If so, certain imports of Iranian petroleum or petroleum products would not be considered sanctionable if specific criteria were met. As a result, OFAC advised countries seeking that exception to reduce the volume of crude oil purchased during the 180-day wind-down period, and OFAC noted that reduction can be demonstrated by the quantity and percentage of reduction in purchases or the termination of contracts for future delivery.
Significant reduction exceptions were previously granted in 2012 and 2013. However, it is difficult to draw on these prior exceptions as guidance as the circumstances were substantially different than now (e.g., the EU in 2012 imposed a prohibition on the importation from Iran of crude oil and petroleum products).
Waivers
Although the administration has made clear that it does not expect to issue further broad waivers of the statutory secondary sanctions on Iran, administration officials have not necessarily foreclosed the possibility of granting waivers for particular transactions or projects on a case-specific basis. The Secretary of State is provided the delegated authority to issue waivers under the ISA, the NDAA, and IFCA, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and (in some circumstances) with other officials. Waivers of sanctions may be issued for a time-limited period of 120 days to one year, depending on the statute, and pursuant to the criteria set forth in each statute. Absent further significant policy developments, we do not anticipate that the administration will issue many waivers.
Additional US Sanctions
The US government clearly is intent on imposing new sanctions designations under existing authorities. On May 31, OFAC continued its steady stream of new Iran-related designations with designations against three entities and five individuals for their alleged roles in serious human rights abuses, the operation of information technology that facilitates monitoring or tracking that could enable serious human rights abuses, and censorship activities that limit the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly. This was the sixth new series of Iran sanctions designations announced by Treasury since President Trump’s May 8 decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. For example, on May 15, 2018 OFAC designated the governor and a senior official of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) for CBI’s funneling of money on behalf of the IRGC-QF to Hezbollah. On May 22, OFAC designated five Iranians for their role in providing ballistic-missile expertise and weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen on behalf of the IRGC-Qods force. On May 24, OFAC announced new designations targeting procurement networks and aircrafts associated with Mahan Air and other designated Iranian airlines. In total, OFAC designated nine individuals and entities as SDGTs pursuant to EO 13224 for procuring export-controlled US origin goods for sanctioned Iranian airlines and 31 aircraft in which persons previously designated under EO 13224 have an interest. The rapid pace of these new designations shows that the administration is actively pursuing a variety of mechanisms through which to pressure Iran in addition to the sanctions being rolled back as part of the JCPOA withdrawal.
In addition, it will be important to monitor whether the US creates any new sanctions to cover additional industries or activities beyond those that will go back into effect with the JCPOA. During the period preceding the JCPOA, the Obama Administration and the US Congress took numerous actions to expand the scope of US secondary sanctions on Iran. Presumably the Trump Administration and Congress will also consider taking additional actions to expand the scope of US primary and/or secondary sanctions. (In a speech given after the withdrawal announcement on May 21, 2018, Secretary of State Pompeo said that the new sanctions will “indeed end up being the strongest sanctions in history when we are complete.”)
It is also unclear whether the Trump Administration will consider narrowing some of the Iran sanctions licenses that were in place prior to the JCPOA. These include General License D-1, which authorizes certain exports to Iran of hardware, software and services incident to personal communication, and General License J-1, which authorizes the temporary sojourn of civil aircraft into Iran, among others.
Foreign Policy Issues That Could Impact US Iran Sanctions
Future of JCPOA
The future of the JCPOA is unclear. Most countries and international bodies, with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Israel, have expressed disapproval of the US decision to withdraw. In particular, the European Union has pledged continued support for the JCPOA. Following two meetings between High Representative Federica Mogherini and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, Ms. Mogherini gave prepared remarks affirming all participants’ commitment to the JCPOA and reiterating their regret at the withdrawal of the United States.
Ms. Mogherini added that discussions had commenced with a view to arriving at solutions over the next few weeks for a number of matters, including (1) maintaining and deepening economic relations with Iran, (2) effective banking transactions with Iran, (3) the continued sale of Iran’s oil and gas products, and (4) further investments in Iran.
On May 23, Iran’s supreme leader laid out a number of demands that Europe must meet for Iran to remain in the JCPOA. The demands included creating mechanisms to safeguard EU-Iranian trade and Iranian oil exports. Ayatollah Khamenei also said that Germany, France, and the UK must pledge not to seek negotiations on Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional activities – topics they had previously discussed with US negotiators. He also warned that Iran could resume certain nuclear-related activity if Europe did not meet these demands.
If the JCPOA were terminated, UN Security Council sanctions could automatically come back into force, which would further complicate the position of those countries seeking to remain economically engaged with Iran.
EU Blocking Regulation
On May 18, the EU Commission announced the launch of the formal process to activate the EU blocking regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96) by updating the list of US sanctions on Iran falling within its scope. The Commission starts the process after receiving unanimous informal support from the leaders of the EU Member States to a package of measures that the Commission has proposed to protect the interests of EU companies investing in Iran and to demonstrate the EU’s commitment to the JCPOA. As part of the package, in addition to reactivating the EU blocking regulation, the Commission:
In order to activate the EU blocking regulation, the Commission will be amending the list of non-EU laws set out in the Annex to the Regulation 2271/96 by adding to that list the reimposed US sanctions on Iran.
Once the reimposed US sanctions are added to the Annex, the EU blocking regulation requires companies incorporated in the Member States to notify the Commission within 30 days whenever the renewed US extraterritorial sanctions directly or indirectly affect the economic or financial interests of the company. EU companies will also be prohibited from complying with the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions identified in the EU blocking regulation. The EU blocking regulation allows EU companies to recover damages in EU courts from persons causing damages as a result of the sanctions. Finally, the EU blocking regulation nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court judgments or decisions of administrative bodies which are based on the reinstated US sanctions.
The activation of the EU blocking regulation could be viewed as a political statement rather than an effective legal tool that the EU companies will be able to rely upon. At the same time, the EU blocking regulation could become an element of discussion between the EU and the US to try to mitigate the impact of the implementation of the reinstated US sanctions on Iran. But it also will complicate the situation of EU companies that will potentially face Member State enforcement of the EU blocking regulation, and in particular the prohibition on complying with US extraterritorial measures.
A “New” Iran Deal?
The White House has outlined a broad list of requirements to which Iran must agree prior to receiving sanctions relief, including halting the development of a nuclear weapon:
Echoing earlier criticism of the JCPOA, President Trump also called for an international “coalition of nations” to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon and to counter the totality of the regime’s malign activities. Iran is unlikely to agree to the above comprehensive list of demands, suggesting either that the Trump Administration is taking a strong initial position for the purpose of negotiation or that the administration does not see an opportunity to reach a good faith agreement.
National Security Advisor John Bolton emphasized in a press briefing shortly after the US announcement that the United States was prepared to discuss “a much broader deal addressing all aspects of Iran’s conduct that we find objectionable.” On May 18, the State Department Director of Policy Planning held a teleconference news briefing regarding Iran and the JCPOA withdrawal. The State Department official added that a new deal would “involve[] a range of things around [Iran’s] nuclear program, missiles, proliferating missiles and missile technology, and support for terrorists, and its aggressive and violent activities that fuel civil wars in Syria and Yemen.” In the speech given after the withdrawal announcement on May 21, 2018, Secretary of State Pompeo reiterated the above conditions of any new agreement with Iran. He also stated that the United States was prepared to “end the principal components of every one of our sanctions against the regime” if Iran took actions which benefitted the Iranian people.
To date, Iran has categorically rejected negotiating a new or broader deal, and the EU and US allies have not indicated their support for any such US initiative.
We will continue to monitor and report on developments as the US government provides additional guidance and works to form an international coalition to implement the reimposition of sanctions pursuant to its withdrawal from the JCPOA. Further commentary is available on the Steptoe International Compliance Blog. You can also follow us on Twitter (@SteptoeIntlReg).
|
Tear Up Agreement
| null | null |
2020–2021 Serbian protests
|
Shortly after protests spread to following cities:
Protests also spread to Serbian diaspora in following cities:[1][2]
Anti-government protesters
On 7 July 2020, a series of protests and riots began over the government announcement of the reimplementation of the curfew and the government's allegedly poor handling of the COVID-19 situation, as well as being a partial continuation of the "One of Five Million" movement. The initial demand of the protesters had been to cancel the planned reintroduction of curfew in Serbia during July, which was successfully achieved in less than 48 hours of the protest. [5][6] The protesters also demanded a more technical response to the COVID-19 crisis and more factual and constructive information about the ongoing medical situation. Among other causes, the protests were driven by the crisis of democratic institutions under Aleksandar Vučić's rule and the growing concern that the President is concentrating all powers in his hands at the expense of the parliament. [7]
On 7 July 2020, the day when protests began, Serbia saw its deadliest day yet during the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia with 13 deaths. President Vučić said that situation in the capital city is alarming, and has announced that he is banning gatherings of more than 5 people and imposing a curfew from Friday 18:00 to Monday 5:00 local time. [8]
The Serbian Government has been accused of hiding true numbers of people infected and deaths from COVID-19. BIRN's research showed that in the period from 19 March to 1 June 2020, a total of 632 people died in Serbia who had tested positive for COVID-19 which is more than twice as many as the officially announced number of 244 deaths in that period. BIRN has learned that by analysing data obtained from the state's COVID-19 information system. [9] The President has been accused of lifting the lockdown too early in order to hold parliamentary elections in which his party won by a landslide. [8]
During this period, large parties,[10] sport events and gatherings happened and greatly increased the number of infected individuals. A big sport event was also held, a football game between Red Star and Partizan with tens of thousands people attending. [11] A leading specialist in the COVID-19 Crisis Team, closely related to the ruling party in money schemes,[12] has said that the sport events were not an epidemiological risk because "tickets were sold online" even though thousands attended without practising social distancing measures or wearing masks. [13] After those events, Danas newspaper called for Serbian Government COVID-19 Crisis Team "to wake up from hibernation" and ban large gatherings. [14] Serbian Government COVID-19 Crisis Team started consideration of reinforcement of COVID-19 measures one day after elections. [15]
The leader of the opposition party Enough is Enough, Saša Radulović, has accused the ruling SNS of election fraud and said that numerous irregularities were recorded. Radulović has said the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) has repeatedly ignored the evidence of irregularities his party submitted and accused them of working in the ruling party's interest. [16]
His movement had submitted 2,700 complaints and on 30 June, Radulović told the media the Administrative Court had formally accepted 175 complaints his party had submitted, saying that the voting must, therefore, be repeated in 2700 polling stations which makes one-third of all polling stations. He had accused the Electoral Commission of not observing the proper procedures while counting votes, stating that the ballot box content was not checked and the voting results were determined solely on the basis of ballot paper account forms. [17]
Radulović has supported the protests and stated that his party's goal is to invalidate the election results and call for fresh elections. He has said that the goal of the protest should be to force the government to organise new elections. [18]
He has submitted pleas to the Constitutional Court of Serbia and has threatened to file a report to the European Court of Human Rights if the Serbian courts don't overthrow the elections. Rule of law and the independence of the judiciary is seriously hindered, as assessed by the European Commission Report for Serbia 2019. [19]
Locals, students, and members of the Do not let Belgrade d(r)own gathered in front of the National Assembly and peacefully protested. Many of them wore masks and observed social distancing rules. [8] Just before 20:30, protesters started throwing rocks and bottles at the police, few torches were thrown, as well. [20] Around 22:00, a large group stormed National Assembly building involving nationalists and anti-vaccine campaigner Srđan Nogo. As they entered the building, they shouted "Serbia has risen". [8] Clashes occurred inside the building for 15 minutes. Around 22:15, police managed to completely clear the building but clashes continued outside as police fired tear gas and used batons against protesters. [20] Violent protests continued during the whole night. At least 24 people were injured. [20] The protesters refused to withdraw and police brought in reinforcements during that night, many wearing riot shields, some with service dogs or on horses. [21] The violence lasted until 03:00 in the morning, with police accused of using excessive force towards the protesters. During the live coverage, the regional TV channel N1 captured three police special force units in riot gear hitting three young men who were sitting on a bench with batons. [22]
Protesters peacefully marched through the city, no police was present. [20]
Protesters gathered in the evening on the same place as yesterday, and violence continued between police and protesters. This time, police were reinforced by police cavalry and Gendarmery. [20] During clashes with police, leader of Dveri Boško Obradović, was injured by the police. Who afterward said: "You can fight your people every day, it will be more of us, people won't stand this". He also called for Gendarmery to throw their shields and side with protesters. [23] Sergej Trifunović, leader of the Movement of Free Citizens, tried to join the protests but he was pushed out by protesters and forced to leave. He left after he was attacked by protesters and suffered a blow to the head. [24] Protesters tried to occupy the National Assembly building again but this time were stopped by the Gendarmery and police cavalry. After failing to occupy the National Assembly building, protesters marched through the center of Belgrade, and clashes with police continued. Protesters also set police vehicles on fire. Thousands of protesters gathered around 18:00 in Novi Sad, where they demanded the resignation of the Serbian Government and President, as well as health officials and other members of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Group. [20] Protesters demolished premises of the Serbian Progressive Party,[25] broke window on RTV premise, and set the entrance to the City Hall on fire. Person who broke the window on RTV premise cut his leg while breaking the window. Protesters also damaged a nearby McDonald's restaurant.
|
Protest_Online Condemnation
| null | null |
Contamination warning signs for Freycinet area beaches following sewage alert
|
On the outskirts of one of Tasmania's most pristine locations, recreational water users will soon be advised to avoid swimming near two creeks that flow onto popular beaches due to faecal contamination concerns.
The Glamorgan Spring Bay Council will put up the signs at two Coles Bay creeks — one that flows on Muirs Beach, and the other on the northern end of Richardsons Beach — which are just outside the famous Freycinet National Park.
The council's general manager Greg Ingham said the ocean water was still safe for swimming, but not the creeks that flowed through the beach.
"There are two natural creeks that enter the beach and it's in those creeks where we would prefer not to see families swimming," Mr Ingham said.
He said the signs were going up after public reports about families and children playing at the creek streams.
The signs, that are currently being manufactured, are due to be installed in coming weeks and will remain at the creeks permanently.
They will read: "This creek is subject to stormwater runoff from the surrounding area. Water quality in the creek is not monitored. Avoid swimming in the vicinity of the creek."
Mr Ingham said runoff can be a common occurrence right across the state, so that's the reason for the signage
"The creeks can be contaminated with natural pollutants, especially after heavy rainfall," Mr Ingham said.
Many residents believed contamination in the creek is from human faeces, but the council believed it was more likely to be from animals.
"After heavy rain, these natural creeks do get contaminated with bacteria from dead and dying animals [and] animal faeces," Mr Ingham said.
Residents at Coles Bay have long called for sewerage infrastructure upgrades in the town and have claimed an increase in tourist numbers is causing some old sewage treatment systems to struggle and leak into surrounding creeks and waterways.
In 2016, Muirs Beach was closed for eight days because of what was believed to have been a burst sewerage pipe on a private property that leaked onto the beach.
In a report released last year from the 2018 to 2019 summer, TasWater found "faecal contamination previously detected in Coles Bay coastal regions is likely associated with overflowing septic and sewerage systems during periods of high usage (e.g. high populations during summer months) and rainfall during these periods".
Since the TasWater report and an ABC article last year, the Freycinet Association Incorporated has completed its own independent testing.
It tested six sites over the recent summer, including the two creeks where signs will be erected, and results for enterococci bacteria at the main Coles Bay boat ramp were 17 times higher than what is safe.
Mr Ingham said the association's testing had contributed to the signs being put up and so had public health advice.
"We just have to ensure that our development, and the development that occurs within our municipality, happens appropriately and that ongoing monitoring is done in terms of water quality," he said.
Liz Swain, a Coles Bay resident and the newly elected president of the Freycinet Association Incorporated, said the warning signs were a good "step one" to protecting the community.
"We have little kiddies playing on those beaches, and they love to dam the creek, and someone's going to get incredibly sick," Ms Swain said.
But she said more work was needed to fix the issue long-term.
The Coles Bay community remains divided about a possible long-term solution to put the whole town on reticulated sewerage, which TasWater has estimated would cost more than $30 million.
Ms Swain believed that was the only way forward.
"We've got to have reticulated sewerage around our area," Ms Swain said.
"We had 300,000 people visiting before COVID and we're aiming for 600,000 by 2038.
"Freycinet Association is very supportive of tourism but it's got to be sustainable. If we have a public health image problem, it's going to wreck our tourist industry."
Mr Ingham said the council would continue to monitor community concerns.
"If we receive a report from the public or anyone else in regards to a concern, we act on that and investigate," he said.
)
|
Environment Pollution
| null | null |
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 crash
|
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 was an Airbus A300, registration AP-BCP, which crashed while approaching Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on 28 September 1992. All 167 people on board were killed. It is the deadliest aviation crash that has occurred on Nepalese soil. [1][2]
The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Airbus A300B4-203 registered as AP-BCP (serial number 025) The aircraft was built in 1976 and flew its maiden flight on 23 March the same year. On 2 May 1977, the aircraft was delivered to Bavaria Germanair, and was registered as D-AMAZ. About a week later, it was leased to EgyptAir. The aircraft was re-registered as SU-AZY and subsequently sold to Hapag-Lloyd Flug after its merger with Bavaria Germanair. The aircraft was then re-registered as D-AHLZ and leased to the following airlines:
On 21 April 1986, the aircraft was delivered to Pakistan International Airlines, and was re-registered as AP-BCP. The aircraft had a total of 39,045 flying hours and 19,172 landings at the time of the crash. [1]
The captain was 49-year-old Iftikhar Janjua, who had 13,192 flight hours, including 6,260 hours on the Airbus A300. The first officer was 38-year-old Hassan Akhtar, who had 5,849 flight hours, with 1,469 of them on the Airbus A300. There were two flight engineers on board: one operating and the other observing. The operating flight engineer was an unnamed 40-year-old male who had 5,289 flight hours, with 2,516 of them on the Airbus A300. The observing flight engineer, 42-year-old Muhammad Ashraf, had 8,220 flight hours, including 4,503 hours on the Airbus A300. [3]
Flight 268 departed Karachi at 11:13 AM Pakistan Standard Time for Kathmandu. Upon contacting Nepalese air traffic control, the aircraft was cleared for an approach from the south called the Sierra approach. An aircraft cleared to use this approach was at the time directed to pass over a reporting point called "Romeo" located 41 miles south of the Kathmandu VOR (or at 41 DME) at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The aircraft was to then descend in seven steps to 5,800 feet, passing over a reporting point known as "Sierra" located at 10 DME at an altitude of 9,500 feet, before landing at Kathmandu. This approach allowed aircraft to pass over the Mahabharat Range directly south of Kathmandu (the crest of which is located just north of the Sierra reporting point) at a safe altitude. Shortly after reporting at 10 DME, at 2.30 pm the aircraft crashed at approximately 7,300 feet (2,200 m) into the side of the 8,250 ft (2,524 m) mountain at Bhattedanda, disintegrating on impact, instantly killing all aboard; the tail fin separated and fell into the forest at the base of the mountainside. [1][4][5]
This accident occurred 59 days after Thai Airways International Flight 311 crashed north of Kathmandu. [6]
Most of the victims were a mix of European, Nepalese and other nationalities. After the crash, the Nepali Military assisted with investigators to find the aircraft's black box. The investigation was handled by Andrew Robinson from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). The black box was initially sent to Paris for decoding. [7]
At the time of impact, eye witnesses near the accident site confirmed that there was little to no wind, rain, and no thunderstorms in the area. Investigators found no technical problems documented for the A300 and, after considering it as a cause, subsequently ruled out terrorism. [8]
Although no pertinent flight deck conversation was recovered from Flight 268's cockpit voice recorder by investigators with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), which assisted with the investigation, data recovered from the flight data recorder by the TSB showed that the aircraft initiated each step of its descent one step too early. [4] At 16 DME the aircraft was a full 1,000 feet below its cleared altitude; at 10 DME (the Sierra reporting point) it was 1,300 feet below its cleared altitude. The aircraft approached the Mahabharat Range at an insufficient altitude and crashed into the south slope. [1] Although the pilots of Flight 268 reported their aircraft's altitude accurately to air traffic control, controllers did nothing to warn them of their inappropriate altitude until seconds before the accident. [4]
Investigators determined that the accident had been caused mainly by pilot error. Visibility was poor due to overcast and the ground proximity warning system would not have been triggered in time because of the steep terrain. [4] The approach plates for Kathmandu issued to PIA pilots were also determined to be unclear,[1][4] and Nepalese air traffic controllers were judged timid and reluctant to intervene in what they saw as piloting matters such as terrain separation. [9] The report recommended that ICAO review navigational charts and encourage their standardisation, and that the approach to Kathmandu Airport be changed to be less complex. [4]
PIA paid for and maintains the Lele PIA Memorial Park at Lele, at the foot of a mountain about 10km north the crash site. [10][11]
The Wilkins Memorial Trust, a UK charitable organisation that provides aid to Nepal, was established in memory of a family killed in the crash. [12]
The accident is featured in the first episode of Season 20 of Mayday, also known as Air Crash Investigation. The episode is titled "Kathmandu Descent". [13]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
China’s Chang’e 5 spacecraft enters lunar orbit
|
Five days after taking off on a heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket, China’s Chang’e 5 sample return spacecraft entered orbit around the moon Saturday, moving into position for a descent to the lunar surface in a bid to gather specimens and bring them back to Earth. The Chang’e 5 spacecraft fired its main engine at 1258 GMT (7:58 a.m. EST) for a 17-minute burn to maneuver into an elliptical eight-hour orbit around the moon, according to the China National Space Administration. The lunar orbit insertion maneuver capped a five-day journey from Earth since Chang’e 5’s launch Nov. 23. The spacecraft was set to perform additional burns over the weekend to reach a circular 120-mile-high (200-kilometer) orbit around the moon, setting the stage for separation of the mission’s landing module for an automated descent to the lunar surface. Chinese officials have not disclosed when the Chang’e 5 lander will touch down on the moon, but the landing could happen as soon as Sunday. Chang’e 5 is attempting to return the first samples from the moon in 44 years. If successful, China would become the third country after the United States and the former Soviet Union to gather rocks from the moon’s surface and bring them back to Earth. The mission’s lander will target a touchdown near Mons Rümker, a volcanic formation that extends more than 4,000 feet — or about 1,300 meters — above the surrounding lava plains. Chang’e 5’s landing site is located in the Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms, region in the northern hemisphere of the near side of the moon. After landing, Chang’e 5’s surface mission will occur during a two-week window of daylight at the landing site, allowing solar energy to power the spacecraft. Chang’e 5 will extract up to 4.4 pounds, or 2 kilograms, of material from a depth of up to 6.6 feet, or 2 meters, below the surface. Then the specimens will launch back into lunar orbit aboard a small rocket, rendezvous with a return craft, and head for Earth. The return carrier will re-enter the atmosphere at some 25,000 mph, or 40,000 kilometers per hour, significantly faster than a re-enter from low Earth orbit. The capsule will will land around Dec. 15 in China’s Inner Mongolia region, where teams will retrieve the moon specimens and transport the material to a lab for analysis. Clive Neal, a lunar scientist at the University of Notre Dame, said China has proven it can land on the moon with previous missions. “But then they have to collect the sample,” Neal said in an interview shortly after Chang’e 5’s launch. “The interesting thing is they launch from the moon, get into lunar orbit, and then rendezvous with the Earth re-entry vehicle that will bring that sample back to Earth safely and uncompromised. When the Soviets did it in 1976, the last time, it was direct to Earth. They launched from the moon and came straight back to Earth. This one has an extra step in there, which has to go well in order for the sample to actually make it back. “But given the capability they’ve demonstrated with doing things for the first time, such as the far side landing and roving, I expect things to be successful, and hope they are,” Neal said in an interview with Spaceflight Now. The sample return mission, if successful, will mark the first time lunar material has been returned to Earth since 1976, when the Soviet Union’s robotic Luna 24 mission brought back around 170 grams, or 6 ounces, of specimens from the lunar surface. Nine missions have returned moon samples to Earth, including NASA’s six Apollo missions with astronauts, and three robotic Luna spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union. NASA’s Apollo missions brought back 842 pounds (382 kilograms) of rocks from the moon. There is evidence that rocks in Chang’e 5’s landing zone are much younger than those returned by the Apollo astronauts. Those specimens are some 3.5 billion years old, created during a period of active volcanism in the first billion years of the moon’s existence. Lava plains to the east of Mons Rümker appear to be less battered by asteroid impacts, suggesting rocks there could be less than 2 billion years old. But models of the moon’s evolution suggest its internal heating should have diminished by that time, rendering volcanoes extinct, Neal said. “It will be exciting to look at the age of these samples coming back and also the actual compositions of them,” Neal said. Before Chang’e 5, China has successfully dispatched four robotic explorers to the moon, beginning with the Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2 orbiters in 2007 and 2010. In 2013, China landed the Chang’e 3 mission on the moon with a mobile rover that drove across the lunar surface. China’s most challenging lunar mission to date was Chang’e 4, which accomplished the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon in January 2019. Chang’e 4’s rover continues operating, sending back imagery and scientific data through a dedicated relay satellite China placed in a position beyond far side of the moon to transmit signals between Earth and the Chang’e 4 spacecraft.
|
New achievements in aerospace
| null | null |
Sterling Airways Flight 296 crash
|
On 14 March 1972, Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashed into a mountain ridge on approach to Dubai near Kalba, United Arab Emirates. Flight 296 was a charter flight from Colombo to Copenhagen with stops in Bombay, Dubai, and Ankara. All 112 passengers and crew on board died in the crash which was attributed to pilot error. The flight was operated by a Sud Aviation Caravelle, registration OY-STL. [1] To date, it is the deadliest air disaster to involve a Caravelle and the deadliest air disaster in the history of the United Arab Emirates. [2]
The aircraft involved was Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B3 (serial number 267) that was built in May 1970 and had its maiden flight on 10 May the same year. The aircraft was delivered to Sterling Airways on May 19 and subsequently received its airworthiness certificate and registration OY-STL on 22 May. OY-STL was in a long-haul flight configuration being equipped with central fuel tanks. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 engines. The passenger capacity of the cabin was 109 seats, though the maximum number of people on board was 116. The aircraft had 6,674 hours and 50 minutes flight time and 2,373 landings at the time of the accident. The last Y-l check (every 12–15 months) was performed by Finnair (under a contract) on 5 June 1971. The aircraft's last overhaul was performed on 8 February 1972, when the aircraft had 6,270 hours 39 minutes of flying time. The last A and B technical inspections were performed one day before the accident flight on 13 March 1972, before departure from Copenhagen. The last B-check was performed in Bombay the same day. [3]:9[4]
Sterling Airways Flight 296 was chartered by the tour company Tjaereborg Rejser to take 106 Europeans home from vacations in Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka). The flight from Colombo to Copenhagen was scheduled to make refuelling stops in Bombay, Dubai, and Ankara. A change of crew was also scheduled during the stop in Ankara. Flight 296 departed from Colombo on time at 17:20 local time for Bombay. The 106 passengers were from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and West Germany. The Danish cockpit crew consisted of Captain Ole Jorgensen, 35 and First Officer Jorgen Pedersen, 30. At 19:45, it landed in Bombay. The passengers were not allowed to de-plane during the stop in Bombay. After refuelling Flight 296 departed Bombay for the next stop in Dubai at 21:20. [3]:2
According to the flight plan, Flight 296 from Bombay to Dubai was to follow the R19 air corridor at flight level 310 (31,000 feet (9,400 m; 9.4 km). The length of the route was 1,045 nautical miles (1,935 km; 1,203 mi) the majority of it passing over the Arabian Sea, while the route had 5 waypoints for reports on position: SALMON, SEAHORSE, BLUE WHALE, DOLPHIN and SPEARFISH, located 292, 531, 706 and 854 miles (185, 541, 983, 1308 and 1582 km) respectively, from Bombay. [3]:2
At 21:40, the crew of Flight 296 informed the Bombay approach controller that they were passing the SALMON waypoint and that they were climbing from flight level 250 (7.62 km), to 310. At 21:49 the controller reported the flight reaching FL 310. At 21:14 the crew reported passing the SEAHORSE waypoint. At 21:52, the Bombay controller instructed the crew to change frequencies. Beginning at 21:47 the controllers experienced communication problems with Flight 296, but managed to re-establish communication at 22:04. Flight 296 passed the BLUE WHALE waypoint at 22:49 which 3 to 6 minutes earlier than expected. [3]:2
Flight 296 reported passing the DOLPHIN point at 22:14 via a relay — a minute earlier than planned at Blue Whale, and already 10 minutes earlier than planned when departing from Dubai. At 21:25 pm, the crew contacted the tower of the Dubai Airport and received information about the weather in Dubai. At 21:42 at a frequency of 124.9 MHz, flight 296 contacted the control center in Dubai and reported on the passage of the SPEARFISH waypoint at 21:42 at flight level 310, and the estimated landing time in Dubai is 22:10. At the same time, Flight 296 was instructed to go under the control of the Dubai-approach. The crew received information that the bearing on them from the D0 radio beacon (Dubai VOR) is 084, and the descent from FL 310 would begin at 21:55. However at 21:49, 95 miles (153 km) from the airport, the crew requested to descend early. The approach controller cleared Flight 296 to descend to FL 40 (4000 feet or 1219 meters). Then the control center asked the crew if they wanted a heading of 084, to which the crew accepted. The controller then gave instructions regarding the heading. Shortly before 22:00 local time, Flight 296 began the approach into Dubai. [3]:2–3
The weather in Dubai was cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. [3]:10–11 The crews of other aircraft reported an overcast sky with the formation of large cumulus clouds over the coast. The crew of BOAC Flight 833 (also flying to Dubai, though departing from Calcutta) indicated that the coast was poorly visible on meteorological radar due to thunderstorms, although the crew of SABENA Flight 352 (which also departed Bombay but was bound for Athens), on the contrary, reported a clear sky. [3]:13
At 21:50, the crew of Flight 296 reported descending from 310 to 40 and asked which runway to take. The controller responded that the wind was at 045/6 knots and that the landing could be carried out on either runway 30 or 12. The crew selected runway 30. At 21:56, The crew reported leaving flight level 135 and the controller instructed the flight to maintain 2,000 feet (610 m) relative to the level of Dubai Airport (1016 hPa) with a report on occupying a height of 2000 and observing the airfield. The crew acknowledged the transmission.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
General Hospital: Rays Injury Updates
|
With the Rays’ roster crunch settled (for now), let’s take a look at which injured players at the MLB and AAA level are expected to come back in 2022, and possibly make an impact to the MLB roster. Nick Anderson - RHP - Right Elbow Surgery Anderson didn’t make too many appearances in 2021, and when he did, he was only throwing 92 MPH . Later in the season it was revealed that Anderson had a partial UCL tear, and in late October, Dr. Keith Meister performed an internal brace procedure on Anderson. The recovery is shorter than the typical full UCL tear and the Tommy John Surgery that follows. Due to the shorter recovery, Anderson will be shut down for 3-4 months and is expected to return after the 2022 All Star Break. Jaleen Beeks - LHP - Tommy John Surgery Jaleen Beeks underwent Tommy John Surgery in August of 2020, and as of July 5th of 2021 Beeks described his recovery as “a slow ramp up, but feeling more like a pitcher”. Beeks also stated that he started throwing in June of 2021. You can hear more about Jalen Beeks’ recovery on the always wonderful Rays Radio Podcast (Beeks starts at 29:54). Collin McHugh, Vidal Bruján, Jalen Beeks, + a preview of Cleveland w/ @IndiansRadio more - This Week in @RaysBaseball 7/4 https://t.co/S1ObHxo02K As long as there aren’t any setbacks on his recovery, Beeks should be good to go by Spring Training in 2022, but will probably have his innings limited. Yonny Chirinos - RHP - Tommy John Surgery Before his latest setback, Yonny Chirinos was on track to return at full health by 2022 Spring Training. According to Marc Topkin at the Tampa Bay Times, Chirinos suffered a fractured elbow during live batting practice at the end of September. You may recall that former Rays prospect Brent Honeywell experienced the same sequence of UCL repair surgery followed by an elbow fracture. The bad news is that Chirinos had to undergo surgery again to insert a screw to repair the fracture, but thankfully the repaired UCL was not damaged in any way. Tyler Glasnow - RHP - Tommy John Surgery Glasnow was on track to what looked like his first All Star and Cy Young contention season with his added slider. But Glasnow was sidelined in mid-June for a partial UCL tear, and was hopeful that rehab would be enough to bring him back to the rotation. After a throwing session, it was decided that Tommy John Surgery would be the best course of action, and Glasnow underwent the knife on August 4, 2021. With the lengthy recovery process, it is likely that we won’t see Glasnow on the mound until 2023. Brendan McKay - LHP/DH - Thoracic Outlet Surgery At the end of November, Brendan McKay underwent TOS compression surgery, which was another injury on a long list for the former 1st round pick. In 2020, McKay underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, and in addition to some setbacks from that recovery, had a left arm flexor strain in August of this year. With all of the missed time, the Rays are expected to receive a 4th year option for McKay, so if the left hander does have a successful recovery, he more than likely will be spending some time in AAA and with an obvious innings limit. Colin Poche - LHP - Tommy John Surgery All the way back in 2020, Colin Poche suffered from a full UCL tear, and underwent TJS at end of July in the same year. TJS is typically a long recovery, but by the time 2022 Spring Training rolls around, it will be almost 2 years post surgery. Although there will be an innings limit as Poche gets back to a full workload, we haven’t heard of any setbacks, and he should be good to go for the 2022 season. With the lockout going on, I’ve decided to open myself up to any local Little League teams who need an extra player. Now accepting offers! pic.twitter.com/6MtNKGTPQT — Colin Poche (@colinpoche) December 9, 2021 Jeffery Springs - LHP - Right Knee Surgery Jeffery Springs was a considerable addition to the Rays’ bullpen in 2021. When he went down with what was originally labeled as a right knee sprain, the recovery outlook was optimistic and only listed at 2 to 4 weeks. Unfortunately, his rehab efforts were not effective, as he continued to suffer discomfort, and as a result, had to undergo ACL surgery in August. The recovery time for Springs is unknown, although typical recovery is in the 6 to 9 month range, which would put a return for Springs at April or May for full recovery, not counting any throwing or ramp up programs. Ryan Thompson - RHP - Thoracic Outlet Surgery Another TOS surgery for another Rays’ pitcher. Thompson was originally sidelined at the end of June with what was then described as “right shoulder inflammation”, but continuing setbacks during his recovery resulted in an August surgery. According to Marc Topkin, the Rays’ currently believe he will be ready for 2022 Spring Training. Ryan Thompson, 81mph "Two Time Zone" Slider...and Sword. — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2021 Matt Wisler - RHP - Right Finger Inflammation Wisler re-injured his right middle finger in October in a late season series against the Red Sox, an injury that caused him to go in the IL in August and September. Nothing is known right now of his injury, so it should be assumed that he will be ready to go by the time pitchers and catchers report. Kevin Kiermaier - CF - Right Knee Surgery On November 3rd Kiermaier underwent arthroscopic surgery to take care of a small tear in his right knee. Although KK is notorious for spending time on the IL, he waited until the offseason to address this issue. Recovery is typically four to six weeks, which lines Kiermaier up to be ready by the beginning of Spring Training. With one of the MLB’s top farm systems, the Rays look poised to have plenty of options in 2022, and should be able to manage a calculated ramp up for the recovering players. Along with that comes some tough roster decisions, if everybody is healthy. But that will be a very big, although welcomed, if.
|
Famous Person - Recovered
| null | null |
Mudslide closes Highway 1 from Lytton to Cache Creek
|
Another potential headache for B.C. drivers on Tuesday, as Highway 1 was closed in both directions from Lytton to just outside of Cache Creek. Drive BC said the highway was closed due to a mudslide between Junction Highway 12 in Lytton and Airport Road, about four kilometres south of Cache Creek. No detour was available, nor was an estimated time of reopening. Drive BC said it is still waiting for a geotechnical assessment to be done on the slide. In addition, Highway 12 is closed in both directions between Six Mile Road and Pine Ridge Road for 30 kilometres (Lillooet) and an assessment was still in progress. There was no detour immediately available. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said crews worked through the night to clear as much debris as possible.
|
Mudslides
| null | null |
Manabe was awarded the Nobel Prize in physicsTuesday
|
Up until the new millennium, scientists only had two ways to expedite the process of linking atoms, the AP reported . One used required complicated enzymes; the other used metal catalysts. The process MacMillan helped develop, known as asymmetric organocatalysis, has aided the development of medicines, limit manufacturing errors and made chemistry more green. It also has made the process of building molecules cheaper and more precise. "I am shocked and stunned and overjoyed," MacMillan said . "It was funny because I got some texts from people in Sweden really early this morning and I thought they were pranking me so I went back to sleep. Then my phone starting going crazy. "What we care about is trying to invent chemistry that has an impact on society and can do some good, and I am thrilled to have a part in that," he added. "Organocatalysis was a pretty simple idea that really sparked a lot of different research, and the part we're just so proud of is that you don't have to have huge amounts of equipment and huge amounts of money to do fine things in chemistry." List and MacMillan worked on the new way of catalysis independently. It's common for multiple scientists working in the same field to share the prize. Manabe was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for his work in developing a climate model that showed increased carbon dioxide levels led to higher temperatures at earth's surface. He shared the award with Giorgio Parisi of the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, and Klaus Hasselmann of Germany. "When I got the phone call this morning, I was so surprised," Manabe said. "Usually, the Nobel Prize in physics is awarded to physicists making a fundamental contribution in physics. Yes, my work is based on physics, but it's applied physics. Geophysics. This is the first time the Nobel Prize has been awarded for the kind of work I have done: the study of climate change." Manabe built the model in the 1960s and laid the foundation for the development of current climate models, NJ Spotlight reported. He is currently the senior meteorologist for Princeton's Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences program. The Nobel awards come with a gold medal and prize money totaling over $1.14 million. Awards in literature, peace and economics will be announced through the rest of the week.
|
Awards ceremony
| null | null |
Cambodia Suspends Annual Military Exercises With China
|
Cambodia’s government has decided to suspend its two-week military exercise with China next month, citing a need to cut spending amid the coronavirus pandemic, despite claims by the opposition that it did so to avoid angering the new administration in Washington. Speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service last week, Defense Minister Tea Banh said the fourth annual “Golden Dragon” exercise will be canceled this year due to heavy flooding in 2020 that devastated the country’s infrastructure and food supply. He also pointed to the country’s ongoing battle with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and “several other problems” the government still needs to resolve. The joint exercise, originally scheduled for March 13-27, sees around 3,000 Cambodian and Chinese troops take part in live ammunition drills—including training on the use of tanks, armored vehicles, and demining equipment—at the 70th Brigade Military Training School in Kampot province’s Chum Kiri district. Ties between the two countries have strengthened in recent years amid growing Western criticism of Cambodia’s human rights record. “We are dealing with these difficulties. [The flooding] severely affected the well-being and livelihood of the people and is expected to result in more poverty and hardship,” Tea Banh said. “So, based on this, we have suspended the military exercise.” In October last year, tropical storms brought torrential rains that inundated much of Cambodia, triggering flooding that destroyed bridges and roads, affected hundreds of thousands of people in 19 provinces, and left nearly 40 dead. Cambodia, to which China has pledged to deliver 1 million doses of its Sinopharm vaccination, has seen a total of 476 COVID-19 cases since January 2020 and no deaths. The drills were held last year despite widespread concerns about potentially infected Chinese soldiers bringing the virus into the country—concerns that were dismissed at the time by Tea Banh. This week, social development researcher Seng Sary told RFA that Cambodia’s decision to suspend the Golden Dragon exercise was “long overdue” because the nation is not involved in any conflicts. “Exercises are part of strengthening the capacity of the military, but at this stage it is good that we are suspending them due to national budget constraints,” he said. US-Cambodia relations However, Eng Chhai Eang, deputy president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party dismissed Tea Banh’s claims, saying that in previous years, “all the expenses for military exercises were paid by China.” Speaking to RFA from self-imposed exile, he said he believes that the exercises were suspended this year because U.S. President Joe Biden has just taken office and Cambodia needs to appear more neutral, rather than titling towards China, before Washington’s foreign policy approach becomes clearer. “[Prime Minister] Hun Sen’s government has suspended the Golden Dragon exercise, not because of COVID-19, but more a matter of foreign policy,” he said. Cambodia has grown isolated from Western aid donors and trade partners since its Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017, paving the way for Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party to win all seats in a 2018 election seen as unfree and unfair. After the CPP’s election victory, Beijing offered its full support of Hun Sen’s government, and Cambodia has increasingly backed China in its international affairs, including in disputes with Association of Southeast Asian Nations nations over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Chinese investment has flowed into Cambodia in the form of real estate, agriculture and entertainment, but Cambodians regularly chafe at what they say are unscrupulous business practices and unbecoming behavior by Chinese residents, and worry that their country is increasingly bending to Beijing’s will. Despite the suspension of military exercises, China has continued to provide military assistance to Cambodia, which observers fear is more likely to be used by Hun Sen to solidify his own hold on power than to benefit the nation. Chinese vaccine On Wednesday, Cambodia began to roll out its vaccination program using the 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine delivered to the country by China on February 7, despite concerns by members of the public who noted that the injection has yet to be endorsed by the World Health Organization. Hun Sen posted a comment on Facebook thanking Beijing for the donation and urging Cambodians to disregard the vaccine’s origin. “Finally, Cambodia obtained vaccines for Cambodians—this is because of China and Cambodia’s solid as steel relationship,” he wrote. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chinese state, military, and people—especially President Xi Jinping—who provided this aid to Cambodian people.” Hun Sen’s comments came after his sons Hun Manet and Hun Manit, their wives, and his son-in-law Sok Puthivuth received Sinopharm vaccinations. His son Hun Many and son-in-law Dy Vichea did not receive injections based on a Ministry of Health statement that people with health conditions should not be given the Sinopharm vaccine. Additionally, top officials, ministers, secretaries of state, deputy secretaries and provincial governors, as well as many senior officers were also vaccinated Wednesday at five separate sites around the country. Hun Sen did not get vaccinated, claiming that it was “inappropriate” at his age of 68. On Facebook, the prime minister dismissed concerns about the source of the vaccine. “I would like to send a message to compatriots inside and outside of the country: Please don’t worry which country the vaccine is coming from or what brand it is,” he said. “We should be happy that we have a vaccine because it is not sold like fish in the markets,” he added, noting that many people living in developed nations have yet to receive an inoculation. Public concerns On Tuesday, a member of the Cambodian Association of Independent Civil Servants, who asked not to be named, told RFA that some civil servants are reluctant to receive the Sinopharm vaccine because it has yet to be recognized by global experts, including the WHO. Similarly, Vorn Pov, president of the Independent Association of Informal Economy, said that the country’s poor are afraid of the vaccine and suggested that Cambodia has the luxury of waiting for a better-quality injection because the country hasn’t been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus to date. “Our situation does not seem to involve as many deaths as some neighboring countries, so I think we should wait for endorsement from the WHO before we begin injecting people,” he said. Um Sam An, former CNRP lawmaker for Siem Reap province, called Hun Sen’s comments “dangerous.” “Hun Sen doesn’t care about the well-being and the lives of the Cambodian people. Instead, he provided Cambodians as a case study for Chinese vaccines,” he said. Secretary general of the Federation of Cambodian Intellectual Students, Kien Ponlok, said Hun Sen should be “more responsible,” suggesting the prime minister is more eager to please China than help his own country. Yong Kim Eng, executive director of the People's Center for Development and Peace, called on the government to provide information about the types of vaccines that are given to the people for the sake of transparency. Another 400,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine will be delivered by China at a later date and Hun Sen has said he expects Beijing to deliver more than 1 million doses in total.
|
Military Exercise
| null | null |
An Emergency Backup Plan for Canceled In-Person Events
|
Rob Carey | Sep 02, 2021 When the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses canceled its 5,000-attendee annual meeting just 10 days out due to a resurgence of Covid in their host destination, its leadership made the risky decision to keep the same August dates to execute the event online. Working almost around the clock, the association built out and executed its meeting on Convey Services’ Cloud Conventions virtual platform with the help of MCI Group and Freeman, the latter of which provided the “simulive” broadcasting of sessions. That trial-by-fire experience prodded Convey Services to design a formal contingency product for business events. Called SafetyNet, the product is a standby virtual-event template that can be activated if the in-person event cannot be held or if attendance for the in-person event drops to an unsatisfactory level. In short, associations can create a virtual-event setup without committing to all the costs of a virtual event. There’s a basic set-up fee, and if the host organization chooses to go live with a hybrid or all-virtual event, that fee is credited to the cost of the total event package. SafetyNet maintains a virtual platform on standby behind a private login, allowing an event to be developed for a online audience in a matter of days without needing technical or programming support. For that set-up fee, Convey Services helps the client create a foundation for what can become a fully configured, custom-branded virtual program. The foundation is hosted on a secure custom URL and can be built out to deliver live and on-demand sessions, exhibitor booths, sponsor activations, and a resource center for all content. For video interaction between presenters, attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors, SafetyNet can integrate with Zoom and Bluejeans, while Apple’s iFrame is built into the platform. Gamification and language-translation options are also available. Attendee data can be imported from the in-person event’s registration system, including demographics and event-access permissions. Exhibitors are assigned a virtual-booth template and can place their content and activate their attendee-communication channels without technical assistance.
|
Organization Closed
| null | null |
Auroras in southern Canada a possibility after 'intense' solar flare: astronomers
|
TORONTO -- After a massive solar flare emerged from the sun on Thursday, astronomers say auroras could dazzle the skies as far south as Toronto during the Halloween weekend. Thursday's solar flare was accompanied by a large eruption of plasma, which astronomers call a "coronal mass ejection," aimed in our planet's direction. "(A coronal mass ejection) is basically a lot of particulate radiation being forced away from the sun at a couple of thousand kilometers a second. There's this huge wave of particulate radiation, protons and electrons primarily, heading towards Earth," York University astronomer Paul Delaney told CTVNews.ca over the phone on Friday. NASA says the flare peaked at 11:35 a.m. EDT on Thursday and categorized it as an "X1" flare. This flare is at the lowest end of the X-class flares, the class of flares that are the most intense. Delaney says it takes around 48 hours for the coronal mass ejection to reach Earth. By the time these particles reach our planet, most of them get deflected by the Earth's magnetic field. However, some of these particles can get caught within the poles. "These energetic particles interact with the particles in the Earth's atmosphere, the atoms and molecules there, and cause the northern lights," said Ilana MacDonald, an astronomer with the University of Toronto's Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics. The northern lights are typically only visible around the Arctic. But a strong solar flare could result in the auroras being visible in southern Canada. "It's hard to tell because these solar flares are very unpredictable and how they actually will interact with the earth," MacDonald told CTVNews.ca over the phone on Friday. "But if it directly hits the earth, then yes, certainly, you'd be able to see northern lights from southern Canada." Delaney says the auroras "might be visible" as far south as Toronto on Saturday or Sunday. NASA also says the auroras may be visible as low as Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon. The frequency of strong solar flares has also been increasing as we head towards what astronomers call a "solar maximum," which is the highest point of the sun's 11-year cycle and has the greatest amount of activity inside the sun, Delaney says. If you're hoping to catch the northern lights this weekend, MacDonald recommends seeking an area with low light pollution. "The northern lights tend to be very diffuse and cloudy looking. If you're somewhere like Toronto that has a lot of light pollution, then there's a much smaller chance that you'd be able to see it," she said. Strong solar flares also carry the risk of knocking out electrical power grids and the internet. However, Delaney says that's unlikely with this solar flare, given its strength. "It certainly is possible, but not likely with and X1 flare. An X3, X4 or X5 flare? Sure, if we were in the crosshairs of the coronal mass ejections." The aurora borealis, or northern lights, make a rare appearance over central Ontario north of Hwy 36 in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., on Sunday, March 21, 2021.
|
New wonders in nature
| null | null |
2 Suspects Now Charged In Gary Bank Robbery In Which Security Guard Was Shot Dead; Federal Prosecutors Could Seek Death Penalty
|
HAMMOND, Ind. (CBS) — Two suspects now face federal charges in a bank robbery in Gary earlier this month in which a security officer was shot dead, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. Charges in the June 11 robbery and shooting had already been filed against James Anthony King Jr., 24, of Miami, Florida. He is charged with murder in the perpetration of a felony and with armed robbery. The FBI and police in Northwest Indiana apprehended King after the incident. King has now been charged in a federal grand jury indictment with armed bank robbery; and using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during the course of that robbery. He was ordered detained on Monday and will remain in custody pending trial. A second suspect was arrested in Georgia several days after the robbery. That suspect – Hailey Gist-Holden, 26, of Miami – has been brought to the Northern District of Indiana and now faces the same charges in a criminal complaint. Prosecutors are seeking an indictment against Gist-Holden. The suspects knew each other through a semi-pro football team, prosecutors said. Authorities said Gist-Holden had planned to use the proceeds from the robbery to fund that semi-pro football team, which he owns. The FBI said the guard, identified by the Lake County Coroner’s Office as Richard Castellana, was killed during the robbery shortly after 1:15 p.m. Friday, June 11 at the First Midwest Bank branch at 1975 W. Ridge Rd. in Gary. Castellana, 55, worked many years with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office before taking the job with the bank. Authorities said officials said it appears the bank security guard was ambushed outside and was shot and killed by Gist-Holden. Surveillance images show the deadly duo, one with a handgun and one with a long gun, both dressed in all black. Investigators say they used the weapons on the security guard, shooting and killing him first and then stormed the bank with the weapons to get the cash. The Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s office earlier said King was apprehended in a wooded area near 43rd Avenue and Garfield Street in Gary. A backpack containing a .40-caliber Glock Model 22 handgun and about $9,000 in cash were found near where King was apprehended, authorities said. Federal prosecutors on Tuesday said both suspects could be sentenced to the death penalty if convicted. Whether or not prosecutors seek the death penalty will be up to the U.S. Attorney General, and the Northern District of Indiana has not yet decided whether to make that request. “Regardless of what our position is, it will be the Attorney General’s decision and the Department of Justice’s levels of authority will decide if it’s appropriate to seek death penalty against one and or both subjects,” said Tina Nommay, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana.
|
Bank Robbery
| null | null |
EgyptAir Flight 181 crash
|
EgyptAir Flight 181 was a domestic passenger flight from Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria, Egypt, to Cairo International Airport. On 29 March 2016 the flight was hijacked by an Egyptian man claiming to wear an explosive belt and forced to divert to Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. Most passengers and crew were released by the hijacker shortly after landing. The hijacker surrendered about seven hours later, and everybody escaped from the aircraft unharmed. The belt was later revealed to have contained mobile phones and no explosives. The aircraft involved in the incident was an EgyptAir Airbus A320-200. [1][2][3][4]
Flight 181 departed Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria at 06:38 local time (UTC+2) for a short flight to Cairo International Airport, carrying 56 passengers plus seven crew. [5][6][7] After takeoff, the captain was informed that a passenger claiming to be wearing an explosive belt was demanding that the aircraft be flown to Cyprus. [7][8] A passenger later reported that, during the flight, the flight attendants collected the passengers' passports, which was unusual for a domestic flight but common[according to whom?] during a hijacking. The plane then started gaining altitude, and it was announced that they were diverting to Larnaca. [9] The aircraft safely landed at Larnaca International Airport at 08:46 local time (UTC+3), and stopped in a remote parking area. The airport was then closed to all incoming and outgoing traffic. [10][6]
After landing at Larnaca, negotiations began and everyone on board was freed except three passengers and four crew. [11] The hijacker later demanded to see his estranged wife, living in Cyprus, and sought asylum in the country. [12][10][13] He also gave police a letter addressed to his former wife. [1] Cypriot state media said that the hijacker wanted the release of female prisoners in Egypt,[14][15] and, according to Egyptian officials, he had been asking to speak to European Union officials. [16]
Seven more people later exited the plane via the stairs, and a crew member climbed down from a cockpit window. [17] At 14:41 local time, the Cypriot foreign ministry tweeted that the hijacking was over, and the hijacker had been arrested. [18] None of the passengers or crew were harmed. In an earlier tweet, the ministry identified the hijacker as Seif Eldin Mustafa, an Egyptian national. [19][20]
Later in the day, a photo was circulated of a passenger seen smiling beside Mustafa, whose supposed explosive belt was visible underneath his coat. [21] The passenger was later identified as Ben Innes, and the photo went viral. [22][23] A security expert described Innes's actions as irresponsible and one University of Cambridge psychologist said Innes might have been driven by "pure narcissism", explaining that social media lacks the checks and balances of older forms of communication. [24]
As a result of security concerns, officials at Cairo International Airport delayed the departure of a flight bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. [25]
There were six Egyptian crew members and one Egyptian security official aboard Flight 181. [8] Of the 56 passengers, 30 were Egyptian, 14 were European, and 8 were from the United States. [8]
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-233 registered as SU-GCB, MSN 2079. Its first flight was on 8 July 2003, it was delivered to EgyptAir on 31 October 2003 and was twelve years old at the time of the hijacking. [26][27][28]
After being detained, Seif Eldin Mustafa was held in custody in Cyprus. The government of Egypt and Cyprus stated their intentions for him to be extradited for prosecution in Egypt. A legal process took place in Cyprus as a court order is required for extradition. An original verdict in support of extradition was appealed by Mustafa, on the grounds of human rights risks in Egypt. [29]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Aeroflot Flight 25 crash
|
Aeroflot Flight 25 (Russian: Рейс 25 Аэрофлота Reys 25 Aeroflota) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight that crashed on 4 April 1963 in the region of Rybnaya Sloboda, Tatar ASSR, Russian SFSR the while en route from Moscow-Sheremetyevo to Krasnoyarsk Airport, Russian SFSR. All 67 people aboard were killed in the accident. [1]
The aircraft involved in the accident was an Ilyushin Il-18V registered CCCP-75866 to Aeroflot. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had sustained only 154 flight hours and 68 pressurization cycles because it had been released from the factory just in March that same year. [2]
Flight 25 departed from Moscow-Sheremetyevo at 03:12 local time and held an altitude of 6000 meters after takeoff. 59 passengers and 8 crew members were aboard the aircraft. Due to the rate of fuel consumption the crew requested permission from the controller to increase altitude to 8000 meters, but the request was initially denied because there was a Tu-104 at that altitude in the same air corridor. At 04:15 the Tu-104 reported passing Kanash and was approximately 40-50 kilometers past the Il-18. The air traffic controller then gave the Il-18 permission to climb to an altitude of 8000 meters at 04:22. The crew confirmed receiving the permission, and at 04:26 the flight reported passing Laishevo at an altitude of 7500 meters while ascending to the altitude of 8000 meters. This was the last communication from the aircraft and when the controller attempted to reach the aircraft at 04:30, no response was heard. [3][4] The No. 4 engine malfunctioned in such a way that it initiated reverse thrust causing severe drag on the right wing; pilots had to feather both propellers on the right wing because they could not figure out which propeller was responsible for the failure in time. The severe drag led to the aircraft descending sharply until it briefly retained controlled flight at altitudes between 150–200 meters; the harsh aerodynamic loads the aircraft endured tore off both ailerons and the aircraft then plummeted into the ground. The aircraft crashed into a field in Pestrechinsky at 04:30 at a speed of 500–600 km/h, killing all 67 people on board. [3]
The commission responsible for the investigation of the accident determined that the most likely cause of the accident was the failure of the No. 4 propeller pitch control mechanism on the right wing, which malfunctioned and created severe drag. The failure of the pitch control mechanism led to the subsequent failure of the speed regulator while in the lower position causing the screw to initiate thrust reversal. Because the crew was unable to establish which of the right props was causing drag, both propellers had to be feathered. The amount of drag on the right wing had put the aircraft in a sharp descent, in which the aircraft recovered from briefly before both ailerons tore off the aircraft and the aircraft crashed. Laboratory simulation showed that the failure of the pitch control mechanism was caused by a defect in the oil sealing rubber gasket on the oil transporter of the screw which was caused by incorrect assembly of the AV-68I propeller at the factory. The defect in the mechanism could not be detected in flight and only could be seen by examining the screw and checking it for defects during maintenance. [1][3][5]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
At least 34 dead, many feared buried in mud after Brazil dam collapse
|
by: Associated Press BRUMADINHO, Brazil — The death toll from the collapse of a dam holding back mine waste in southeastern Brazil rose to 34 on Saturday as searchers flying in helicopters and rescuers laboring in deep mud uncovered more bodies. An estimated 300 people were still missing and authorities expected the death toll to rise during a search made more challenging by intermittent rains. Romeu Zema, the governor of the state of Minas Gerais, warned that those responsible “would be punished.” Daily Folha de S.Paulo reported Saturday that the dam’s mining complex, owned and operated by Brazilian mining company Vale, was issued an expedited license to expand in December due to “decreased risk.” Preservation groups in the area say the approval was unlawful. In addition to the 34 bodies recovered as of Saturday afternoon, 23 people were hospitalized, said authorities with the Minas Gerais fire department. There had been some signs of hope earlier Saturday when authorities found 43 more people alive. Company officials also had said that 100 workers were accounted for. But the company said in a statement Saturday afternoon that 251 workers were still missing, while fire officials estimated 296 were still unaccounted for. Scores of families in the city desperately awaited word on their loved ones. For many, hope was fading to anguish. “I don’t think he is alive,” said Joao Bosco, speaking of his cousin, Jorge Luis Ferreira, who worked for Vale. “Right now I can only hope for a miracle of God.” Israel was sending a mission to help with rescue operations and provide aid, according to a statement Saturday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Netanyahu made the help offer during a call with President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been an enthusiastic ally of Israel. Bolsonaro, who assumed office Jan. 1, did a flyover Saturday of the area affected by the dam collapse. Vale workers were eating lunch Friday afternoon when the dam collapsed, unleashing a sea of reddish-brown mud that knocked over and buried several structures of the company and surrounding areas. The level of devastation quickly led Bolsonaro and other officials to describe it as a “tragedy.” “It’s distressing, maddening,” said Vanilza Sueli Oliveira, who was awaiting news of her nephew. “Time is passing. It’s been 24 hours already. Time is passing. I just don’t want to think that he is under the mud.” The rivers of mining waste raised fears of widespread contamination. According to Vale’s website, the waste, often called tailings, is composed mostly of sand and is non-toxic. However, a U.N. report found that the waste from a similar disaster in 2015 “contained high levels of toxic heavy metals.” Vale CEO Fabio Schvartsman said he did not know what caused the collapse. About 300 employees were working when it happened. “The principal victims were our own workers,” Schvartsman told a news conference Friday evening, adding that the restaurant where many ate “was buried by the mud at lunchtime.” After the dam collapsed Friday afternoon, parts of Brumadinho were evacuated, and firefighters rescued people by helicopter and ground vehicles. Several helicopters flew over the area on Saturday while firefighters carefully traversed heavily inundated areas looking for survivors. Rooftops poked above an extensive field of the mud, which also cut off roads. The flow of waste reached the nearby community of Vila Ferteco and a Vale administrative office, where employees were present. On Friday, Minas Gerais state court blocked $260 million from Vale for state emergency services and is requiring the company to present a report about how they will help victims. On Saturday, the state’s justice ministry ordered an additional $1.3 billion blocked. Another dam administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton collapsed in 2015 in the city of Mariana in Minas Gerais state, resulting in 19 deaths and forcing hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, it left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean. Schvartsman said what happened Friday was “a human tragedy much larger than the tragedy of Mariana, but probably the environmental damage will be less.” Sueli de Oliveira Costa, who hadn’t heard from her husband since Friday, had harsh words for the mining company. “Vale destroyed Mariana and now they’ve destroyed Brumadinho,” she said. “I need answers. I am desperate.” On Twitter, President Bolsonaro said his government would do everything it could to “prevent more tragedies” like Mariana and now Brumadinho. The far-right leader campaigned on promises to jump-start Brazil’s economy, in part by deregulating mining and other industries. Environmental groups and activists said the latest spill underscored a lack of regulation, and many promised to fight any further deregulation by Bolsonaro in Latin America’s largest nation. The latest spill “is a sad consequence of the lessons not learned by the Brazilian government and the mining companies responsible for the tragedy with Samarco dam, in Mariana, also controlled by Vale,” Greenpeace said in a statement. “History repeats itself,” tweeted Marina Silva, a former environmental minister and three-time presidential candidate. “It’s unacceptable that government and mining companies haven’t learned anything.”
|
Mine Collapses
| null | null |
Purley station rail crash
|
The Purley station rail crash was a train collision that occurred just to the north of Purley railway station in the London Borough of Croydon on Saturday 4 March 1989, leaving five dead and 88 injured. The collision was caused by the driver of one of the trains passing a signal at danger; he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 months in prison plus six months suspended, although this was reduced to four months upon appeal, and in 2007 overturned. The Department of Transport report noted that the signal had a high incidence of being passed at danger and recommended that an automatic train protection system should be introduced without delay and in the interim a repeater for the signal that had been passed be installed. On 4 March 1989 the 12:50 Horsham to London Victoria, consisting of a four-car class 423 electric multiple unit no. 3441, stopped at Purley railway station. As it left the station, it crossed from the slow line to the fast line as scheduled and at 13:39 was struck from behind by the following 12:17 Littlehampton to London Victoria, consisting of four-car class 421 units nos. 1280 and 1285. [1][2] The first six coaches of the Littlehampton train left the track and came off the embankment, killing five passengers and injuring 88. [3]
The first calls to the emergency services came from members of the public. [4] The driver of a light engine running on an adjacent track saw the collision and contacted the signalbox. The signalling equipment had been damaged in the collision and alarms had sounded in the box. The signalmen in the box spoke to railway control at Waterloo, but due to confusion about the location of the trains, police in East Sussex were first contacted. The collision had tripped circuit breakers controlling the DC traction current, but safety could not be assured as the supervisory circuits had been damaged. [5] The incident was attended by British Transport Police, the fire brigade and the ambulance service, and a police helicopter was used to fly doctors to the site. [6] Passengers who were able to walk were evacuated via Purley station, the last casualty being taken to hospital at about 15:15; the search however continued until 17:00. [7]
The railway was closed until 6 March, although the damaged vehicles that lay on the embankment side were not all removed until 9 March. The crossover was replaced, and normal operations were restored on 27 March. [3]
Before the Ministry of Transport report was published, Robert Morgan – the driver of the Littlehampton train – pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 months in prison plus six months suspended. [8]
The report, published in 1989, found no fault in the Littlehampton train or signalling system, and concluded that the driver had failed to keep the train's speed under control, missing the preceding caution signal and passing the danger signal protecting the Horsham train. [9] The line is equipped with four aspect colour light signalling[note 1] and British Rail's Automatic Warning System (AWS). [11] However the report noted that the signal had a high incidence of being passed at danger[12] – four drivers had previously passed the signal when at danger in the previous five years. [13] The AWS in use gave the same warning for either of the caution signals and danger, and was capable of being reset by a driver in a lapse of concentration. [12] The report recommended that an automatic train protection system should be introduced without delay, and in the interim a repeater for the signal that had been passed be installed. [14]
Morgan's sentence was later cut on appeal to four months, and on 12 December 2007 his conviction for manslaughter was overturned by the Court of Appeal, ruling the conviction unsafe as "something about the infrastructure of this particular junction was causing mistakes to be made" as new evidence showed that there had been four previous signals passed at danger at the same location in the five years before the crash. [15] He died in March 2009, aged 66, as a result of drowning whilst sailing in the River Medina on the Isle of Wight. [16]
A memorial garden was created at the station to commemorate the accident. [17]
|
Train collisions
| null | null |
2005 Logan Airport runway incursion crash
|
The 2005 Logan Airport runway incursion was a runway incursion incident and near collision that occurred at approximately 7:40 p.m. EDT on June 9, 2005 between US Airways Flight 1170 (US1170) and Aer Lingus Flight 132 (EI132). EI132 was an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, owned and operated by the Irish airline Aer Lingus, destined for Shannon, Ireland and carrying 12 crew members and 260 passengers. US1170 was a Boeing 737-300 US Airways flight destined for Philadelphia and carrying six crew members and 103 passengers. The near-collision took place on the runway at General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston, Massachusetts. In total, 381 people were on board the two aircraft. To reduce radio congestion and consequences resulting from pilot or controller error, airports with a large number of operations will typically split the tower (local) controller into two or more positions. This was the case on the evening of June 9, 2005 when the two incident flights were handled by different controllers. The local control west controller was responsible for Aer Lingus Flight 132 and the local control east controller was responsible for US Airways Flight 1170. [1]
At 19:39:10, Aer Lingus Flight 132 was cleared for takeoff from Runway 15R by local control west. Five seconds later, local control east cleared US Airways Flight 1170 for takeoff from Runway 9, which intersects with Runway 15R; the aircraft had essentially been sent on a collision course. With the airport terminals between the two aircraft as the takeoffs began, the flight crews could not initially see each other. [1]
During the takeoff roll, the US Airways first officer noticed the other plane and realized that they could collide. He realized that at the runway intersection both aircraft would be slightly airborne. Telling the captain to "keep it down," he pushed the control column forward. He was able to keep the aircraft from lifting off the runway, allowing it to reach the intersection and pass under the other aircraft as it took off. The two planes passed within an estimated 70 feet (21 m) of one another, with the Aer Lingus aircraft flying over the US Airways aircraft. According to the NTSB report, the US Airways flight had already achieved its V1 speed and could no longer safely abort takeoff. Therefore, the flight crew continued down the runway and lifted off after passing through the intersection. [1][2]
US Airways captain Henry Jones and first officer Jim Dannahower were later awarded a Superior Airmanship Award from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for their quick reactions and expert adjustment of their takeoff maneuver. [2]
The NTSB completed its investigation and found that the east tower controller had given the west tower controller permission for the Aer Lingus to depart on 15R. While coordinating other traffic, he forgot about releasing that aircraft and cleared the US Airways flight for takeoff. Local procedures required the east controller to wait until the departure on 15R had passed through the intersection before clearing the aircraft on Runway 9 for takeoff. The NTSB reported that the probable cause of the incident was that the east local controller failed to follow FAA Order 7110.65 and local procedures, which resulted in a runway incursion. [1]
After the incident, the Boston tower changed its procedures so that only the west local controller may initiate a departure on the crossing Runway 15R, and that once the east controller accepts the release, the aircraft must be cleared for takeoff within five seconds. Further, to reduce the chance of this type of incident happening again, aircraft must not be held on Runway 9 waiting for their takeoff clearance while there is a departure on 15R. Once the departure has cleared the intersection, local west must inform the east controller that the intersection has been cleared. [1]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
2008 San Diego F/A-18 crash
|
The San Diego F/A-18 crash was the crash of a United States Marine Corps (USMC) F/A-18 Hornet in a residential area of San Diego, California on December 8, 2008. The pilot, First Lieutenant Dan Neubauer (28) from VMFAT-101, was the only crewmember on board the two-seat aircraft; he ejected successfully, landing in a tree. The jet crashed into the University City residential area, destroying two houses and damaging a third. A total of four residents in one house, two adults and two children, were killed. A USMC investigation concluded that poor maintenance caused the engine malfunction. Errors by the pilot and USMC personnel on the ground led to the aircraft crashing into the San Diego residential neighborhood. As a result, in early 2009 the pilot was temporarily grounded and thirteen other officers and enlisted personnel were relieved and/or disciplined. The Marine Corps notified other F/A-18 squadrons of the engine and fuel problems discovered during the investigation. On December 8, 2008 Lt Neubauer was piloting an F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12), BuNo 164017,[4][5][6][3] from VMFAT-101, based at MCAS Miramar. Along with several other VMFAT-101 aircraft, he was conducting day and night carrier qualifications (catapult launches and tailhook arrested carrier landings) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln offshore 60 miles southwest of San Diego. [7] Neubauer was the only crewmember on board the two-seat aircraft. [3][8]
After taking off from the carrier at 11:11 a.m.,[9] Neubauer reported an oil caution light for the right engine, and shut it down after efforts to clear the problem failed. After declaring an emergency, he was first directed towards Naval Air Station North Island, but was redirected by superior officers to his home base of MCAS Miramar when about 50 miles (80 km) away from North Island. Neubauer attempted to make an arrested landing at Miramar but the jet lost power in its operating engine while on final approach. Eyewitnesses reported the jet flew slowly eastbound at a low altitude and was dumping fuel (which is not uncommon for an emergency landing). The pilot said that as he broke through the clouds at 2,500 feet (760 m), his left engine's thrust slipped dangerously low, and he unsuccessfully tried to restart the right engine. The left engine lost more thrust, before its generator dropped offline and the jet lost electrical power. [9]
The jet flew over University City High School and crashed into the residential area just past the school about two miles from the Miramar's runway 6L. [9] Neubauer waited "until the last possible moment" to eject from the plane, bailing out at an altitude of just 400 feet (120 m), having attempted to steer away from homes on the ground before the crash. [1][2][10] He ejected successfully, landing in a tree in Rose Canyon, just behind a home. The jet crashed into the University City residential area at Cather Ave and Huggins St (between the high school and exit 24 of Interstate 805), destroying two houses and damaging three others. A total of four residents in one house, two adults and two children, were killed. [11][12]
Neubauer was taken to a military hospital and treated for unspecified mild injuries,[13][14] and reported being "horrified" by the crash at that time. [9] Killed on the ground in one home were Youngmi Yoon, 36; her 15-month-old baby, Grace; her 2-month-old newborn daughter, Rachel; and her mother, Suk Im Kim, 60, who had recently arrived from South Korea to help care for her daughter's newborn. [9][10][15][16][17] The other house destroyed belonged to John and Sunny Wu, who lived there with their two daughters. None of the family was home at the time of the crash but the home and everything in it were lost. [12][18]
In the aftermath of the crash, University City residents renewed previous calls for the US military to relocate aircraft from the base to a more remote location. In a counterpoint, homeowners in University City signed disclosure forms saying they were aware of overflying jets and that this "...extraordinarily rare event...got enormous publicity [and] the risk of living in University City and having a plane fall on you is millions to one. "[19] Miramar was also the location of the Navy Fighter Weapons School before it was moved to the more remote Naval Air Station Fallon. Marine commanders apologized for the crash and defended the decision to order Neubauer to land at Miramar instead of North Island, which isn't surrounded by residences, stating that double-engine failures are extremely rare. Said Colonel Christopher O'Connor, Miramar's commander, "We are not contemplating changing our emergency procedures at this time. We very seldom fly over the area. We take being good neighbors very seriously. "[20]
On December 15, 2008, Marine officials stationed in South Korea helped receive Suk Im Kim's remains at Incheon International Airport and transport them to her home in Damyang. The next day, United States Forces Korea commander General Walter L. Sharp sent a delegation to Kim's home headed by Republic of Korea Army Major General Yong-goo Jang and U.S. Marine Corps Major General Frank Panther to express condolences to Kim's son-in-law, Dong-yun Yoon. [21]
As of July 2010, US$700,000 in claims had been paid by the government. [22][23] Youngmi Yoon's husband, Dong Yun, publicly forgave Neubauer during a news conference the day after the crash. [10] Said Sunny Wu of the crash, "I don't want to blame anybody. I think everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Just as long as you can learn from your mistake, it's fine. "[9]
In July 2010, represented by the Los Angeles law firm Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, Yoon sued Boeing and the United States government for $56M. In the suit, Yoon alleges that the government violated many of its procedures in its operation of the mishap aircraft and that Boeing was responsible for the defects in the aircraft's fuel systems which caused the crash. [22] Yoon later stated that the compensation offer from the US government for the loss of his four family members and his home was "insulting". Yoon's lawsuit against the US Navy was heard in a federal district court in San Diego in December 2011. [24] On 28 December 2011, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller awarded Yoon, his father-in-law, and mother-in-law's three adult children a total of $17.8 million in damage compensation from the U.S. government,[25] the highest wrongful death judgment against the United States and 20th highest verdict to date. [26]
The US government appealed the award, and the appellate decision is pending. [27][needs update]
The Wu family lived in a temporary home for two years until their home was rebuilt. Their homeowner's insurance did not cover all the cost of the reconstruction, temporary lodging expense, or replacement of all their lost possessions. More surprising, according to the Wu family, is that they have yet to receive any compensation from the US Navy. The family has filed a lawsuit against the US government for compensation for their damages.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Martha Stewart recovering from surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon
|
The “Martha Knows Best” host, 79, revealed that she is recovering from surgery to repair her ruptured Achilles tendon. Stewart told her Instagram followers that she underwent a three-hour operation at NYU Langone Health on Tuesday after injuring herself a while back. “Not the prettiest photo nor the happiest back story,” she captioned a picture of her bandaged leg on Wednesday. “Bad timing all around. Ruptured my Achilles’ tendon a while ago. Tried to get it to heal on its own to no avail.” The “Martha Bakes” star told fans that she has “to lay still with [her] leg elevated for two weeks.” After that, she needs “another two to four weeks [on] crutches,” she wrote. “Most such ruptures occur when dancing or playing sports. Mine was caused by a surprise step into a hole in the dark getting out of the car,” she explained. Stewart shared a photo of her bandaged foot in the air Wednesday. “Thank you NYU for attempting to make me whole again,” Stewart concluded her post. Other celebrities were quick to send well-wishes to the businesswoman after she shared the news. “Your [sic] still so sexy !!! so so so sexy!” Drew Barrymore commented. “Oh my dear!!! so sorry for that ! get well soon,” chef Geoffrey Zakarian wrote. Stewart later proved she was in good hands when she welcomed some medical advice from friend and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo. “Glad to hear you are on your way to a full recovery !!! Lots of love from your favorite fake doctor ❤️,” the actress, 51, commented.
|
Famous Person - Recovered
| null | null |
1988 Writers Guild of America strike
|
The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike was a strike action taken by members of both the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) against major United States television and film studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike, which ran from March 7 to August 7, 1988, affected production on movies and TV shows. At 153 days, it remains the longest strike in the history of the WGA, surpassing the 1960 strike by one week and the 2007–08 strike by seven weeks. Formal negotiations between the writers guilds and producers began in January 1988. The main disagreements[1][2] included:
The guilds' previous deal with producers expired on February 29, 1988. One day later, 96% of guild membership authorized a strike. On March 7, 1988, one day after rejecting a softened final offer from producers, 9,000 movie and television writers went on strike. [3] Negotiations took place during March and April under a federal mediator but broke off before resuming on May 23, again with a federal mediator. [2]
After intensive bargaining, producers made a "strike settlement offer" on June 16, 1988; the offer included an extended contract term (to four years) and expansion of creative rights, but still included the percentage-based residuals studios demanded and not a foreign residual increase writers demanded. The offer was turned down by the guilds' membership by a 3–1 margin. [2]
During July 1988, the Guild devised an interim contract. Membership approved it, and more than 150 smaller producers signed it. Major studios and outlets including Fox, Paramount, and the "Big Three" television networks refused projects from the independents who signed the deal, leading to the Guild filing an antitrust suit accusing 18 studios and networks of mounting an illegal boycott. Twenty-one dissident Guild members who still favored the June 16 offer filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board to seek invalidation of Guild rules that barred them from returning to work during a strike; some dissidents threatened to resign Guild membership and return to work if the strike was not settled by July 28. [2]
On July 23, 1988, formal bargaining resumed, again under the auspices of federal mediators; by July 30, however, talks collapsed, with studios threatening to not bargain any further and to concentrate on producing work with non-union scripts. Behind-the-scenes "shuttle diplomacy" involving Guild negotiators, studio heads, and emissaries began on July 31 in an effort to revive talks. Guild officials and studio representatives met on August 2 to discuss the proposals, and on August 3 announced a tentative deal. [2] While the new deal gave studios the sliding residual scale they sought for hour-long reruns, writers won a modest financial gain when hour-long shows were sold internationally. The writers also gained creative rights regarding original screenplays and TV movies. The Guild board approved the deal by a 26–6 vote; Guild membership also approved the deal (2,111 in favor, 412 against), and the strike formally ended on August 7, 1988. [4]
The writers' strike forced the major TV networks to hold off the start of their fall 1988 schedule later than usual; rather than the traditional late-September/early-October start, new and returning TV series' debuts were delayed until late October and into November (one NBC series, In the Heat of the Night, and one ABC series, Thirtysomething, did not start their second seasons until early December). In the interim, the networks had to rely on a hodgepodge of programming, including reruns, movies, entertainment and news specials, program-length political advertising, and unscripted original series (e.g. CBS' High Risk). Networks also benefited from sports programming, including NBC, which relied on the Summer Olympics in September and the World Series in October, and ABC, which in addition to its postseason baseball coverage, moved up the start time for the early weeks of Monday Night Football from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET (MacGyver, which normally aired at 8 p.m., was not yet ready with new episodes). The 1988–89 television season was the first of three television seasons to have its start delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major networks; the next two instances occurred in the 2001–02 season (due to the networks' news coverage of the September 11 attacks) and the 2020–21 season (due to the suspension of television productions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic). While waiting for their fall seasons to begin, the networks still had access to scripted original series. Despite refusing earlier in the summer to accept new projects from independents who settled with the Guild, TV networks gained a benefit from the Guilds' decision to offer independent contracts to producers, with the offers beginning in late May 1988. The agreements would allow producers and writers of such shows as The Cosby Show, A Different World, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Late Night with David Letterman to resume work. [2] Johnny Carson actually resumed work on The Tonight Show before the agreement, returning with the Guild's blessing on May 11, 1988 (after Tonight was in reruns since the strike's start) without writers and with his own material; David Letterman would follow suit, returning to Late Night on June 29. [5][6]
The strike also led to a revival of Mission: Impossible; ABC, in search of original content for Fall 1988, used reworked scripts from the original version of M:I and filmed them in Australia (where production costs at the time were lower than that in the Hollywood area), making the new M:I one of the first American commercial network programs to be filmed there. NBC took a similar approach with its new sitcom Dear John, using some reworked episodes that were from the original version that aired on Britain's BBC. CBS revived The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, nearly 20 years after throwing the duo off the air for poor taste, and gave them carte blanche to perform their own existing material. Soap operas continued to air during the strike; however, without experienced script writers many suffered in quality. At first most stories were dragged out for as long as possible, then plots lurched forward that did not leave shows in the best of shape, including Santa Barbara, which was already struggling in ratings as a result of Bridget and Jerome Dobson being fired. Saturday morning programming for the 1988–1989 season was mostly unaffected, as animation writers were not part of the strike; a notable exception was CBS' live-action series Pee-wee's Playhouse, which only had two new episodes and a prime-time Christmas special that season. The animation exemption also led to several animated specials being aired, including a new Peanuts miniseries (This Is America, Charlie Brown) and an adaptation of a Garfield book, Garfield: His 9 Lives. The strike significantly shrunk average television audiences, and had a lasting effect. The strike did not, as some later claimed, lead to the advent of reality television (which did not rise to its current level of popularity until over a decade later), mainly due to the fact that it began in the traditional summer "offseason" when little new scripted programming was being produced anyway. [7] One notable exception was COPS on the Fox television network, which was commissioned as the result of a strike and remained on Fox's Saturday night lineup until 2013 before moving to Spike, the current Paramount Network. The cancellations of Moonlighting[8] and Kate & Allie[citation needed] have been attributed in part to audience loss stemming from the shows' long hiatuses due to the writers' strike. The horror film Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers narrowly avoided the strike. Writer Alan B. McElroy had only 11 days in which to come up with the film's story and subsequently write the script. McElroy did just this and managed to turn the script in just hours before the strike commenced. [9]
The 1988 movie Earth Girls Are Easy was filmed during this strike; co-writer Charlie Coffey did not appear in the movie due to being on the picket lines. [citation needed]
According to the Ultimate James Bond DVD Collection, the movie Licence to Kill, starring Timothy Dalton, lost one of its co-writers, Richard Maibaum, so his partner Michael G. Wilson elected to finish the screenplay on his own. [10]
Sam Hamm turned in his script for 1989's Batman just days before the writer's strike began, and was unable to write further drafts due to his involvement. Director Tim Burton and others liked the script, but thought "something" was missing. As such he brought in Beetlejuice co-writers Warren Skaaren and Charles McKeown for rewrite work.
|
Strike
| null | null |
Morrison has red eyes!To forcibly take back Darwin Port, the United States is anxious to take over, but China does not agree
|
After tearing up the "Leading the Way" agreement between Victoria and China , Australia has intensified and started to focus on the economic agreement between Chinese companies and Western Australia, the 100-year lease of Darwin Port and other Sino-Australian economic agreements.
The relevant Australian authorities have issued a solemn reminder that the country has begun to review and may tear up the previously signed 99-year lease agreement for Darwin Port.
The stability of China's economy and the continuous expansion of China's consumer market are important reasons why other countries recognize Chinese companies. However, affected by the epidemic and other responsible factors, the progress of Chinese companies' overseas investment has not been smooth since last year. For example, the cooperation between China's Shandong Landbridge Group and the Port of Darwin in Australia.
In 2015, the Northern Territory Government of Australia issued a message to sell the 99-year lease of Darwin Port. After a series of competitions, Landbridge Group defeated more than 60 competitors around the world, signed a cooperation agreement with the Northern Territory Government and paid off. The 99-year rent was 506 million Australian dollars.
In accordance with the contract, Landbridge Group invested 20 million Australian dollars in five years to restart the construction of Darwin Port, greatly improving its transportation, deployment, and unloading capabilities. Two years after Chinese companies took over, Darwin's annual revenue reached 65 million Australian dollars, and by 2019 this figure had climbed to hundreds of millions of Australian dollars.
Australia was jealous after seeing the port's gains, and now regrets wanting to take back Darwin Port. In addition, everything began to change after Morrison came to power. Because Australia wanted to be among the world's powers, Morrison began to "follow" the United States. In order to "please" the United States, Morrison frantically challenged China's bottom line, slandered China, boycotted China, interfered with China, and other behaviors were all done by Australia!
The National Security Committee of Australia's Cabinet has ordered the Ministry of Defense to review the 99-year lease agreement between China and Australia, which will definitely bring losses to Landbridge Group. In desperation, Landbridge had to take the initiative to withdraw from this project ahead of time on the grounds of national security. Now Australia has torn up the agreement signed with China first, and then worrying about the Darwin port leased to China. The 99-year contract is wanted to be forcibly recovered after only 6 years.
In response, Shandong Landbridge Group, which leases Darwin Port, issued a statement stating that they had paid a total of A$506 million in rent for 99 years, signed a contract with Australia, and have the right to protect their legitimate rights and interests through legal procedures, including Claim compensation from Australia.
Because Australia has violated the treaty between the two parties, Australia needs to pay China 30 million U.S. dollars in liquidated damages and another 420 million U.S. dollars to buy the remaining 90 years of use rights. The total cost is as high as 2.9 billion yuan.
In the final analysis, Australia's daring to make such a move is behind the fact that the US, a financial and military complex industrial group disguised as a country, is interested in the use of this port, and at the same time, it uses the port construction completed by Chinese companies directly. Plenty of earning!
Australia's move has completely deviated from the scope of commercial behavior. If only Australia loses money, it will certainly not be painful. After all, the US banknote printing machine issued hundreds of billions of banknotes last year, which is not bad anymore. It can be said that the least valuable thing now is the US dollar! For China, the only way ahead of Australia is to withdraw the investigation of Chinese companies and restore all rights of Chinese companies in Darwin!
|
Tear Up Agreement
| null | null |
National Airlines Flight 83 crash
|
National Airlines Flight 83 was a United States domestic flight from Newark International Airport, serving New York City, to Philadelphia. On January 14, 1951, the Douglas DC-4 of National Airlines crashed on landing at Philadelphia International Airport. The aircraft over-shot the runway, ran into a ditch and caught fire. Of the 28 people on board, 7 were killed and 11 injured. One of the dead was the lone flight attendant, Frankie Housley, who had gone back into the burning aircraft to try to save more passengers. On arrival at Philadelphia International Airport, the pilots tried to land the aircraft too far down the runway, instead of aborting the approach. [1] The runway was icy; the aircraft over-shot, running through a fence and into a ditch. The left wing broke off, rupturing the gasoline tanks, and the airplane caught fire. Of 28 people on board, including 3 crew, 7 were killed, including two infants and the one flight attendant on board. [2]
Mary Frances "Frankie" Housley was the lone flight attendant on the flight. [2][3] She opened the emergency door and saw the ground eight feet below. Returning to the cabin, she helped passengers release their seat belts, guided them to the door and gave a gentle shove to those who were hesitant to jump. After seeing 10 people to safety, she returned to the cabin to try to rescue a baby. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of five women and two infants were found, including Housley with a four-month-old infant in her arms. [2][4]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Influence of leptospirosis
|
French Polynesia: After a peak at the end of April (W16-W17), the number of leptospirosis cases is decreasing; 2 cases were confirmed in weeks 25 and 26. The blue alert is removed from the map. – Source: Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°13 (period 21/06/2021 to 04/07/2021) sent on PacNet on 17 July 2021. New Caledonia: Leptospirosis cases have been decreasing since week 20; 1 case was reported in week 25 and 1 in week 26. The blue alert is removed from the map. – Source: Leptospirosis Situation as of 13 July 2021 accessed on 20 July 2021. Hepatitis A Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) New Zealand: An outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is currently ongoing across New Zealand. Weekly numbers reported by the national virus laboratory network started increasing sharply in June, reaching 735 cases for the week 27 ending 11 July 2021; total cases are 2,543. – Source: Laboratory-based Virology Weekly Report Week 27 ending 11 July, 2021, accessed on 20 July 2021. New Caledonia: The monthly number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases more than doubled between the months of May and June; total of 66 cases have been reported from 01 January 2021 to 11 July 2021. – Source: Bulletin Epidemiologique No. 59, 11 July 2021. Diarrhoea Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Australia: As of 19 July 2021, 32,017 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 914 deaths were reported in Australia. Local cases have been reported in the last 14 days. – Source: Department of Health, Australian Government accessed on 20 July 2021. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI): As of 20 July 2021, 188 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths were reported by CNMI. There has been no new local case reported for more than 42 days. – Source: Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation official Facebook page accessed on 20 July 2021. Fiji: As of 19 July 2021, 18,298 cases and 113 deaths have been reported in Fiji. There have been 18,228 cases and 111 deaths during the current outbreak that started in April 2021. – Source: Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services official Facebook page accessed on 20 July 2021. French Polynesia: As of 16 July 2021, 19,085 cumulative cases and 144 deaths have been reported in French Polynesia. Local cases have been reported in the past 14 days. – Source: Direction de la sante accessed on 20 July 2021. Guam: As of 19 July 2021, 8,478 confirmed and probable cases and 143 deaths were reported by Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS). Local cases have been reported in the past 14 days. – Source: Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services accessed on 20 July 2021. Hawaii: As of 19 July 2021, 39,386 cases of COVID-19 and 523 deaths were reported by Hawaii Department of Health. Local cases have been reported in the past 14 days. – Source: State of Hawaii, Department of Health accessed on 20 July 2021. New Caledonia: As of 20 July 2021, 129 COVID-19 cases (including 71 cases since 07 March 2021) have been reported by the New Caledonia Government. There has been no local case reported for more than 42 days. – Source: Government of New Caledonia accessed on 20 July 2021. New Zealand: As of 20 July 2021, 2,822 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 26 deaths were reported by New Zealand Ministry of Health. There has been no local case reported for more than 42 days. – Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health accessed on 20 July 2021. Papua New Guinea: As of 16 July 2021, there have been 17,467 confirmed cases and 187 deaths reported in PNG. Local cases have been reported in the past 14 days. – Source: Papua New Guinea Official COVID-19 Info website accessed on 20 July 2021. Republic of Marshall Island (RMI): As of 20 July 2021, 4 imported cases have been reported by Ministry of Health and Human Service. There has been no local case reported. – Source: RMI Ministry of Health and Human Services official Facebook page, accessed on 20 July 2021. Samoa: As of 20 July 2021, 1 imported COVID-19 case has been reported by the Samoan Government. There has been no local case reported. – Source: WHO COVID-19 Pacific Islands Situation Report accessed on 20 July 2021. Solomon Islands: As of 20 July 2021, 20 imported cases have been confirmed by the Solomon Islands government. There has been no local case reported. – Source: Solomon Islands Ministry of Health & Medical Services official Facebook page accessed on 20 July 2021. Solomon Islands (International Conveyance): One (1) positive case has been reported aboard the MV Vimaru Pearl in the Western Province, Solomon Islands. – Source: Media article 15 July 2021 accessed on 20 July 2021. Vanuatu: As of 20 July 2021, 3 imported cases have been reported by the Vanuatu Government. There has been no local case reported. – Source: Health Promotions Vanuatu Facebook post accessed on 20 July 2021. Wallis and Futuna: As of 20 July 2021, 454 COVID-19 cases (including 445 cases since 06 March 2021) and 7 deaths have been reported by the Wallis and Futuna Government. No cases have been reported for more than 42 days. – Source: Préfet de Wallis-et-Futuna official Facebook page accessed on 20 July 2021.
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
Western U.S. may be entering its most severe drought in modern history
|
Extreme drought across the Western U.S. has become as reliable as a summer afternoon thunderstorm in Florida. And news headlines about drought in the West can seem a bit like a broken record, with some scientists saying the region is on the precipice of permanent drought . That's because in 2000, the Western U.S. entered the beginning of what scientists call a megadrought — the second worst in 1,200 years — triggered by a combination of a natural dry cycle and human-caused climate change . In the past 20 years, the two worst stretches of drought came in 2003 and 2013 — but what is happening right now appears to be the beginning stages of something even more severe. And as we head into the summer dry season, the stage is set for an escalation of extreme dry conditions, with widespread water restrictions expected and yet another dangerous fire season ahead. NOAA The above image is a time series of drought in the western states from 2000 to 2021. This latest 2020-2021 spike (on the right) is every bit as impressive as the others, but with one notable difference — this time around, the area of "exceptional drought" is far larger than any other spike, with an aerial coverage of over 20%. As we enter the dry season, there is very little chance conditions will get better — in fact it will likely only get drier. With this in mind, there is little doubt that the drought in the West, especially the Southwest, this summer and fall will be the most intense in recent memory. The only real question: Will it last as long as the last extended period of drought from 2012 to 2017? Only time will tell. Right now, the U.S. Drought Monitor places 60% of the Western states under severe, extreme or exceptional drought. The reason for the extensive drought is two-fold; long term drying fueled by human-caused climate change and, in the short term, a La Niña event in which cool Equatorial Pacific waters failed to fuel an ample fetch of moisture. CBS News Consequently, this past winter's wet season was not very wet at all. In fact, it just added insult to injury, with only 25 to 50% of normal rainfall falling across much of the Southwest and California. This followed one of the driest and hottest summers in modern times, with two historic heat waves, a summer monsoon cycle that simply did not even show up and the worst fire season in modern times. The image below shows what is called the precipitation percentile from October through March, comparing this past six months to the same six-month stretch in each of the past 50 years. ClimateToolbox.org The light brown shading shows areas in which the most recent six-month stretch was in the driest 10% of the last 50 years. The dark brown shade indicates the areas which experienced their lowest precipitation on record during this latest six-month span. Almost all areas are covered by one of those two shades. Kelsey Satalino, the Digital Communications Coordinator from NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System, says that during the past few months, several states including Nevada , Arizona , New Mexico and Utah experienced their most intense period of drought since the Drought Monitor began back in 2000. As a result, soil moisture content is at its lowest levels in at least 120 years . The Pacific Northwest, however, is faring much different this season. The northern half of the West experienced normal to even above normal snowfall this winter, on par with what is expected during a typical La Niña event featuring a further north jet stream storm track. That good fortune did not extend further south, however, with most areas now at only 50 to 75% of normal snowpack. SNOTEL Since the West relies on melting snowpack to fill lakes, reservoirs and rivers, like the Colorado, water availability will be limited this summer. The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water for around 40 million people and 5 million acres of farmland. The amount of water flowing into Lake Powell, on the Arizona-Utah state line, in the coming months is only expected to be around 45% of the typical amount. Lake Meade, on the Arizona-Nevada state line, is only at 40% capacity. But this lack of snowpack is not a one-time issue; it is a trend. Over the past 40 years, snowpack has declined by about 25% over the Western states. Meanwhile, the population continues to increase. Thus, as of late, water demand has been outstripping what mother nature can deliver. Climate Central In general, these water woes are not expected to improve. While there will be wet years, the overall trend is towards drying. Scientists say this is a result of human-caused climate change, which is leading to less reliable rain and warmer temperatures — both consistent with what has been projected by climate computer models. The image below shows a clear trend toward worsening drought since 1900. Climate Central New research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that over the past several decades, precipitation has become more erratic and dry periods between rain storms have expanded. Even if rain or snow falls heavier, that's less important than consistency. Soil moisture and vegetation thrive on precipitation that is spread out more evenly over time, rather than heavy events which tend to run-off, resulting in wasted moisture. At the same time, temperatures across the Western U.S. have increased by a few degrees over the past 50 years. The warmer air provides more heat energy to evaporate moisture from vegetation and soil. As a result, the ground continues to dry out, providing flammable fuel for escalating fire seasons . In fact, 2020 was the worst fire season in the modern history of the West, with California and Colorado experiencing their largest fires on record. As can be seen in the below visual, the intensity of fires and acres burned tracks with increasing temperatures. Simply put, the warmer and drier it gets, the larger fires become.
|
Droughts
| null | null |
Justin and Hailey Bieber are one of the world's most famous couples. But their marriage hasn't been easy.
|
The singer, who was 24 at the time, tied the knot to model Hailey Bieber, then 21, in a courthouse wedding in September 2018, before marrying in front of family and friends during a lavish ceremony a year later. But while the world watched the young couple start a new life together as husband and wife, behind the scenes they were facing their own hurdles. "The first year of marriage was really tough because there was a lot, going back to the trauma stuff. There was just lack of trust," Justin shared in a recent interview with GQ. "There was all these things that you don’t want to admit to the person that you’re with, because it’s scary. You don’t want to scare them off by saying, ‘I’m scared.'" Watch: celebrity wedding first dance songs. Post continues below. But despite the challenges, the now 27-year-old told the publication he eventually started to 'believe'. "We’re just creating these moments for us as a couple, as a family, that we’re building these memories. And it’s beautiful that we have that to look forward to," he said. "Before, I didn’t have that to look forward to in my life. My home life was unstable. Like, my home life was not existing. I didn’t have a significant other. I didn’t have someone to love. I didn’t have someone to pour into. But now I have that." It's not the first time the Biebers have spoken about the difficulties in their marriage. During a 2019 interview with Vogue, Hailey said she was working hard to "build a healthy relationship" with Justin. "The thing is, marriage is very hard," the 24-year-old said. "It’s really effing hard." "I’m not going to sit here and lie and say it’s all a magical fantasy. It’s always going to be hard. It’s a choice. You don’t feel it every single day. "You don’t wake up every day saying, ‘I’m absolutely so in love and you are perfect.’ That’s not what being married is." In fact, the couple's relationship hasn't always been an easy one. Hailey was 12 years old when she met Justin back in 2009. It was actually her father, Stephen Baldwin, who introduced them. A few years later the pair ran into each other again at the premiere of Justin's documentary, Never Say Never, but it wasn't until 2016 when they confirmed they were casually seeing each other. That same year, Justin told GQ that Hailey is someone who he "really loves," but he didn't want to "commit" to anything too soon. "What if Hailey ends up being the girl I’m gonna marry, right? If I rush into anything, if I damage her, then it’s always gonna be damaged. It’s really hard to fix wounds like that. It’s so hard.… I just don’t want to hurt her." Somewhere between 2016 and 2018, Justin and Hailey decided to go their separate ways. The couple kept the details of their breakup relatively private. However, Hailey previously told Vogue that a "betrayal" of some sort occurred. "Negative things happened that we still need to talk about and work through," the model explained, without going into detail about what the betrayal was. "Fizzled would not be the right word—it was more like a very dramatic ex-communication." "There was a period where if I walked into a room, he would walk out." After their breakup, Justin briefly dated Sofia Richie before famously getting back together with his ex Selena Gomez. Fans who have been following the Justin and Selena saga know the pair were on-again and off-again for a few years after they were first linked together back in 2010. However, just two years later, the singers called it quits in 2012. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards. Image: Getty. When asked if she would get back with Justin in 2015, Selena said, "I don't know!" "I'll forever support him and love him in a way that... we grew up together," she told Elle at the time. Spoiler alert: they did get back together. And they continued an on-again and off-again relationship until March 2018. During their relationship, Justin said he acted "reckless". "In my previous relationship, I went off and just went crazy and went wild, just was being reckless," he told Glamour last year. In June 2018, Hailey and Justin were officially back together. The pair had run into each other at a conference in Miami hosted by Rich Wilkerson Jr, the pastor of Vous Church, who married Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. "By then we were past the drama," Hailey told Vogue. "I just gave him a hug. By the end of the conference, he was like, ‘We’re not going to be friends.’ I was like, ‘We’re not?'" At this stage, Justin was over a year into a period of celibacy, which he imposed on himself because of "a legitimate problem with sex". In July 2018, the singer popped the question during a trip to the Bahamas and three months later they married in a courthouse wedding. "Was gonna wait a while to say anything but word travels fast, listen plain and simple Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you! So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindly," Justin wrote on Instagram when he announced the engagement. The 27-year-old later told Vogue that wanting to have sex again after abstaining for over a year was part of the reason for their courthouse wedding, but it wasn’t the only reason. "When I saw her last June, I just forgot how much I loved her and how much I missed her and how much of a positive impact she made on my life. I was like, ‘Holy cow, this is what I’ve been looking for’." Justin also told GQ that he always felt "compelled" to get married. "I just felt like that was my calling. Just to get married and have babies and do that whole thing."
|
Famous Person - Marriage
| null | null |
1914 World Allround Speed Skating Championships
|
The 1914 World Allround Speed Skating Championships took place at 14 and 15 February 1914 at the ice rink Frogner Stadion in Kristiania, Norway. Oscar Mathisen was defending champion and succeeded in prolonging his title. Oscar Mathisen became World champion for the fifth time. He is together with Clas Thunberg and Sven Kramer holder of the record of fifth World Allround titles. Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com[1]
Four distances have to be skated:
The ranking was made by award ranking points. The points were awarded to the skaters who had skated all the distances. The final ranking was then decided by ordering the skaters by lowest point totals. One could win the World Championships also by winning at least three of the four distances, so the ranking could be affected by this. Silver and bronze medals were awarded.
|
Sports Competition
| null | null |
Two female CRISPR scientists make history, winning Nobel Prize in chemistry for genome-editing discovery
|
Take that, U.S. legal system. In a decision that reflects the views of many (but far from all) experts on genome editing, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Wednesday awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry to American biochemist Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, and French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, for their 2012 discovery that a bacterial immune system called CRISPR can be repurposed to edit DNA, the molecule of heredity.
The award smashed records and made scientific history as the only science Nobel ever won by two women. In an interview with reporters after the award was announced, Charpentier said that while she considers herself a scientist first, she is happy and a bit shocked that two women won the Nobel. “I think it’s very important for women to see a clear path. I think the fact that Jennifer Doudna and I were awarded this prize today can provide a very strong message for young girls,” she said.
advertisement
Doudna said: “I’m proud of my gender. I think it’s great, especially for younger women, to see this and to see that women’s work can be recognized as much as men’s.”
The prize also honored a scientific breakthrough that, compared to most recent Nobel-winning work, happened only yesterday: Charpentier published her first important CRISPR paper only in 2011 and met and joined forces with Doudna in March of that year (they met at a scientific conference in Puerto Rico and went for an intense walk on the beach), publishing their seminal paper in 2012. Their study showed that a bacterial enzyme called Cas9 could cut purified DNA floating (outside of cells) in test tubes. Crucially, Cas9 could be paired with custom-designed molecules called CRISPR-related RNAs that would lead the enzyme to any site on a DNA molecule like a bloodhound leading detectives to a fugitive.
advertisement
The discovery is so new that a bitter fight is still being waged over who deserves the key U.S. patents for CRISPR — with Charpentier and Doudna battling against Feng Zhang of the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Mass., who was conspicuously ignored by the Nobel committee.
“Genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 is certainly on the list expected to be recognized and Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna did make the initial discoveries,” biochemist Jeremy Berg, professor of computational and systems biology at the University at Pittsburgh and former director of the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, told STAT. “I remember seeing Professor Doudna give a lecture at a meeting shortly after the CRISPR genome editing had been discovered and walking out thinking, ‘this is a big deal and will be revolutionary.’ Of course, this prize will lead to controversy, given the patent dispute about CRISPR, but it is clear to me that the crucial discoveries were made by Charpentier and Doudna and their co-workers.”
The work unleashed a genome-editing frenzy. Scientists around the world dropped what they had been working on and became genome editors, using the technique to delete or change specific “letters” in DNA much like a word processing program changes the letters of a document.
Although CRISPR would turn out to be much less precise than Word, it has nevertheless revolutionized genetics. It allows scientists to edit genes in order to probe their role in health and disease and to develop genetic therapies that, proponents (and investors in CRISPR companies) hope, will prove safer and more effective than the first generation of gene therapies.
In just the six years since, scientists building on the laureates’ work got CRISPR to edit DNA in human cells growing in a dish, the companies CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex have launched clinical trials using CRISPR to cure sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, while Editas Medicine is working on a clinical trial using CRISPR to cure a form of congenital blindness. Many other human studies are in the planning stages, with the goal of curing diseases as different as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes, hemophilia, and more.
The diversity of diseases that might one day be cured with CRISPR reflects the fact that so many are caused by a DNA mutation and therefore could, scientists hope, be cured by correcting that mutation.
CRISPR can do that in either of two ways. It consists of a guide molecule (RNA) plus an enzyme that cuts DNA. Once the guide leads the enzyme to the site of the disease-causing mutation in the genome of cells, the enzyme cuts out the problematic chunk of DNA. The CRISPR molecules can stop there, if removing the DNA is enough to cure a disease. Alternatively, they can carry an additional molecule, a repair gene, so that when the misspelled DNA is deleted then correct, non-mutated, healthy DNA can be slipped into the site on the genome where it had been and take its place.
This genetic magic holds the promise of curing not only adults and children — including of devastating brain disorders such as Rett syndrome that might seem beyond the reach of any fixes after birth — but also of fetuses and embryos. If CRISPR can be slipped into an IVF embryo that carries a mutation that causes, say, Huntington’s disease or sickle cell or virtually any other genetic disorder, then the embryo will develop into a child who is spared that disease.
That DNA change would land in virtually every one of the embryo’s, and therefore the newborn’s, cells, including those that produce eggs and sperm. As a result, those cells would be free of, say, the Huntington’s disease mutation, meaning any future children would not carry it either; a dread disease would have been eliminated from a family that might have been devastated by it for generations.
But such “germline genome editing” could be carried out for characteristics that have nothing to do with disease. Doudna was so concerned about the possibility of using CRISPR to create “designer babies” that she led efforts to get experts to come to grip with that prospect — though she now says she supports germline editing for therapeutic purposes. A 2017 report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences concluded that there are no ethical or scientific reasons to bar such germline editing for therapeutic purposes, but not for “enhancement.”
A roundup of STAT's top stories of the day.
Chinese scientist He Jiankui stunned the world in November 2018 when he announced he had created the world’s first “CRISPR babies,” twin girls whose genomes had been edited when they were IVF embryos. He was immediately condemned by the scientific community for flouting ethical guidelines for embryo editing. Nearly two years later, an international group of experts warned that such human experimentation should not be conducted due to unresolved scientific and ethical issues. The commission did lay out steps scientists should take before pursuing germline editing, should countries ever start to allow the procedure.
The development of CRISPR has been somewhat marred by an ugly legal battle over who owns the foundational patents on the discovery. A few months after Doudna and Charpentier’s breakthrough, scientists led by the Broad’s Zhang and, separately, George Church of Harvard University made CRISPR edit the genomes of living human cells in lab dishes.
Church told STAT he thinks the Nobel Committee made “a terrific choice,” one he didn’t find tremendously surprising, given the multiple awards that the pair has picked up in chemistry and biology. “But definitely, they made the key discovery,” he said, which was that “you can program … an enzyme, Cas9, to cleave at a particular place in DNA.”
Eric Lander, founder of the Broad, cheered the award winners in a tweet Wednesday morning.
During a Zoom conference call with reporters, Doudna responded to Lander’s message: “I’m deeply grateful for the acknowledgement from Eric. It is an honor to receive his words.”
Because of a quirk in the U.S. patent process, the Broad received patents on Zhang’s discovery in 2014 but the University of California did not. UC challenged that decision, but lost before a patent office appeal board as well as in a federal appeals court in 2018. Last year the U.S. Patent Office began hearing a second Broad/UC patent dispute, and in a bit of a bombshell ruled last month that Doudna and colleagues had not demonstrated that CRISPR-Cas9 could edit plant and animal genomes in 2012, as their patent applications claim, and did not do so until January 2013. Zhang, the patent panel said, did so in December 2012.
Asked whether the Nobel would have any impact on the patent dispute, Doudna said “probably it won’t, but I think I’m just pleased the technology continues to be advancing quickly. … We are seeing already some [progress ] to make people’s lives better, including people affected by genetic disease.”
Only three people can share a Nobel, and naming just two collaborators appears to pick one camp. CRISPR has more mothers and fathers than Doudna and Charpentier, who have won a slew of predictive prizes for their work turning a bacterial immune system into a DNA editor. For example, Virginijus Šikšnys of Vilnius University shared the 2018 $1 million Kavli Prize in nanoscience for his CRISPR work. And Zhang of the Broad is more widely cited than the above three, another measure of impact.
A roundup of STAT's top stories of the day.
“In any prize in the world of science, there are many people who contribute along the way and that certainly is true in the case of CRISPR,” Doudna said. She mentioned Jillian Banfield’s early studies as well as work from Rodolphe Barrangou, Luciano Marraffini, and Erik Sontheimer.
Šikšnys called the Nobel Prize committee’s decision “a well deserved recognition for the field.”
As for the selection of only Charpentier and Doudna, “This is a question that should be probably addressed to the Nobel Prize committee,” he said in an email interview. “Science these days is a team effort and many scientists contributed to the CRISPR-Cas field. Different people and prize committees may have different opinions, but the the Nobel Prize committee made its choice.”
The chemistry Nobel has set records previously. When Marie Curie won it in 1911 for her discovery of the radioactive elements radium and polonium, she became the first scientist to snare two Nobels. With her husband Pierre, she’d won the 1903 physics prize for studies of the radiation spontaneously emitted by radioactive atoms.
Doudna and Charpentier bring the grand total of women who have won the chemistry prize to seven. The tally for men is 185.
The two laureates will share a prize of 10 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.07 million.
Senior Writer, Science and Discovery (1956-2021)
Sharon covered science and discovery.
Morning Rounds writer
Liz is the author of STAT's Morning Rounds newsletter.
CRISPR
research
TRY STAT+
Read Now
This is great news! If you are interested in learning more about gene editing, the amazing work done by Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, and the potential applications of gene editing, please check out my new book, CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA (Annick, 2020). The book is aimed at teen readers but it’s a great cross over for adults new to the subject and includes a in depth discussion on the ethical implication of this technology. http://yolandaridge.com/nonfiction/crispr/
As a clinical investigator who has been following CRISPR cas9 since the early reports, and as the father of three daughters, I’m elated over the accomplishments and recognition of these two scientists and their colleagues. The future issues of their work will be, as is true of almost all basic science discoveries, how it will be used. The ethical and legal considerations will be profound, but should not detract from the incredible good for patients with genetic disorders and their families that their discoveries may permanently cure.
A patent invention, on the other hand, it’s more than just a nice theory, the inventors have to reduce theory to practical application. Following Doudna and Charpentier patent applications, one can not actually perform much of CRISPR work today. Patent office is absolutely correct to award Zhang group as true inventors.
A lot of people are confusing a patent invention with a scientific invention. Clearly, Doudna and Charpentier made first scientific discovery and deserve the Noble prize.
However, without Zhang’s work, CRISPR probably just remains a nice concept without many, many practical uses. Zhang’s work is truly revolutionary and makes CRISPR to realize its potential as of today. In terms of impact, Zhang’s work is clearly bigger than Doudna and Charpentier’s, for this reason, Zhang should have been given the Nobel prize, especially since there is a slot available, giving it to Zhang would not have caused any problem. Noble awards have recognized significant impact before, why not now, one has to wonder if racism does play a role here? Nobel committee made a same choice with last year’s award, ignoring another scientist with Chinese origin.
(SIGH) Racist white people at it again. Regardless, profit from EDIT stock now!
As a molecular biochemist in academia, I have to add my two cents about this. Professor Zhang most certainly should have won this prize. Without his contributions, the prize would not have been given at all in 2020. It would have been at least another decade until the CRISPR technology would have been sufficiently developed for this prime time coverage. On a separate but related note, I have personally met a few on the Nobel committees, including chemistry. They are ALL middle aged white Swedish men not acutely aware of their own implicit biases against non-white europeans winning the prize. They have an atrocious track-record on this front, and the prize should always be viewed through this lens, not as some larger than life bellwether of scientific success.
Wow, you did this so fast and it is so superb! Hats off….
Comments are closed.
By Isabella Cueto By Megan Molteni advertisement
By Rachel Cohrs By Rachel Cohrs By Erin Brodwin Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine
|
Awards ceremony
| null | null |
Pittman and Paul Gatward welcome their first child on last December
|
The 39-year-old champion hurdler shared the happy news today via New Idea , telling the magazine that she was excited yet worried about the "logistical nightmare" over the coming arrivals. "I never thought I'd have six children, I don't know how we are going to cope," she told the publication, before joking, "How will we all fit into my car? I can see life is going to be a logistical nightmare." READ MORE: Moana Hope's big step towards second child Just last December, Pittman welcomed her first child with businessman husband Paul Gatward, a son named Charlie. The athlete-turned-doctor has four children — 14-year-old son Cornelis from her marriage to first husband and former coach, Chris Rawlinson and two daughters, Emily, six, and Jemima, four, who were born via IVF through an anonymous sperm donor. Pittman is now 11 weeks along and says she is feeling constantly nauseous in her pregnancy. The star told New Idea that she didn't experience morning sickness in her previous pregnancies and so she seriously "pondered if I had twins on board". READ MORE: Shannen Doherty opens up about losing her hair in chemotherapy In fact, it was during one bout of morning sickness that she was forced to tell her hospital colleagues she was pregnant. Pittman had originally planned to reveal the news at a later stage. "I was in surgery, trying hard to concentrate. Just as we closed up the patient, who was in for a caesarean, I walked away from the table and threw up," admits the junior doctor. "It went all over my mask, up into my goggles and peppered my face shield, to the point that I couldn't see, and a nurse had to lead me away from the table. It was then that I admitted to my boss that I was pregnant."
|
Famous Person - Marriage
| null | null |
1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake
|
The 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake occurred on July 17 with a moment magnitude of 7.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The event occurred on a reverse fault near the north coast region of Papua New Guinea, 25 kilometers (16 mi) from the coast near Aitape, and caused a large undersea landslide which caused a tsunami that hit the coast, killing between at least 2,183 and 2,700 people and injuring thousands. The earthquake occurred at 6:49pm local time (UTC+10) along the boundary of the Australia and the Pacific tectonic plates. The tsunami was originally thought to have been caused by a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) vertical drop in the Pacific Plate along a 25 mi (40 km) long fault. [5] Later work suggested that in fact a massive underwater landslide had occurred. [6]
The tsunami raised awareness among scientists of the potential for small earthquakes to trigger large tsunamis, if they cause undersea landslides. It is now recognised that such events can be very dangerous, as the earthquake may be too small to be felt on land, or detected by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Any resulting tsunami can thus appear without warning. The earthquake consisted of a main shock and several aftershocks that were felt in several towns in the area around the epicenter. The main shock caused some minor damage to the 62-year-old church at the Sissano Mission, and was strong enough that many people in Malol, Arop, and Warapu left their houses because the shaking lasted for so long. Cracks in the ground formed in Arop and Warapu. [7]
A few minutes after the earthquake, many residents reported hearing a loud clap as the tsunami approached the shoreline. [7] The tsunami resulted in at least 2,200 people being killed, thousands being injured, about 9,500 homeless and about 500 missing. [8] The maximum height of the waves was estimated at being 15 m (49 ft) high with an average height of 10.5 m (34 ft). [8][9]
The area worst hit was a 30 km (19 mi) coastal strip running north-west from Aitape to the village of Sissano. Several villages in the path of the tsunami were completely destroyed and others extensively damaged. The tsunami wave uprooted entire buildings and transported their foundations 50–60 metres (160–200 ft) from their original location [7] The village of Arop was situated on a narrow spit between the coast and Sissano Lagoon. It was directly in the path of the tsunami and was worst hit. Immediately after the tsunami the Royal Australian Air Force flew in three C-130 Hercules transport planes with relief supplies. [10] In the days following more relief was flown in and a field hospital was set up in the neighbouring town of Vanimo. [10] The amount of injury and illness due to the tsunami overwhelmed the makeshift hospitals, leaving many victims with wounds that were untreated for several days and led to gangrene. [11] Rotting dead bodies that remained in the lagoon spread diseases and the government sealed off the entire area. After the makeshift hospital in Vanimo was dismantled, the sick people became worse as the nearest hospital was over a day's walk away. Several villages moved their buildings slightly further back from the sea when they eventually rebuilt. [12] Scientists from the University of Papua New Guinea initiated a public awareness program for the residents of the coastal area affected by the tsunami, to tell them that scientific models have concluded that the geology of the surrounding area causes the destructive waves to focus their energy on that area, making it a very dangerous place to live. The scientists also recommended that the Papua New Guinea government improve the escape routes for the villages and improve the tsunami warning system. [13] The country does not have a communications plan put in place, according to the UN Development Project's country report on Disaster Management. [14] According to the National Research institute, there are still no roads to the villages of Arop and Warapu. Also, the Sepik highway that connects to Aitape does not connect with the village of Vanimo. [15]
Sources
|
Earthquakes
| null | null |
Former executive director of Eden Chamber charged in connection to financial irregularities
|
EDEN — The former executive director of the Eden Chamber of Commerce has been charged in connection with financial irregularities discovered earlier this year.
Jennifer Barton, 47, of Eden is charged with seven counts each of larceny by employee and obtaining property by false pretenses, Eden police said Tuesday in a news release.
Support Local Journalism
{{featured_button_text}}
Police began investigating in August after the chamber filed a complaint following an internal audit. The audit was ordered after the chamber’s board discovered irregularities in their financial accounts.
Chairman T. Edwards said in an Aug. 20 news release that the irregularities had been discovered by the chamber’s board of directors after regular post-pandemic board meetings were resumed. Edwards said at that time that Barton resigned after the irregularities were discovered.
Barton received a $10,000 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear Nov. 8 in Rockingham County District Court in Wentworth.
|
Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate
| null | null |
India records 33,376 new coronavirus cases, 308 deaths take total toll to 4,42,317
|
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease increased to 3,23,74,497, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.33 per cent, the data showed. NEW DELHI: India saw a single-day rise of 33,376 coronavirus infections, taking the overall tally of cases to 3,32,08,330, while the number of active cases increased marginally since Friday to stand at 3,91,516, according to the Union Health Ministry. The death toll climbed to 4,42,317 with 308 daily fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am. The number of active cases have increased to 3,91,516, comprising 1.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.49 per cent, the health ministry said. An increase of 870 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. On Friday, the country had recoded 3,90,646 active cases. Also, 15,92,135 tests were conducted Friday, taking the total cumulative tests conducted so far for the detection of COVID-19 in the country to 54,01,96,989. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. 33,376 new #COVID19 cases, 32,198 recoveries and 308 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 11, 2021 The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.10 per cent. It has been less than 3 per cent for the past 12 days. The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 2.26 per cent. It has been below 3 per cent for the past 78 days, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease increased to 3,23,74,497, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.33 per cent, the data showed. The cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide drive has crossed 73.05 crore, according to the ministry. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of 2 crore cases on May 4 and 3 crore on June 23. The 308 new fatalities include 177 from Kerala, and 44 from Maharashtra. A total f 4,42,317 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 1,38,061 from Maharashtra, 37,472 from Karnataka, 35, 119 from Tamil Nadu, 25,083 from Delhi, 22,864 from Uttar Pradesh, 22,303 from Kerala and 18,553 from West Bengal.
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
-
|
ROME — The Obama administration intends to use some of the billions of dollars in frozen assets belonging to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and his government to provide humanitarian and other assistance to Libyans affected by the ongoing civil war, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday. The move, announced at a high-level meeting here on how to shore up Libya’s bedraggled rebels, appeared to be the first time a country has sought to tap some of the massive Libyan wealth blocked by U.N. sanctions in February. Clinton, speaking with leaders from NATO and Arab countries, said the Obama administration would seek congressional approval to allocate the frozen funds — a standard legal procedure under U.S. law. She did not say how much money was involved, or whether it would go to the rebels battling Gaddafi’s forces or to international humanitarian organizations. The rebels have begged foreign countries to transfer them the money, saying they are running out of cash as they attempt to create a government and army that can stand up to Gaddafi and his forces.
“We urge all our partners to join in increasing the pressure on Gaddafi, to sharpen the choice for him and those around him, and to provide much-needed support to the opposition,” Clinton told a closed-door meeting, according to a transcript provided by her staff.
A NATO bombing campaign of nearly seven weeks has bolstered the rebels, allowing them to hold on to eastern Libya and the western city of Misurata in the face of superior Libyan army firepower. But, with the two forces increasingly bogged down in a stalemate, the United States and its allies are trying to find new ways to squeeze Gaddafi, who has been in power for 41 years.
Rebel leaders say they need $2 billion to $3 billion to keep the economy afloat in the areas they control — to buy gasoline, to pay salaries to the large number of government workers and to purchase food. U.S. officials have privately questioned that figure.
Nonetheless, Clinton and senior European and Arab officials are eager to agree on a fund or other mechanism that will allow the rebels to borrow money abroad, receive donations and eventually accept payments for oil they sell. “There is an effort, with urgency, to meet the request the TNC is making,” Clinton told reporters, referring to the rebels’ Transitional National Council. But she urged patience. Although there appears to be support in Congress to unblock some of the Gaddafi regime’s assets—which total more than $30 billion in the United States alone — it is not clear how long it will take for legislation to pass.
The Rome meeting is also expected to set up a fund, jointly managed by the coalition and rebel government, to receive donations from foreign governments for the fighters.
The rebels had hoped foreign governments would simply provide them with the overseas frozen assets belonging to Gaddafi and his regime. But several European countries expressed concern that such a transfer would violate their laws. The rebels now hope to borrow money from abroad, using the blocked assets as collateral.
Jalal el Gallal, a spokesman for the rebel-led government in eastern Libya, called Clinton’s announcement “a very kind gesture .”
Gallal said establishing lines of credit secured by the frozen assets would be more expensive than transfering the funds directly to the rebels. But, he said, it also would ensure that the assets remain “the property of all Libyans, not just the Libyans in the liberated territories.”.
In Benghazi, the de facto rebel capital, citizens welcomed Clinton’s announcement and said they need funds urgently. “We need this money because we are very poor here now,” said Darine Kattab, 32, a communications engineer who earns $156 a month, “Gaddafi stole all our money for him and his family.”
In Rome, Clinton called on other countries to follow the U.S. example in providing non-lethal aid to the rebels. The Obama administration is sending about $25 million worth of equipment from U.S. military stocks — boots, tents, body armor and the like. It is expected to arrive in Benghazi “in the coming days,” Clinton said. Diplomats say Thursday’s gathering of senior officials from NATO and Arab countries, as well as members of Libya’s rebel government, is important not only for sustaining the Libya campaign but for sending a unified message that Gaddafi must go.
“If we were to legitimize Gaddafi by letting him partition the country, what message would that send to Assad and Saleh?” a Western diplomat said, referring to the leaders of Syria and Yemen, who have tried to crush anti-government protests in their own countries. “We have to show them that brutal repression will not be tolerated.”
The Western and Arab alliance is attempting to increase pressure on Gaddafi in three ways: militarily, through strikes on command-and-control facilities in the Libyan capital; financially, through increased sanctions; and politically, by supporting the rebels’ creation of a governing structure. British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tuesday that his government was looking at ways to further tighten sanctions on oil sales by Gaddafi’s government, “to make sure this regime comes to its senses and realizes it cannot go on terrorizing its own people.”
Oil sales in recent years have made up 95 percent of Libya’s export earnings and three-quarters of its government receipts. The rebels have exported a small amount of petroleum, but they have been unable to pump significant amounts at oil fields they control because of war-related damage and the threat of more violence.
|
Diplomatic Talks _ Diplomatic_Negotiation_ Summit Meeting
| null | null |
2008 Dodecanese earthquake
|
The 2008 Dodecanese earthquake occurred near Kattavia on the island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on 15 July. The quake struck at 06:26 a.m. local time (UTC+3) and one woman was killed when she slipped and fell as she tried to flee her home. [3] However, the earthquake did not cause any major damage. The earthquake was felt across the entire eastern Mediterranean, as far west as Libya, and inland as far as Damascus. [4]
There was a significant aftershock the next day, 16 July, at 02:52 a.m. local time, which resulted in additional injuries. [6] The aftershock was rated 4.8 Mw[7][8]
|
Earthquakes
| null | null |
2018 Jordanian protests
|
The 2018 Jordanian protests started as a general strike organized by more than 30 trade unions on 30 May 2018 after the government of Hani Mulki submitted a new tax law to Parliament. The bill followed IMF-backed austerity measures adopted by Mulki's government since 2016 that aimed to tackle Jordan's growing public debt. Although Jordan had been relatively unscathed from the violence that swept the region following the 2011 Arab Spring, its economy had taken a hit from the surrounding turmoil and from an influx of a large number of Syrian refugees into the country. Jordan also hosts a large contingent of Iraqi and Palestinian refugees, further straining its finances. The UNHCR places Jordan as the world's second largest host of refugees per capita. [1]
The day following the strike on 31 May, the government raised fuel and electricity prices responding to an increase in international oil prices. This led to crowds of protesters pouring onto the 4th circle, in Amman, near the Prime Ministry's offices that night. Other Jordanians also gathered across the country in protest of the measure in unprecedented large numbers. On 1 June King Abdullah intervened and ordered the freeze of the price hikes; the government acquiesced but said the decision would cost the treasury $20 million. The protests continued for four days until Mulki submitted his resignation to the King on 4 June, and Omar Razzaz, his Education Minister, became Prime Minister. Protests only ceased after Razzaz announced his intention of withdrawing the new tax bill. The protests have not been led by traditional opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood or leftists, but by diverse crowds from the middle and poor classes. Although some protesters set aflame tires and blocked roads multiple nights, protests were largely peaceful and few casualties were reported. They were staged after daylight hours as it was during the month of Ramadan. Jordan's total foreign debt in 2011 was $19 billion, representing 60% of its GDP. In 2016, the debt reached $35.1 billion representing 93% of its GDP. [2] This substantial increase is attributed to effects of regional instability stemming from the Arab Spring causing: decrease in tourist activity; decreased foreign investments; increased military expenditure; attacks on Egyptian gas pipeline supplying the Kingdom; the collapse of trade with Iraq and Syria; expenses from hosting 1.4 million Syrian refugees and accumulated interests from loans. [2] According to the World Bank, Syrian refugees have cost Jordan more than $2.5 billion a year, amounting to 6% of the GDP and 25% of the government's annual revenue. [3] Foreign aid covers only a small part of these costs, while 63% of the total costs are covered by Jordan. [4]
King Abdullah had warned in January 2016 that Jordanians have reached “a boiling point”, and called on donor countries to provide more to Jordan to help it cope with the crises. He told the BBC in an interview that "in the psyche of the Jordanian people I think it's gotten to a boiling point, sooner or later the dam is going to burst. "[5] Jordan has historically welcomed refugees—Palestinians in 1948 and 1967, Iraqis during the American invasion and now Syrians, who make up about 20 percent of Jordan's then 9.5 million population—and, according to Abdullah, "For the first time, we can't do it any more. "[6][7] The UNHCR places Jordan as the world's second largest host of refugees per capita. [1]
Rising Jordanian public debt led Prime Minister Hani Mulki in 2016 to negotiate a 3-year program $732 million loan facility with the International Monetary Fund, which would see the public debt falling from 95% of the GDP to 77% by 2021. [8] The austerity program raised prices on several food staples in 2016 and 2017, making him very unpopular in the country. [9] The programme succeeded in preventing the debt from rising above 95% in 2018, however, it strained Jordan's weak economy. [10]
Furthermore, worsening Jordan's conditions is a decision by Persian Gulf countries, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to withhold $1 billion in annual economic assistance that were directed towards the creation of jobs and economic growth hampered the finances of Jordan, which lacks the natural resources of its neighbors, amassing an unemployment rate of 18% and a much higher poverty rate. [11]
A 22 March 2018 report by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace commented on Mulki's policies: "Mulki declared openly that his predecessors had left the country at the brink of insolvency and that the failure to take tough revenue-raising measure would lead to a debt crisis which would destroy the country. And he is correct. What is more doubtful is Mulki’s assertion that Jordan “will get out of the bottleneck” in 2019. While the measures to raise taxes and reduce subsidies buy time, they leave Jordan struggling to stay afloat and dependent on the continued flow of extensive aid. "[12]
On 22 May, the Jordanian Cabinet approved a new draft law proposing changes to the 2014 income tax law. The draft aimed to fight tax evasion and to raise taxes on some sectors and individuals. [13]
The protests started as a general strike organized by more than 30 trade unions on 30 May 2018 after the new tax bill was submitted to Parliament. The day following the strike on 31 May, the government raised fuel and electricity prices responding to an increase in international oil prices. [14] This led to crowds of protesters pouring onto the 4th circle, in Amman, near the Prime Ministry's offices that night. Other Jordanians also gathered across the country in protest of the measure in unprecedented large numbers. Although protests have been largely peaceful and staged after daylight hours during Ramadan, some protesters set aflame tires and blocked roads multiple nights. These protests have not been led by traditional opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood or the leftists, but by diverse crowds from the middle and poor classes. [11] On 1 June King Abdullah intervened and ordered the freeze of the price hikes; the government acquiesced but said the decision would cost the treasury $20 million. [15] The protests continued for four days until Mulki submitted his resignation to the King on 4 June, and Omar Razzaz, his Education Minister, was appointed Prime Minister. [16]
It was reported on June 6 that hundreds were still protesting in Amman. [17] The same day, some trade unions organized a national walkout, while others pulled out following the appointment of Razzaz. [17] This walkout included shops, universities, offices, schools and hospitals. [18][19][17]
On June 7, Omar Razzaz met with the trade union leaders and agreed to withdraw the proposed tax bill as soon as a new cabinet was sworn in. [20] Following this announcement, protests in Amman's 4th circle area came to a halt. [21]
Leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait invited King Abdullah on June 11 to a summit in the Saudi capital. It was announced that the Gulf countries promised $2.5 billion in direct and indirect aid over the course of 5 years. Most of the amount was promised to be deposited at the Central Bank of Jordan to support Jordan's share of foreign currency, while the rest would go to development projects and a smaller portion to direct budgetary support. [22]
Qatar, which Jordan withdrew its ambassador from in June 2017 as part of the boycott of Qatar led by Saudi Arabia, sent its foreign minister three days later to announce $500 million worth of investments in Jordan.
|
Protest_Online Condemnation
| null | null |
Phivolcs to launch 1st cluster hub for earthquake, tsunami
|
MANILA – The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology andSeismology (DOST-Phivolcs) will inaugurate its Mindanao Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCMCET) on Friday (Sept. 24) via Zoom. The ceremony will be facilitated through the InfoSentro sa Phivolcs online press conference. The establishment of the cluster center in the Davao Seismic Station is one of the Institute’sstrategies to ensure service continuity of its national earthquake and tsunami monitoringoperations in cases of major disruptions in key operations of the Phivolcs Data ReceivingCenter (DRC) in Quezon City. It is located within the Southern Mindanao Campus of the Philippine Science High School in Mintal, Davao City. As a backup site for the Phivolcs DRC, it is capable of issuing and disseminating earthquake and tsunami information to the public. The cluster center also manages the earthquake and tsunami monitoring stations in Mindanao, consisting of nine staff-controlled seismic stations, 18 satellite-telemetered seismic stations, and 12 sea-level detection stations and its tsunami alerting stations.
|
Tsunamis
| null | null |
1946 Dominican Republic earthquake
|
The 1946 Dominican Republic earthquake occurred on August 4 at 17:51 UTC near Samaná, Dominican Republic. The mainshock measured 8.1 on the surface wave magnitude scale and an aftershock occurred four days later on August 8 at 13.28 UTC with a magnitude of 7.6. A tsunami was generated by the initial earthquake and caused widespread devastation across Hispaniola. The tsunami was observed in much of the Caribbean and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. [3][4][5][6]
A small tsunami was also recorded by tide gauges at San Juan in Puerto Rico, Bermuda and in the United States at Daytona Beach, Florida and Atlantic City, New Jersey. [7]
|
Earthquakes
| null | null |
Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314 crash
|
On 11 February 1978, Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314, a Boeing 737-200, crashed at Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport, near Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, killing 42 of the 49 people on board. [1]
The scheduled flight from Fort McMurray International Airport to Castlegar Airport via Edmonton, Alberta, Calgary, Alberta and Cranbrook, British Columbia crashed after its thrust reversers did not fully stow following an aborted landing to avoid a snowplow on the runway. Calgary air traffic control was in major error in its calculation of the flight's arrival time at Cranbrook, and the flight crew did not report while passing a beacon on final approach. [2][3]
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-275 that was nearly eight years old at the time of the accident. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A turbofan engines. [4][5]
The captain was 30-year-old Chris Miles, who had been with Pacific Western Airlines since 1967 and became a Boeing 737 captain 10 years later in 1977. He had 5,173 flight hours, including 2,780 hours on the Boeing 737. The first officer was 25-year-old Peter Van Oort, who had been with the airline since 1971 and became a 737 first officer in 1977. He was less experienced than captain Miles, having logged 1,316 flight hours, but only 81 of them were on the Boeing 737. [6][7]
Flight 314 departed Calgary at 12:32 on an estimated 23-minute flight to Cranbrook. This estimate was passed to Cranbrook by Calgary Air Traffic Control. [6] Cranbrook was not a controlled airport, and while it had an "aero-radio" station[clarification needed] to provide weather and advisory information to aircraft, it had no control tower or air traffic controllers. [6]
As Flight 314 neared the Cranbrook airport, it was snowing with a visibility of 3/4-mile, and a snow removal vehicle was clearing the runway. The Cranbrook aero-radio operator advised the snowplow of the estimated arrival of Flight 314 at 13:05. Flight 314 was expected to report on the approach when passing the "Skookum Beacon", which would give about seven minutes notice of arrival at Cranbrook. [6] At 12:45 Flight 314 contacted Cranbrook Aeradio and was passed the latest weather and runway information. [6] At 12:47 Cranbrook Aeradio advised Flight 314 that snow removal was in progress. [6]
After acknowledging the message about snow clearance in progress, Flight 314 made no further calls, and touched down on the runway at 12:55 about 800 feet from the threshold. [6] Flight 314 selected reverse thrust, but immediately cancelled it and started a go-around. [6] The aircraft flew down the runway at a height of 50 to 70 feet, flying over the top of the snow removal vehicle. [6]
The engine thrust reverser doors deployed, and the pilot decreased flaps from 40° to 15°. The landing gear remained locked in the down position. [6] Six seconds before impact, when the aircraft was 4000 feet from the runway threshold, the aircraft climbed, then banked steeply to the left from a height of 300 to 400 feet, and crashed to the left of the runway. [6] The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. [6]
The crash investigation was conducted by the Aviation Safety Investigation Division of Transport Canada and audited by the Aircraft Accident Review Board. [6] Boeing simulations showed that the aircraft was controllable with one engine at idle reverse and the other at full forward thrust in a gear up, flaps 15° configuration. With flaps 25 and gear down, it was not possible to maintain level flight. The go-around would have been successful if the left engine thrust reverser doors had not been deployed. The events of the crash featured in an episode of the History channel documentary Disasters of the Century, entitled "Collision Course". [8]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 17 crash
|
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 17 was a scheduled domestic flight from Dacca to Faridpur in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) operated by a Sikorsky S-61 twin-engined helicopter of Pakistan International Airlines. On 2 February 1966 the helicopter operating the flight crashed near Fardipur after an oil leak developed and the main gearbox failed. Twenty passengers and all three crew were killed; one passenger survived. [1]
The S-61, registered AP-AOC, left Dacca at 14:03 local time on 2 February 1966 and within 15 minutes an oil leak had started from a pipe connected to the main gearbox. [1] The flight continued and while the helicopter was at an altitude of 500 feet (152 m) crossing the Padma River the sole survivor noticed that the oil leak was visible in the passenger cabin. [1] About 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Faridpur heliport, a bird strike occurred, with a vulture hitting one of the rotor blades on the left side of the helicopter. [1] The helicopter continued normally and the pilot lowered its landing gear at an altitude of 300 feet (91 m) in preparation for the scheduled landing at Faridpur. [1] Although both engines were running the helicopter experienced a loss of power to the main transmission; the pilot corrected the resulting turn to the left, then the helicopter continued rolling and rocking in a steep uncontrolled descent into the ground at 14:23. [1]
The accident was attributed to the disengagement of the left and right spur gear teeth in the main transmission, caused by the load imposed by the failure of the gearbox's rear sleeve bearing journals. The rear sleeve bearing failure was caused by an oil leak although evidence was destroyed by fire and the source of the leak was not established. [1]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
UK and South Korea sign 'continuity' trade agreement
|
The UK has signed a "continuity" trade agreement with South Korea, allowing businesses to keep trading freely after Brexit.
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss signed the agreement with her South Korean counterpart Yoo Myung-hee in London.
The two countries agreed to a preliminary deal in June, marking the first post-Brexit deal secured in Asia. Trade between the UK and South Korea totalled £14.6bn ($17.7bn) in 2018.
The agreement is roughly in line with the terms of the existing Korea-EU free trade deal. The UK has sought to secure agreements with its trading partners as it prepares to leave the European Union in October.
"My priority is to make sure that British businesses are fully prepared for Brexit and ready to trade on Thursday 31 October," Ms Truss said in a statement. Ms Yoo said the agreement would "remove much Brexit uncertainty" from the economic partnership between the two countries. South Korea is a global leader in electronics, steel and the auto industry, and its exports to the UK reached £5.2bn last year.
Asia's fourth largest economy exports mostly cars and ships to Britain, while it imports crude oil, cars and whisky.
Ms Truss said the agreement would allow firms such as luxury carmaker Bentley to "keep trading as they do today, and they will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that Brexit offers". Warren Clarke, Bentley brand manager for South Korea welcomed the "stability" brought by the deal.
"As the first luxury car brand to enter the market in 2006 Bentley Motors sees South Korea as very significant to our future business plans."
The UK is pushing to reach agreements with its trading partners as the Brexit deadline looms.
|
Sign Agreement
| null | null |
Nepali swimmer Gaurika Singh broke the national record in women's 100m freestyle
|
Nepali swimmer Gaurika Singh broke the national record in women's 100m freestyle preliminary heats at the Tokyo Olympic Games today.
Singh, the youngest athlete of the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, finished the distance in one minute and 0.11 seconds in the Heat-1 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. She finished third among four swimmers and failed to make it to the semi-finals.
But Singh - who claimed nine medals including four golds in the 13th South Asian Games held on home soil in December 2019 - set the new national record breaking her own mark of 1:00.62. She had set the record in the FINA World Championship in 2019.
Nigeria's Abiola Ogunbanwo won the four-swimmer heats in 59.74 seconds, while Montenegro's Andela Antunovic came second in 1:00.01.
Guam's Mineri Kurotori Gomez was fourth in 1:04.00.
Singh was satisfied with her performance and happy with the new national record. "I am happy to break the national record and also relieved that I performed well," said Singh, who lives in London with her family. "I was not able to enter the pool for eight months due to coronavirus pandemic last year and I had not set any target for the Games," she added.
"I was determined to put in my 100 per cent and I am happy that I was able to perform well here," she added.
Top 16 swimmers from seven preliminary heats made it to the semi-finals. Australia's Emma McKeon smashed the Olympic record with a personal best time of 52.13 seconds, breaking the mark of 52.62 held by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden.
Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey was second fastest in 52.70 seconds, ahead of Great Britain's Anna Hopkin and Australia's Cate Campbell.
On Tuesday, another Nepali swimmer Alex Gadegaard Shah broke national record in men's 100m freestyle event.
Nepal's participation will end on Friday after athlete Saraswati Chaudhary competes in 100m heats. Shooter Kalpana Pariyar broke national record in 10m Air Rifle, while judoka Soniya Bhatta crashed out of first round in below-48kg weight category.
|
Break historical records
| null | null |
The 2007–2008 Financial Crisis in Review
|
(Bloomberg) -- Warnings that China’s campaign to cool its property market will go too far are multiplying. Economists at Nomura Holdings Inc. are calling the curbs China’s “Volcker Moment” that will hurt the economy. The credit squeeze in the property sector is “unnecessarily aggressive” and may weigh on industrial demand and consumption, wrote colleagues at Bank of America Corp. A prominent Chinese economist cautioned of a potential crisis should home values drop below mortgages. Stabilizing China’s housing market under the mantra of “housing is for living, not for speculation” is one of the many campaigns being waged by Xi Jinping as he seeks to reduce the cost of raising a family and defuse risks in the financial system. Yet it’s also one of the toughest goals to achieve given the vital importance of the sector to the economy -- the industry accounts for more than 28% of gross domestic output. The regulatory tightening appears to be working, after monetary easing last year spurred price gains. Property loans rose at the slowest pace in eight years in the first seven months of the year, according to the banking and insurance regulator, while home price growth dipped to a six-month low in July. Efforts to enforce discipline among over-leveraged property developers are also biting. Property firms defaulted on $6.2 billion worth of high-yield debt through mid-August, or about $1.3 billion more than the previous 12 years combined, according to Morgan Stanley. Yet concern is growing that the impact of such policies spiral out of control. Nomura sees property curbs accounting for more than half of the slowdown in economic growth in the second half of the year. Restrictions on the real estate market also affect the sale of construction materials, furniture and home appliances. Reduced access to funding has exacerbated a liquidity crisis at China Evergrande Group. Moody’s Investors Service Inc. and Fitch Ratings both cut their ratings on the company deeper into junk this week, with the latter saying a default seems “probable.” Evergrande’s $305 billion in liabilities means any failure by the firm poses a threat to the financial system. “A rapid slowdown in property sector activities could lead to a significant spillover effect,” wrote Bank of America’s Miao Ouyang and Helen Qiao in a Monday note. “While the motivation for such credit tightening was to stabilize leverage and rebalance the economy, the risk is rising for growth instability amid fast deleveraging.” China has in recent months targeted everything from mortgage approvals and rates for first time buyers, to home-rent growth in cities and the price premium for land. Chinese banks are being told to lower their lending to home buyers and several large cities recently suspended centralized land sales. Officials in May revived the idea of a national property tax. “If one day the value of houses plunged below the mortgage value, people won’t even be able to repay their debt by selling the houses, and that would be a real crisis for the property market,” Li Yang, chairman of the National Institution for Finance & Development, was cited as saying by the official Economic Daily. Li spoke at a forum on Aug. 29. Perhaps the most visible shift has been the tightening of funding conditions for highly-leveraged developers, who rely on access to the bond market, bank loans and trust loans for liquidity. Once-prolific offshore issuer Evergrande hasn’t sold a single dollar note since January 2020. Yields on China’s dollar junk bonds, which are dominated by property firms, climbed last week to the highest level since the pandemic triggered a selloff in March 2020. Real estate firms made up around 30% of the first half’s defaults and some of their bonds are now blacklisted as collateral both onshore and offshore. Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. in August said it set aside $5.5 billion in provisions related to its investment in defaulter China Fortune Land Development Co. “Markets over the near term need to be prepared for a likely marked growth slowdown, more developer defaults and home foreclosures, and perhaps some turmoil in stock markets,” Nomura economists led by Lu Ting wrote in a report last month. There’s little sign so far that Beijing will pull back on its measures. According to Morgan Stanley, local governments may make adjustments depending on the conditions in their housing market, but they won’t be able to touch the “bottom lines” of home purchasing restrictions and caps on property prices. “One of the key purposes of these recent regulatory measures has been to reduce liquidity-driven speculative flows into China’s property sector,” wrote Morgan Stanley analysts led by Kelvin Pang in a note last month. “We suggest that investors show caution during this period of China property sector regulatory reset.”
|
Financial Crisis
| null | null |
'Disgrace on humanity': UN urges Yemen aid to continue amid famine
|
TORONTO -- The United Nations has issued a new warning about starvation in Yemen, calling it one of the worst famines the world has seen where the level of suffering is so staggering the head of the World Food Program (WFP) says it is a "disgrace on humanity." WFP Executive Director David Beasley recently visited Yemen and said he was horrified by what he saw. "I'm standing here in this hospital room where this child, literally, is on the verge of death. In fact, 400,000 children are at risk of dying right now," Beasley told reporters on Wednesday . "It's a horrible situation. It's a disgrace on humanity what’s happening here," he added. In Yemen's capital, a young girl named Amadiya weighed just 11 kilograms (24 pounds) when she was admitted to an acute malnutrition ward in a Sana'a hospital for treatment. The girl’s mother said she is starving to death because the family does not have anything to eat. After six years of war, blockades and sanctions, Beasley says some areas of Yemen are on the verge of extreme famine. He explained that outside food aid budgets have been slashed and funding from the World Health Organization is drying up, leaving millions to go hungry. Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland told CTV's Paul Workman the situation is affecting children the most. "Famine is taking the lives of children today. I saw mothers who are too weak to breastfeed. Children who look like skeletons," he said. Egeland recently visited five different provinces in Yemen, each of which he says have "tremendous needs" for aid. He warns that the situation is growing more dire each day as the reduction in aid has led to food rations being cut in half. "We need more funding, we need an end to the senseless war, and we need also a political solution to the problems of a place that is now totally paralyzed by the two sides fighting each other," Egeland said. Egeland is not alone in his efforts. Other diplomats and groups are calling on Yemen's governments and coalitions for a "famine prevention ceasefire" to the war in an effort to help starving families. The war in Yemen has also brought a fuel crisis with petrol being scarce and wood being stockpiled as a replacement for gas. However, Egeland says the horror of the crisis lies in Yemen’s hospitals where more starving children are arriving each day. Egeland says 16 million people in Yemen need food aid to survive the next 12 months out of a population of roughly 30 million. "At the moment, there are millions and millions and millions who are receiving nothing," Egeland said. "What they're receiving are bombs and crossfire and displacement." He says it is "disheartening" to see organizations cut aid to Yemen in its time of need, and said Gulf countries as well as the U.S., U.K. and Canada need to do more. "In our generation, we haven't been faced with this kind of humanitarian challenge before," Egeland said. The UN reports that Yemen is the largest famine since the Ethiopia hunger crisis in the 1980s. However, Egeland says he is hopeful that the situation will eventually get better as some organizations, including his, work to scale up operations. "We're not giving up, but short-term, I believe it will become worse before we turn the corner," Egeland said. "But diplomats cannot stop before they have gotten this famine prevention ceasefire, and donors have to continue to produce this funding so we can feed the children of Yemen," he added.
|
Famine
| null | null |
Toxic firefighting chemicals found in WA airports and defence sites under investigation
|
Authorities are scrambling to determine the extent of contamination from toxic firefighting chemicals in Western Australia, with airports, firefighting training facilities and defence sites under investigation.
Five airport sites across the state, including Perth Airport, are known or suspected to be contaminated with the chemicals, according to Airservices Australia, an Australian government-owned corporation which is responsible for aviation firefighting.
Airservices Australia is assessing Perth and Broome airports, as well as the former airport sites at Karratha and Port Hedland.
Jandakot Airport is now privately run, but its managing director John Fraser said an investigation conducted four years ago found small areas of contamination by perfluorinated chemicals.
"It's not a dangerous situation and we are monitoring it," he said.
An Airservices Australia spokesperson said it would assess the level of contamination — and test ways to remediate the sites — over the next 12 to 18 months, but planned to publicly release some results in the coming months.
A firefighting foam called 3M Brightwater, which contained the dangerous Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), was used at the five WA airports until 2003.
It was then replaced by Ansulite, which was later found to contain traces of the chemicals, until 2010.
Since then, a foam called Solberg RF6, which is free of the chemicals, has been used at civilian airports with firefighting services. The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services has also found one bore on a semi-industrial property neighbouring its Forrestfield training academy is contaminated with the chemicals.
Now investigations are showing the chemicals have also contaminated bores in WA.
Just this week, the Department of Defence released the results of its preliminary investigation into HMAS Stirling, near Rockingham, which found high levels of groundwater contamination by PFOS and PFOA at the strategically significant naval base.
Testing conducted between 2013 and this year showed eight bores on the Garden Island facility were contaminated, many times exceeding Australian health guidelines for drinking and recreational water. But there was no testing of whether these chemicals were present in sites surrounding the Cockburn Sound facility.
The National Toxics Network's chemical expert, Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, said the HMAS Stirling findings should be "ringing alarm bells".
"It's time for an independent arm's length body to oversee the review, management and remediation of these sites," she said.
"We can't let the polluter be conducting the investigations, given the scope and seriousness of the contamination." The Department of Defence has also expanded its investigation into potential contamination to all of its sites across Western Australia.
A spokesperson said the department expected to announce this month whether a human health risk assessment of RAAF Pearce was necessary, after preliminary testing showed PFOA and PFOS were present in two surface water sampling sites in the fire training area of the base.
But not all experts agree on whether the chemicals can be directly linked to health problems.
Dr Lloyd-Smith supports the US Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) assessment they can cause adverse health effects. "The most consistent findings from human epidemiology studies are increased cholesterol levels among exposed populations, with more limited findings related to low infant birth weights, effects on the immune system, cancer for PFOA, and thyroid hormone disruption for PFOS," the US EPA said.
However, environmental scientist Jochen Mueller, from the University of Queensland's National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicity, is more cautious.
"To measure exposure to perfluorinated chemicals is relatively straightforward and when I say exposure, I mean past exposure, cumulative past exposure," he said.
"Where as to measure the effect in individuals associated with high exposure to PFOS, it's extremely difficult, if there are any."
)
|
Environment Pollution
| null | null |
Kaley Cuoco files for divorce from Karl Cook
|
According to People, the former 'Big Bang Theory' star submitted divorce papers to the Los Angeles Superior Court to end her marriage to the 30-year-old equestrian on the same day (03.09.21) the pair announced their split.
The 35-year-old actress and her ex announced they are separating after three years of marriage, as their “current paths” have taken them “in opposite directions”.
In a joint statement to the magazine, they said: "Despite a deep love and respect for one another, we have realized that our current paths have taken us in opposite directions. We have both shared so much of our journey publicly so while we would prefer to keep this aspect of our personal life private, we wanted to be forthcoming in our truth together. There is no anger or animosity, quite the contrary.
“We have made this decision together through an immense amount of respect and consideration for one another and request that you do the same in understanding that we will not be sharing any additional details or commenting further."
Kaley began dating Karl in 2016, one year before they got engaged on her birthday in November 2017.
The couple then tied the knot on June 30, 2018, in a ceremony at a horse stable near San Diego, California, with close friends and family in attendance.
In June this year, Kaley and Karl celebrated their three-year wedding anniversary with sweet tributes on social media.
The ‘Flight Attendant’ star wrote: "NY, June 30th, 2016 is the year we met. 2 years to the day before we got married and now 3 years married! Why have you stayed married to me for so long?! I'm sincerely impressed @mrtankcook lol I love you oh so much you have no idea…happy anniversary!!! (sic)”
And Karl had added: "I agree @kaleycuoco I am just as amazed it's been three years, feel like just a flash. I love you so much and I can't wait for a million more years!! (sic)”
For Kaley, her marriage to Karl was her second after previously being married to Ryan Sweeting between 2013 and 2016.
|
Famous Person - Divorce
| null | null |
Earthquake swarm triggers volcano alert on Spain's La Palma
|
Authorities on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma have warned that a sudden increase in seismic activity could herald a volcanic eruption in the coming days or weeks. Spain's National Geographic Institute has detected 4,222 tremors in a so-called "earthquake swarm" in the Cumbre Vieja national park, around the Teneguia volcano in the far south of the island. As the quakes intensified and moved closer to the surface, the Canary Island's regional government on Tuesday put the island on a yellow alert for an eruption, the second of a four-level alert system. It said on Thursday there was no clear evidence for an immediate eruption, though warned the situation could evolve rapidly. "More intense earthquakes are expected in the coming days," it said in a statement. More than 11 million cubic metres (388 million cubic feet)of magma have seeped into Cumbre Vieja in recent days, swelling the peak by around 6 centimetres, the Volcanic Institute of the Canaries said on Thursday. Rising sharply out of the Atlantic around 100 kilometres to the west of southern Morocco, the Canary Islands are home to Spain's most active and best known volcanoes, including Teide in Tenerife and Timanfaya in Lanzarote. Teneguia last erupted in 1971 - the last surface eruption to occur in Spain - while a volcano off the tiny island of El Hierro erupted underwater in 2011.
|
Volcano Eruption
| null | null |
US withdraws from UNESCO, the UN’s cultural organization, citing anti-Israel bias
|
The United States will withdraw from UNESCO at the end of next year, the State Department said Thursday, in order to stop accumulating uppaid dues and make a stand on what it said is anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, science and cultural organization. In notifying UNESCO of the decision Thursday morning, the State Department said it would like to remain involved as a nonmember observer state. That will allow to United States to remain engaged in debates and activities, though it will lose its right to vote on issues. The withdrawal of the United States, which was a founding member of the organization after World War II, deals a symbolic blow. But it does not necessarily foreshadow a further retrenchment of U.S. engagement with the United Nations, which the Trump administration has been pushing to bring about strutural and financial reforms. “This is pragmatic, not a grander political signal,” said John McArthur, a fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution and an adviser to the UN Foundation. The most immediate impact is that the U.S. will halt the arrears it has run up since it stopped funding the organization in 2011 to protest admitting Palestine as a full member. By the end of this calendar year, the unpaid U.S. bill will amount to $550 million. With no sign that U.S. concerns would be addressed, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson decided to pull out after Dec. 31, 2017, when the unpaid balance will top $600 million. State Department officials said they hope the withdrawal will help push UNESCO to make changes that would satisfy Washington so the U.S. can resume full membership. “It sends a strong message that we need to see fundamental reform in the organization, and it raises everyone’s awareness about continued anti-Israel bias,” said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity under department ground rules. The United States helped found the United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organization, but has been at odds with the organization in recent years. State Department officials cited a 2012 decision not to expel Syria from its human rights committee after the civil war in that country began, and repeated resolutions that refer to Israel as an occupying power. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the last straw was when UNESCO this summer designated the old city of Hebron in the West Bank, with its Tomb of the Patriarchs, a Palestinian World Heritage site. Calling UNESCO’s politicization a “chronic embarrassment,” Haley added, “Just as we said in 1984 when President Reagan withdrew from UNESCO, U.S. taxpayers should no longer be on the hook to pay for policies that are hostile to our values and make a mockery of justice and common sense.” Haley said the United States will evaluate all U.N. agencies “through the same lens.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision to leave UNESCO “brave” and “moral.” Other Israeli officials, from both left and right, also praised the decision. Netanyahu said he had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare for Israel’s withdrawal as well. “UNESCO has become a theater of the absurd because, instead of preserving history, it distorts it,” he said in a statement. Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, expressed “profound regret” over the decision. “At the time when the fight against violent extremism calls for renewed investment in education, in dialogue among cultures to prevent hatred, it is deeply regrettable that the United States should withdraw from the United Nations leading these issues,” she said in a statement, calling it a “loss for multilateralism.” The withdrawal marks another decision by the Trump administration to distance itself from the international community. “The continued retrenchment of the U.S. administration from active participation in international diplomacy efforts and dialogue is deeply concerning to the scientific community,” said Rush Holt, head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. UNESCO is perhaps best known for the World Heritage program, which helps maintain major cultural sites around the globe. But it runs a wide range of international programs. It trains Afghan police officers how to read and write, and is the only U.N. agency that has a program to teach the history of the Holocaust. “It’s an incredibly disappointing disappointing, and counterproductive in terms of American interests,” said Peter Yeo, vice president for policy and advocacy at the U.N. Foundation. “But I don’t believe it’s part of a broader pattern of disengagement by this administration. The U.S. has refused to pay its dues to UNESCO for six years. This decision was expected.” The withdrawal decision comes as UNESCO members are voting on a replacement for Bokova. Qatar’s Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari is leading France’s Audrey Azoulay and Egyptian hopeful Moushira Khattab in the first voting rounds. Israeli officials and American Jewish groups have expressed concerns about Kawari for what they have said is a record of fostering anti-Semitism. UNESCO was established after World War II to help promote global cooperation around the flow of ideas, culture and information. UNESCO’s mission includes programs to improve access to education, preserve cultural heritage, improve gender equality and promote scientific advances and freedom of expression. After the 1984 withdrawal, for what was described as pro-Soviet Union bias, the U.S. rejoined in 2002 as part of an effort by the George W. Bush administration to emphasize a message of international cooperation. “America will participate fully in its mission to advance human rights, tolerance and learning,” Bush said at the time. Tensions have returned in recent years. Israel recalled its ambassador to the Paris-based organization last year after some governments supported a resolution that denounced Israel’s policies on religious sites in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Bokova said the partnership between the United States and UNESCO “has never been so meaningful,” despite the withholding of U.S. funding. “Together, we have worked to protect humanity’s shared cultural heritage in the face of terrorist attacks and to prevent violent extremism through education and media literacy,” she said. She added: “The American poet, diplomat and Librarian of Congress, Archibald MacLeish penned the lines that open UNESCO’s 1945 Constitution: ‘Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.’ This vision has never been more relevant.”
|
Withdraw from an Organization
| null | null |
Woman inventor wins top award for male birth control
|
“When my partner and I were looking for an alternative method, we became aware of the lack of male contraceptives,” the inventor said.
Story at a glance
A woman inventor in Germany took home the Dyson Award for her groundbreaking work in creating male contraception, which will now go on to the international stage of the award process.
German scientist Rebecca Weiss invented the COSO, an “ultrasound-based, reversible and hormone-free” form of male contraception.
America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
“About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer precursor cervix due to contraception with the pill,” Weiss told Dyson. “After that, hormonal contraception was no longer an option. When my partner and I were looking for an alternative method, we became aware of the lack of male contraceptives.”
“So I decided to deal with the development of a new contraceptive approach for men in my master thesis in Industrial Design at the Technical University in Munich,” Weiss added.
The COSO is a device personally made between the person and their doctor “according to individual testicle size.” Prior to intercourse, the device is filled with water up to an established marking and heated to a specific temperature, at which point the user places their testicles into the device, and the ultrasound begins. The ultrasound temporarily stops the sperms’ motility so that they can’t fertilize an egg.
The process is temporary, reversible, and hormone-free. The COSO is still awaiting clinical testing.
“There are only two established methods of contraception for men, the condom and the permanent vasectomy,” Weiss said, adding, “COSO, in contrast, offers a user-friendly contraceptive approach that is easy to use without any kind of physical intervention, pain or previously known side effects.”
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
AUTO-INJECTING PILL COULD DELIVER DRUGS NORMALLY GIVEN BY SHOTS
IN A BREAKTHROUGH CARTILAGE FROM NOSE IS USED TO TREAT SEVERE KNEE PROBLEMS
YOUR YOGA TOP COULD SOON MEASURE HOW WELL YOU ARE MOVING
MICROGRAVITY IN SPACE WEAKENS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS: STUDY
RESEARCHERS ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO COMPUTERS THAT CAN TEACH US ABOUT OURSELVES
"What has been missing from this whole conversation about cardiovascular disease is the impact of environmental factors outside of an individual's control," one of the authors said. "It is time to bring these issues into the conversation."
One cyber security firm found a 400 percent increase in fake vaccine card ads online as the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available earlier this year.
|
Awards ceremony
| null | null |
Lebanese Army dispatches helicopters to deal with plague of locusts
|
Lebanese Army helicopter fight a swarm of desert locusts in Lebanon's northeastern town of Arsal on the border with Syria. AFP A plague of locusts that swept across the Middle East has reached Lebanon, threatening precious farmland in an event described by the UN as “very rare”. Helicopters were deployed by the Lebanese military to spray pesticides across the regions of Baalbek and Ras Baalbek under direction from the Agriculture Ministry after a swarm of the pests crossed through Jordan and Syria to reach the cedar state from Saudi Arabia. Videos of the swarms were posted on social media, with many asking if disaster-struck Lebanon was on the cusp of a biblical plague. The pests are renowned for devastating huge areas of farmland, and often blight east Africa, Saudi Arabia and up to Iraq, though wind patterns can help them travel further. Lebanon’s Agriculture Ministry said it had succeeded in killing a great number of the locusts before they reached the vast farmlands of Lebanon’s south, though fears remained that the pests could threaten the agricultural sector as Lebanon fights a cascade of political and economic crises. “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,” Caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Mortada told reporters. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) described the spreading of the locusts so far as “unusual and rare,” attributing it to strong southerly winds and high temperatures. They played down the pests, saying the swarm did not represent a “large-scale invasion”. The biblical imagery was appreciated by Lebanese, who took to social media to comment on the pests with a strong sense of irony. “Locusts will not find anything in Lebanon since the politicians have devoured everything,” wrote one user on Twitter. A swarm of locusts decimated the country's crops in 1915, leading to a three-year crisis that became known as The Great Famine. The agricultural sector was dealt a separate blow this week when Saudi Arabia announced the banning of fruit and vegetable imports from the country following a major drugs bust of amphetamines in a shipment of pomegranates. Shipments to the Gulf account for 55 per cent of all Lebanon’s fruit and vegetable exports.
|
Insect Disaster
| null | null |
Athletics: Venezuela's Rojas smashes women's triple jump world record to take gold
|
CELEBRATION. Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela celebrates after breaking the world record in the women's triple jump.
Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
TOKYO, Japan
Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela jumps 15.67 meters to smash the world record and secure the gold medal in the women's triple jump
Advertisement
Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela jumped 15.67 meters on Sunday, August 1, to smash the world record in the women's triple jump with her final attempt, having already secured the gold medal.
The previous record of 15.50m was set by Ukraine's Inessa Kravets in 1995 in Sweden.
"I was looking for it, I knew we had that distance in my legs to get it today. I was failing a bit in the technical aspect but the last jump was one to give everything, and it was like that," she said.
"I focused on giving my best, enjoying, and it came out."
The win made Rojas Venezuela's first woman Olympic champion.
Patricia Mamona of Portugal won silver with 15.01m, a national record. The bronze went to Spain's Ana Peleteiro, who also broke the national record with 14.87. – Rappler.com
How did this story make you feel?
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa invites you to join Rappler+ and engage in a global discourse on democracy, independent media, human rights, and civic engagement.
Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality. What does a world without a shared reality look like? Globally, it becomes impossible to deal with our existential problems. For communities, it means they can no longer engage in constructive discourse because dissenters are tagged as terrorists or criminals. For individuals, it means feeling more alone, anxious, disconnected, and disempowered. Our vision for Rappler+ is to create a place where we could keep talking to each other about the future we want to shape. A place where we could engage in conversation without the toxicity and vitriol on social media. An opportunity to deepen our relationship with our readers and supporters in a space where we could discuss today’s most pressing issues – together.
|
Break historical records
| null | null |
Britain leaves the EU on 31 January 2020
|
The British Thoroughbred Racing Association has been preparing for this position for many months. The racing sport’s governing body has reassured the industry that the Tripartite Agreement, which covers the UK, France and Ireland, will continue throughout 2020 after Britain leaves the EU on 31 January 2020. The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) have agreed – and ratified – a formal Withdrawal Agreement under which the UK leaves the EU at 11pm GMT on Friday, 31 January. The UK then enters a ‘Transition Period’ to 31 December 2020, during which the future economic, trading and security partnership with the EU will be negotiated. In this period, there will be limited change but participants are encouraged to read the guidance through the link below. At the end of 2020, a range of possible outcome remain, including a potential ‘No Deal’ where no formal trading relationship has been agreed. January 2020, the Thoroughbred Industries Brexit Steering Group published a Position Statement outlining its objectives for the second phase of Brexit negotiations. In Pictures: Beethoven-loving donkeys help clean up Turkish town www.aljazeera.com Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email 3 days ago
|
Withdraw from an Organization
| null | null |
Brazil’s deadly dam disaster may have been preventable
|
Only 1,177 days separate accidents of the Fundão ore reject dams in Mariana and the Córrego do Feijão mine in Brumadinho in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, both in southeastern Brazil. In the first incident, in November 2015, the toxic sludge expelled by the structure killed 19 people, buried villages, left thousands of people homeless, and reached the sea. At the time it was considered one of the country's biggest socio-environmental disasters in the mining sector. And then on January 25th, 2019, about 78 miles from Mariana, another tragedy struck in the state of Minas Gerais. The full impact of the Brumadinho accident is still being evaluated, but at least 65 people have been reported dead, victims of the tailings mud stored at Dam I of the Córrego do Feijão Mine, and about 280 were missing at the time of this writing. The collapse of those two dams, operated respectively by the Samarco (joint-venture of BHP Billinton and Vale S.A) and Vale, could have been avoided, say environmental experts. Stricter licensing laws and state oversight and the adoption of more modern technology could transform the Brazilian mining sector, making such incidents less likely, experts told National Geographic Brasil. Leonardo Ivo, director of the Association of Observers of the Environment of Minas Gerais, has been in Brumadinho over the last few days in the aftermath of the accident. "It is necessary to rethink this practice of storing mud," he says. The anthropologist Andréa Zhouri, coordinator of the Environmental Issues Studies Group of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, says tragedies such as Brumadinho's are not "natural disasters," but "political-institutional failures." And the state’s recent efforts to simplify the environmental licensing process and the monitoring of dams is at least partly to blame. "In Brazil and Minas, it is the ore above everything and everyone," says the researcher. The historical importance of mining to the state’s and country’s economy is undeniable, Zhouri notes, but she argues that economics have been placed too far ahead of human life and environmental issues. "The issue is not to criticize the ore itself, but the economic model of exporting mineral commodities that makes the country dependent while subjugating society and territories in a perverse and criminal way," she says. The researcher criticizes loosening legislations in favor of mining companies and the institutional practices that operationalize the regulations. For the superintendent of the Association of Environmental Defense, Maria Dalce Ricas, Vale's confidence in the safety of the dam was so strong that the company's facilities were located nearby. The company’s buildings and employees were among the victims of the disaster. "These dams are time bombs that can explode at any moment," says the environmentalist. "A good part of these dams are inactive, but this one was also inactive and even so it collapsed." The immediate cause of the dam failure is still unknown. Tailings dams are structures that hold mining waste, which, for environmental reasons, must be properly stored. Vale declined a request for comment, referring instead to its press releases. There, the company reported that Dam I of Córrego do Feijão Mine was inactive and that the company was developing its decommissioning project. According to Vale’s statememts, the dam had a Stability Condition Declarations issued by TUV SUD do Brasil in June and September 2018. Related: The impacts of coal mining "It is worrying that the dam has been evaluated by competent institutions and external audits and found there was no risk of breaking," says Ivo. Built in 1976 by Ferteco Mineração, the dam used the upstream method, which, although common, is the least safe, according to experts. This method was the same in the Fundão dam in Mariana. According to the G1 report, there are another 130 dams of this type in the country. Upstream upheaval is the process where the dam uses the tailings itself to lift the mud up in steps. Zhouri says upstream dams should be banned from mining in Brazil. "This technique is outdated and obsolete, used only in developing countries. It is not safe for the population, but it is the cheapest," she says. "There are alternatives, such as dry containment, and Vale has this technology. The state must demand it." "We learned very little from Mariana's tragedy. The rupture of the dam of Fundão should have been a huge alert," says Ricas. “Costs shouldn’t justify avoidance of technical measures that guarantee the safety of the population, of biodiversity, and of the environment." The risk of further collapse may even be imminent: on Sunday morning, it was suspected that Dam IV, also in the Córrego do Feijão Mine, could break. The sirens in the region were activated by Vale and the community had to leave their homes. Throughout the day, however, Vale reported that the Civil Defense had lowered the level of criticality of the dam from two to one. People were able to return to their homes and firefighters resumed searches for the missing. After the tragedy in Mariana in November 2015, a popular initiative, coordinated by the Minas Gerais Public Ministry, obtained more than 56 thousand signatures and generated Bill 3695/2016, Sea of Mud Never More, filed in the Legislative Assembly of the state. The main objective was to create specific legislation on safety of mining tailings dams. Four points were considered essential for the legislation to bring changes to the industry. First, the prohibition of upstream upheaval. The second point requires taking out a surety bond before the start of the operations to help cover expenses in the event of an accident. Third, the rule would oblige mines to consider the safer dry-tail treatment method; and, fourth, dams could not be built near public water supplies or within 10 kilometers of a population. Although the law had the support of the Public Ministry, Ibama and environmentalists, it was replaced by a more vague bill, PL 3676/2016, which does not contain the four points and would, according to Ivo, allow more weighing of economic criteria in the evaluation of the licenses. Neither bill has yet been approved. In addition, an environmental licensing law approved in Minas Gerais in 2017 allows, in some cases, three-phase licensing (prior licenses, installation, and operation licenses) to be approved simultaneously. Yet that can be too rushed, says Ivo, increasing the chance of accidents. The state law that governs the safety regulations of dams in Minas Gerais, 15056/2004, says that in case of an environmental accident, the emergency measures are assumed by the company, either directly or in reimbursement to the state. At the federal level, Law No. 12334/2010, known as the National Dams Security Policy (PNSB), aims to ensure that dam safety standards are followed. Neither law, however, was able to avoid the tragedies in Mariana and Brumadinho. For Zhouri, the Brazilian state needs to do more in regulating the mining industry. "Mining has to be subjected to society, not the other way around," she says. What, then, are the alternatives to ore tailings dams? Ricas says the problem is complex and there are no simple solutions. However, she says it is not acceptable to store sludge above communities because of the risk of rupture. Other options include drainage cells, in which the material is disposed of in piles to dry; transforming waste into raw materials for construction; and dry crushing. Ricas says each technology would be applied to a particular type of tailings, depending on the ore, and that viability should be studied in each specific case. Ivo believes that the technology of dry treatment should be adopted as soon as possible by mining companies in Brazil. "They prefer to take the risk of collapsing because of the economic aspect, but studies show that the technology of dry treatment would increase the cost by only 20 percent, which is plausible for a miner," he argues. According to Ivo, some companies already do the dry treatment of ore tailings, in cities like Ouro Preto and Nova Lima. Ricas understands that it will be difficult for the government to monitor the hundreds of dams in the country and that even a stricter licensing process would not necessarily solve the issue. She believes the answer lies in technology. "A dam must always be the last option," she says.
|
Mine Collapses
| null | null |
Ex-cop Noor set for June release after resentence in Ruszczyk killing
|
A Hennepin County judge on Thursday resentenced ex-Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor to nearly five years in prison, the maximum allowed for second-degree manslaughter, for the 2017 killing of 911 caller Justine Ruszczyk after the Minnesota Supreme Court last month overturned his murder conviction. With time already served, Noor, 36, is expected to be released from prison on June 27 next year. The manslaughter charge carried a much lower presumptive sentence than the 12 1/2 years he initially received for killing Ruszczyk. The 40-year-old Minneapolis woman called 911 to report she heard someone screaming and believed an assault was happening. When Ruszczyk appeared at the police vehicle’s window, Noor shot her. The new sentence came after the court heard victim impact statements from Ruszczyk’s family members and arguments from prosecutors and Noor’s lawyers. In a statement read to the court, the family wrote “our sorrow is forever” and urged the judge to impose the stiffest possible penalty, saying the jury that convicted Noor believed the officer committed murder. “The truth is that Justine should be alive,” Don Damond, Ruszczyk’s fiance, told the court by video conference. “No amount of justification, embellishment, coverup, dishonesty or politics will ever change that truth.” Speaking to Noor, Damond added: “I have no doubt she would have forgiven you, Mohamed, for your inability to manage your emotions that night." In asking for a 57-month sentence, prosecutor Amy Sweasy told the court this case is more serious than other manslaughter cases because Noor "wore the badge." Ruszczyk, she added, “did nothing to bring about the circumstances of her own death.” In a brief statement to the court before the sentence, Noor apologized again for the pain he’d caused Ruszczyk’s family and said he was grateful for Damond’s statement of forgiveness. “I will take his advice and be a unifier,” he said. Noor’s attorney, Thomas Plunkett, had sought a sentence for Noor of 41 months, which along with time served could have led faster to Noor’s supervised release. On Thursday, he described the killing as a “horrible mistake, but not an act motivated by cruelty or distaste for human life.” Plunkett also argued in a court brief that Noor should be sentenced at the low end of the guidelines partly because of the “harsh conditions” he experienced while held in prison segregation and that he’s been a “model prisoner.” Noor has spent most of his time at a correctional facility out of state. Judge Kathryn Quaintance, however, said a harsher sentence was justified because Noor endangered his partner, a bicyclist and other residents nearby that night when he fired out the window of his squad, across the body of his partner who was driving, shooting Ruszczyk. Quaintance also cited her comments from Noor's first sentencing in 2019, reading the concerns jurors expressed to her then about the culture of policing, the lack of accountability, and the Minneapolis Police Department, asking what was going to change. Jurors then, she noted, “remarked the priority of the police was supposed to be protect and serve the public.” At Noor’s previous sentencing, he apologized to Ruszczyk’s family for taking her life. Her fiance, Damond, told the court in his victim impact statement that the day she was killed was the last time he felt “happiness, a sense of trust and that everything could be OK.” Ruszczyk’s father, John Ruszczyk, said he would never feel whole again and asked that Noor be given the maximum sentence. Ruszczyk, who was also known as Justine Damond, called 911 on July 15, 2017 to report she’d heard a possible assault happening outside her home in the city’s Fulton neighborhood southwest of Lake Harriet. Noor and his partner Matthew Harrity responded to the call, driving through the alley with their headlights off. Harrity and Noor testified that they were about to leave the alley when they heard what sounded like a thump on the squad. Noor, who was in the passenger seat, testified that he saw a blonde woman in a pink shirt and feared for his and Harrity’s life. He fired once, hitting Ruszczyk in the abdomen. She died at the scene. Neither officer activated body-worn cameras until after the shooting. The video from Noor, Harrity and other officers show a chaotic scene as firefighters and paramedics tried to save Ruszczyk’s life. Officers repeatedly switched off body cameras, including the sergeant overseeing the crime scene while interacting with Noor in what she told the court was a “private conversation.” Ruszczyk’s killing sparked protests in the Twin Cities and outrage in her native Australia. It also led to the resignation of police Chief Janeé Harteau. The family later reached a $20 million civil settlement with the city of Minneapolis in Ruszczyk’s killing. Thursday’s resentencing was needed after the Minnesota Supreme Court in September threw out Noor’s third-degree murder conviction, saying the evidence was “insufficient” to maintain it. In appealing the murder conviction, his attorneys had focused on language in the rarely used statute that speaks of “perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life.” The charge is often used against drug dealers in overdose deaths where the defendant didn't single out a particular victim. The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld Noor's conviction, ruling that the third-degree murder charge applied even though Noor fired his gun at a specific person. The Minnesota justices, however, said “the mental state necessary for depraved-mind murder … is a generalized indifference to human life,” which the court said did not exist in this instance. You make MPR News possible. Individual donations are behind the clarity in coverage from our reporters across the state, stories that connect us, and conversations that provide perspectives. Help ensure MPR remains a resource that brings Minnesotans together.
|
Famous Person - Commit Crime - Release
| null | null |
1995 Guerrero earthquake
|
The 1995 Guerrero earthquake occurred on September 14, 1995, at 14:04 UTC (08:04 local time). This earthquake had a magnitude of Mw 7.4, with the epicenter being located in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Three people were reported dead. In the rural part of southeast Guerrero, many houses with adobe of poor quality suffered heavier damage. [1] The intensity in Copala reached MM VII. [2] The earthquake could be felt strongly along the coast from Michoacán to Chiapas. [3]
The earthquake occurred in the region of the Middle America Trench. It was an interplate earthquake. It had a reverse faulting focal mechanism.
|
Earthquakes
| null | null |
2009 North Dakota floods
|
The 2009 Red River flood along the Red River of the North in North Dakota and Minnesota in the United States and Manitoba in Canada brought record flood levels to the Fargo-Moorhead area. The flood was a result of saturated and frozen ground, spring snowmelt exacerbated by additional rain and snow storms, and virtually flat terrain. Communities along the Red River prepared for more than a week as the U.S. National Weather Service continuously updated the predictions for the city of Fargo, North Dakota, with an increasingly higher projected river crest. Originally predicted to reach a level of near 43 feet (13 m) at Fargo by March 29, the river in fact crested at 40.84 feet (12.45 m) at 12:15 a.m. March 28,[2] and started a slow decline. [3] The river continued to rise to the north as the crest moved downstream. [4]
The Red River flows from the United States into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Since it flows northward, into colder climates, melting snow and river ice, as well as runoff from its tributaries, often create ice jams, which cause the river to overflow. The valley is essentially flat, leading to overland flooding, with no high ground on which to take refuge. [5]
The Red River flood plain. Low-elevation areas are green, while higher elevation regions are tan and white. The Red River around Fargo before the 2009 floods started, as seen from space. The flooded river around Fargo as seen from space. Ground which was already saturated when it froze at the onset of winter, melting snow which could not be absorbed by the frozen ground,[6][7] and additional precipitation from high winter snow fall, a rain storm on March 22 and a later snowstorm, high temperature snow melt rate, are reasons for the serious flooding. [6][8][9]
A low-pressure area caused the rain storm on March 22 and by March 25 a total of 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) fell in the Winnipeg area, and 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in southern Manitoba. In northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, around 8 inches of snow accumulated from the same storm. [10]
Warnings for the 2009 flood occurred as early as March 9 when the National Weather Service warned that the Fargo-Moorhead area could see a significant flood of between 35 feet (11 m) and 36 feet (11 m). [11] As preparations began for the flooding on March 16, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven declared a statewide disaster in anticipation of flooding across the state. [12] On March 19, the National Weather Service raised the predicted flood level in the Fargo area to between 37 feet (11 m) and 40 feet (12 m). The city began filling sandbags on March 20. [13] In anticipation of a rain and snow storm, the predicted crest level was raised on March 22 to a range from 39 feet (12 m) to 41 feet (12 m). [14]
Volunteers continued preparing sandbags, with 560,000 bags filled by late March 22, out of an expected 1.5 million to 2 million needed. [15] By March 24, residents in Fargo-Moorhead had filled over 1 million sandbags and were attempting to fill a total of 2 million by the 26th. [16] A levee in Georgetown, Minnesota was raised another two feet, and emergency dikes were being built in Fargo, Moorhead, Harwood, Grafton and Richland County. [17] The predicted flood crest was raised again on March 26, changed to between 41 feet (12 m) and 42 feet (13 m) by March 28, with a possibility of 43 feet (13 m). In addition to the sandbags, the construction of the dikes protecting the city required large amounts of clay. Clay had been brought from several places in and around the city, including the soccer field at Centennial Elementary School and around Discovery Middle School. [18]
Elsewhere along the river, early predictions for the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area saw a predicted level of at least 16 feet (4.9 m). [19] By March 24, the National Weather Service predicted the crest in Wahpeton and Breckenridge not to top 18 feet (5.5 m), below the cities' levees. [20]
In the Grand Forks, North Dakota area, flood predictions released February 27 predicted a possibility of a flood crest between 44 feet (13 m) and 46 feet (14 m). The snowstorm that struck March 9–10 raised the predicted levels between 47 feet (14 m) and 50 feet (15 m) prompting the city to declare a state of emergency. [21] On March 22 the predicted crest level was changed to 52 feet (16 m). [14]
In Manitoba, the 2009 flood was the second worst on record since 1826. The Red River Floodway was not initially opened, due to the Red River being full of ice, which can lead to damage of the floodway and the flooding of Selkirk. The Red River Floodway was opened in early April once the ice jams cleared. Several towns and R.M.s declared a state of emergency due to the ice jams built up in places along the Red. Flooding in Manitoba was not expected until the second week of April. The CPR Line from Winnipeg to Emerson closed. The floodway was opened around 1 p.m. on April 8 due to a crest expected to hit the city of Winnipeg. Highway 75, a major artery between Winnipeg and the U.S. border, was closed between April 7 and May 13. This closure cost Manitoba trucking companies thousands of dollars in additional travel costs and severely hurt the economy of the town of Morris. [22]
An eight-year-old boy fell into the river on Thursday,
April 9 on the Westroc Hutterite Colony which is near Portage la Prairie. [23] Samuel Gross came out of his 13-day coma after being under icy cold water for 20 minutes. The team under Murray Kesselman, director of the Health Sciences Centre pediatric intensive care unit, worked on Gross's heart for two hours before it started to beat on its own and he began to recover. [24][25] Walter Imbeck, 68 years old, went missing since April 11 when friends and neighbours thought he was trying to clear a broken drain behind his home, which was along the riverbank. [26] As of April 13, several communities north of Winnipeg had to be evacuated due to flash flooding and ice jams on the Red River. It was predicted to be the third worst flood, next to the floods of 1950 and 1997. A 79-year-old woman, Mary, died, and her 82-year-old husband, Glen Silverthorn, went missing Easter Sunday after their car was swept into the Woody River. A search commenced, and his body was found on May 19. [27][28][29]
Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured the flooded area on April 14, 2009. [30] Damages were expected to be in the millions.
|
Floods
| null | null |
TWA Flight 6963 crash
|
TWA Flight 6963, a scheduled Transcontinental & Western Air flight from Paris Orly Airport to New York City with scheduled stops at Shannon Airport and Gander, crashed on 28 December 1946 about 1.5 kilometres (0.81 nmi) west-northwest of Shannon Airport on the island of Inismacnaughton. [1]
The flight was being operated by Lockheed L-049 Constellation NC86505, c/n 2026, named Cairo Skychief. On approach to Shannon airport the aircraft struck the ground on Inishmacnaughton and was destroyed by fire, having broken up on impact. [1] Of the 23 people on board, nine died; four crew members and five passengers,[2] however, a 1947 amendment to the CAB report states that nine passengers died. [3]
This TWA flight was authorised to carry persons, property and mail between the cities of the route. [3] It was reported in The Times that this was a mail carrying flight and that the mails were retrieved but, as of 1997, no covers have been noted. [1]
Cairo Skychief departed Paris-Orly at 23:16 arriving at Shannon at 02:00 when Shannon control tower cleared the aircraft for approach to runway 14. At 02:06 the crew reported being over the range station at 1,200 ft (370 m). Shannon Tower advised the crew that Shannon was reporting 10/10 cloud cover at 400 ft (120 m), 4/10 at 250 ft (76 m), visibility 1 mi (1.6 km), wind 120 degrees, 5 kn (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). During the left turn onto final, the aircraft passed behind a low hill blocking the airport lights from the pilot's vision, the aircraft lost altitude and the port wing-tip struck the ground; the aircraft crashed and caught fire. [2]
Captain Herbert W. Tansey and First Officer Clifford V. Sparrow were seriously injured, but were among the survivors. [3][4] The Irish Department of Industry and Commerce, the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration, and the TWA Regional Accident Board started an investigation into the crash. [4] Investigators arrived in Shannon on 31 December for the local phase and later phases took place in London, New York, and Wilmington, with a public hearing on 30 and 31 January 1947, in New York City. [3]
Contributory causes were determined to have been the incorrect assembly of the instruments static pipelines and the poor weather conditions. [2]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Long-term care outbreaks are rising, and provinces have different strategies for keeping COVID-19 out
|
TORONTO -- As the fourth wave continues across Canada and community spread climbs, outbreaks are also on the rise inside Canada’s long-term care homes, leading experts to stress the importance of staff being vaccinated — an issue which varies province to province. While many provinces are introducing vaccine mandates for health-care workers and other staff at long-term care homes, other regions are allowing unvaccinated workers to continue working if they get tested regularly, or, in Ontario’s case, provide proof that they’ve watched an educational video. Ontario’s Long-term Care Minister Rod Phillips said in a news conference Thursday that the province will soon be publicizing the vaccination rates in nursing homes across Ontario, but stopped short of promising a vaccine mandate for workers. Read more: Ontario still undecided on making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for long-term care staff “It reminds us how vulnerable this population remains, because while we'll say, 'wow, you know, almost a hundred per cent of long-term care residents across Canada are vaccinated,’ we're having outbreaks in these homes,” Dr. Samir Sinha, an expert in geriatrics, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview. “These residents are still getting sick, they’re still dying.” Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox After residents began to receive vaccines in the winter, the number of outbreaks — which reached a peak of 1,000 in long-term care nationally in January, Sinha said — plummeted, showing the positive impact of the vaccine. But in this fourth wave, as the more transmissible Delta variant takes hold, long-term care is once again seeing an uptick in outbreaks. According to a tracker of outbreaks in long-term care and retirement homes put together by the National Institute of Aging (NIA), more than 200 facilities across Canada are currently experiencing outbreaks — though it’s important to note that what constitutes an outbreak may be, in some cases, just a handful of cases. Even a small outbreak can throw a care home into full or partial lockdown, cutting down on essential visits from family. Regardless of the size of outbreaks, the number of them is clearly increasing quickly during this fourth wave, Sinha said. Earlier in the summer, there were only around 10 homes with outbreaks across all of Canada, he explained. “This is growing at a rapid, rapid pace, and in particular it's occurring in places where there is significant community spread,” Sinha said. “One of the ongoing challenges though has been that we see periodic outbreaks that have been occurring in homes where there is still a significant portion of the staff who have not gotten vaccinated.” In August, families of residents at an Toronto nursing home that was in the middle of an outbreak told CTV News that they were shocked that workers did not have to be vaccinated. Families had found out during a board meeting in July that the vaccination rate among staff was only 37 per cent. Eight residents have died at Hillsdale Estates in Oshawa, where the first positive test came from a staff member, whose infection in late August was discovered through daily screening. According to provincial data , there are currently 13 outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Ontario. Earlier this month, outbreaks at long-term care centres in the Calgary Zone in Alberta doubled over a four-day period. Alberta has the most active outbreaks in long-term care right now, Sinha said. According to the NIA Long-Term Care COVID-19 Tracker, there are currently 104 outbreaks in Alberta long-term care and retirement homes as of Thursday, more than all other provinces combined. The provincial data itself lists more than 100 outbreaks at long-term care and supportive living facilities, with outbreaks being classified as two or more cases. EXPECTED, BUT STILL CONCERNING It’s not surprising that when cases are rising across Canada, that we would see outbreaks starting to pop up in long-term care again, experts say. Quoc Dinh Nguyen, a geriatrician and adjunct clinical professor at the University of Montreal, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview that while it is “expected” to see cases rise in long-term care when there is community spread, it’s still concerning. “Because still, even with the vaccines, even with two doses, if you compare people who have two doses that are young, and two people have two doses that are older, and especially those in nursing homes, they will still be the one at highest risk of death and hospitalization,” Nguyen said. “So, although it is expected, it is something that we need to follow closely.” Preventing the introduction of COVID-19 into long-term care homes completely can't be done right now, Allison McGeer, an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of Toronto, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview. One reason is because of the lack of widespread vaccine mandates for staff. “There are good reasons why mandates are treacherous, but nonetheless, if you have unvaccinated staff working in long-term care, that increases risk, no question,” she said. “We also have, and again, for good reason, allowed visitors and essential caregivers much more access to long-term care. That's a good thing for variety reasons, but it definitely increases the risk of introduction of outbreaks into long-term care." Long-term care homes have very high rates of vaccination among residents, but vaccines are not infallible, Sinha explained, especially when it comes to the elderly and vulnerable. Studies have shown that these populations do not mount as strong an immune response as younger people, making it important to keep COVID-19 out of long-term care settings. And the Delta variant only makes it harder. McGeer said that if were infected with the original strain and the Alpha variant, “you shed less virus and you were less likely to transmit, but that is not true for Delta.” She added that “even doubly vaccinated people can transmit Delta.” HOW PROVINCES ARE TRYING TO PROTECT LONG-TERM CARE Ontario was one of the first regions to announce that they would be requiring care homes to have vaccine policies. But they specified that while care homes could create their own policy, the minimum requirement would allow those who are not vaccinated to either present a medical reason why, or provide proof of “completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational session.” “It basically is saying that they want to make sure that everybody either gets vaccinated or watches an educational video if they choose not to get vaccinated,” Sinha said. “That's not really a true, meaningful consequence at the end of the day. We now have more than enough information to tell us that vaccines work, vaccines are incredibly safe. “There’s no excuse why a person who chooses to work in this environment should be allowed to potentially put their residents at risk.” Several provinces have taken the step to require health-care workers and even other employees in long-term care to be fully vaccinated. In early August, British Columbia announced that it would be mandatory for all health-care workers in care homes to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 12. Quebec followed suit this month , specifying that as of Oct. 15, all health and social services workers will have be fully vaccinated. The rule includes public long-term care facilities as well as private ones. “Quebec has taken the hard line on this,” Nguyen said. “It's actually not even only health-care workers that are facing patients, it's every single employee of the health-care system in Quebec [that] needs to be vaccinated by Oct. 15.” Workers who do not provide proof that they have been vaccinated by the deadline in Quebec will be reassigned to other duties if possible, or “they will not be allowed to return to work and will receive no compensation.” “As a health-care worker, you are going to work with some people who can not get vaccinated and overall people that are at higher risk than the common lay people not at the hospital,” Nguyen said. “So I think there's a responsibility for people to be vaccinated.” He added that the vaccines have been proven to be safe and that we’ve vaccinated millions of people and seen only rare side-effects. Alberta Health Services announced in late August that health-care providers need to be fully immunized by Oct. 31, including contracted continuing care providers. Some retirement homes are making the decision themselves. In late August, a coalition of long-term care providers announced that they would be making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for their staff across all of their homes, saying in a press release that as of Oct. 12, unvaccinated staff would be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. DAILY TESTING VS. VACCINES Other provinces have allowed workers the option of being tested frequently if they are not vaccinated in the hopes that if they fall ill, it will be caught by the tests before they can spread it in the long-term care home. In Manitoba, those who work with vulnerable populations, including in long-term care settings, are required to be fully immunized or to “undergo regular COVID-19 testing.” In New Brunswick, staff at nursing homes and adult residential facilities have to be fully vaccinated or be tested regularly for COVID-19. And Ontario’s current policy states that workers in high-risk settings who don’t provide proof of vaccination will have to take rapid tests regularly. McGeer said that while testing is better than nothing, it doesn't provide the same safety as a vaccine. “When you have a rapid test, what it tells you is that you're not shedding lots of virus at this moment — doesn't mean that eight hours from now, end of your shift, that you're not,” she said. Sinha agreed, adding that while rapid tests can provide answers more quickly, they’re less accurate than the PCR tests. “There is a potential risk that a person who is positive will test negative,” he said. “And then you only detect it […] the next day or the day after, for example. And by that point, the damage has already been done.” In Nova Scotia, there have been increasing calls for a vaccine mandate for health-care workers. On Wednesday, Newfoundland and Labrador’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosann Seviour told reporters that while they are discussing the idea of requiring vaccinations for health-care and long-term care workers, “there’s no announcement imminent.” Currently, Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing an outbreak on the Baie Verte peninsula, which began at a personal care home. The home is linked to 17 infections, officials have said. THE QUESTION OF THIRD SHOTS Vaccine mandates aren’t the only tool being considered to keep long-term care residents protected from COVID-19. Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan have announced that they will be providing booster shots to certain high-risk groups, including residents of long-term care. Currently, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization only recommends third shots for those who are immunocompromised. It’s something that we should look into further, Nguyen said, adding that Quebec, where he lives, has not introduced third shots for long-term care. He acknowledged that the World Health Organization has said that other countries should receive more first doses before high-income countries start giving out third doses to their citizens, and that the equity question is difficult. “On the individual level, I think the benefits of giving a third dose for folks that are old and especially those that are vulnerable is greater than with not giving it to them,” Nguyen said. Sinha said that the issue of long-term care still needs attention during the pandemic, even though they are not the epicentre like in previous waves. “I think the issues in long-term care have largely been forgotten,” he said. “I think people felt that ‘oh, we took care of that, it was dealt with.’” McGeer says the problem isn’t that long-term care is being overlooked right now, but the idea that we may emerge out of the pandemic without fixing long-term problems in the long-term care system. “I'm very concerned […] that it's a marker of the fact that we're just gonna forget about this problem when we’re through the pandemic, and that we're not going to carry through on what we need to do to rethink long-term care in the country,” she said.
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
Cranston Fire
|
The Cranston Fire was a wildfire that burned in southwest Riverside County, California, in the United States. The fire was started on July 25, 2018, by Brandon M. McGlover, in an act of arson. The fire burned a total of 13,139 acres (53 km2), before it was fully contained on August 10. The Cranston Fire impacted the communities of Idyllwild and Mountain Center, as well as recreational activities in the Lake Hemet area, San Bernardino National Forest and Mount San Jacinto State Park. Over 7,000 people were evacuated due to the Cranston Fire. The Cranston Fire was started on July 25, around noon, by Brandon M. McGlover, who allegedly started numerous fires in the region that day. By the evening, the fire had burned 4,700 acres (19 km2), with five percent containment. Over 2,000 people were evacuated, including Mountain Center, Idyllwild, Lake Hemet, a Girl Scouts camp and more. Portions of Highway 74 and Highway 243 were closed. [1]
The next day, the fire had reached approximately 7,500 acres (30 km2) and was at three percent containment. Evacuations were expanded to include Cedar Glen, Fern Valley, Mount San Jacinto State Park, and Pine Cove. Numerous areas, including campgrounds, in both the State Park and San Bernardino National Forest were closed. The fire was reported to have destroyed five homes. [1]
By July 27, over 7,000 people were evacuated due to the Cranston Fire. The fire had short, active runs in the southeast area of the fire, however, good suppression efforts were made. Caltrans focused on removing debris from highways. [1] By the next day, July 28, two firefighters were reported injured and Hamilton High School was named an evacuation center. The fire continued to grow into Garner Valley. [3] Evacuation orders were put in place, and then lifted later that evening, for Garner Valley. [1] Crews made significant efforts to keep the fire out of the southern and eastern parts of Idyllwild as the fire threatened fire retardant lines. Repopulation began in areas of Garner Valley and on July 29 repopulation started in Fern Valley, Pine Cove, Cedar Glen, and parts of Idyllwild. [4] By that evening, 560 people remained evacuated and the fire had been over half contained. Twelve buildings had been damaged and five damaged. One shelter was closed. [5]
Crews focused on mopping up and securing the fire's edge and containment lines were near finished around Idyllwild. Repair began to reduce erosion and mitigate impacts to natural resources as a result of fire suppression efforts. [6] The next day, July 31, Southern California Edison crews focused on restoring power by installing new power poles. [7] Hazard trees were removed and light precipitation aided in fire suppression. [8] By the evening of July 31, the fire had burned 13,139 acres (53 km2) and was 89 percent contained. [1]
As the Cranston Fire continued to burn into August, no new growth was reported. Teams began to be demobilized as the fire moved towards containment with mop up and suppression repair efforts in progress. Caltrans focused on removing hazardous trees on roadways while Southern California Edison focused on power restoration. Evacuation orders were lifted for Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley, Cedar Glen and the western portion of Garner Valley up to Lake View Drive at the Lake Hemet Market. [9] By the morning of August 2, the Cranston Fire had burned 13,139 acres (53 km2) and was 92 percent contained, with 100 percent containment anticipated by August 9. [1][10] On August 10, 2018, the Cranston Fire was fully contained. [1]
The fire caused evacuations in residential areas, including Mountain Center, Idyllwild, Pine Cove, and Cedar Glen, as well as evacuations and closures in Mount San Jacinto State Park and the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. It also caused road closures along Highway 74 and Highway 243, impacting access to Hemet. Parts of Highway 74 and Highway 243 were later closed multiple times due to the threat of mudslides caused by the fire. [11] Areas in the Mountain Center area were also ordered to evacuate multiple times due to this threat. [12] Additionally, it caused numerous trail closures, including the Pacific Crest Trail. Parts of the National Forest were ordered closed until July 31, 2019. [13] Over 7,000 people were evacuated due to the fire. [1]
Numerous portions of Highway 74, Highway 371 and Highway 243 were closed as a result of the fire, specifically in the areas of Hemet and Banning. Temporary flight restrictions were in place for the area. [1] The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was closed for four days due to the fire. [14]
San Bernardino National Forest was closed as a result of the Cranston Fire. Additional recreational closures included Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and Mount San Jacinto State Park. [1]
On July 25, the same day the fire was reported, CAL FIRE arrested Brandon N. McGlover for setting multiple fires in Riverside County. He was charged with 15 felony counts of arson for starting nine fires. [15] McGlover was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison, must register as an arsonist for life, and is required to pay restitution to victims.
|
Fire
| null | null |
National Airlines Flight 16 crash
|
National Airlines Flight 16 was a domestic (U.S.), scheduled passenger flight from Miami, Florida, to Lakeland, Florida, that crashed on October 5, 1945. The aircraft was on the last leg of a Miami-Fort Myers-Sarasota-St Petersburg-Tampa-Lakeland route. The cause of the crash was determined to be a faulty missed approach procedure, which caused the aircraft to overshoot the runway and land in the water approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) beyond. [1] Two passengers drowned, and several others were injured. [2]
Flight 16 was serviced by a Lockheed Lodestar 18-50 that had been manufactured in 1942 for the US Army Air Corps. The aircraft was owned by the Defense Plant Corporation, and was leased to National Airlines. [2] The airframe had accumulated a total of 1798 hours of airtime, 628 hours of which had occurred since its last overhaul. The aircraft was one of only 13 Lodestar 18-50s variants built out of a total of 625 Lodestar 18's. The aircraft was piloted by Captain William Merrill Corry, an employee of National Airlines since November 1943. Captain Corry had a total of 4800 hours of flight time, and 851 hours on a Lockheed 18-50. The copilot was First Officer William Hawley Conrad, an employee of National Airlines since May 7, 1945. First Officer Conrad had 5247 hours of flight time, with 409 on a Lockheed 18-50. The stewardess was Ethel Katherine McCoy. [2]
The aircraft, a Lockheed 18-50 Lodestar, departed Miami at 9:12 p.m. on October 4, 1945, 1 hour, 15 minutes behind schedule due to delays in previous flights. The flight progressed normally during stops at Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. The plane departed Tampa at 12:45 a.m. and continued towards Lakeland. [2]
Lakeland reported 9 miles of visibility with scattered clouds at 500 feet (150 m). At 12:58 a.m., at seven miles from the airfield, the pilots established a straight-in descent to the northeastern runway. The descent continued normally until the aircraft reached 600 feet (180 m), when the aircraft abruptly entered an unexpected cloud. [1] This prompted the captain to retract the landing gear and tell the first officer that he was going to initiate a missed approach, and go around for a second attempt at landing. [1][2]
Witnesses on the ground observed that the aircraft continued along the runway at approximately 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.2 m) above the surface. It passed the end of the runway and struck the surface of the lake adjacent to the Lakeland airport approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft skipped an additional 1,000 feet (300 m), shedding fuselage covering as it went, before sinking in 10 feet (3.0 m) of water. [2]
Two passengers drowned. All other occupants escaped from the wreckage and were rescued by locals within thirty minutes. [2]
Civil Aeronautics Board investigators examined the wreckage and determined that there had been no malfunction or failure of aircraft equipment. The condition of the wreckage indicated that the plane had first struck the water in a level bellyflop. [2]
The Civil Aeronautics Board determined that:
Testimony of the flight personnel and the results of pilot check flights conducted by the CAB and company check pilots subsequent to the hearing revealed a definite lack of familiarity of some National Airlines' captains with the operating limitation of the Lodestar. Although legally qualified to pilot the aircraft, their proficiency was not in conformance with accepted standards. ... The company training program and training facilities were inadequate for the maintenance of sufficient competency of pilot personnel with respect to the Lockheed 18-50. Because of the captain's unfamiliarity with the aircraft specifications, he waited too long to commit himself to the go-around procedure, dooming the aircraft as immediate action was necessary. The CAB also determined that the pilot had available alternative procedures which would have enabled him to complete the maneuver safely. The cause of the crash was ultimately determined to be due to pilot error. [2]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
A Mild COVID-19 Case May Still Result in Long-Term Symptoms
|
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since last spring, experts have been sounding the alarm about COVID-19 “long-haulers,” people who experience lasting symptoms for months after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
A new study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society adds to a growing body of research on this phenomenon.
The authors of the study invited patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 to attend a follow-up appointment months after their diagnosis.
Among patients who attended an appointment, many felt they had not yet returned to full health. Breathlessness while walking was common, and nearly half of participants reported persistent fatigue.
Some of the patients with lingering health effects had been hospitalized with COVID-19. However, others had only mild initial infections.
“We were surprised by our findings,” Dr. Liam Townsend, lead author of the new study and an infectious disease specialist at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, said in a press release.
“We expected a greater number of abnormal chest X-rays. We also expected the measures of ongoing ill-health and abnormal findings to be related to severity of initial infection, which was not the case,” he said.
The study’s findings don’t come as a surprise to Dr. Allison Navis, a neurologist who works at the Mount Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City.
The clinic opened last spring to treat people who experience persistent symptoms following COVID-19.
Providers at the clinic thought most of the patients would be people who’d been seriously ill and hospitalized with the disease, Navis said.
However, they’ve found that many people who need post-COVID-19 care had only mild initial symptoms and were never admitted to the hospital.
“I would say that that’s the vast majority of the patients that I’m seeing. They did not require hospitalization, and they may have had very minimal symptoms,” Navis said.
Navis has been treating patients at the clinic who have neurological symptoms such as brain fog, headaches, or unusual nerve sensations following COVID-19. Shortness of breath and fatigue are also common.
Experts don’t know why some people who develop COVID-19 experience persistent symptoms after the virus is no longer detectable in their body.
When healthcare providers order chest X-rays, CT scans, or other tests to look for potential causes of long-haul symptoms, the results often come back negative.
“Objective evidence on diagnostic imaging — something that would explain the symptoms — is showing up in a very small number of patients that we’re looking at,” Navis said.
“We’re doing all these workups, and very little is coming back with positive findings,” she said.
The authors of the new study also found that few patients who reported lingering symptoms showed signs of damage on imaging tests, including chest X-rays and CT scans.
Over 60 percent of the study participants said they had not yet returned to full health an average of 75 days after their diagnosis. However, only 4 percent showed signs of lung scarring on CT scans.
In difficult times, you need to be able to turn to experts who understand and can help strengthen your mental well-being. We’re here for you.
Although many questions remain about the cause of long-haul symptoms, Navis emphasized that patients aren’t simply imagining them.
“We have enough people with very similar symptoms to know that something’s occurring,” she said.
“It can be very challenging trying to figure out what’s causing these issues, but it does seem that there may be a bigger process going on that’s contributing to them,” she added.
For people who do have lasting effects from COVID-19, supportive care may help them manage symptoms and improve their overall well-being.
“Having appropriate resources in place is essential for aiding recovery in the painful and long months after acute infection,” said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
“Long COVID-19 takes not only a physical but a psychological toll on recovery, which directly impacts how people are able to resume their lives,” he said.
We’ll email you the latest developments about the novel coronavirus and Healthline's top health news stories, daily.
Your privacy is important to us
More research is needed to understand the causes of long-haul COVID-19 and to develop effective treatment strategies.
In the meantime, clinicians are doing what they can to manage long-haulers’ symptoms and promote their recovery.
For example, treatments that help patients sleep better may reduce their fatigue and improve their overall well-being, Navis said.
Addressing potential mental health challenges is also important, she added.
“There can be depression, anxiety, and PTSD from having the illness,” she told Healthline.
“That might not be the primary issue causing all the symptoms,” she said, “but if it’s present, it absolutely could be a contributing factor, and it is something we can do something for.”
Navis has seen many of her patients’ long-haul symptoms get better over time. “It can take time, but we are seeing a lot of people improve,” she said.
She hopes that as medical experts continue to treat long-haul COVID-19 patients, collaborate across specialties, and conduct research, improved treatment options will become available.
With many states currently reporting record-breaking rates of COVID-19, it’s likely that more support for long-haulers will be needed down the line.
“We must recognize that there will be a wave of patients with long COVID-19 entering our medical systems that will require continuing care and rehabilitation,” Glatter said.
“We must not only plan for this by developing centers of excellence, but allocate the necessary federal funds for research and care of these patients,” he added.
Get tested for Covid-19 from home with LetsGetChecked's at-home testing kit. Get free shipping and see your results within 24-72 hours of lab receipt. Order today for 30% off.
The National Institutes of Health sponsored a meeting to discuss the long-term symptoms of COVID-19, shedding light on the millions of people around…
Get the facts about the 2019 coronavirus (and COVID-19). Discover symptoms, risk factors, tips to prevent contracting and transmitting it, and more.
Scientists around the world are working on a number of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
Here’s what we currently know about how long people may be immune after they recover from COVID-19 or get the vaccine.
Summer and fall are when we’re at the greatest risk of contracting the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe symptoms in…
Filter out the noise and nurture your inbox with health and wellness advice that’s inclusive and rooted in medical expertise.
|
Famous Person - Sick
| null | null |
On Thursday last week, President Vladimir Putin spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He urged the sides involved in the conflict “to display restraint,” not to follow the path of escalation of violence, and to do “everything possible to bring the situation back to normal.”
|
Moscow labeled rocket attacks against Israeli territory unacceptable, while calling Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip disproportionate. Russia vowed to engage the UN Security Council and the Middle-East mediating Quartet (the UN, EU, Russia, and the US) to normalize the situation."Moscow deems necessary the soonest end of the armed confrontation. We urge the conflicting sides to put an end to military operations in order to prevent new casualties. We reaffirm that shelling of the Israeli territory and disproportionate strikes on Gaza, which harm innocent civilians, are unacceptable," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Russia has condemned in the strongest terms the Sunday airstrike on the international media compound in Gaza. As a result of the attack, several foreign TV channels, including RT Arabic, lost their offices in the conflict zone. Though all personnel were evacuated after the initial assault, overall six journalists were injured. One of the wounded, a cameraman with the local al-Quds TV, reportedly lost his leg. Local Ma’an news agency reported that most hits were targeting the office of the official Palestinian al-Quds TV on the 11th floor of one of the two buildings.Israel attacked over 1350 targets since the beginning of Pillar of Cloud operation on November 14, Russian diplomats stated. About 90 Palestinians were killed – at least a third of them were women and children.Meanwhile, over 1,000 missiles and shells have been fired from Gaza to the Israeli territory since the beginning of the conflict. About 200 Israeli citizens were injured, the Russian Ministry says citing media reports.Earlier, Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation via telephone with Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Riyad Al-Maliki. Lavrov confirmed Moscow’s stance on the unacceptability of attacks from both the warring sides. On Thursday last week, President Vladimir Putin spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He urged the sides involved in the conflict “to display restraint,” not to follow the path of escalation of violence, and to do “everything possible to bring the situation back to normal.”
|
Diplomatic Talks _ Diplomatic_Negotiation_ Summit Meeting
| null | null |
2007 M1 motorway coach accident
|
On 3 September 2007, a National Express single-decker coach, travelling southbound on the M1 motorway was involved in a crash. It was operating the 777 service from Birmingham to London Stansted Airport, via London Luton Airport, and had recently stopped at Coventry. [1] There were 33 passengers on board at the time of the accident, of whom 30 were injured,[1] six seriously. The coach rolled on to its side after it clipped a kerb and then a lamp post and tree at the entry to a motorway slip road by the Newport Pagnell services area on the southbound M1 motorway. [1] It was ultimately confirmed that the coach driver mistook the entry to the service area for a major junction on the M1. The injured were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Northampton and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. One of the injured was transported to hospital by air ambulance. [2]
The driver of the coach was arrested by Thames Valley Police in hospital on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving after being cut free from the wreckage. [3] He had earlier been breath tested at the scene of the collision. [4]
National Express decided not to withdraw the fleet of coaches to conduct tests. It was deemed that there were no faults with the vehicles, leaving the cause of the crash to driver error. The Chief Executive, Richard Bowker, defended the company's safety record on the Today programme, stating that drivers faced stringent tests both during the recruitment process and during their employment. He confirmed that National Express were fully co-operating with the police investigation, and insisted that it was extremely rare for National Express to have an accident like this,[5]
Two days after the crash, police were still waiting to question the coach driver. [6] The driver had sustained serious injuries, including an injured arm and cracked ribs, and was being treated at Northampton General Hospital. Police officers had to guard the driver in hospital until he was declared fit to answer police questions. The police confirmed that the slip road where the coach crashed needed to be re-surfaced due to damage caused by a diesel spill. [6] The coach driver was released from hospital on 10 September,[7] and was also released on police bail, to attend Milton Keynes police station on 1 October for further questioning. [7]
On 23 November 2007, police announced they had yet to decide whether to charge the driver. [8] The police explained that, due to delays in receiving forensic evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service was unable to make a fully informed decision on whether to bring charges. [8] The 35-year-old driver from West Bromwich, who had still not been named, was further bailed until 28 January 2008. [8]
On 28 January 2008, the National Express coach driver, now identified as Leslie Weinberg, 36, was officially charged with driving under the influence of excess alcohol, and a further charge of dangerous driving. [9] He was due to appear on 12 February 2008 at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court to answer the charges. [9] Weinburg's actions left eight people needing hospital treatment for their injuries. [9] Weinberg was subsequently dismissed by National Express as a result of the charge. [citation needed]
On 14 April 2008, Weinberg's actions were finally made public, via full evidence in court. [10] Appearing before Judge Christopher Tyrer at Aylesbury Crown Court,[10] Weinberg pleaded guilty to the two charges. [10] The Court was told that Weinberg had a drink-drive reading of 145 milligrams (0.0051 oz) of alcohol in 100 millilitres (3.520 imp fl oz; 3.381 US fl oz) of blood – the UK legal limit is 80 milligrams (0.0028 oz) per 100 ml. [10] Six passengers suffered serious injuries as a direct result of Weinberg's actions; one man had an arm amputated. [10] The Judge warned Weinburg to expect a jail sentence, and stated: "This is serious. The circumstances are very grave". The Judge continued: "As a result of your intoxication, you completely mistook where you were. You mistook the exit of the motorway and a number of people were seriously injured". [10] The case was adjourned to seek medical reports on Wienburg, to re-appear during the week of 26 May 2008 for sentencing. [10] Judge Christopher Tyrer imposed an Interim Disqualification Order which banned Weinberg from driving, and told him: "This is way past the custody threshold, and you should make arrangements accordingly". [10]
Weinberg was sentenced on 24 June 2008. [11] On re-appearing at Aylesbury Crown Court, it became known that Weinberg had returned from holiday the day before, and chose to stay up alone all night drinking. [11] The court was told that the following day Weinburg drove a National Express coach on a regular service from Birmingham to Stansted Airport. [11] While travelling southbound on the M1, Weinberg overtook a lorry on the approach to a motorway junction. [11] He then cut back in front of the lorry, and claimed to have mistaken the service station entry slip road for that of the actual junction exit slip road. [11] As the coach entered the slip road, its tachograph showed that the coach was travelling at 57 miles per hour (92 km/h). [11] It then hit a kerb, and passengers reported the coach 'took off'. [11] It then rolled on to its side, sliding into a lamp-post and a tree. [11]
Leslie Weinberg was jailed for ten months and fined £500. He was disqualified from driving for four years for the guilty plea of driving with excess alcohol, and had a further concurrent two-year disqualification for the guilty plea of dangerous driving. [11]
|
Road Crash
| null | null |
2003 Broadway Musicians Strike
|
The 2003 Broadway musicians strike was a strike by the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, American Federation of Musicians Local 802 union members, and other Broadway unions such as Actors' Equity Association and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. [1][2] The strike lasted from Friday, March 7, 2003 to early Tuesday morning, March 11, 2003. [3]
In negotiations over the Local 802 collective bargaining agreement, the League of American Theatres and Producers proposed to reduce minimum orchestra size requirements from 24-26 to as low as 7 members, with a virtual orchestra filling the gaps. [1][2][4][5] Producers also threatened to replace all musicians with a virtual orchestra if they went on strike. [2] In response, Local 802 developed the "Save Live Broadway" campaign, which garnered media attention and a petition with over 30,000 signatures. [1] However, an agreement between Local 802 and the Producers could not be reached by the deadline, 12:01 AM on March 7, 2003, so the musicians were forced to strike. [5]
325 musicians from Local 802 were joined by 650 actors from the Actors' Equity Association and 350 stagehands from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in the strike. [2] The loss of employees from these unions caused all Broadway musicals (except Cabaret, which had a different contract because it was performed at Studio 54) to shut down for the duration of the strike. [6] Those on strike picketed Broadway theatres and staged a mock funeral for live music in Times Square, with many famous Broadway actors in attendance, including Harvey Fierstein. [1][7]
Because of the great strain on New York's economy, with $7 million lost per performance for New York businesses (taxis, restaurants, and hotels),[1] Mayor Michael Bloomberg intervened and invited Bill Moriarity, president of Local 802, and Jed Bernstein, president of the League of American Theaters and Producers, to meet at Gracie Mansion on the night of March 10, 2003 to continue negotiations. [3] Bloomberg also appointed Frank J. Macchiarola, chairman of the Districting Commission, as mediator. [3]
After all-night negotiations, parties agreed to reduce minimum requirements for musicians from 24-26 to 18-19, which would stay in effect for the next 10 years. [2][3] Mayor Bloomberg announced that the unions had reached a settlement and Broadway was "no longer dark" the morning of March 11, 2003. [3]
|
Strike
| null | null |
Most Shocking Celebrity Splits: From Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan to Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
|
To the next chapter. Many celebrity splits have rocked Hollywood over the years, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin as well as Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan .
Tatum and Dewan’s love story began on the set of 2006’s Step Up, where they costarred as onscreen love interests. The duo tied the knot in 2009 and welcomed daughter Everly in 2013. To the surprise of many, they would go on to announce their separation in April 2018.
“We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together,” the pair said at the time in a joint statement to Us Weekly. “Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.”
The statement continued, “There are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision — just two best-friends realizing it’s time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.”
The Witches of East End alum began dating actor Steve Kazee in October 2018. They got engaged in February 2020 and welcomed son Callum that following month . The Magic Mike actor, for his part, dated Jessie J from October 2018 to December 2019 . After reconciling in January 2020, they split for the second time that April .
Paltrow, meanwhile, coined the term “conscious uncoupling” when announcing her split from Martin after 10 years of marriage in 2014. The pair have continued to remain good friends while coparenting their daughter Apple and son Moses.
“It’s a lifelong commitment to constantly reinvent your relationship with your ex, which you do presumably because you have children together,” the Goop founder told Harper’s Bazaar in February 2020. “I don’t see a reason to do it if you don’t have children together. Some people do. But I think we put all the hard work in at the beginning. I would say very rarely is it difficult now. We’ve learned how to communicate with each other. We love each other. We laugh. We have the best of each other. It’s really nice. It makes you feel like you don’t have to lose.”
Paltrow went on to marry producer Brad Falchuk in 2018. The Coldplay frontman was later linked to Jennifer Lawrence , Annabelle Wallis and began dating Dakota Johnson in December 2017.
|
Famous Person - Divorce
| null | null |
The Straits Times
|
SINGAPORE - A four-year-old boy whose breathing is being supported by mechanical ventilation in the children's intensive care unit is one of four children in Singapore who developed a rare form of inflammatory syndrome linked to Covid-19.
These four cases were among the 8,000 paediatric Covid-19 cases in Singapore since the start of the pandemic, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement on Saturday night (Nov 6).
Known as the multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C for short, it is a condition where different body parts, including the heart, lungs, kidney, brain and eyes, can become inflamed.
MOH said MIS-C has symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, which has been linked to various viral or bacterial infections and occurs in 150 to 200 children a year in Singapore.
Kawasaki disease is an illness that results in inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body and mostly affects children younger than five years old.
The symptoms for MIS-C include persistent fever above 38.5 deg C for three days or more, with difficulty breathing, headache, neck swelling, rash, swollen hands and feet or abdominal pain.
The boy in the children's intensive care unit was admitted to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) on Nov 1. He had previously tested positive for the coronavirus on Sept 24. He is being cared for by KKH paediatric teams.
Of the remaining three cases, one is a two-month-old girl who was previously admitted to hospital for Covid-19 on Oct 12 and discharged on Oct 19.
She was later admitted to hospital again on Nov 3 for the inflammatory syndrome. Her condition remains stable, with no oxygen support needed.
The other two cases are two boys, aged three and eight, who have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
The younger boy was admitted to the children’s intensive care unit on Oct 16. He had repeatedly tested negative for Covid-19, but his serology test results indicated that he was likely infected by the coronavirus two to six weeks prior to contracting MIS-C. He was discharged on Oct 23.
The eight-year-old boy was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Sept 30 and was admitted to the children’s intensive care unit on Oct 27. He was discharged on Nov 1.
MOH said an international review from 26 countries in May last year reported that 14 in 10,000 children with Covid-19 infection contracted MIS-C.
|
Famous Person - Sick
| null | null |
Funding for Northwestern University
|
The Patrick G. ’59, ’09 H and Shirley W. Ryan ’61, ’19 H (’97, ’00 P) Family has made the largest single gift in Northwestern University’s history, a $480 million gift that will accelerate breakthroughs in biomedical, economics and business research and enable the University to redevelop Ryan Field and construct a best-in-class venue for the Northwestern community. The transformative gift pushed We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern over the $6 billion mark, making it one of the largest fundraising campaigns in the history of higher education. The “We Will” Campaign, which concluded June 30, raised $6.1 billion from 174,380 donors. By generating support for strategic University priorities, the Campaign amplified Northwestern’s local and global impact and provided substantial support for campus life, financial aid, facilities, research and schools and units across the University. Related: Learn more about the “We Will” Campaign’s impact The Ryan Family’s latest gift builds upon their unwavering commitment to furthering strategic initiatives that contribute to Northwestern’s trajectory as a top-tier academic institution. The Ryan Family was already the largest benefactor in Northwestern’s history before this new gift. Their philanthropic support has benefited areas across the University, including scientific research, faculty, academic programs, student access and success, performing arts and athletics. The Ryans’ historic new gift will support educational and research initiatives in the fields of applied microeconomics, business, digital medicine, neuroscience and global health, as well as translational research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the redevelopment of Ryan Field. “I am immensely grateful to Pat and Shirley Ryan and their family for their extraordinary generosity and leadership over many years, which has propelled Northwestern to new heights as a leading research university,” Northwestern President Morton Schapiro said. “The Ryan Family’s new gift will have a profound and lasting impact on faculty and student opportunities, including research and discovery. Additionally, our student-athletes, coaches, fans and the community will benefit from their support of Northwestern Athletics and Recreation for many years to come.” The Ryans’ new gift will support several areas of the Feinberg School of Medicine, including: The Ryan Family Digital Health Fund will be focused on digital medicine technologies to improve human health. One part of this fund will facilitate the development of an interactive digital application to assist parents in employing sensor programs for measuring neuromotor performance in infants, in collaboration with Pathways.org and ProjectCorbett Ryan-Northwestern-Shirley Ryan AbilityLab-Lurie Children’s Infant MotorEarly Detection, Intervention and Prevention. The second part of this fund will support the curation of a sustainable and accessible library of diverse and unique health data sets. Funds will aid in the sourcing, hosting, indexing and tailored guidance to assist Northwestern students, trainees and scientists with essential data grist to develop innovative health analytics aligned with the University’s research and educational mission. A new institute in the field of neuroscience will dramatically advance Northwestern’s distinctive scholarship in the field of neuroscience. Northwestern Memorial Hospital ranked ninth in neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report2021–22 Best Hospital rankings. The Ryan Family Catalyst Fund will facilitate promising medical research by scholars who have the potential to make an important impact on human disease. The gift will endow the existing Institute for Global Health, which will be renamed the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health in honor of Robert J. Havey ’80 MD, ’83 GME, ’84 GME (’08, ’13 P), the institute’s deputy director and clinical professor of general internal medicine and geriatrics at Feinberg. The endowed fund will support the institute’s operations as well as student travel and projects and research conducted by Feinberg faculty. The Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care will be established within the Havey Institute. “Advancing scientific discovery, especially in human health, has been a longstanding priority for our family,” Shirley Ryan said. “Northwestern’s world-class scientists and innovative and interdisciplinary approach to research have tremendous potential to advance treatments and tools that can improve the lives of people in the U.S. and globally.” “This wonderful gift from the Ryan Family supporting these five biomedical initiatives is an absolute game-changer,” said Eric Neilson, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and the Lewis Landsberg Dean at the Feinberg School of Medicine. “It is imaginative support like this that accelerates the pace of discovery for some of society’s most important health issues. We are very grateful for their commitment to the science in medicine.” Northwestern Medicine was a key focus of the “We Will” Campaign, with Campaign gifts supporting research, clinical innovation and the education of the next generation of medical leaders. Nearly half of the funds raised in the Campaign, more than $2.8 billion, have been designated to Northwestern Medicine. Center for Applied Microeconomics — In addition to supporting human health, the Ryans’ gift will endow a Center for Applied Microeconomics, solidifying Northwestern’s leadership position in economics while fueling research with the capacity for significant social and policy impact. The Department of Economics, housed in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, currently is ranked seventh by U.S. News & World Reportand has award-winning faculty, a renowned Ph.D. program and a track record of cutting-edge research. The department has included a Nobel Prize winner and, for the past 25 years, has offered the most popular major for undergraduate students. The University’s microeconomics ranking rose from 17th in 2009 to 5th in 2021. “The Ryans’ generous support will help Northwestern’s highly ranked Department of Economics tackle new and exciting problems at the cutting edge of economic theory and practice,” said Adrian Randolph, Weinberg College dean. “Moreover, scholars and students from across Northwestern will benefit from this investment in the Center for Applied Microeconomics, putting us at the center of discourses about some of the most pressing issues facing our nation and the world.” Major support for the Kellogg School of Management — The Ryans’ new gift also will benefit the Kellogg School of Management, where Pat Ryan received his undergraduate degree in business in 1959, when it was known as the School of Business, and where the Ryans’ sons, Pat Ryan Jr. ’97 JD, MBA and Rob Ryan ’00 JD, MBA, received their MBAs — along with their JDs from the School of Law. “I am delighted the Ryan Family is honoring their long and deep connection to Kellogg with this gift,” said Francesca Cornelli, Kellogg’s dean. “Pat Ryan has a legacy of disruption and innovation and has created two publicly traded companies, pinnacles of their industry, providing professional insurance services: Aon and Ryan Specialty Group. This is what we want our students to aspire to, and this gift will allow Kellogg to enhance our forward-looking programs.” The transformative gift from the Ryans also provides the lead gift for the redevelopment of Ryan Field, creating an enhanced gameday experience for students, alumni, fans and the surrounding community. Additional philanthropic gifts will be raised to complete the project. An important goal of the redevelopment is to exceed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and make the stadium exceptionally accessible and welcoming to all attendees. The project also will focus on environmental sustainability opportunities. The multi-year construction process will provide an economic boost for the City of Evanston through job creation and increased revenue. Northwestern is committed to transparency and collaboration with Evanston neighbors throughout the construction process. The University will conduct listening sessions with community members before releasing design concepts and more specific plans. “We deeply appreciate the Ryan Family’s enduring dedication to our student-athletes,” said Dr. Derrick Gragg, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. “The impact of their visionary generosity on past, present and future Wildcats is truly incomparable. The rebuilt Ryan Field will be a world-class venue befitting this institution’s pursuit of excellence in all areas.” Originally constructed in 1926 and expanded in 1949 and 1952, Ryan Field underwent an extensive renovation in 1997, supported by a leadership gift from the Ryan Family. Northwestern football has won two of the last three Big Ten West Division championships and four consecutive bowl games including the 2021 Citrus Bowl. “Shirley and I believe in the power of sports to develop the whole person — mind, body and soul for all students. This holistic approach prepares Northwestern student-athletes to be the leaders of tomorrow,” Pat Ryan said. “And as long-time fans of all Wildcat teams, we have seen firsthand how powerful Northwestern Athletics can be in building community.” As the largest donors in Northwestern University’s history, the Ryan Family has made broad and deep philanthropic investments across the institution including: Historical Ryan support of academics — While the Ryans have given in support of hundreds of different University programs, the most prominent include: The Ryans have long been active supporters of Northwestern Athletics and Recreation, including the following venues: Patrick G. Ryan is a 1959 Northwestern graduate. He received his undergraduate degree in business from what was then called the School of Business and now is named the Kellogg School of Management. He also received an honorary degree from the University in 2009 in appreciation for his 14 years of service as chairman of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees. In 2013, he was inducted into Northwestern’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Shirley Welsh Ryan is a 1961 Northwestern graduate. She received her undergraduate degree in English from what was then called the College of Arts and Sciences and is now named the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Ryan is distinguished as one of Chicago’s most successful entrepreneurs and prominent civic leaders. His first business venture while a student involved selling scrapbooks to fellow students, which paid for his Northwestern education. Mr. Ryan founded and served for 41 years as CEO of Aon Corporation, the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage. At the time of his retirement, Aon had nearly $8 billion in annual revenue with more than 500 offices in 120 countries. In 2010, Mr. Ryan founded Ryan Specialty Group, a rapidly growing service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers. The company provides distribution, underwriting, product development, administration and risk management services by acting as a wholesale broker and a managing underwriter. Mr. Ryan currently serves as chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty Group Holdings, Inc., which completed its initial public offering in July 2021. The company’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAN.” Mr. Ryan is distinct in having founded and built two major New York Stock Exchange traded insurance companies. Mr. Ryan is a member of the International Insurance Hall of Fame and the Automotive Hall of Fame, a member and past chairman of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees, a recipient of the esteemed Horatio Alger Award and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mrs. Ryan is nationally recognized for her 40-year work to advance the infant brain’s innovative capacity to learn motor milestones. Two U.S. presidents have appointed her to the National Council on Disability. Mrs. Ryan co-founded and for 33 years chaired Pathways Center, a pediatric multi-disciplinary clinic. She also founded the Pathways Medical Round Table to guide content for Pathways.org. This website and social media platform receives 10 million users annually and is trusted by 300 institutions of higher learning. Pathways.org provides, free of charge, 300 infant video games each month and one-minute videos to assist parents in tracking and improving infant motor, sensory and communication milestones. Today Mrs. Ryan is on the Board of Directors of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), which, for the 33rd year, is recognized as number one in the U.S. and a global leader in physical medicine, rehabilitation and translational research. Mrs. Ryan also founded, in 1976, and directs Northwestern’s graduate-level Learning for Life series and is a charter member of the Northwestern Women’s Board. She is chair of Pathways.org and uses her voice to advance accessibility for all. Mrs. Ryan serves on the executive committee of the board of directors of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the University of Notre Dame, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Mrs. Ryan founded the Women’s Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo and has served on the Kennedy Center and Ronald McDonald Children’s charities. Mrs. Ryan is humbled to hold honorary degrees from Northwestern University, the University of Notre Dame and University of Illinois, Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have a wonderful family, including Pat and Lydia, Rob and Jennifer, Corbett and their grandchildren.
|
Financial Aid
| null | null |
2020–21 United States election protests
|
Protests began in multiple cities in the United States following the 2020 United States presidential election between then-President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden, held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3%) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%)[15][16] and winning the Electoral College by 306 to 232. [17][16][15] Biden's victory became clear on November 7, after the ballots (including mail-in ballots) had been tabulated. [18] The Electoral College voted on December 14, in accordance with law, formalizing Biden's victory. [17]
Before and after the election, Trump, his presidential campaign, and his allies challenged the legitimacy of the election and falsely claimed widespread electoral fraud. [19] Trump and his allies filed dozens of legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges from across the political spectrum, in both the state and federal courts, including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself. The courts found that his claims had no factual or legal basis. [20][21] His unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voting fraud were also refuted by state election officials. [22]
Pro-Trump protesters, including groups such as the Proud Boys, engaged in multiple demonstrations in Washington, D.C., state capitols, and other locations nationwide protesting the election results and echoing Trump's claims of election fraud. [5] In November and December 2020, there were nighttime clashes and street scuffles in Washington, D.C. between Trump supporters who refused to accept the president's defeat, including the Proud Boys, and counterprotesters. [5][23][24]
On January 6—the day when Congress formally counts the electoral votes—Trump supporters gathered for the "Save America" rally where attendees heard speeches from President Trump and his personal lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Before the speeches were over, a mob of protesters marched on Congress and stormed the building. [25] Congress was in session at the time, certifying the Electoral College vote count. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protesters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall. [26][27] All buildings in the Capitol complex were subsequently locked down. [28] There was reportedly an armed standoff at the doors to the House chambers,[29][30] one person was shot within the Capitol building, and one Capitol Police officer died after having a stroke the next day, potentially as a result of being sprayed with bear spray. [31][32] At least two improvised explosive devices were found. [33][34]
In the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, at least 36 House Democrats called for Trump's immediate impeachment and removal by Congress. [35][36] State-level officials including Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford supported impeachment,[37] and representatives called on Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump via the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. [38][39] Trump continued to face backlash in the days following and, due to his use of social media to encourage his supporters' protests and violence, was eventually restricted or banned from most online platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and his preferred Twitter. [40][41]
Armed supporters of Trump have continued protesting in the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol. [42] As of January 10, armed protests were being planned at the state capitols of most states. [43] Thousands of troops poured into the capital, and by the inauguration ceremony for Biden, up to 25,000 troops were deployed to guard against further threats to security. [44]
In remarks from the White House in the early hours of November 4, President Donald Trump alleged, without presenting evidence, that "fraud" was being committed during vote counting efforts[45] and remarked, "We will win this. As far as I'm concerned, we already have won. "[46] Some major networks conducted live fact-checking and interrupted the president's speech while others offered uninterrupted coverage. [47] Meanwhile, former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon had suggested that waging violence against Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray could serve as "a warning to federal bureaucrats" to begin a second term for President Trump. [48]
Political observers had suggested the possibility of a contested election and premature claim of victory by Trump in the months before of the election. This expectation was based on the likelihood that initial votes counted on election night would skew heavily Republican while mail-in ballots would skew heavily Democratic, a blue shift that became more favorable to Biden as more votes were counted and could be misrepresented as fraudulent. [49]
Pro-Trump events related to the election outcome have taken place around the country beginning on November 4. "We're gonna walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and we're probably not going to be cheering so loudly for some of them, because you're never going to take back our country with weakness; you have to show strength...I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." On January 6, the protesters planned to march to the United States Capitol. [94] President Donald Trump supported the planned protest via tweets. [95][96] Mayor Bowser asked residents not participating in the protests to "avoid confrontations with anybody who's looking for a fight". [97][98]
A crowd of several thousand first listened to a speech by Trump, in which he repeated his claims that the election had been stolen and said, "We will never give up. We will never concede. ... Our country has had enough. We're not going to take it anymore." He urged them to march on the Capitol to "peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard" but also to "show strength". [99]
Many listeners then marched on the Capitol, where they breached the barricades, broke windows, and stormed inside the Capitol building. They marched through Statuary Hall. [100] Rioters invaded the offices of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, flipping tables and ripping photos from walls; there was looting in the Capitol. [101][102]
The Capitol was locked down, the Senate and House recessed from their discussions about the electoral count, and Vice President Pence was "whisked away" from the chamber. [103][104] Members of Congress were told to put on gas masks after law enforcement began using tear gas within the building. ABC News reported shooting in the Capitol building and an armed standoff at the front door of the House chambers. [105][106] The New York Times also said police drew their guns inside the House of Representatives chamber. [107]
Multiple officers were injured in the mob violence at the Capitol. [108][109] One died the following day, and another committed suicide over the following weekend. A woman was shot inside the Capitol by a Capitol Police officer while climbing through a broken window into the Speaker's Lobby - she later died. [110] At least one improvised explosive device was found on Capitol grounds, and another just blocks away at the headquarters of the Republican Party.
|
Protest_Online Condemnation
| null | null |
Three killed after Russian apartment block gas explosion
|
A scene of a gas explosion in a residential building in the village of Solidarnost, Lipetsk region, Russia September 11, 2021 in this still image taken from a video. Russian Emergency Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
Read More
Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com
Register
MOSCOW, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Three people died, including an 11-year-old girl, after a gas explosion caused a two-storey apartment building to partially collapse in a Russian village early on Saturday, head of the Lipetsk region Igor Artamonov said.
Video footage showed major structural damage to the building in Solidarnost, a village 400 km (250 miles) south of Moscow, and rescue workers on the scene, attempting to clear the rubble.
Six other people were injured, five of whom were hospitalised, said Vasily Razmunov, head of the local emergencies ministry.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com
Register
A gas explosion in the central part of the building had caused it to collapse, said the regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee.
Investigators said they had opened a criminal case on the grounds that services provided had not met safety requirements.
Gas explosions are relatively common in Russia because of ageing infrastructure and poor safety regulations.
Two people died earlier this week after a blast at a nine-storey block of flats. read more
|
Gas explosion
| null | null |
Outbreak Brief 71: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
|
Outbreak Update: Since the last brief (18 May 2021), 4,087,197 new confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and 84,475 new deaths have been reported globally. To date, a total of 166,869,922 COVID-19 cases and 3,460,428 related deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 2.1%) have been reported from 225 countries and territories. The distribution of cumulative cases (proportion of global cases) from the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting regions (excluding Africa) are as follows: Eastern Mediterranean Region 8,541,482 (5%), European Region 54,147,639 (32%), Region of the Americas 66,158,798 (40%), South-East Asia Region 30,332,591 (18%) and Western Pacific Region 2,877,254 (2%). Over the last seven days, India reported more than 1,700,000 new cases and the number of new cases being reported by day have been declining since 7 May 2021. During the same period Brazil reported more than 400,000 new cases, Argentina has reported more than 200,000 new cases while the United States and Colombia have each reported more than 100,000 new cases. For more detailed information on cases and deaths being reported outside of Africa, refer to the WHO COVID-19 dashboard. As of 9 am East African Time (EAT) 25 May 2021, a total of 4,768,416 COVID-19 cases and 128,718 deaths (CFR: 2.7%) have been reported in 55 African Union (AU) Member States. This represents 3% of all cases reported globally. The 21 AU Member States reporting case fatality ratios higher than the global case fatality ratio of 2.1% are Sudan (7.2%), Sahrawi Republic (6.1%), Egypt (5.8%), Somalia (5.2%), Zimbabwe (4.1%), Liberia (4.0%), Comoros (3.7%), Tunisia (3.6%), Eswatini (3.6%), Mali (3.6%), Niger (3.6%), Chad (3.5%), South Africa (3.4%), Malawi (3.4%), Lesotho (3.0%), Gambia (3.0%), Algeria (2.8%), Senegal (2.8%), Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo (2.5%), Mauritania (2.4%) and Angola (2.2%).
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
1964 Mount Isa Mines Strike
|
The 1964 Mount Isa Mines dispute was an Australian eight-month industrial dispute between miners and management at Mount Isa Mines (MIM) in Mount Isa, Queensland. A previous 1961 strike at MIM was precipitated by legislation that threatened employees' contract bonuses. It ended with an uneasy truce when State Premier Frank Nicklin proclaimed a state of emergency, ordering unions back to work, and MIM back to the negotiating table. The dispute erupted again in August 1964, when the State Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Commission rejected a proposal for a weekly pay rise of £4 in lieu of an increase to the bonuses. The miners, prominently led by Pat Mackie, began to work to wage, a go slow tactic that led to reduced mine output. Dissension arose in union ranks over the direction the industrial dispute should take, with AWU leaders refusing to expand the dispute outside Mount Isa. Mackie was accused of communism and expelled from the AWU. Mackie and other militant unionists were also dismissed from MIM. By 10 December, Premier Nicklin issued an order-in-council, demanding MIM employees return to contract work, and increasing police powers to enforce the matter. The order-in-council was quickly amended to allow the dismissal of workers unwilling to comply. MIM immediately fired 230 underground miners and locked out the rest. [citation needed]
Premier Nicklin declared another state of emergency on 27 January 1965, permitting police to cordon off Mount Isa, enter houses without warrant, and seize strike materials. This order-in-council was met with widespread disapproval, and was withdrawn four days later. The dispute petered out through February and March, as enough miners returned to work to resume production. A large number of workers' demands were eventually met in the MIM Award of June 1965. The story of the dispute inspired a Queensland Music Festival musical production titled Red Cap, which premiered at the Mount Isa Civic Centre on 11 July 2007. [1]
|
Strike
| null | null |
Increasing droughts will drive ‘billions’ in economic losses in Europe
|
Economic damages from droughts in the EU and UK could rise by one third by the end of the century, new research finds – even if warming is limited to 1.5C and countries implement adaptation measures. The study, published in Nature Climate Change , finds that droughts currently drive around €9bn in annual economic losses across the EU and UK – mainly from damage to the agricultural sector. However, the authors warn that, as the climate warms, more frequent and intense droughts are expected across most of Europe – particularly in Meditteranean countries. If nations adapt to the worsening droughts and warming is limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, annual losses from drought would still rise to almost €12bn, the study finds. However, if countries do not adapt, drought losses could hit €24bn under this warming level. More extreme warming would bring greater losses, the study warns. For example, 4C would drive €33bn of economic losses if adaptation measures are taken – and €65bn if they are not. Worsening droughts In 2018 and 2019, Europe saw two “ exceptional ” consecutive summer droughts – a combination of events that scientists called “ unprecedented in the last 250 years ”. During the 2018 drought, some parts of central Europe received less than half of their usual rainfall, research shows. This drought was driven in part by an extreme heatwave that was made five times more likely by climate change – a fact that was highlighted in much of the media coverage that followed. Studies show that climate change is already making droughts worse and that, as the climate warms, more severe and frequent droughts are expected. Previous research has already identified the drought risks in European cities . Dr Gustavo Naumann from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) at the European Commission is the lead author on a new study that aims to calculate the economic loss that would result from future droughts across Europe. He tells Carbon Brief that the impacts of droughts can be wide-ranging: “Drought is among the most complex and severe climate-related hazards, with wide-ranging and cascading impacts across societies, ecosystems and economies. These impacts can accumulate beyond the areas of the drought, remain well beyond its end, and harm many economic sectors such as agriculture, energy production , inland water transportation, water supply and infrastructure.” However, droughts are a nuanced climate-related impact. They are broadly defined by a lack of water, but can be measured in a range of ways including precipitation , soil moisture content and groundwater reserves . This study focuses on changes in the volume of water flowing through rivers, known as “ streamflow ”. The authors use a combination of regional climate model simulations and hydrological models to classify a river as experiencing “ hydrological drought ” when its minimum annual streamflow dips below a threshold value. The maps below show how streamflow in rivers is expected to change across Europe at 1.5C, 2C, 3C and 4C warming above pre-industrial levels . Reds and yellows indicate more frequent droughts in a warmer climate, while blue indicates less frequent droughts. Expected change in average relative streamflow in European rivers at 1.5, 2C, 3C and 4C warming, compared to a 1981-2010 baseline. Source: Naumann et al ( 2021 ). The maps show that, as the climate warms, droughts are expected to become less frequent in northern Europe and more frequent in southern Europe. This is in line with past trends . The contrast occurs because of regional variations in rainfall change, which is expected to increase in northern Europe and decrease to the south. While evaporation is projected to increase across Europe as temperatures rise, this is outweighed by increased rainfall in the north. Economic impacts The researchers combined their analysis with country-level data on economic losses from past droughts during 1990–2016. Using this information, the team determined how much economic damage could be caused by the droughts projected in their models. The study finds that, in the climate and economy of 1981-2010, droughts were responsible for around €9bn (£7.75bn) of damages per year to the economies of countries in the EU and the UK. However, this value is expected to rise as economies grow and temperatures increase. (Note that European countries that are not in the EU, with the exception of the UK, are not included in this study.) The authors explore damages due to drought under three scenarios of socioeconomic development. In the “base economy” scenario, the authors assume that socioeconomic conditions remain at 2015 levels – in other words, the only thing that changes are average temperatures. The authors also investigate two scenarios in which the population and economy continue to grow until 2100. In the “static vulnerability” scenario, the authors assume that countries do not adapt in any way to the increasing threat from droughts as the economy grows, while in the “dynamic vulnerability” scenario, countries continuously adapt to the changing threat of drought. Naumann notes that these adaptation measures would include advances such as the “development of stress-resistant crops to improve yield stability under water-shortage conditions” and “improved water-use efficiency in power production”. The expected economic losses from drought for the UK and EU under the different scenarios are shown below. The “baseline” scenario is shown on the left, the “dynamic vulnerability” scenario in the middle, and the “static vulnerability” scenario on the right. Darker colours indicate higher levels of warming. Expected economic loss for the 2015 base economy (left), 2100 dynamic vulnerability (middle) and 2100 static vulnerability (right) scenarios, for four warming levels. Data from Naumann et al ( 2021 ); chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts . The authors find that, in the baseline scenario that maintains today’s economy, “limiting warming to well below 2C would mostly stabilise overall EU drought losses”. However, a 4C warmer climate would result in drought losses that are nearly three times larger than today. Receive our free Daily Briefing for a digest of the past 24 hours of climate and energy media coverage, or our Weekly Briefing for a round-up of our content from the past seven days. Just enter your email below: Thanks. You have been signed up successfully When comparing the static and dynamic scenarios, the authors find that drought impacts in 2100 could be “roughly halved” – a decrease ranging from 40% for the richest countries in Europe to 60% for the poorest countries in Europe – if adaptation measures are implemented. This would keep damages from drought relative to the size of the economy below present-day levels, “even with high levels of warming”. Naumann also adds that there is a clear “negative relation” between wealth and drought vulnerability, meaning that the poorest countries are likely to see the greatest impacts from drought. Agriculture and energy As well as projecting economic losses for Europe as a whole, the study also analyses individual regions and countries. It notes, for example, that Spain currently has the highest drought loss at €1.5bn per year for the baseline period, closely followed by other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and France. Meanwhile, countries in mid and northern Europe – such as the UK, Finland and Sweden – are typically hit the least hard. The study finds that climate change is likely to exacerbate these trends. The authors group European countries into four regions – Atlantic, boreal, Mediterranean and continental – as shown on the map below. The bar charts show the drought changes projected for each region at different warming levels, with the bars showing how much of each region is likely to see an increase (red) or decrease (blue) in drought frequency. Map showing expected changes in drought at different warming levels in four regions of Europe. The bar charts show what percentage each region is expected to a doubling, increase, change, decrease or halving in drought frequency. Source: Naumann et al ( 2021 ). The authors then break down the economic losses from drought into five sectors. The chart below shows how economic loss is split between different sectors and regions in today’s economy (top line) and in 2100 (bottom line) assuming static vulnerability and an average of the future warming scenarios. From darkest to lightest blue, the five sectors are agriculture, energy, water, transport and buildings. Share of damages from drought loss across five sectors, in the present-day and 2100. Source: Naumann et al ( 2021 ). The study finds agriculture currently accounts for over half of all economic losses from drought. Dr Giovanni Forzieri , who was not involved in the study, but is also at the JRC, tells Carbon Brief why droughts are expected to impact agriculture in particular: “Droughts can trigger a range of adverse impacts on agriculture, such as a reduction of quantity and quality of water resources and irrigation water and an increase in heat stress beyond the plant thermal tolerance, ultimately leading to potential widespread crop failures. A recent study has shown that droughts have reduced crop production by 9–10% at the global level over the last five decades leading to 3bntonnes of lost harvest – about three years of global maize harvest.” Agriculture will continue to be the most significantly impacted in almost all of the regions studied in the future, the authors note. However, they add that agriculture is likely to become “less economically prevalent” in the future, and so the share of total damages from agriculture is likely to drop in the future. Naumann tells Carbon Brief that drought can also affect power generation, because this often depends on water availability – either directly in the case of hydropower, or indirectly thanks to cooling systems for power generators . In boreal regions, where hydropower is a particularly important source of energy, this impact is particularly noticeable, according to the study. Dr Justin Mankin , an assistant professor at Dartmouth College , tells Carbon Brief that the “very ambitious” study is “interesting but incredibly uncertain”, as it is “unclear what fraction of the uncertainty in the results is attributable to climate, hydrologic or economic assumptions”. He adds : “What’s challenging here is that the damages of drought are presented as “level effects” on the economy (which they may well be), meaning that the droughts do not affect a sector or region’s trajectory of economic growth, but only the economic production for the year of the drought.” While this assumption “may not be problematic”, Mankin says, it has implications for the projected impacts of drought because “the increasing frequency and magnitude of droughts are not considered as factors that shape socioeconomic trajectories of growth”. However, he says that he is “heartened by the authors’ effort to consider the myriad factors that make drought impactful”.
|
Droughts
| null | null |
12 Male Celebs Who Got Divorced
|
Divorce is becoming more and more common in modern-day society. By now, everyone knows several people who have gone through a divorce. It affects everyone from everyday citizens to celebrities. In fact, there are MANY celebrities who have gone through at least one divorce. Here is a list of 12 celebrities who got divorced.
1. Brad Pitt
When you think about divorce in Hollywood, there’s a strong chance you think of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The two were Hollywood’s “it” couple for years. They even made a movie off their relationship’s brand (Mr. & Mrs. Smith). But in 2016, the two got divorced. Pitt spoke to GQ about how
“I come from a place where, you know, it's strength if we get a bruise or cut or ailment we don't discuss it, we just deal with it. We just go on. The downside of that is it's the same with our emotion,” Pitt told GQ. “I grew up with a Father-knows-best/war mentality—the father is all-powerful, super strong—instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles. And it's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them.”
2. Will Smith
Will Smith wasn’t always with Jada Pinkett Smith, even if it’s hard to remember that now. Before Jada, there was Sheree. Sharee Zampino, to be exact. The two divorced in 1995 after being married for three years. It was then revealed that Will started stated Jada before the divorce was even finalized. In fact, Jada revealed this to Fletcher herself.
I did not understand marriage. I didn't understand divorce. I will say that I probably should've fell back,” Jada admitted to Fletcher on her talk show Red Table Talk.
That said, Smith and Fletcher have found a common ground after the divorce and are happy co-parents to their 26-year-old son, Trey.
Related: Watch Will Smith Train For A Half Marathon
3. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson is the world’s highest-paid actor in the world and even he went through a divorce. Johnson divorced his wife Dany Garcia in 2007 after 10 years of marriage.
“Around 2008, 2009, I was going through a lot of personal shit that was really fucking me up,” he told Rolling Stone . “I was just struggling, man. Struggling to figure out what kind of dad am I gonna be. Realizing I’d done a piss-poor job of cultivating relationships, and a lot of my friends had fallen by the wayside. I was just scared.”
4. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were another “it” Hollywood couple at one time. Unfortunately, they also got divorced and their split got pretty messy. Despite being a private man, Affleck, who has also opened up about his alcoholism , once shared that he’s happy to continue co-parenting with Garner.
5. Channing Tatum
Step Up star Channing Tatum, who has raised an empire around the stripping brand , met Jenna Dewan in 2006. The two then got married in 2009 and even had a daughter, Everly. But then, the two got divorced in April of this year.
6. Nick Cannon
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon started dating in 2008 and got married in the same year. They then had twins Moroccan and Monroe in 2011. But the relationship did not last in the end. The former couple ended up getting divorced in 2014.
Related: Orlando Bloom Got A New Tattoo (And Misspelled His Son’s Name!)
7. Orlando Bloom
Pirate of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom got married in 2010. The two then welcomed a baby boy named film in 2011. But like the couples mentioned before them, the two eventually got divorced. The two split in 2012 and officially got divorced in October of 2013.
8. Chris Pratt
Parks and Rec, Jurassic World, and Guardians of the Galaxy actor Chris Pratt eloped with Scary Movie actress Anna Faris in 2009. The two met at a friends’ wedding. But after eight years of being together, and having a son named Jack, they broke up in 2018.
“Divorce sucks,” Pratt told Entertainment Weekly . “But at the end of the day, we’ve got a great kid who’s got two parents who love him very much. And we’re finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another. It’s not ideal, but yeah, I think both of us are actually probably doing better.”
Though, Ana Faris recently came forward to say she felt that she was forced into getting a divorce.
“For me, I think after every breakup, at some point I realize that there were a lot of things I ignored that I really shouldn't have,” she said . “In hindsight, it felt like my hand was forced. I don't think it was ever an independent decision,' the 44-year-old actor said.”
Related: 11 Actors Who Dated Non-Famous People
9. Tiger Woods
In 2010, American golf champion Woods admitted to cheating on his wife, Elin Nordegren. The two then got a divorce. That said, not only did Woods ruin his relationship and tarnish his reputation, but he had to pay $100 million to Nordegren.
10. Ashton Kutcher
In 2011, That ‘70s Show and Two and a Half Men actor Ashton Kutcher split from his wife Demi Moore.
“Right after I got divorced, I went to the mountains for a week by myself,” Kutcher told Dax Shepard during his Armchair Expert podcast . “I did no food, no drink — just water and tea. I took all my computers away, my phone, my everything. I was there by myself, so there was no talking. I just had a notepad, a pen and water and tea — for a week.” On the last day, he sent letters to all his exes.
Now, he's now happily remarried to lifelong friend and castmate Mila Kunis.
11. Usher
Singer Usher has been divorced several times. He first got a divorce from wife Tameka Foster in 2009. He then shortly started dating Grace Miguel. The two dated for six years and then Usher proposed in 2015. But in March of 2018.
12. Ryan Phillipe
Lastly, Ryan Phillipe divorced award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon in 2007. Talking to W Magazine , Phillipe says it was one of the worst things to ever happen to him. It ultimately led to him entering a depression.
“Divorce was the darkest, saddest place I had ever been,” he told W Magazine. “It was a struggle — there were a good four or five months of not being able to get out of bed. It was the worst time in my life. You get through it. It's a process that's not easy, but I get less and less sad about it everyday [sic].”
|
Famous Person - Divorce
| null | null |
Winter storm triggers mudslides, clogs roadways in Southern California
|
Heavy rain from a winter storm system pounded Southern California on Friday, triggering car accidents, road closures, mudslides and lightning flashes that temporarily closed L.A. County beaches. There was moderate mud and debris flow near the area burned last year by the Bond fire, which scorched over 6,000 acres in Orange County, destroying vegetation and causing the soil to destabilize. As of late Friday, there were no reports of damage to homes or any related injuries, said Carrie Braun, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities issued voluntary evacuation warnings for those living in Silverado, Williams and Modjeska canyons that were still in place Friday evening. The National Weather Service had broadcast a flash flood watch for those areas through Friday afternoon, but the weather service said with the storm moving toward San Diego, the threat of flooding had diminished. California Photos: Storm brings rain, snow and cold to California A winter storm swept over much of Southern California, dusting mountaintops with snow and bringing traffic to a standstill on several passes. Jan. 29, 2021 San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties bore the brunt of the atmospheric river system, receiving between 6 and 12 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday, said Curt Kaplan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard. “Once the atmospheric river started moving south, it lost a little bit of its punch,” he said. Thirty miles north of the San Luis Obispo County line, the atmospheric river stalled Thursday afternoon, causing a section of Highway 1 near Big Sur to collapse. It was unclear how long it will take to fix the roadway. Repairs are expected to cost $5 million. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had issued an evacuation order Thursday for people who lived in northeast Yucaipa and in the communities of Oak Glen and Mountain Home Village, areas near where the El Dorado and Apple fires burned last year. Fire authorities had worried that heavy rain could dislodge soils left weakened by the fires, potentially causing dangerous mudslides. San Bernardino authorities downgraded those evacuation orders to warnings Friday. Riverside County had also issued an evacuation order Thursday, anticipating the threat of mudslides in burn areas. The order extended to people who lived in parts of Beaumont and Cherry Valley, just east of Banning in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The county lifted the evacuation order at 5 p.m. Friday. Hail was reported near Azusa along the 210 Freeway and near the Ranch 2 fire burn area, the weather service said. The mountains in Los Angeles County were expected to get between 1 and 2 feet of snow above 6,000 feet Friday by the time the storm finally moved out. “We initially thought we would see 3 feet of snow but didn’t get as much rain in the mountains as we expected,” Kaplan said. The Los Angeles County Fire Department temporarily closed beaches from Marina del Rey to Zuma Beach on Friday afternoon because of the threat of lightning. In Orange County, Huntington Beach issued a voluntary evacuation order of all beaches in the city through 5 p.m. because of lightning. About 11 a.m., a strong storm cell produced heavy rain and some hail over East Los Angeles, the weather service wrote on Twitter. There were also reports of hail in parts of Manhattan Beach. Orange County received around an inch of rain, and up to 1.5 inches in the hills, between 10 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday, said Bruno Rodriguez, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Diego. The Inland Empire received between .75 and 1.25 inches of rain in urban areas. Nearby mountains got about a foot of snow around 4,000 feet, Rodriguez said. The rain also triggered mud and debris flows near the Bobcat burn scar in the Angeles National Forest, Kaplan said. Much of that area was warned of possible evacuation Thursday by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Though the 5 Freeway through the Grapevine was open Thursday, snow flurries sticking to the roadway prompted California Highway Patrol to escort traffic Friday morning. In Los Angeles, an overturned big rig and fire prompted the closure of three lanes of the eastbound 10 Freeway at Santa Fe Avenue to allow crews to repair the bridge railing. Lanes reopened about 11 a.m. Friday. State Route 39 at Old San Gabriel Canyon Road was temporarily closed because of mudslides nearby, authorities said. A portion of Route 33 remained closed late Friday after 1 foot of snow fell in Lockwood Valley. The rainfall last Sunday night caused mud to slide onto Ambrose Jimenez’s property in Silverado Canyon. Jimenez, 63, didn’t realize what had happened until Monday morning, when he tried opening his screen door only to find a foot of mud trapping it. “I had no idea the mud was creeping in all night long,” he said. “Mud just came down toward our kitchen wall, around the house and on the sides.” Between Monday and Thursday, Jimenez worked with a friend to clear his property. They used a wheelbarrow to move the mud and installed 35 bales of hay and 755 sandbags to create a barrier to guide the mud away from the house into an empty lot next door, he said. “We angled the mud from the gully [near my house] to an empty lot next door with the hay bales and sand,” he said. The work continued from Monday until Thursday at 5 p.m., just hours before the new storm arrived. “We knew the storm was coming. We worked frantically trying to shore up the back hillside,” Jimenez, a fraud investigator for Citibank, said. About 9:20 p.m., Jimenez first heard the rainfall. By 1 a.m. Friday, the storm intensified. “I heard rocks coming down and I thought to myself, oh no, we’re in trouble,” he said. Jimenez saw 3 to 5 feet of mud accumulating within five minutes on the hill behind his house. Then, “instantly, it was like someone uncorked a champagne bottle,” he said. The mud turned to water and flushed through his property. “All we have to deal with was water,” he said. “We can deal with that. It’s the mud and the debris that’s a problem.” “We are lucky,” Jimenez said. “We have neighbors who are not so lucky.”
|
Mudslides
| null | null |
Joe Gorga tells Melissa he’s ‘done’ with their marriage on ‘RHONJ’
|
Melissa and Joe Gorga’s marriage problems came to a head in the new “RHONJ” midseason trailer . The Gorgas got into an explosive argument about their changing relationship, with Melissa suggesting they were growing apart before saying, “I’m not going to give up what I want to do in life. You’re holding me back.” Joe then shot back, “Listen, go be whatever you want to be in life. We’re done.” In February, Melissa, 42, told Page Six that she and Joe were in a “good” place after going through a rough patch in their 16-year union. “Listen, I’m not gonna deny that we went through a rough, like year-and-a-half, and I would say it started right before the pandemic,” she explained. “I feel like as I become more and more independent in certain ways, it really is a struggle for him. I hate that. It shouldn’t be a struggle and it really is. And we really go through it and we’re very raw and real and honest with it. So you’re going to have to see how that all unfolds. But it’s very real for us.” Melissa and Joe Gorga’s marital problems were featured in the “RHONJ” midseason trailer. Their marital issues also carried into Melissa’s relationship with her co-stars, as she yelled at Margaret Josephs and Dolores Catania in the trailer, “I don’t need anyone calling my husband chauvinistic because whatever you think I’m dealing with, it’s probably more!” Earlier in the season, Melissa told her co-stars while in Lake George that she was uneasy in her marriage . The couple tied the knot in 2004 and have three children: Antonia, 15, Gino, 13, and Joey, 10.
|
Famous Person - Marriage
| null | null |
Diesel emissions from trains not monitored or regulated, despite possible health risks
|
David Price shakes his head as he watches a diesel train make its way towards the Esperance Port.
The locomotive is visibly releasing diesel emissions and the former heavy industry electrician is concerned that may be putting his community at risk.
Diesel emissions are carcinogenic and studies into them at higher concentrations in the workplace have found links to cardiac and respiratory-related diseases, allergies, neuro-physiological problems and cancer.
But up to 22 times a week diesel trains make their way from Western Australia's resource-rich Goldfields through Esperance's residential areas and past sports fields to the town's port.
"I've seen kids walking to school in the morning, walking through the exhaust emissions and coughing and covering their faces," Mr Price said.
Questions surrounding public health may be particularly poignant in the south coast town after a lead poisoning disaster impacted children and killed thousands of birds in 2006.
There is also a higher incidence rate of some cancers in Esperance, compared to the regional WA average, according to 2011-2015 figures.
But residents like Mr Price have no way of discerning the potential health impacts of diesel emissions from trains because Australia does not regulate or monitor them at all.
According to a federal Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment spokesperson there is no national standard or regulation to limit diesel emissions from non-road diesel engines or in open air environments.
Lin Fritschi, a professor of epidemiology at Curtin University, said Australia was not up to speed when it came to monitoring and regulating this type of pollution.
"Australia is miles behind comparable economies when it comes to controlling emissions from all engines," she said.
"But we don't have any regulations at all for non-road diesel engines."
While the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment is undertaking an evaluation of non-road diesel engine emissions – including a review of possible regulatory options – it has opted not to examine rail and shipping.
"Managing emissions from locomotives is more complex than applying standards to other non-road diesel engines," a spokeperson said.
"For example, locomotive engines tend to have a long service life and there is evidence that retrofitting equipment to reduce emissions may be a more successful approach for this sector.
"This is not an option for other smaller engines being considered under the current evaluation."
Not only are the diesel emissions not regulated, they are also not specifically monitored.
While most polluting facilities are required to self-report their emissions to the National Pollution Inventory, trains are exempt.
"Trains are not defined as a facility, rather they are modelled as a diffuse emissions source by state and territory environment agencies," a department spokeperson said.
"The NPI does not have any diffuse emissions data covering the Esperance region for trains.
"Questions about emissions in Esperance should be directed to the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation."
The WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation told the ABC that although ambient air monitoring occurred around the port, it "did not conduct any specific monitoring for diesel emissions in Esperance".
The WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety said it did "not have a role in regulating or monitoring emissions in an environmental setting".
In the ambient air, diesel particles are monitored as part of the overall mix of airborne particles and would be assessed through air quality standards for particle pollution.
Dr Fritschi pointed out that diesel emissions were particularly difficult to monitor because they were made up of different combinations of materials.
"It also makes them harder to control, because you might say, 'elemental carbon in the exhaust is the problem' — so you might use a particular type of filter that reduces elemental carbon, [but] you might increase the risk of gaseous components," she said.
"So it's quite difficult to measure and control — but it doesn't mean we shouldn't do it."
Peter Franklin, an environmental and occupational health researcher from the University of WA, said there was no direct data on the carcinogenic effects of diesel at environmental levels.
He said the risks were dependent on concentrations and exposure.
"For most of us, concentrations have to be quite high before we experience any health problems," he said.
"But exposure to low concentrations over a long time, a lifetime, has been estimated to lead to a small increased risk of lung cancer."
Alison Reid, an associate professor in occupational epidemiology at Curtin University said studies had indicated diesel emissions could also pose a risk in an open air environment.
"There's certainly some evidence that it hangs around and that it's a problem not just in a confined and contained area," she said.
Dr Reid said people should not assume the lack of regulation and monitoring of diesel train emissions indicated they did not pose a risk.
"Just because it's not being monitored doesn't mean it's not a problem," she said.
"We always need to go with the precautionary principle — don't assume that everything is safe.
"Let's get more evidence about it and let's find out what's going on."
Aurizon, which operates the majority of diesel trains that pass through Esperance, said it was taking steps to reduce their emissions.
In 2018, it played a leading role in developing the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board's Code of Practice for the Management of Locomotive Exhaust Emissions — an "industry-led initiative to improve air quality outcomes with reference to international standards".
According to the voluntary code, new locomotives acquired after December 1 2018 were to meet an emissions standard.
Action was to be taken to reduce emissions from locomotives if they breached a certain threshold and each freight rail operator was to submit an annual report on its progress.
While the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety does not regulate the servicing of train engines, an Aurizon spokesperson said "locomotives that operate on this corridor are maintained regularly and in accordance to the manufacturer's requirements".
But Mr Price said the train operators should not be the only ones keeping an eye on their emissions.
"These exhaust emissions need to be monitored, that's my concern," he said.
|
Environment Pollution
| null | null |
1906 Helsinki bank robbery
|
1906 Helsinki bank robbery was an armed robbery on 26 February 1906 in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland. A branch of Russian State Bank was robbed by members of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party to fund Bolshevik revolutionary activities in Russia. [1]
The robbery was organized by Russian revolutionary Nikolay Burenin and executed by a gang of 15 Latvian revolutionaries who killed a guard and escaped with 170,743 rubles (equivalent to around US$1.7 million in 2013). Burenin was a concert pianist who was playing in Tampere on the same evening. On their way to meet him, three gang members were captured in the village of Kerava after one Russian gendarme was shot dead. The gang leader Jānis Čoke and three other robbers were able to reach Tampere where they handed the money over to Burenin. [2] He later fled with it to the United States on Maxim Gorki's fund raising trip as his personal secretary. [3]
Jānis Čoke was captured three days later in Tampere. He managed to kill three people including one policeman before he was arrested. Čoke was sentenced to three life sentences plus 19 years. He died of pneumonia in June 1910. [4]
|
Bank Robbery
| null | null |
1810 Crete earthquake
|
The 1810 Crete earthquake occurred at 22:15 on 16 February. It caused great destruction in Heraklion, some damage from Malta to northern Egypt and was felt from central Italy to Syria. 2,000 fatalities were reported from Candia (Heraklion). [3]
The Hellenic arc is an arcuate tectonic feature related to the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Aegean Sea Plate. It is one of the most active seismic zones in western Eurasia and has a history of large earthquakes that also affect Egypt. [4] Large earthquakes with epicentres near Crete and to the north of the island are typically intermediate depth events located at the subducting plate interface. Such events are often M>7, but due to their depths cause relatively little damage for their size, while being very widely felt. [5]
The earthquake caused severe damage in Heraklion and northeastern Crete. Damage was also reported from islands in the south Aegean, Cairo, Rosetta, Alexandria in northern Egypt and on Malta. Reports of the collapse of part of the Temple of Amon at Siwa Oasis in 1811 have been also been attributed to the 1810 event, rather than a separate earthquake, which is now regarded as a 'spurious event'. [6]
The earthquake was widely felt, and recorded from as far away as Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, central Italy and various parts of North Africa. [6][7] The main shock is reported to have lasted for two minutes in Malta. [3]
There are reports of a tsunami, with waves being recorded in the harbours of Malta and Alexandria and nearby canals, although these have more the character of seiches. [6][7]
|
Earthquakes
| null | null |
1957 Nutts Corner BEA Viscount crash
|
The 1957 Nutts Corner BEA Viscount crash was a British European Airways (BEA) flight from London to Belfast that crashed at Nutts Corner Airport on 23 October 1957, killing all seven passengers and crew. [1]
The aircraft was a Vickers Viscount 802, registration G-AOJA, built and delivered to BEA the previous year. [1][2] It was the first 800 Series Viscount built and was used by the manufacturer Vickers-Armstrongs for test and promotional flights prior to delivery. [2]
On the afternoon of the accident the aircraft took off from London Heathrow Airport at 15:16 GMT on a non-scheduled positioning flight to Nutts Corner Airport in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it was due to pick up the UK government Minister of Supply Aubrey Jones and a group of journalists, who had been attending the opening of a research building for Short & Harland Ltd in Belfast. [3] An hour-and-a-half later, with low cloud and rain at Nutts Corner, the aircraft commenced its approach to land from the east on runway 28. As the aircraft neared the runway it veered right of the runway centreline. [1] Less than 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) from the eastern end of the runway the crew carried out a go-around, but the aircraft crashed about 1,000 feet (300 m) to the left of the far end of the runway. [4] The accident killed all five crew and the two passengers (a BEA official and his wife) on board, and the aircraft was destroyed. [1][5][6]
A Public inquiry was convened to investigate the accident, during which it emerged that the airport's approach lighting system may have been switched off at the time of the aircraft's landing attempt. [4] The inquiry also heard evidence regarding a bent screwdriver that had been found in the wreckage, but as this had been removed by an airport worker before its position in the wreckage had been recorded, the likelihood of the object jamming the flight controls could not be assessed. [4] At the conclusion of the inquiry, while it made recommendations regarding the security of aircraft crash sites and tool control during maintenance, and suggested that records be kept of when airport approach lighting was switched on or off, no official cause of the accident was determined. [4][7]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
2009 Gujarat hepatitis outbreak
|
The 2009 Gujarat hepatitis B outbreak was a cluster of hepatitis B cases that appeared in Modasa, northern Gujarat, India in 2009. Over 125 people were infected and up to 49 people died. [1][2] Several doctors were investigated and arrested after the outbreaks. The hepatitis B virus infects the liver and causes an inflammation called hepatitis. It is a DNA virus and one of many unrelated viruses that cause viral hepatitis. The disease, originally known as "serum hepatitis",[3] has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa, and it is endemic in China. [4] About a third of the world's population, more than 2 billion people, have been infected with the hepatitis B virus. [5] This includes 350 million chronic carriers of the virus. [6] The acute illness causes liver inflammation, vomiting and jaundice. The infection is preventable by vaccination. [7]
Transmission of hepatitis B results from exposure to infectious blood or body fluids containing blood. Possible forms of transmission include (but are not limited to) unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles & syringes, and vertical transmission from mother to child during childbirth. HBV can be transmitted between family members within households, possibly by contact of nonintact skin or mucous membrane with secretions or saliva containing HBV. [8][9] However, at least 30% of reported cases of hepatitis B among adults cannot be associated with an identifiable risk factor. [10]
The doctors were accused of re-using syringes, which had been contaminated with hepatitis B virus, to treat other patients. Eight medical practitioners, including doctors Govind and Chintal Patel, were arrested under the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after allegedly re-using infected syringes. [11] One of them was also charged with attempted murder. [2] Most of the people affected had received medical treatment from Dr. Patel in the last six months. Medical officials conducted a raid on Patel's clinic and found several used syringes and other medical waste. [2][12]
The Government of Gujarat started a mass immunization drive under strict medical supervision in Modasa, which set up 60 booths in Modasa and nearby cities. [13] 224 medical teams, including some from All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Virology have set up camps in Modasa, and will remain there for at least a month. [1][14] According to the officials 25,000 vaccines were sent to the most affected area and 600,000 more vaccines are being arranged from Hyderabad. [15] In addition, the government distributed 30,000 pamphlets and mounted a campaign to inform residents about the disease. [14]
The Health Department of the Gujarat government have sent 600,000 doses of vaccine to the area. [16]
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
2017 China floods
|
The 2017 China floods began in early June 2017. More than 14.9017 million people in 10 provinces and municipalities and regions were affected, especially the southern and central provinces and regions of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Henan. [8] Hunan was the hardest hit. A total of 18,100 houses were destroyed, and more than 9,821-square-metre (105,710 sq ft) of crops were inundated. [11]
Many major rivers and lakes in China, including the Yangtze River, Zhujiang River, Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake were flooded to danger levels. [12] The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarter said on Sunday, July 2, that water levels in more than 60 rivers in southern China were above the warning levels due to sustained rainfalls in recent days. Since June 29, several regions in South China suffered heavy rainfall. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 9.564 million people from 238 county level administrations are affected, and 48 deaths ending the morning of July 3. [13]
The rainfall led to widespread flooding that destroyed the No. 201 Provincial Highway, causing traffic disruption and traffic congestion.
According to the latest data for July 1, 1.159 million people in Hunan were affected. 7 deaths, 1 missing, 9,080-square-metre (97,700 sq ft) of crops affected, 382 homes destroyed and 969 damaged. The direct economic loss about CN¥1.9 billion. [14] Rainstorms lashed 832 towns in southern and eastern Hunan from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, with Huangtang Township in Ningyuan County receiving the most precipitation at 264.2 millimetres (10.40 in) within 24 hours. By July 2, more than 7 major rivers (Xiangjiang River, Liuyang River, Laodao River, Wei River, Zi River, Yuan River, Qingjiang River) and many more had reached a moderate major, or record flood stage. Four rivers reached record level including Xiangjiang River, Liuyang River, Laodao River and Wei River.
In some towns and townships in Ningxiang the power systems and water supply systems have been devastated, and phone line were out. [19] On July 1, a mudslide left 9 dead and 19 injured in Zuta Village (祖塔村) of Weishan Township.
According to the Government of Ningxiang, heavy downpours pounded Ningxiang since June 22, leading to Ningxiang's worst natural disaster in 60 years. [22] The affected population reached 815 thousand, 44 people deaths, 212-square-metre (2,280 sq ft) of crops affected, accounting for 56% of the population in the city, more than 14,000 houses collapsed or partially damaged, more than 900 dams damaged, more than 70 roads damaged, the direct economic loss about CN¥9 billion.
Vice chairman of Xiangxiang Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Liu Hequn (刘鹤群), was washed away by the flood. [24]
Some small and medium-sized rivers in Guilin, Liuzhou, Hechi and other places have experienced the biggest floods in 20 years. [25]
The latest round of torrential rain since Saturday has affected more than 400,000 people in more than 20 counties and districts in Guangxi, left 20 people dead and 14 missing. [22] Around 20,000 houses collapsed or were damaged.
The city of Duyun was seriously affected by the floods, as the heavy rain started at 7:00 at night, June 29, inundating several streets and stranding many subdistricts.
Heavy rains in northwestern Jiangxi have led to landslides and collapsing homes. [25] About 480,000 people were evacuated in Jiangxi. Seven people died and seven were missing due to flooding during a 10 day period. [27]
On August 24, 2017, in Hunan, the Hunan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a statement that more than 15 officials were punished: "(the Party) gives Li Shiqiu (Chinese: 黎石秋; former Communist Party Secretary of Ningxiang) a warning as a measure of party discipline; (the Party) gives Li Chunqiu (Chinese: 黎春秋; former Communist Party Secretary and County Governor of Ningxiang) an admonishing conversation; (the Party) gives Tan Xiaoping (Chinese: 谭小平; former Communist Party Secretary of Ningxiang) an admonishing conversation; (the Party) gives Zhou Hui (Chinese: 周辉; Communist Party Secretary of Ningxiang) a serious warning as a measure of party discipline; (the Party) gives Wang Xiongwen (Chinese: 王雄文; County Governor of Ningxiang) a serious track record; (the Party) gives Deng Jieping (Chinese: 邓杰平; Chairman of Ningxiang of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) a serious warning as a measure of party discipline; Director of the Water Affairs Bureau Wu Limin (Chinese: 吴利民) was removed from the post; Party secretary and Chairman of Ningxiang State-owned Capital Pan Liqiang (Chinese: 潘立强) was removed from the post. "
|
Floods
| null | null |
1956 B-47 disappearance crash
|
The 1956 B-47 disappearance occurred on 10 March 1956 over the Mediterranean Sea. A Boeing B-47 Stratojet, call-sign Inkspot 59, took off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in the United States for a non-stop flight to Ben Guerir Air Base, Morocco,[1] and completed the first of two planned aerial refuelings without incident. [2]
After descending through solid cloud cover to begin the second refueling at 14,000 feet (4,300 m), B-47E serial number 52-534,[1] failed to make contact with its tanker. [3]
The unarmed aircraft was transporting two different capsules of nuclear weapons material in carrying cases; a nuclear detonation was not possible. [4]
Despite an extensive search, no debris or bodies were ever found, and the crash site has never been located. [3] The crew was declared dead:
This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Russia and China Cozy Up In Joint Military Exercises
|
The two countries have a common enemy—so they can't afford to skip out on a friendship. Last week, Russian and Chinese forces completed a new round of military exercises meant to increase interoperability between the two countries' armies in a potential war. The "Zapad/Interaction 2021" exercises were meant to help Russia and China work against a common enemy—the United States—but both sides understand that the worst enemy each country could have is actually one another. The five-day exercises, held in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous region of China, stressed "joint planning and field operations," pairing Russian and Chinese groups together in mixed units. The exercises, according to China's Ministry of Defense, were conducted with the goal of "jointly safeguarding regional security and stability" in mind. Zapad/Interaction 2021, according to the Chinese government, involved 10,000 personnel, 200 aircraft sorties, 200 armored vehicles, and 100 artillery pieces. Almost all of the hardware was new, with 81.6 percent of the equipment of a new type since China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) began modernizing in the 2000s. The PLA is also working on a new networking system it calls "one network and four chains" that will connect aircraft, artillery, and armored vehicles on the battlefield. Activities during the exercises included fast-roping from helicopters, parachute drops by airborne troops, drone strikes, and precision air strikes by J-16 fighters. It's also the first time a multinational exercise included the new J-20 "Mighty Dragon" stealth fighter. Russian troops and equipment, according to the Moscow Times, included Su-30SM fighter jets and mechanized infantry troops. Russian troops also used Chinese equipment during at least one stage of the exercise, and fell under Chinese command during another. Lt. Gen. Liu Xiaowu, deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army Western Theater Command, led the Chinese side. The deputy commander of the Russian Eastern Military District commanded the Russian side. So, generals of roughly equal stature commanded both units. The exercise was apparently part of the biennial Zapad ("West") exercises, which take place in European Russia. Similar Vostok ("East") exercises take place in Russia's eastern Siberia region. Larger Zapad exercises are scheduled for September and will involve Russian and Belarusian units. Chinese military units will travel west to participate. Russia and China are both opposed to a U.S.-based international order, and although the two sides frequently stage military exercises together, a full-blown alliance seems unlikely—at least for now. The two countries have territorial disputes that divide them, but for now it looks like they're choosing to focus on what unites them, each understanding that having the United States as an enemy is one thing, but having one another as enemies would be much, much worse.
|
Military Exercise
| null | null |
Karabakh movement
|
The Karabakh movement (Armenian: Ղարաբաղյան շարժում, also the Artsakh movement[7][8] Արցախյան շարժում) was a national mass movement[9] in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh from 1988 to 1991 that advocated for the transfer of the mainly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of neighboring Azerbaijan to the jurisdiction of Armenia. Initially, the movement was entirely devoid of any anti-Soviet sentiment and did not call for independence of Armenia. The Karabakh Committee, a group of intellectuals, led the movement from 1988 to 1989. It transformed into the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) by 1989 and won majority in the 1990 parliamentary election. In 1991, both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from the Soviet Union. The intense fighting known as the first Nagorno-Karabakh War turned into a full-scale war by 1992. [citation needed]
|
Protest_Online Condemnation
| null | null |
U.S. F-15s and Romanian MiG-21s taking part in Dacian Eagle 2016 exercise in eastern Europe
|
On Jul. 2, eight F-15C Eagles belonging to the 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, and the 194th Fighter Squadron, Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, depolyed to the 71st airbase Campia Turzii, Romania, to take part in exercise Dacian Eagle 2016. The Eagles belong to the latest iteration of a Theater Security Package (TSP), a temporary deployment from CONUS (Continental US) of a force whose aim is to augment the Air Force presence in a specific region, for deterrence purposes: the F-15Cs are spending 6 months in the European theater for a support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. Advertisement The arrival of these F-15s occurred on the same day the Romanian Air Force MiG-21s returned home after a few months deployment at the 95th Airbase in Bacau, while the runway at Campia Turzii was being repaired. Both aircraft types will take part in Dacian Eagle between July and September. According to the Romanian Air Force, along with 200 American personnel from the California and Massachusetts ANG, more than 200 romanian pilots and technical personnel from the 71st Airbase are taking part with MiG 21 LancerRs and IAR 330 Puma helicopters (SOCAT and MEDEVAC) in the traditional drills at the 71st airbase with the purpose of increasing the level of preparation and interoperability between the participants. Advertisement “The excercise is an opportunity to practice the techniques, tactics and standard procedures common in air operations, according to NATO standards by performing flights in cooperations with the American partners” and to deter further Russian aggression…. The LanceRs are modernized MiG-21s that were given new avionics for all-weather operations, more modern avionics and the ability to employ PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions). Although they have a limited endurance (30-45 minutes “play time”), the LanceRs are fast and maneuverable and quite good to perform the adversary role against more modern fighters. They will start being replaced by F-16 MLUs starting this autumn. GoPro video shot from inside an A-10 Thunderbolt flying a Hawg Smoke 2016 mission Watch the F-35B Lightning II fly, hover and perform vertical landing in this cool 4K video According to the last year’s contract Iraq is to buy 10 Mi-28NE Night Hunter (NATO codename: Havoc) along with armament and equipment, defence24.pl reports. It is the first delivery of choppers, being a part of […] Reports have appeared on news websites according to those, forces loyal to President Assad have attacked Syrian rebels in the city of Homs with what appears to be a gas type chemical weapon. Quoting Al-Jazeera, […] Last week, the Swedish Government has decided to commit a squadron of Gripens fighter jets as well as a mine-sweeping warship to the NATO Response Force (NRF) by 2014, with eight more fighter jets joining […] You hit it on the nail, the CIA financed, and directed all the so called more/less colored “revolutions” in EE, and around the world. Coming from the nation that was at war for the most time of it’s existence (21 years of peace in all), mass murdered the native population, and invaded 70 nations, it’s at least hypocritical to whine about “russian aggression” as yanks, and their vassals regularly do. Only the brit cousins have the edge: but they have a longer history, so exceptionalistan can still trump them. You seem to be dragging up anything and everything in US and Anglo history. Shall we do the same with Russia? You’ll lose that comparison…..badly. Additionally, US “invasions”? Do you know what an invasion is? A handful of special forces is not a fucking invasion. If it was we could show an identical map of Russian clandestine operations. We invaded France? That’s not highlighted. We invaded Germany, that’s not highlighted. We invaded Japan and they god damn well deserved it. China? C’mon the Boxer revolution? What a joke. Russia? When did an American invasion force roll into Russia? Canada? Why don’t you color Great Britain instead because that would be more accurate. Why do you think we wen’t into Mexico? Open a book. The Philippines and all that? Yeah that’s the Japanese empire dipshit. Almost all of the countries in S. and Central America, as well as Africa, were never invasions. Most of them were FID operations at the behest of the legitimate government. When you idiots do it in the Ukraine that’s ok, but if the US does (with a handful of guys….not tanks and tactical airpower)it’s an invasion. Dude cut the shit. I’ve traveled and worked widely in Eastern Europe. I talk to anyone I can that feels comfortable talking about stuff. For every single person that thinks like you, there’s three or four in that same household that prefer life closer to the West than they ever did when under Moscow. And generally, the one person that likes the old ways, only does because it was “easy”. People didn’t have to worry about anything or fend for themselves. The state took care of everything. They preferred it because it made being lazy easy. Where to go to go to school, what to study, where to live, where to work, etc. Sounds like a winning combination. Again, cut the shit.
|
Military Exercise
| null | null |
Southern Airways Flight 932 crash
|
Southern Airways Flight 932 was a chartered Southern Airways Douglas DC-9 domestic United States commercial jet flight from Stallings Field (ISO) in Kinston, North Carolina, to Huntington Tri-State Airport/Milton J. Ferguson Field (HTS) near Kenova and Ceredo, West Virginia. At 7:36 pm on November 14, 1970, the aircraft crashed into a hill just short of the Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 people on board in what has been recognized as "the worst sports-related air tragedy in U.S. history". [1][2]
The plane was carrying 37 members of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, eight members of the coaching staff, 25 boosters, two pilots, two flight attendants, and a charter coordinator. [3] The team was returning home after a 17–14 loss to the East Carolina Pirates at Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina. [4]
At the time, Marshall's athletic teams rarely traveled by plane, since most away games were within easy driving distance of the campus. The team originally planned to cancel the flight, but changed plans and chartered the Southern Airways DC-9. [5] The accident is the deadliest tragedy to have affected any sports team in U.S. history. [6] It was the second college football team plane crash in a little over a month, after the October 2 crash that killed 14 Wichita State players and 17 others. The aircraft was a 95-seat, twin-jet engine Douglas DC-9-30 with tail registration N97S. The airliner's crew was Captain Frank Abbot (47), First Officer Jerry Smith (28), plus two flight attendants. All were qualified for the flight. This flight was the only flight that year for the Marshall University football team. [2]
The original proposal to charter the flight was refused because it would exceed "the takeoff limitations of their aircraft". The subsequent negotiations resulted in a reduction of the weight of passengers and baggage ... and the charter flight was scheduled. "[7] The airliner left Stallings Field at Kinston, North Carolina, and the flight proceeded to Huntington without incident. The crew established radio contact with air traffic controllers at 7:23 pm with instructions to descend to 5,000 ft (1,500 m). [4] The controllers advised the crew that "rain, fog, smoke and a ragged ceiling" were at the airport, making landing more difficult, but possible. At 7:34 pm, the airliner's crew reported passing Tri-State Airport's outer marker. The controller gave them clearance to land. The aircraft began its normal descent after passing the outer marker, but did not arrest its descent and hold altitude at 1,240 ft (380 m), as required by the assigned instrument approach procedure. Instead, the descent continued for another 300 ft (91 m) for unknown reasons, apparently without either crew member actually seeing the airport lights or runway. In the transcript of their cockpit communications in the final minutes, the pilots briefly debated that their autopilot had "captured" for a glide slope descent, although the airport was only equipped with a localizer. The report also noted that the craft approached the Catlettsburg Refinery in the final 30 seconds before impact, which "could have...affected...a visual illusion produced by the difference in the elevation of the refinery and the airport," which was nearly 300 ft (91 m) higher than the refinery, with hills in between. The co-pilot, monitoring the altimeter, called out, "It's beginning to lighten up a little bit on the ground here at ... seven hundred feet ... We're two hundred above [the descent vector]," and the charter coordinator replied, "Bet it'll be a missed approach." The corresponding flight recorder shows that the craft descended another 220 ft (67 m) in elevation within these 12 seconds, and the co-pilot calls out "four hundred" and agrees with the pilot they are on the correct "approach", In the next second, though, the co-pilot quickly calls out new readings, "hundred and twenty-six ... HUNDRED," and the sounds of impact immediately follow. [7]
The airliner continued on final approach to Tri-State Airport when it collided with the tops of trees on a hillside 5,543 ft (1,690 m) west of runway 11 (now runway 12). [2][7] The plane burst into flames and created a swath of charred ground 95 ft (29 m) wide and 279 ft (85 m) long. According to the official National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, the accident was "unsurvivable". The aircraft "dipped to the right, almost inverted, and had crashed into a hollow 'nose-first'". [4] By the time the plane came to a stop, it was 4,219 ft (1,286 m) short of the runway and 275 ft (84 m) south of the middle marker. Although the airport runway has since been lengthened past its original threshold, making historical measurements more difficult, the NTSB official report provides, "the accident occurred during hours of darkness at 38° 22' 27" N. latitude and 82° 34' 42" W. longitude." The report additionally notes, "Most of the fuselage was melted or reduced to a powder-like substance; however, several large pieces were scattered throughout the burned area. "[7] The remains of six passengers were never identified. [4]
The NTSB investigated the accident and its final report was issued on April 14, 1972. In the report, the NTSB concluded, "[...] the probable cause of this accident was the descent below Minimum Descent Altitude during a nonprecision approach under adverse operating conditions, without visual contact with the runway environment". They further stated, "The Board has been unable to determine the reason for this [greater] descent, although the two most likely explanations are (a) improper use of cockpit instrumentation data, or (b) an altimetry system error. "[7]:36 At least one source says that water that had seeped into the plane's altimeter could have thrown off its height readings, leading the pilots to believe the plane was higher than was actually the case. [8]
The board made three recommendations as a result of this accident, including recommendations for heads-up displays, ground proximity warning devices, and surveillance and inspection of flight operations. [7]:37
On November 15, 1970, a memorial service was held at the indoor, 8,500-seat Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse with moments of silence, remembrances, and prayers. [4] The following Saturday, another memorial service was held at the outdoor, 18,000-seat Fairfield Stadium. Across the nation, many expressed their condolences. Classes at Marshall, along with numerous events and shows by the Marshall Artists Series (and the football team's game against the Ohio Bobcats), were cancelled and government offices were closed. A mass funeral was held at the Field House and many of the dead were buried at the Spring Hill Cemetery, some together because bodies were not identifiable. [4][9]
The effects of the crash on Huntington went far beyond the Marshall campus. Because it was the Herd's only charter flight of the season, boosters and prominent citizens were on the plane, including a city councilman, a state legislator, and four physicians. Seventy children lost at least one parent in the crash, with 18 of them left orphaned.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
CHC Helikopter Service Flight 241 crash
|
On 29 April 2016, a CHC Helikopter Service Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma helicopter, carrying oil workers from the Gullfaks B platform in the North Sea, crashed near Turøy, a Norwegian coastal island 36 kilometres (22 mi) from the city of Bergen. The main rotor assembly detached from the aircraft and the fuselage plummeted to the ground, exploding on impact. [1][2] All thirteen people on board were killed. [3]
The subsequent investigation concluded that a gear in the main rotor gearbox had failed due to a fatigue crack that had propagated under-surface, escaping detection. Various safety recommendations were made, including for Airbus Helicopters, the current manufacturer of the type, to consider redesigning the affected gearbox. The accident aircraft was an EC225LP Super Puma helicopter, manufactured by Eurocopter (now named Airbus Helicopters), registration LN-OJF. [4][5]
At 10:05 local time (UTC+2), HKS241 took off from Bergen's Flesland Airport, five minutes behind schedule. It arrived at the Gullfaks B platform on time and departed at 11:16, carrying two pilots and eleven passengers, employees and subcontractors of Norwegian oil company Statoil. [6] It was scheduled to land back at Flesland Airport at 12:08. [1]
At 11:53, as the helicopter approached Sotra off the coast of Bergen, several witnesses observed the flight, stating that nothing was out of the ordinary until the sound suddenly changed and the helicopter started to sway. Moments later the main rotor assembly of the helicopter detached, causing a sudden drop in speed and altitude, as confirmed by flight telemetry. With all control lost, it crashed on the islet of Skitholmen between the islands of Turøy and Toftøy at 11:54:35 local time and exploded on impact. [2] Most of the wreckage then slid off the islet into the sea. A video recording of the detached main rotors spinning to earth was made shortly afterwards. [6] The rotor came to rest several hundred metres away on the island of Toftøy. According to flight tracking data, the time between the detachment of the rotor and the crash itself was only eleven seconds, with the helicopter diving 640 metres (2,100 ft) in that time. [2]
At 11:55, local police received reports of a helicopter crash. Six minutes later, at 12:01, this was relayed to the national rescue service. Rescue workers, police and fire fighters arrived at the scene at 12:20, and the wreckage was located partially submerged soon after. At 13:15, authorities confirmed that the wreckage had been found, and that they did not expect to find survivors. [2]
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg described the crash as "horrible". King Harald V and Queen Sonja cancelled a visit to Sweden[4] that was to have marked King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday. On its final flight the aircraft was carrying eleven passengers and two pilots. [citation needed] Authorities confirmed that eleven of the people on board were Norwegian, with one British passenger and one Italian crew member. The eleven passengers were employees of six different companies: Halliburton (four employees); Aker Solutions (three); and one employee each of Statoil, Schlumberger, Welltec and Karsten Moholt [no]. On 2 May the names of all the crash victims were released. [7]
The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) is responsible for investigating aviation accidents in Norway. [8] The British Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) each dispatched a team of investigators to Norway to assist the AIBN in its investigation. Representatives from Airbus Helicopters and engine manufacturer Turbomeca were part of the BEA team. [9][10] The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also participated in the investigation. [11]
The aircraft's combined cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) was sent to the AAIB in the United Kingdom for data retrieval. [12] Data were successfully downloaded on 1 May and sent back to the AIBN which confirmed that the received data were of good quality and useful for further investigation. [13]
On 1 May, the BBC reported that the helicopter had been forced to land on 26 April, over fears of a technical problem after a cockpit warning light had illuminated a few minutes into a flight. [14]
In a press conference on 3 May, the AIBN stated that the initial investigation and analysis of data from the combined FDR and CVR convinced them that pilot error could be ruled out and that there were no indications of any malfunction until one second before the end of the recording, which they assumed was the moment when the rotor detached. [15][16] An AIBN spokesman said the accident was down to a technical fault and "not an accident caused by human error". [17] Later that day Airbus Helicopters updated their press release bulletin with a request for verification of the correct installation of all main gearbox suspension bar attachments for the EC225LP. They also stated that "similar measures will be published shortly for the EC725AP in a specific ASB" (Alert Service Bulletin). [18]
Within a week of the accident, an underwater sled with magnets had been developed and deployed to find small critical metal fragments from gearbox and bearings to support the investigations. [19]
On 27 May the AIBN confirmed that scenarios under consideration included failure of epicyclic module, suspension bar (lift strut) attachment and MGB (gearbox) conical housing. [20] On the same day Airbus Helicopters updated their press release bulletin and stated that in their opinion only failure of the attachment of a suspension bar could be assessed as probable based on the information available by that date,[18] an opinion also stated by Airbus during a safety meeting on 20 May. [21][22]
On 1 June the AIBN released an update to the preliminary investigation report including an urgent safety recommendation to the European Aviation Safety Agency. The recommendation was based on metallurgical examinations where signs of fatigue in parts of the second stage planet gear were found. [23]
The gearbox had suffered "unkind treatment" (road accident) during transport in Australia, and was repaired before being mounted in LN-OJF. [24] On 15 June, Airbus requested operators to check for metal residue in oil and to report unusual gearbox events. [25]
On 28 June the AIBN released a new preliminary report where they stated that the most likely cause to the accident was a fatigue fracture in one of the second stage planet gears. They had not yet determined what initiated the fracture. [26][27] AIBN draws similarity to the 2009 Bond Helicopters Eurocopter AS332 crash, also caused by a gearbox fracture. Whereas particles had been detected in the Scottish gearbox's oil prior to the crash, no such indication was present for the Norwegian gearbox. [28] As of February 2017[update], AIBN continued investigations with no indication of when a conclusion could be made. [29][30] Also in February 2017, EASA issued a notice for operators to investigate the oil cooler for 16NCD13 alloy from the gearbox.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
Springs Fire
|
The Springs Fire was a wildfire in Ventura County, California in May 2013. Although the fire burned only 15 homes,[2] it threatened 4,000. This threat passed when rain shower moved through the California area because of a low-pressure system off the coast. Some places got more than half an inch of rain. [3]
The fire started at 6:45 AM on May 2, 2013, in Camarillo, California near U.S. Route 101 and burned across Pacific Coast Highway to the Pacific Ocean. [4] Several neighborhoods were evacuated, along with the campus of California State University Channel Islands.
The fire burned around 24,000 acres of brushland along coastal Ventura County and into the Santa Monica Mountains. [7] Weather conditions made favorable conditions for brush fires. [8] The Santa Ana Winds were blowing at 40 to 50 miles per hour, spreading the fire; single-digit humidity added to the problems. By May 3, the fire was only 20 percent contained; on May 4, higher humidity made firefighters jobs easier; and on May 5 the fire was 60 percent contained. [9] On May 6, 2013, the fire was almost extinguished as rain fell in the area. [10]
Scientists are concerned about the impact of the fire on Dudleya verityi, a rare species of succulent plant known by the common name Verity's liveforever. Endemic to Ventura County, this species is only found on one edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, where it occurs in coastal sage scrub habitat. The dominant plants are California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) and purple sage (Salvia leucophylla). At least two occurrences are within the campus bounds of California State University, Channel Islands where faculty and students are tracking sites where the plant exists and studying it. [11]
|
Fire
| null | null |
1998 St. Cloud explosion
|
The 1998 St. Cloud explosion was a gas explosion that occurred in St. Cloud, Minnesota on December 11, 1998. A work crew installing a utility pole support anchor punctured an underground natural gas pipeline, causing the explosion. The blast killed four people, injured eleven, destroyed six buildings, and caused an estimated $399,000 in damages. An NTSB report on the incident faulted the safety and emergency practices of Cable Constructors, Inc., whose employees punctured the gas line, and the procedures and training of the St. Cloud fire department for responding to gas leaks.
|
Gas explosion
| null | null |
1996 Croatia USAF CT-43 crash
|
On April 3, 1996, a United States Air Force Boeing CT-43A (Flight IFO-21) crashed on approach to Dubrovnik, Croatia, while on an official trade mission. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-200 originally built as T-43A navigational trainer and later converted into a CT-43A executive transport aircraft, was carrying United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and 34 other people, including The New York Times Frankfurt bureau chief Nathaniel C. Nash. [1] While attempting an instrument approach to Dubrovnik Airport, the airplane crashed into a mountainside. An Air Force Technical Sergeant, Shelly Kelly, survived the initial impact, but died en route to a hospital. Everyone else on board died at the scene of the crash. [2]
The aircraft was operated by the 76th Airlift Squadron of the 86th Airlift Wing, based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Unlike civilian 737s, the military CT-43A version was not equipped with a flight data recorder nor a cockpit voice recorder. [3]
The official US Air Force accident investigation board report noted several reasons that led the Boeing CT-43A, callsign "IFO-21" (short for Implementation Force),[4] to crash. [5] Chief among the findings was a "failure of command, aircrew error and an improperly designed instrument approach procedure". The inclement weather was not deemed a substantial contributing factor in the crash. [6]
The Boeing CT-43A used for this flight was formerly a T-43A navigator training aircraft that was converted for distinguished visitor travel. The flight was on an instrument flight rules non-directional beacon (NDB) approach, which is a non-precision type of instrument approach, to Runway 12 when it strayed off course. Non-precision approaches are those that do not incorporate vertical guidance. [7] While NDB approaches are essentially obsolete in the United States, they are still used widely in other parts of the world. Because of their infrequent use in the United States, many American pilots are not fully proficient in performing them (a NASA survey showed that 60% of American transport-rated pilots had not flown an NDB approach in the last year). [3] The investigation board determined that the approach used was not approved for Department of Defense aircraft, and should not have been used by the aircraft crew. [8] The board determined that the particular NDB approach used required two operating ADFs, the instrument used to fly such an approach, on board the aircraft, but this aircraft only had one ADF installed. To successfully fly the approach, one ADF was required to track the outbound course of 119° from the Koločep NDB (KLP), while another ADF was required to observe when the aircraft had flown beyond the Cavtat NDB (CV), which marked the missed approach point. The alternative available to the crew was to repeatedly switch their one ADF between the signals at the KLP and CV beacons, though this would add further workload and stress to the crew. [9] Further, the board noted that the approach was rushed, with the aircraft flying at 80 knots (150 km/h) above the proper final approach speed and had not received the proper landing clearance from the control tower. [8]
The crash site, on a 2,300 ft (700 m) hill, was 1.6 miles (2.6 km) northeast of where the aircraft should have been on the inbound course to the NDB. The published NDB approach brings the inbound aircraft down a valley, and has a minimum descent height of 2,150 ft (660 m) at the missed approach point (where they should have climbed and turned to the right if the runway was not in view), which is below the elevation of the hills to the north. The runway is at 510 ft (160 m) MSL. Five other aircraft had landed prior to the CT-43A and had not experienced any problems with the navigational aids. There was no emergency call from the pilots, and they did not initiate a missed approach, even though they were beyond the missed approach point when they hit the hill at 2:57 PM local time. [3][4]
Each country is responsible for publishing the approach charts, including minimum descent heights, for its airports, and the investigators noted that the minimum in mountainous terrain in the United States is 2,800 ft (850 m), as compared to the 2,150 ft (660 m) on the chart given to the crew of IFO-21. [9] It was a requirement of the US Air Force to review and approve all charts, and to ban flights into airports for which the charts did not meet the proper American aviation standards. [9] The commander of the 86th Operations Group, Col. John E. Mazurowski,[10] revealed that he had requested (but not yet received) approval to waive the review for Dubrovnik, as the approach had worked for years and the delay of a full review could hamper the interests of the American diplomatic mission. [9]
Thirty-five people, six military crewmembers and twenty-nine civilians, died in the crash. Thirty-three of the victims were Americans and two were Croatians. Twelve Department of Commerce officials, including Secretary Brown, and twelve high-ranking CEOs/presidents of many different American companies died. Jim Lewek, a Central Intelligence Agency analyst, Lee Jackson of the Treasury Department, and Nathaniel Nash, the New York Times' Frankfurt bureau chief, were also among the deceased. [11]
Dubrovnik Airport was singled out for an improperly designed approach and landing procedure. [9]
A number of US Air Force (USAF) officers were found to have contributed to a failure of command. The general commanding the 86th Airlift Wing, Brig. Gen. William E. Stevens, vice-commander Col. Roger W. Hansen and the commander of the 86th Operations Group, Col. John E. Mazurowski, were all relieved of their posts. [10]
[12] Mazurowski was later found guilty of a dereliction of duties and was demoted to major, while twelve other officers were reprimanded. [9]
The USAF ordered all military aircraft to be equipped with a flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder. [9]
American military aircraft are no longer allowed to fly into airports without explicit approval from the United States Department of Defense, not even for high-ranking diplomatic missions. [9]
The area of the crash site is identified by a large stainless steel cross on Stražišće peak. Hikers can reach the peak via the "Ronald Brown Path", which is named in commemoration of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce who died in the crash. [13]
A memorial room has been installed in the Ronald Brown memorial house in the old city of Dubrovnik. It features portraits of the crash victims as well as a guest book. [14]
The head of navigation at Čilipi Airport, Niko Jerkuić, was found dead three days after the accident with a bullet wound to his chest. The police investigation concluded that the case was a suicide. [15]
The crash of IFO-21 was covered in "Fog of War", a Season 4 (2007) episode of the internationally syndicated Canadian TV documentary series Mayday. [9]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
UNICEF, WHO, IFRC and MSF announce the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile
|
The Ebola vaccine needs to be kept at a temperature of – 80°C. These vaccine storage devices use jet fuel to keep the right temperature for up to 5 days in the field, even if the storage container is opened several times a day. © Credits UNICEF, WHO, IFRC and MSF announce the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile 12 January 2021 New York / Geneva Reading time: The four leading international health and humanitarian organizations announced today the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile to ensure outbreak response. The effort to establish the stockpile was led by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, which includes the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The stockpile will allow countries, with the support of humanitarian organizations, to contain future Ebola epidemics by ensuring timely access to vaccines for populations at risk during outbreaks. The injectable single-dose Ebola vaccine (rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP, live) is manufactured by Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Corp. and developed with financial support from the from the government of the United States of America (USA). The European Medicines Agency licensed the Ebola vaccine in November 2019, and the vaccine is now prequalified by WHO, and licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration as well as in eight African countries. Before achieving licensure, the vaccine was administered to more than 350,000 people in Guinea and in the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under a protocol for “compassionate use”. The vaccine, which is recommended by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization for use in Ebola outbreaks as part of a broader set of Ebola outbreak response tools, protects against the Zaire ebolavirus species which is most commonly known to cause outbreaks. “The COVID-19 pandemic is reminding us of the incredible power of vaccines to save lives from deadly viruses,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Ebola vaccines have made one of the most feared diseases on earth preventable. This new stockpile is an excellent example of solidarity, science and cooperation between international organizations and the private sector to save lives.” UNICEF manages the stockpile on behalf of the ICG which, as with stockpiles of cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines, will be the decision-making body for its allocation and release. The stockpile is stored in Switzerland and ready to be shipped to countries for emergency response. The decision to allocate the vaccine will be made within 48 hours of receiving a request from a country; vaccines will be made available together with ultra-cold chain packaging by the manufacturer for shipment to countries within 48 hours of the decision. The targeted overall delivery time from the stockpile to countries is seven days. “We are proud to be part of this unprecedented effort to help bring potential Ebola outbreaks quickly under control,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “We know that when it comes to disease outbreaks, preparedness is key. This Ebola vaccine stockpile is a remarkable achievement - one that will allow us to deliver vaccines to those who need them the most as quickly as possible.” As Ebola outbreaks are relatively rare and unpredictable, there is no natural market for the vaccine. Vaccines are only secured through the establishment of the stockpile and are available in limited quantities. The Ebola vaccine is reserved for outbreak response to protect people at the highest risk of contracting Ebola – including healthcare and frontline workers. “This is an important milestone. Over the past decade alone we have seen Ebola devastate communities in West and Central Africa, always hitting the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest,” said IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain. “Through each outbreak, our volunteers have risked their lives to save lives. With this stockpile, it is my hope that the impact of this terrible disease will be dramatically reduced.” “The creation of an Ebola vaccine stockpile under the ICG is a positive step”, said Dr Natalie Roberts, Programme Manager, MSF Foundation. “Vaccination is one of the most effective measures to respond to outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases, and Ebola is no exception. An Ebola vaccine stockpile can increase transparency in the management of existing global stocks and the timely deployment of the vaccine where it’s most needed, something MSF has called for during recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” An initial 6890 doses are now available for outbreak response with further quantities to be delivered into the stockpile this month and throughout 2021 and beyond. Depending on the rate of vaccine deployment, it could take 2 to 3 years to reach the SAGE-recommended level of 500,000 doses for the emergency stockpile of Ebola vaccines. WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and vaccine manufacturers are continuously assessing options to increase vaccine supply should global demand increase. ----------------------------- About the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision The ICG was established in 1997, following major outbreaks of meningitis in Africa, as a mechanism to manage and coordinate the provision of emergency vaccine supplies and antibiotics to countries during major outbreaks. The ICG works to improve cooperation and coordination of epidemic preparedness and response. About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org . For more information about COVID-19, visit www.unicef.org/coronavirus . Find out more about UNICEF’s work on the COVID-19 vaccines here , or about UNICEF’s work on immunization here . Follow UNICEF on Twitter and Facebook. About WHO The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing. For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , TikTok , Pinterest , Snapchat , YouTube , Twitch
|
Organization Established
| null | null |
RZIM will stop doing apologetics work this year
|
Update (March 10): Once the largest apologetics ministry in the world, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) will stop doing apologetics work this year. CEO Sarah Davis announced to staff Wednesday morning that over the next six months, the downsized ministry will remake itself as a grant-making charity. It plans to give money to organizations fulfilling its original purpose of defending the truth of the gospel as well as organizations that care for victims of sexual abuse. “RZIM cannot and should not continue to operate as an organization in its present form. Nor do we believe we can only rename the organization and move forward with ‘business as usual,’” said Davis, who is Zacharias’s daughter and has led the ministry since his death in May 2020. RZIM’s speakers have had invitations rescinded since allegations against Zacharias were reported in September. Over the past several months, donations slowed to the $35 million–$40 million ministry as it investigated and ultimately confirmed abuse by its late founder. The investigation found “guilt beyond anything that we could have imagined,” Davis acknowledged on Wednesday. “The ministry of RZIM has been on a journey almost unlike anything we can think of in modern evangelical history,” Davis said. “We, as a ministry, have been processing a wide range of emotions, including intense grief for victims of abuse, abhorrence at Ravi’s actions, disillusionment, dismay, anger, and uncertainty about the future of the ministry we love and serve.” The ministry is currently undergoing a broad review of culture and structure by the consulting firm Guidepost Solutions. Davis told staff that they can expect layoffs of about 60 percent of staff, starting immediately, as well as leadership changes when the review is finished in four to six months. In the meantime, staff in each department are being instructed to “focus their gifts, skills, and resources” on “repentance, restitution, learning, and serving.” ----- Original post (March 8): Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, in the midst of an outside review of its corporate culture and past handling of abuse allegations, has announced it will change its name. It also is calling for additional victims to come forward and report sexual abuse and harassment by its late world-famous founder. Last month’s investigative report confirmed allegations against the apologist dating back to 2004 and uncovered additional evidence of abuse continuing up until a few months before his death in May 2020. But while the investigation was conclusive, it was not comprehensive. In a statement released over the weekend, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) acknowledged there may be many more victims. This is the first time RZIM has directly asked victims to come forward. The consulting firm Guidepost Solutions will field reports by phone and email as part of its comprehensive review of RZIM, while victims’ advocate Rachael Denhollander will serve as a confidential liaison with survivors. Phone lines have been set up in English, Spanish, and French. “We continue to grieve deeply for the victims who have been treated in ways that are completely antithetical to the gospel,” wrote CEO Sarah Davis, who is also Zacharias’s daughter, in the official statement. “We also painfully and increasingly recognize organizational failures that have occurred and the repentance that needs to take place in both heart and action.” Davis said the review is comprehensive and is expected to take months. Layoffs are expected soon. The ministry also announced it is removing Zacharias’s teaching from its website and social media. The 12 international branches of RZIM are independently evaluating their own ministry cultures and future plans. Top RZIM leaders in the US and Asia have known about allegations against Zacharias since at least 2008, when an Indian team member reported to the head of the Singapore board that Zacharias had been seen with a woman he wasn’t related to in a Singapore hotel. Zacharias was holding her hand and appeared to be intimate with her. Zacharias dismissed it as a misunderstanding, and the ministry did not investigate, according to internal documents obtained by CT. The team member raised the issue again in 2012, along with questions about Zacharias’s solo trips to Thailand, where Zacharias owned two apartments—one for himself and one for a massage therapist. The ministry didn’t investigate then either. The Singapore board instead launched a full inquiry into whether the team member was spreading rumors about Zacharias. “Directors agreed that derogative remarks of any kind by any of the parties must cease immediately as they do not glorify the Lord,” the Singapore board chair wrote in a 2012 email obtained by CT. “We are of the same conviction that brothers should reconcile where there have been misunderstandings. … The work of RZIM is making great impact on unbelievers and any public dispute will bring irreparable damage to parties concerned and the organization.” Similar arguments were made at RZIM’s other international offices. Team members in India, the US, the UK, and Canada told CT that when they raised concerns, they were dismissed. Leadership pointed to Zacharias’s reputation. He was considered above reproach and beyond question. RZIM spokeswoman Ruth Malhotra, in a 26-page letter to the US board about corporate complicity in Zacharias’s abuse, wrote that the leadership’s strategic response to allegations was to “delay, deny, defy, defame.” According to Malhotra, she raised questions in 2017, when Zacharias denied soliciting explicit sexual images from a woman in Canada. Instead of trying to answer her questions, a senior leader demanded to know, “Whose side are you on?” After the investigation in 2021, the US board acknowledged mistakes and promised a review of the culture and leadership of the ministry. “Our trust in Ravi’s denial of moral wrongdoing and in his deceptive explanations of emails and other records that became public was severely misplaced,” the statement said. “We also recognize that in situations of prolonged abuse, there often exist significant structural, policy, and cultural problems. It is imperative that where these things exist in our organization, we take focused steps to ensure they are properly diagnosed and addressed.” The US board is anonymous, and the statement was not signed by individual members. It is not clear who wrote the statement or whether board members agreed with it unanimously. RZIM’s 12 international offices are also evaluating their own culture and making decisions about the future. Leadership in the respective countries have to decide whether to shut down or continue, whether to remain affiliated with the US ministry or separate, and whether to keep the Zacharias name or abandon it. The UK ministry and the Latin American ministry have each announced their intentions to separate and establish independent apologetics organizations. The Latin American board shut down its website after making its statement. RZIM Spain is evaluating “next steps” but said it has received “many expressions of encouragement” to continue doing apologetics and evangelism in Spain. The German-language branch of RZIM, operating in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has announced team training on abuse and a review of its own organizational structure and culture. “Looking back, we realize that we as the institute were positively biased towards Ravi Zacharias and that we also trusted the control mechanisms within RZIM too much,” the ministry said in an official statement. “We are extremely sorry for these failures.” RZIM Canada is closing down. “We recognize the ongoing need for an apologetics-based approach to evangelism,” the Canadian board said. “Regrettably, we are of the conviction that it is not possible for RZIM Canada to fulfill this mandate within the current environment.” RZIM Hong Kong, which serves Southeast Asia and Oceania, stated it is considering “all possible paths that would honour our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” and also said, “We apologise unreservedly for the hurt we have caused others through our misplaced trust in Ravi.” The RZIM officers in India and Turkey have translated the US board’s apology and publicized the information about the investigation, but have not made individual public statements about the future of those ministries. RZIM Middle East does not appear to have made any public statements. RZIM Romania and RZIM Singapore announced times of prayer and re-evaluation. The Romanian ministry said it is praying “that God will heal any wound caused by the actions of Ravi Zacharias and any disappointment caused by this news. We put all our hope in His grace and continue to remain committed to searching and presenting #Truth.” RZIM Africa said its top priority is to “Pray for, listen to and learn from victims and victim advocates, seek their forgiveness where appropriate, and take steps that emerge.” Two African leaders personally reached out to one victim to apologize. The ministry is also encouraging others to come forward. “Given the extent of Ravi’s deception and abuse,” the statement said, “we recognize that there may be many others who have suffered, and whose stories have not yet been told.”
|
Organization Closed
| null | null |
Air Afrique Flight 056 crash
|
On 24 July 1987, Air Afrique Flight 056, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 operating the Brazzaville–Bangui–Rome–Paris service was hijacked and diverted to Geneva Airport. [1] One passenger was killed and 30 people were injured. [2]
The hijacker was 21-year-old Hussein Hariri, a Lebanese Shiite who claimed to be a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). [3] He carried a pistol and an explosives belt containing TNT. Flight 056 was operated by a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 with registration TU-TAL. [4][5]
Hariri hijacked the flight after it departed Rome-Fiumicino International Airport and demanded the captain to fly the aircraft to Beirut International Airport in Lebanon. However, the captain, Eduard Artisu, responded that there was insufficient fuel for the aircraft to reach Beirut without a refueling stop and offered to land in Geneva, Switzerland, for refueling. Hariri accepted the offer. [6]
After the plane landed in Geneva at 8:08 AM, Hariri demanded the release of two of his brothers, who were prisoners in West Germany and threatened to kill passengers if his demands were not met. Two hours later, Hariri shot and killed a 28-year-old French passenger. Four hours after landing, passengers opened the emergency exits and began to evacuate the aircraft via the evacuation slides. One flight attendant attempted to overpower Hariri but was shot and injured. 29 people received injuries during the evacuation. The Swiss police then raided the aircraft. The operation lasted eight minutes, while the entire hijacking had lasted nearly four hours. [7]
Two years after the hijacking, Hussein Hariri was tried at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland in Lausanne for hijacking, murder, and attempted murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. [8] He was released from prison in 2004 and banned from entering Swiss territory. [citation needed]
The aircraft was damaged during the raid but was repaired and returned to service with Air Afrique. It was transferred to AOM French Airlines in 1996 and re-registered as F-GTDI. On 21 December 1999, while being leased to Cubana de Aviación, the aircraft crashed in Guatemala as Flight 1216, killing 16 of the 314 people on board and two more on the ground. [9][10]
|
Air crash
| null | null |
'Mom, we need food': Thousands in South Sudan near famine
|
After nearly a week of hiding from conflict, the South Sudanese woman watched two of her young children die On Location: November 17, 2021 LEKUANGOLE, South Sudan -- After nearly a week of hiding from conflict, Kallayn Keneng watched two of her young children die. “They cried and cried and said, ‘Mom, we need food,'" she said. But she had nothing to give. Too frail to bury her 5-year-old and 7-year-old after days without eating, she covered their bodies with grass and left them in the forest. Now the mourning 40-year-old awaits food aid, one of more than 30,000 people said to be in likely famine in South Sudan's Pibor county. The new finding by international food security experts means this could be the first part of the world in famine since one was declared in 2017 in another part of the country then deep in civil war. South Sudan is one of four countries with areas that could slip into famine, the United Nations has warned, along with Yemen, Burkina Faso and northeastern Nigeria. Pibor county this year has seen deadly local violence and unprecedented flooding that have hurt aid efforts. On a visit to the town of Lekuangole this month, seven families told The Associated Press that 13 of their children starved to death between February and November. The head of Lekuangole’s government, Peter Golu, said he received unprecedented reports from community leaders that 17 children had died from hunger there and in surrounding villages between September and December. The Famine Review Committee’s report, released this month by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, stops short of declaring famine because of insufficient data. But famine is thought to be occurring, meaning at least 20% of households face extreme food gaps and at least 30% of children are acutely malnourished. But South Sudan’s government is not endorsing the report's findings. If a famine were occurring it would be seen as a failure, it says. “They are making assumptions. … We are here dealing with facts, they are not on the ground,” said John Pangech, the chair of South Sudan’s food security committee. The government says 11,000 people across the country are on the brink of starvation — far less than the 105,000 estimated by the new report by food security experts. The government also expects that 60% of the country’s population, or some 7 million people, could face extreme hunger next year, with the hardest hit areas in Warrap, Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states. South Sudan has been struggling to recover from a five-year civil war. Food security experts say the magnitude of the hunger crisis has been mostly created by the fighting. That includes bouts of violence this year between communities with alleged support from the government and opposition. The government “is not only denying the severity of what is happening but is denying the basic fact that its own policies and military tactics are responsible,” said Alex de Waal, author of “Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine” and executive director of the World Peace Foundation. More than 2,000 people have been killed this year in localized violence that’s been “weaponized” by people acting in their own interests, the head of the U.N. mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, has said. Violence has prevented people from cultivating, blocked supply routes, burned down markets and killed aid workers. Families in Lekuangole said their crops were destroyed by the fighting. They now subsist on leaves and fruits. During violence in July, Kidrich Korok’s 9-year-old son Martin became separated from the family and spent more than a week in the forest. By the time he was found, severely malnourished, it was too late. “He would always tell me that he’d study hard and do something good for me when he grew up,” Korok said, weeping. “Even while he was dying, he kept reassuring me that I shouldn’t worry.” Staff at the health clinic in Lekuangole registered 20 severely malnourished children in the first week and a half of December, more than five times the number of cases for the same period last year, said a nurse, Gabriel Gogol. Flooding has cut off most road access to Pibor town and its better medical care, forcing some severely sick children to travel for three days along the river in flimsy plastic rafts. Officials in Pibor county say they don’t understand why South Sudan's government isn’t acknowledging the scale of the hunger. “If people are saying in (the capital) that there’s no famine in Pibor, they’re lying and want people to die,” said David Langole Varo, who works for the humanitarian arm of the government in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. In Pibor town, malnourished mothers and children wait for hours outside health clinics, hoping for food. In a joint statement last week, three U.N. agencies called for immediate access to parts of Pibor county where people were facing catastrophic levels of hunger. The World Food Program has faced challenges in delivering aid this year. Approximately 635 metric tons of food were stolen from Pibor county and Jonglei state, enough to feed 72,000 people, and an air drop of food in Lekuangole killed an elderly woman in October. The WFP said it needs more than $470 million over the next six months to address the hunger crisis. Families now worry about a resurgence in fighting as the dry season approaches. Sitting in a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Pibor town, Elizabeth Girosdh watched her 8-month old twins fight over her breast milk. The 45-year-old lost her crops during fighting in her village of Verteth in June. One of the twins is severely malnourished. “Sometimes I try to breastfeed but I can’t and the kids cry and cry all night,” she said. “If there’s not enough food, I worry I could lose them."
|
Famine
| null | null |
The Titanic: The unforgotten stories of the four Greek passengers who perished in the shipwreck
|
109 years ago, one of the darkest pages of the world history was written. The transatlantic Titanic, one of the largest ships to ever be built, and the largest ship of its time, sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, carrying 2,224 passengers and crew. After colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, US, the gigantic ship was wrecked in two, killing more than 1,500 people. Even to this day, the tragedy of the Titanic, is considered to be one of the deadliest maritime accidents in modern history. What many do not know is that among the casualties, there were four Greek passengers, who left Europe, looking for a better life and new opportunities in America. Panagiotis Lymperopoulos, Vassilios Katavelos and brothers Apostolos Chronopoulos and Dimitrios Chronopoulos, came from the same village, Agios Sostis, in the region of Messinia in the Peloponnese. They were all under the age of 30 and once they heard the news about the Titanic and the cruise to the US, they travelled to Marseilles in France, to board the ship at the port of Cherbourg. Tragically, their dreams, like those of many others who were lost that night, never came true, as all four of them died in the most famous shipwreck in naval history, and although the bodies of Lymperopoulos and Katavelos were believed to have been recovered, those of the two Chronopoulos brothers were never found. Panagiotis Lymperopoulos, who was 30 years old at the time, was the owner of a small factory in New York City. He had travelled back to Greece – where his family was located – for the christening of his son and wanted to return back to the US to continue with his plans on expanding his business. Despite his wife’s insistence on staying longer in Greece and spending time with the family, he thought that the Titanic trip would be once in a lifetime opportunity, and so, he took the Chronopoulos brothers with him and offered them jobs in the US. In fact, he had already purchased a ticket for a different cruise ship, but changed his ticket last minute, so that he could travel along with the other three Greek passengers. Lymperopoulos was also the only one who managed to board one of the lifeboats, as the fact that he could speak English well, helped him find his way on deck. However, his lifeboat was lost in the ocean and he did not survive the shipwreck. Vassilis Katavelos was only 19 years old when he boarded the Titanic. His older brother was already living in the US and had managed to create a fortune working there, so Vassilis wanted to join him. Following the advice of his fellow villager, Panagiotis Lymperopoulos, he agreed to travel to the US, so he sold his sheep in Messinia and bought a ticket to Marseilles to board the Titanic. After his tragic loss, his brother, who was waiting for him in the US, received only Vassilis’ comb and birth certificate from the shipwreck. Apostolos Chronopoulos, 26, had already worked in America as an interpreter for a few years, but had returned to Greece to meet with his younger brother Dimitris, 18, and take him to New York, to work at Lymperopoulos’ factory. Initially, the two brothers were going to travel the Atlantic with another ocean liner that was much more affordable, but their new employer, Panagiotis Lymperopoulos, persuaded them to change their tickets and travel with the Titanic to get to the US faster. In the months following the tragedy, many of the bodies of the passengers of the Titanic were washed ashore in Canada, and their remains were buried at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is believed that 121 victims of the sunken ship have been buried in Fairview, and one third of them were never identified, so their graves only state the date of their death. It is possible that the bodies of the Greek passengers were among those found in the area. The four Greeks of the Titanic were, however, never forgotten in their homeland. A small monument made of marble, was built in their honour outside of the local church in their village in Messinia. “In memory of the four Greek victims of the Titanic of 1912 seeking a better fortune in the United States for themselves and their families. Vassilios G. Katavelos, Panagiotis K. Lymperopoulos, Apostolos M. Chronopoulos, Dimitrios M. Chronopoulos”, are the words inscribed on top of the monument plague, as the spirit of the Greek travellers goes on.
|
Shipwreck
| null | null |
Sudan Airways Flight 109 crash
|
Sudan Airways Flight 109 was a scheduled international Amman–Damascus–Khartoum passenger flight, operated with an Airbus A310 by the flag carrier of Sudan, Sudan Airways. On 10 June 2008, at approximately 17:00 UTC, the Airbus A310 crashed on landing at Khartoum International Airport, killing 30 of the 214 occupants on board. [1][2][3]
The investigation was conducted by Sudan's Air Accident Investigation Central Directorate with assistance from the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA). The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the long flaring distance of the flight on a wet runway, aggravated with the non-deployment of the autobrake and one of the Airbus A310's two engine reversers. The inclement weather condition and the crew's lack of information on the weather were cited as contributing factors. Following the accident, Sudan's Air Accident Investigation Central Directorate issued several recommendations, mainly on better training and better infrastructure on the airport. [4]
The aircraft involved in the accident was an Airbus A310-324, c/n 548, tail number ST-ATN, that had its maiden flight on 23 August 1990 as F-WWCV. [5] Equipped with twin-PW4152 powerplants, it was delivered new to Singapore Airlines on 22 October 1990 and registered 9V-STU. [5][6] Re-registered VT-EVF, it was delivered to Air India on 10 March 2001. [5] The aircraft was finally registered ST-ATN, and was delivered to Sudan Airways on 1 December 2007. [5] According to Airbus, it had accumulated 52,000 flight hours and 21,000 cycles. [7]
The 60-year-old captain had logged 14,180 flight hours, including 3,088 hours on the Airbus A310. The 50-year-old first officer had 9,879 hours, with 3,347 of them on the Airbus A310. [4]:14
The flight originated in Amman, the capital of Jordan, with its final destination in Khartoum, Sudan with an intermediate stop in Syrian capital of Damascus. Jordanian officials stated that the aircraft carried 34 passengers in Amman, while in Damascus it carried another 169 passengers. However, a sandstorm and heavy rain prevented the aircraft from landing in Khartoum, and forced the crew to divert to Port Sudan. The aircraft was later allowed to fly back to its original destination. [8]
As the flight approached Khartoum, the flight crew were informed on the weather. Flight 109 later got clearance from air traffic controller and began to land on the airport. The flight landed at Khartoum Airport at 17:26 UTC, but was not able to stop within the length of the runway. The aircraft overran the runway and came to rest 215 metres (705 ft) beyond the end of runway 36. A fire then erupted on the starboard side of the aircraft. [4]:8
As fire started on the right side of the aircraft, slides were deployed only on the left side. The fire was reported as intense, which managed to get inside the cabin, causing thick smoke while passengers were evacuating. The thick smoke, aggravated by the fact that the accident happened at night time, hampered the evacuation process. Panicked passengers further aggravated the condition. Passengers were not briefed at all on the safety procedure. Communication between crew members were ineffective and hand luggage caused further delay on the evacuation process. As the rear left slide could not be used due to the height of the aircraft, passengers had to use either the middle or the forward left slide, causing a pile-up. While the pile-up happened, the fire quickly spread to the forward fuselage and the cockpit. [4]:9
The airport was immediately shut down due to the accident. Rescue services were deployed to the crash site. However, the rescue operation was hampered by the shortage of search and rescue personnel, the lack of communication equipment among rescue personnel, rough surfaces around the crash site, lack of emergency exit routes and participation of civil defense fire vehicles. Multiple ambulances were mobilized to the airport to take injured passengers to hospitals across Khartoum. One bus was deployed to take surviving passengers for examination. [4]:35
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, news media stated that up to 120 people might have been killed in the accident, as the head of medical services, Major General Muhammad Osman Mahjoub, reported Reuters that there were 120 bodies on the site. [9] The number was later reduced to 100[10][11] and was later revised to 28 as officials discovered that many of the survivors had left the scene, hence mistakenly declared as dead or missing. The number of people who were declared missing reached 53, before being revised down to 14. [8]
Additionally, news media reported that 17 people were treated for mild injuries, including the pilot of the flight. An additional 111 people reportedly survived without any injuries. The final report, however, did not specify any injuries on the passengers and the crew members. [4]:9[9]
According to the final tally, out of 203 passengers and 11 crew members on board the aircraft,[4]:8 29 passengers and 1 crew member lost their lives. [4]:9 Many of the casualties were children with disabilities, as well as seniors returning from treatment in Amman. [13]
A state funeral for the passengers and crew member who died on the flight was held in Khartoum on 11 June. The funeral was attended by Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and several senior state officials. The funeral ceremony was attended by more than 5,000 people. [14]
Abbas al-Fadini (Member of the Parliament of Sudan) was on board the flight and survived unscathed. [15]
Thoughts on the causes of the crash were initially split into several theories. Most survivors stated that as the aircraft overran the runway, a fire immediately developed on the right wing of the aircraft. They also confirmed that prior to its landing that the weather was rough.
|
Air crash
| null | null |
70% of fully vaccinated prisoners caught COVID-19 in a Texas Delta outbreak, the CDC says - but vaccines protected against severe disease
|
70% of fully vaccinated prisoners caught COVID-19 in a Texas Delta outbreak, the CDC says - but vaccines protected against severe disease Dr. Catherine Schuster-Bruce September 22, 2021, 8:04 PM A nurse filling a syringe with a COVID-19 vaccine. A CDC study of an outbreak in a Texas prison in July suggested that vaccines protected against severe illness. Photo by Sergio Flores/Getty Images About 70% of fully vaccinated people in a Texas prison caught COVID-19 in an outbreak, the CDC said. The data suggests that while Delta can spread among vaccinated people, vaccines protect against severe COVID-19. Of the unvaccinated prisoners, 93% caught COVID-19, and one died, the CDC said. See more stories on Insider's business page . More than two-thirds of fully vaccinated people in a Texas prison caught COVID-19 during an outbreak of the Delta variant in July, but vaccines protected against severe illness, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found . Of 185 fully vaccinated prisoners at the unnamed prison, 129, or about 70%, caught the virus, data compiled by the CDC and the Federal Bureau of Prisons showed. This was a much lower rate than the unvaccinated prisoners, 39 of 42 of whom - or about 93% - caught COVID-19 during the outbreak, said the study, published Tuesday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . Four people, three of whom were unvaccinated, needed treatment in a hospital, the study said. One unvaccinated person died, it said. Most of the prisoners were white men, and many had received Pfizer's vaccine at least four months before the outbreak, the data showed. The study adds to growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cut the risk of severe disease and hospitalization. Prisons tend to have higher rates of COVID-19 and deaths because of cramped living conditions and underlying health conditions, the CDC said. Another CDC study from this month found that unvaccinated Americans were 11 times as likely to die of COVID-19 as vaccinated people. About 45% of people in the US are unvaccinated, according to the CDC . The latest CDC study showed that the Delta variant can spread among both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. "Infectious virus was cultured from vaccinated and unvaccinated infected persons," the study said. Measures like masks and regular testing are "critical" where physical distancing is "challenging," even if vaccination rates are high, the CDC said.
|
Disease Outbreaks
| null | null |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.