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2002 Moldovan protests
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The 2002 Moldovan protests were a series of mass protests and growing street opposition demonstrations against the socialist regime and the opposition's ban in elections in Moldova. However, initial protests first began after the government banned Russian and Latin languages[clarification needed] in Moldova, triggering strikes and popular demonstrations across Chișinău and other major cities nationwide. Protests also occurred in 2001, when angry pro-communist protests occurred. In 2002, 11 weeks of medical students, teachers and students protests have been occurring, with flags and banners waved by demonstrators, who waged occupations, bloodless disturbances and nonviolent boycotts. Peaceful rallies, picketing, roadblocks, lobbying and marches also took place on small lanes and massive roads. After months of opposition protests, the protests ceased after the government proposed it will withdraw the plan. [1][2]
Moldovan protests of 2002 was anonymous and not only student-led, it was medically, it was part of the public and private sector and poor people to protest against communism, and coming to the press, journalists have taken to the streets to protest in demonstrations for press freedom over no coverage of the protests, but president Vladimir Voronin thought the opposite, and it was in the midst of a "war of words" with Romania. [3]
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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In commencement speech, Gov. Hochul tells SU ’20 grads to make change through activism
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Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during the Syracuse University 2020 Commencement in Syracuse. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
Syracuse, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul focused on activism in a campaign-style speech at Syracuse University’s makeup commencement ceremony for 2020 graduates on Sunday morning.
As she spoke to a crowd of just under 7,000 people in the university’s stadium, Hochul said her own experiences as a student activist at SU in the late 1970s informed her priorities as governor.
She brought up abortion rights, criminal justice reform, climate change and misinformation about vaccines and elections while asking the recent grads to “help me solve these problems.”
“What is the difference you’re going to make in your time living on this great planet?” Hochul asked.
She also spoke of overcoming adversity and implored the graduates to “condemn injustice,” particularly pointing to Kevin Richardson, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and assault in the infamous “Central Park Five” case.
Shortly after Hochul finished speaking, tears streamed down Richardson’s face as he was named an honorary member of the SU Class of 2020, the first person ever to receive an honorary undergraduate degree from the university.
The weekend’s commencement event was a long-delayed celebration of the 2020 graduates, whose original commencement ceremony was canceled during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a news release announcing Hochul as the commencement speaker, Chancellor Kent Syverud called the governor “a member of an esteemed group of Orange alumni who have answered the call of public service.” Hochul graduated from the university’s College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1980.
Got a tip, comment or story idea? Call or text Megan Craig at 315-925-7137, email her at mcraig@syracuse.com or send a direct message on Twitter @megcraig1.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
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Famous Person - Give a speech
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More Cases, Another Death Reported In NJ Legionnaires' Outbreak
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Five more people have contracted Legionnaires’ disease in Mercer County, and there has been a third fatality since the outbreak began last summer, authorities said. A total of nine cases of the disease -- a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria -- are under investigation by the New Jersey Department of Health. Hamilton Township initially announced that there were four cases of Legionnaires' a year ago, NJ Advance Media reported. “There is concern that Legionella may be present in other buildings and homes in the area,” Hamilton and state officials said in a statement. No other towns served by Trenton Water Works, a public utility, have reported Legionnaires' cases, which can be treated with antibiotics. “The water is safe to drink, but there are basic precautions that residents can take to help protect themselves – such as regularly flushing water at their taps and maintaining their hot water tank,” Dr. Tina Tan, state epidemiologist, said in a statement released by Hamilton Township. Legionnaires' disease doesn't spread from person-to-person. The bacteria spreads through airborne mist, such as from industrial air-conditioning units for large buildings. Home air conditioners are not a risk for growing Legionella, officials said. Adults over 50, smokers and others with weak immune systems or chronic lung disease are most at risk, according to state Health Department officials. Many people exposed to the bacteria don't develop symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms may experience cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headaches, and diarrhea.
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Disease Outbreaks
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President Eisgruber’s 2021 Commencement Address “Together, Six Feet Apart”
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President Christopher L. Eisgruber applauds as he looks out on the crowd from the Commencement stage before his address “Together, Six Feet Apart.”
President Christopher L. Eisgruber’s address “Together, Six Feet Apart,” as prepared for delivery at Princeton University’s Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2021.
Tradition allows the Princeton president to share a few thoughts each year with our graduating students at Commencement. I regard that as a great privilege in any year, but especially so in this one, when all of you have persevered valiantly and brilliantly to overcome unprecedented challenges.
By completing your studies amidst this awful pandemic, you have distinguished yourselves even by the standards of this University’s long and illustrious history. And in so doing, you have earned the right to participate in this unique and memorable Commencement ceremony, a ceremony that, I submit to you, provides a surprisingly apt metaphor for the past year.
We are together, gathered through creative planning, technological assistance, the tireless work of many people, and a fierce determination to mark with physical presence this important moment in your lives. And yet as we are together, we are also apart, masked, separated by carefully marked six-foot intervals, and denied the joyous embraces that we would ordinarily exchange on graduation day.
Such combinations of separation and sharing have permeated the last fifteen months. The separation is obvious. We have endured quarantines and lock-downs. We have learned the term “social distancing,” which — hard though this is to believe — almost none of us had heard two years ago. We have had to give up communal dining, large events, small parties, and interpersonal contact of many kinds. We have met and learned through video conferencing rather than in person.
The sharing may be less obvious than the separation but it is equally real. It begins with the separation itself, and, more generally, with losses that people throughout the world have endured over the past year. The losses inflicted by COVID-19 have undoubtedly differed significantly from person to person. They have also differed across racial and economic groups, reminding us once again of the need to dedicate ourselves to achieving genuine social justice, not only in this country but around the world.
We should recognize these disparities while also recognizing that in real and meaningful ways we have shared the anxieties and burdens of this pandemic with people not only throughout this stadium, or this country, but across social divisions, international borders, and, indeed, vast continents. We fight a plague without boundaries, and our experience informs connections we feel with those suffering from the terrible outbreaks afflicting India, South America, and other parts of the globe.
To take another, smaller piece of this phenomenon: you now share with other graduating college students throughout the world this year a parallel experience of disruption, constraint, challenge, persistence, and achievement in response to this pandemic. Rarely, if ever, has humanity experienced such durable and unfamiliar forms of loss so widely and simultaneously.
The last year has also involved sharing in a second sense. Though we have been unable to interact in person, we have connected online in ways that most of us would not have thought possible, and indeed that would not have been possible even a few years ago. Most of us are thoroughly Zoomed-out and eager to return to physical forms of togetherness, but I doubt that any of us will abandon entirely our new virtual mechanisms of communication.
We may perhaps find some wisdom about these newest aspects of human community by considering very old ideas about the topic. Two millennia ago, Aristotle observed that people must cooperate with one another because they cannot otherwise satisfy their most basic physical needs. But, he noted, once people are forced together by their physical needs, they inevitably begin discussing and pursuing ideas about human flourishing. His insight was that because we must make and break bread together, we must form a common good together.
As this year’s countless Zoom calls vividly illustrate, human technology has transformed, if not diminished or severed, this connection between the physical and intellectual realms of human activity. We can now interact politically, academically, artistically, and socially without ever being in the same room, the same state, or even the same country.
What technology made possible, the pandemic made compulsory. For most of this past year, we were present to one another in only two dimensions, as flattened figures on screens, while our three-dimensional bodies inhabited vastly different spaces. We shared an emaciated world.
It is not enough. The fractious, irritated, angry state of our national politics testifies to that fact.
So too, more poignantly, does our presence in this stadium today. We could have deployed technological machinery to produce a whiz-bang virtual Commencement, which you could have watched from the comfort of your homes. We concluded — with your vigorous encouragement — that it would be better to sit in this cavernous stadium, arrayed across a giant field and surrounding bleachers, together, six feet apart.
We lose an essential dimension of the human when we cannot be together physically. If indeed people must forge a common good because we need to make and break bread together, the pandemic suggests that something like the reverse is also true.
Simply put, our long, unwelcome separation teaches us this: to forge a common good together, we must break bread together. We must, in other words, relate to one another not just as disembodied intellects, interests, or ideologies, or as faces in Zoom boxes, but also as real, three-dimensional people who share basic needs and a common humanity.
I hope you will bear that idea in mind as you venture into this strange, uncertain world post-Princeton and post-pandemic. I also hope that you will find ways to break bread and reconnect not only with one another but also with people far outside your own social circles. As the political philosopher Danielle Allen ’93 has urged in a passage that riffs on Aristotle, we must find ways to convey “the techniques and expertise of friendship” into “the rivalrous realm of politics.”
We must all recover, renew, and reinvigorate the genuinely human forms of connection so missing from our world over the last year and all too absent, even before the pandemic, from our country’s conversations about America’s common good. As you venture forth beyond this campus, I hope that you will seize the opportunity to build the genuine community that we so urgently need.
The journey that commences today will take you into a new and changing world. I am confident that you are well prepared for the challenge. You have excelled here, and you have persisted through the pandemic with extraordinary determination, creativity, intelligence, compassion, and courage. We will need your leadership, your vision, and your dedication to the service of humanity.
On behalf of the University, its faculty, administration, trustees, and alumni, I offer you best wishes as you go forth. We hope you will always consider this campus one of your homes, and that you will return often, so that we can be together again in the future — together again, without also being six feet apart! I, and all of my colleagues, extend our sincerest congratulations on this happy day to all of Princeton’s doctoral and master’s degree recipients and to Princeton University’s Great Class of 2021! Congratulations!
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Famous Person - Give a speech
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Moranbah mine explosion may have started with 'ignition of gas along coal face', mine safety inquiry under consideration
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Moranbah mine explosion may have started with 'ignition of gas along coal face', mine safety inquiry under consideration Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham is flagging a possible inquiry into mine safety after five workers were critically injured in an explosion at Anglo American's Grosvenor coal mine at Moranbah yesterday. The underground explosion at the central Queensland operation left all of the miners with significant injuries. Dr Lynham flew to the mine site today and said he has asked for urgent advice about establishing a board of inquiry to look at broader issues around sparking and ignition. Earlier today, the miners' union said the operation had had a "problem with gas" for a long time. "Mines inspectors are already investigating this incident and I expect a full and thorough investigation," Dr Lynham said. "However, I can also ask an inquiry to look at the broader issue of other instances of sparking, ignition or fire across the industry. "We want answers to why this event occurred. We demand answers and an appropriate investigation will follow. "We are throwing the kitchen sink at this issue." Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a board of inquiry could involve public hearings. "I'll be getting some legal advice around that and Dr Lynham will be making a recommendation to me later on today," she said. Four state government mine inspectors are at the site and will go underground to investigate when gas levels return to a safe level. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said union safety inspectors were also at the mine and will undertake a thorough, independent investigation into what caused a possible ignition of gas on the longwall face. Jason Hill, the CFMEU industry safety and health representative, said several safety issues from the mine had been reported to the union. While they did not yet know what had caused this ignition, there had been several incidents where gas had been recorded above safe levels. "This mine's had a problem with gas for a long time which they were struggling to get their handle on," he said. Mr Hill said all there were employed under labour hire, which he said creates an issue about speaking up. "A lot of complaints we get are that if they speak up, they won't be there tomorrow … that's a real safety concern with us," he said. "We can't keep travelling like this, we're living on luck." Four of the men, aged 43, 45 and 51, were in a critical condition on Thursday afternoon, while a fifth man, 44, was in a good condition. QAS operations manager Doug Buchanan said they have "significant" upper torso and airway burns. "Four of the gentlemen required intubation and ventilation," Mr Buchanan said. Work at the mine is suspended as an investigation into the cause of the blast continues. Queensland's chief inspector of coal mines Peter Newman told ABC Radio Brisbane the mine had regular inspections, and his department had been in contact with them in the past month. When asked if there were any safety concerns at that point he said: "There were". "As in all inspections undertaken at mine sites, whenever you bring a fresh pair of eyes to an operation there are always either recommendations for improvements in certain aspects of the mine, or a directive in terms of the mine taking particular action." Mr Newman was reluctant to say whether the safety concerns were the cause of the explosion. "They are monitoring the gas environment underground," he said. "Until such time that the monitoring and analysis of gas readings determines that there is a safe environment for people to return underground, it's premature for me to speculate what the nature and cause of this incident was," he said. The CFMEU's Steven Smyth said there were five miners in the vicinity of the incident and others nearby when the blast occurred. "The ignition of gas in the longwall section of the mine, particularly in a mine that's gassy, you've got a recipe for disaster," he said. "It could have been worst case scenario of losing everybody that's working in that mine and that's not overplaying it," he said. "You've only got to throw your mind back to Pike River in New Zealand or Moura in 1994. "If you get it wrong and conditions are right the result could be catastrophic. "No-one can play it down in how serious this was." Mr Smyth said any underground mine in Queensland, particularly those that have gas-related issues and longwalls, should stop work now and review immediately what they are doing. "You can't have an incident like this and then it's business as usual. It ain't business as usual," he said. "They should be stopping what they're doing … and if they can't provide a safe place, these operations need to stop until they get it right." Anglo American's chief executive of its Metallurgical Coal business, Tyler Mitchelson, said the company wanted to ensure this type of incident never happened again. "We are all devasted and we don't yet understand what caused this incident," he said. "Once it is safe to return underground, we will commence an expert technical investigation to ensure we understand what has happened." Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said her thoughts were with the workers and their families, but unfortunately it was not the first mining accident the town had seen. Last year there were four mining deaths in Queensland in a six-month period, prompting the union to declare a "safety crisis". "Once again here we are, faced with another incident, another accident," she said. "Workers in whatever industry we're in, particularly the coal mining industry, should be able to go to work and come home and their family should not be waiting at home wondering, 'Is that call going to come to my house tonight?'"
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Mine Collapses
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Aleksandra Miroslaw Breaks Women’s Speed Climbing World Record at Tokyo Olympics – NBC New York
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The debut of sport climbing on the Tokyo Olympics has been nothing in need of dramatic and Polish climber Aleksandra Miroslaw contributed to the spectacle Friday by breaking the velocity climbing world report.
In what’s presumably her final worldwide competitors, 27-year-old Miroslaw shed 0.12 seconds off the earlier ladies’s world report along with her 6.84-second climb up the 15-foot wall on the Aomi City Sports activities Park.
With two worldwide velocity climbing championships, velocity climbing is Miroslaw’s specialty and he or she took the primary rank within the self-discipline — however there are two different occasions to go and the medals can go to any of the eight competing athletes.
The earlier world report was held by Russian climber Iuliia Kaplina who did not qualify for the ladies’s velocity climbing mixed remaining. Kaplina was left in tears after she fell off the wall on the final second of her qualification run.
The ROC athlete could not make up for the poor efficiency with higher scores within the bouldering and lead climbing disciplines and he or she ranked seventeenth out of 20 opponents.
Sport climbing was added to the Tokyo Video games together with skateboarding, karate, 3-on-3 basketball and browsing in an effort to attract youthful generations.
However with the inclusion got here an exception: velocity climbing was a part of this system.
The IOC is handing out two medals in climbing — one for women and men — and needed one thing fast-twitch to catch individuals’s consideration, so velocity was included.
The choice rankled lead and boulder climbers; velocity is a extra specialised self-discipline and could have its personal medals on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The important thing for the lead and boulder specialists can be to offset low scores in velocity with excessive ones, even a primary in a single or each of the opposite two disciplines.
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Break historical records
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Marsabit appeal for assistance against locust invasion - Kenya ...
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Marsabit 0
Trees invaded by desert locusts at Goffi Chobba area in Saku Constituency in Marsabit County. Photo by KNA.
The Marsabit County Director of Agriculture, Julius Gitu, explains about the grave situation following the invasion by desert locusts in Saku and Moyale Sub-counties. The ravaging insects originated from Somalia spread to Marsabit through Wajir and Mandera counties. To his (right) is the County CEC for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mohammed Omar (in specs). Photo by KNA.
Residents of Marsabit County who are predominantly pastoralists are faced with a threat to their livelihood and the general economy of the area following an invasion by the desert locusts.
Consequently an appeal for immediate help from the government and donors has been sent out by the County Director of Agriculture, Julius Gitu, saying more than 50,000 hectares that both supports crop and livestock production was under threat.
Gitu said that the invasion by the locusts that spread from neighbouring counties of Wajir and Mandera has hit hard parts of the County, especially Saku Constituency where residents practice agro-pastoralism.
“The livelihood of locals is at stake as farm crops such as maize, beans and cowpeas are now at risk of being destroyed by the desert locusts,” he said.
The recently ample rainfall received in Marsabit County had supported regeneration of both vegetation and pasture as well as crop production which was now being ruined by the infestation of the locusts.
Depletion of pasture would result in food insecurity and low trade due to reduced milk, beef and crop production.
The Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries County Executive (CEC), Mohammed Omar, said that the locusts invaded the County through Shurr, a strategic grazing reserve area, before landing on at least six roosting zones.
Omar said the desert locust perching areas in Marsabit has currently spread to over 70 kilometres from Qubi Qallo to Dogogicha in Sagante-Jaldesa Ward alone and appealed to the National Government for assistance.
The CEC noted with concern that 15 minutes landing of the insects in some farmlands in Dogogicha area had caused great havoc on crops, adding that Moyale Sub-county was equally hard hit by the infestation.
“The National Government is In-Charge of the animal and insect protection and should act with speed in providing, spraying pesticides to help decimate these swarms of locusts,” he appealed, adding that the County Government has great shortage of the equipment and pesticides.
Omar disclosed that surveillance and mapping of the locusts perching areas and the coordinates to aid in spraying had been sent to the Ministry of Agriculture, adding that National Government was expected to start aerial spraying in the mapped areas.
According to Omar, Marsabit was currently the locust harboring zone and the insatiable insects were likely to spread to all parts of East Africa if not controlled on time.
Residents expressed shock at the turn of events soon after the heavy rains, saying that the locusts were feeding on every green vegetation that include grass hence threatening their mainstay of animal keeping.
Marsabit County is one region in Kenya that is highly reeling on malnutrition and the attack on the pasture and crops by the desert locusts could worsen the situation.
By Sebastian Miriti
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Insect Disaster
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2021 has seen a number of celebrity breakups, splits and divorces
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2020 threw everyone’s personal lives for a loop, and celebrities were no exception. Even as red carpets dried up and all but a few celebrities ventured out of their homes into the sight of paparazzo’s prying lenses, celebrity datings rumors kept the gossip columns and tabloid magazines filled with content. The mayhem has extended into 2021. Already, the year has seen a number of celebrity breakups, splits and divorces. So far, at least two Kardashians (Kim and Khloé) have split from their partners. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, both broke up with the partners they started 2021 with, only to wind up together. Even one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, is going through a divorce. Here, the biggest breakups of the year so far. Model Nina Agdal and Jack Brinkley-Cook, son of supermodel Christie Brinkley, were the Hamptons’ “it” couple for four years before they decided to not only call it quits, but also apparently unfollow each other on Instagram, according to a report from Page Six. They were last spotted together in the Hamptons just a month-and-a-half ago, but sources say the couple have now amicably split Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline, co-stars of Netflix teen drama Outer Banks, have parted ways after about a year-and-a-half of dating. "Madelyn and Chase are no longer together," reports a People magazine source. "They were trying to work things out privately but broke up a couple of months ago." Dating on and off since 2015, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik officially parted ways in October 2021 after Malik was involved in a confrontation with Hadid’s mother Yolanda. The pair remain committed to co-parenting their daughter, Khai. That backup dancer Lil Nas X was kissing up on during his live performances and in the “That’s What I Want” video? Yeah, they were dating, and his name is Yai Ariza (seen above on the right). In an interview with SiriusXM Hits 1, Nas confirmed as such but also admitted the pair had broken up for now. “We were dating, and we are still on very good terms,” the 22-year-old said. “You know, we may date again, I’m sure.” Ah, young love. After 17 years together, Miguel and his wife, Nazanin Mandi, called it quits. It was big news when the pair married in a Southern California oasis in November 2018, after dating for 13 years. And just last year, the two appeared together at the Savage x Fenty Volume 2 fashion show, where Mandi walked and Miguel performed. The report of their breakeup came from a representative who spoke to People, who also said the couple had been separated “for some time now” and “both wish each other well." Four months after the birth of their child, Jason Derulo announced via Twitter that he and Jena Frumes were over. He later deleted the tweet that said, “Jena and I have decided to part ways. She is an amazing mother but we feel being apart at this time will allow us to be the best versions of ourselves and the best parents we could be.” Oddly enough, the announcement came just three days after the couple’s shared birthday of September 21, and a couple weeks after attending a wedding together in Italy. The news came directly from Elon Musk himself. The man jumped on the phone with Page Six to explain that he and the indie musician have called it quits. Kind of. “We are semi-separated but still love each other, see each other frequently and are on great terms,” Musk said. He continued, attributing the separation to their busy work schedules. “It’s mostly that my work at SpaceX and Tesla requires me to be primarily in Texas or traveling overseas and her work is primarily in LA. She’s staying with me now and Baby X is in the adjacent room.” Kaley Cuoco, star of The Flight Attendant, first started dating Karl Cook, the son of billionaire Intuit co-founder Scott Cook, in 2016, and the pair tied the knot in June 2018. Though, in September the pair announced their split. "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," read a joint statement. Who knows what this really was, but it’s reportedly over now. The pair, who first met before Kanye West started dating Kim Kardashian West, struck up something earlier this summer that included a trip to France around the rapper’s 44th birthday. Though, there were conflicting reports about how serious West and Irina Shayk were. Now People says it's off. "It was never a serious thing that took off," their source says. "Kanye has been busy working and spending time with his kids. This is his focus. He doesn't have time to date right now. He finds Irina amazing though.” They seemed like a couple destined for the front row. Winnie Harlow, the former Victoria’s Secret model, and Kyle Kuzma, the reigning champ of NBA fits, struck up a relationship in 2020 after he slid into her DMs. According to TMZ, however, they’ve split. It’s amicable at least. “The two have been friendly with each other since the split.” After a whirlwind cross-continental courtship, it seems the flames between SNL star and famed serial dater Pete Davidson and Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor have petered out. Apparently, it was the “cross-continental” aspect that’s to blame. “Their mates think they make a great couple, but the distance has made it completely unworkable,” a source told Britain's The Sun. “They had fun and will remain close, but unless something drastic changes, their relationship won’t recover.” Opening up on Instagram, Kate Bosworth revealed on August 5th that she had split from Michael Polish, her husband of almost 8 years. “Perhaps this will sound strange to some, romantic to others. To us: this is truth,” the actress wrote. “Our hearts are full, as we have never been so enamored and deeply grateful for one another as we do in this decision to separate. Together, over the last ten years, Michael and I have chosen love, every time. We hold hands as tightly today as we entangled fingers on our wedding day.” Bosworth met Polish, a director and screenwriter who often works in tandem with his twin brother, in 2011 while filming the movie Big Sur. The pair married in 2013. Porizkova, the ‘80s and ‘90s supermodel, and Sorkin, the superscribe and West Wing creator, only just made their official public debut earlier this year at the Academy Awards. Though Porizkova marked the end of the relationship somewhere else: Instagram. “I’m so grateful for his presence in my life,” she wrote in a caption. “He helped heal me and reclaim myself. There truly may be no better man, no man who’s more genuinely ‘good.’ He’s brilliant and witty and funny and sexy/ But it doesn’t matter how much we may wish we were birds of a feather – we’re still a duck and a goose.” Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber’s manager and Taylor Swift’s nemesis, announced his divorce from his wife of seven years, Yael Cohen, in early July. Carmelo and La La Anthony had experienced some ups and downs in their 11 years of marriage, but La La finally decided to make her parting from the former NBA star final this year by filing for divorce in June. Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson already shared a daughter and atleast one previous breakup together, but according to Page Six the pair quietly parted ways a second time sometime in late spring. “They’re getting along. There is no drama,” says their source. “Everything is amicable, and they are on the same page with co-parenting.” The former One Directioner had been dating the American model and socialite since 2019 but got candid on a podcast about their recent breakup. “I feel like more than anything at this point, I’m more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people,” he said on Diary of a CEO. Blaire Underwood had been with his wife Desiree DaCosta an entire decade before he played one of Miranda’s boyfriends on SATC. Though, in May the pair announced that they had separated after 27 years together. New York City’s favorite lockdown couple didn’t make it a full year. Katie Holmes began dating restauranteur Emilio Vitolo Jr. in 202, but the pair split in April. Mulaney married Tendler, a makeup artist, stylist, and artisan, in 2014, but the pair announced their split earlier this year after the comedian’s stint in rehab. He’s since been linked to Olivia Munn. Talk about a mega-divorce. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one of the richest men of the world, jointly announced with wife Melinda French Gates that the pair were separating after 27 years together. Reportedly, French Gates had been considering divorce since 2019 after she learned of her husband’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Though the pair did not have a prenuptial agreement, they both seem eager to avoid a drawn-out court battle. Another lockdown-era coupling that just didn’t last — Zac Efron, the man with millennial’s favorite abs, and Vanessa Valladares, a 25-year-old Australian, met in her native country last June while she was working at the Byron Bay General Store. The pair got serious, but according to The Daily Telegraph, they’ve now called it quits. Efron had actually spent much of his recent time in Australia working on films. Rumors of a rift in the power couple’s relationship had been bubbling all year to the point where the gossip columns declared them “dunzo” in March. The couple announced they had reunited in less than a day, but apparently, it was only for the short term. In a joint announcement released to The Today Show, “J-Rod” announced that they were “better as friends.” If the Riverdale star’s relationship seemed low-key, it’s because it happened in the midst of a pandemic. Mendes split with photographer Vaughn in March after about a year together. This likely means little to anyone over 25, but Addison Rae and Bryce Hall were the golden couple of TikTok. They’ve now broken up, though apparently not for the first time. The end of the relationship between reigning rap royalty Saweatie and Quavo came swift in March, but with little ambiguity. Saweetie bluntly tweeted that she had mentally “checked out” of the relationship long ago and made allegations of infidelity. What may be the biggest celebrity divorce of the year also seems like its most anti-climatic. Its well-known things have been tense between Kanye and Kim since his ill-fated run for President, and word broke in January that “divorce was on the table,” before reports that Kim had followed through on filing arrived in February. However, neither party has publically commented on the matter yet. G-Eazy and Ashley Benson’s relationship was forged in the early days of lockdown and in the aftermath of the latter’s separation from Cara Delevingne. E!, however, now confirms that the pair, both 31, have separated per their sources. 22-year-old Daisy Edgar-Jones had been dating her boyfriend Tom Varey since 2018, but according to the British press they’ve called in quits and she’s focusing on her career in the wake of the success of Normal People. Varey is a fellow actor who is better known for his work in the UK but had previously appeared in a small role on Game of Thrones. Karrueche Tran, the 32-year-old Claws actress, and Victor Cruz, the 34-year-old former NFL players, had made quite the stylish couple for the past three years. They were regularly spotted on red carpets and in front rows, but word leaked in early February that the pair had split. Rebel Wilson, the 40-year-old Australian comedian, and Jacob Busch, a 29-year-old heir to the Anheuser-Busch fortune, weren’t shy about making their relationship very public during their year together. Though, the relationship ended abruptly, reportedly after Wilson realized he just wasn’t the one. When TMZ revealed that Tim Robbins had filed divorce papers in January it surprised just about everyone, as the public wasn’t even aware he had gotten married since his 2009 split from Susan Sarandon (that pair, famously, never formally tied the knot). Robbins, 62, had apparently been quietly married to the younger, Romanian-born Gratiela Brancusi for around three years before the divorce report hit. According to various sources, actor Elliot Page, 33, filed for divorce from his spouse Emma Portner, a 26-year-old dancer, in a New York court on Tuesday, January 26th. The pair originally announced that they had secretly married in January, 2018, but never specified when the nuptials occurred. The couple was first linked in 2017. “After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce following our separation last summer,” read a joint statement released to The Hollywood Reporter. “We have the utmost respect for each other and remain close friends.” Ben Affleck, 48, and Ana de Armas, 32, were perhaps the first new celebrity couple to debut shortly after parts of America first entered lockdown back in March, and tracking paparazzi photos of the couple doing mundane things like walking their dogs and juggling cups of Dunkin iced coffee became something of a national obsession. The pair never even walked a red carpet together, but their relationship quickly became more documented than many other celebrity couples who do. Something about the former Batman and the Cuban-born Bond Girl and on-the-rise actress together seemed so positively random—we were all transfixed. Rumors of a split first emerged in late 2020, but it wasn’t until January 18th until the tabloids got the official confirmation. The word now is that there’s no huge drama, they’re just in different places in their lives. Though, the world still awaits the film Deep Water, an erotic thriller, in which the two co-star. De Armas will also appear on screens soon as Marilyn Monroe in the highly anticipated film Blonde. Luke Evans, the 41-year-old star of Beauty and the Beast and a recurring member of the Fast & Furious ensemble, first went Instagram official with Rafa Olarra, an art director, in February 2020, breaking tradition for an actor who had tended to keep his personal life quiet. Over the past year, the couple seemed to hit up beaches around the globe often with little more than Speedos and smiles, but fans noticed that the posts came to a stop in October with Evans unfollowing Olarra. Evans eventually confirmed the split in January, telling The Times’ Saturday Review, “It is what it is.” Margaret Qualley, 26, and Shia LaBeouf, 34, began dating late last year, but quickly broke up after several of LaBeouf’s exes publicly accused him of abusive behavior. Zoë Kravitz, 32, and actor Karl Glusman, 33, first started dating in 2016, and the couple, each with enviable cheekbones, married at a star-studded wedding at Kravitz’s father Lenny’s Paris home in 2019. Though, it was made public that Kravitz filed for divorce during the holidays on the second day of 2021, and little is known about the separation.
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Famous Person - Marriage
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Trump administration pulls out of Open Skies treaty with Russia
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The Trump administration has officially withdrawn from the Open Skies treaty, six months after starting the process to leave. "On May 22, 2020, the United States exercised its right pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article XV of the Treaty on Open Skies by providing notice to the Treaty Depositaries and to all States Parties of its decision to withdraw from the Treaty, effective six months from the notification date," State Department deputy spokesman Cale Brown said in a statement. "Six months having elapsed, the U.S. withdrawal took effect on November 22, 2020, and the United States is no longer a State Party to the Treaty on Open Skies," Brown added. The post-Cold War agreement was struck to allow nations to conduct flyovers of other allies in an attempt to collect military data and other intelligence on neighboring foreign enemies. In a statement issued on Sunday, Sen. Bob Menendez "I strongly believe that President Trump Donald Trump Warren backs expanding the Supreme Court Trump allies urge McCarthy to remove Kinzinger, Cheney from House GOP conference Agency managing Trump's DC hotel lease failed to probe ethical conflicts: report MORE ’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty is a violation of domestic law," the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said. "In the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress reaffirmed its support for the Open Skies Treaty and specifically mandated the administration justify a withdrawal four months before any formal notification of withdrawal took place. President Trump brazenly ignored the law and is unilaterally imposing a politically-charged withdrawal, even after losing a presidential election.” Mike Pompeo Sunday shows preview: Officials, experts respond to omicron; Biden administration raises alarms about Russia, China To advance democracy, defend Taiwan and Ukraine Haley has 'positive' meeting with Trump MORE formally submitting a notice of intent to withdraw from the pact a day later. "While the United States, along with our Allies and partners that are States Parties to the treaty, have lived up to our commitments and obligations under the treaty, Russia has flagrantly and continuously violated the treaty in various ways for years," Pompeo said at the time . "This is not a story exclusive to just the treaty on Open Skies, unfortunately, for Russia has been a serial violator of many of its arms control obligations and commitments." In June, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioned the legality of the Trump administration's desire to withdraw from the pact. “The timing of your decision — less than five months before an election — is also suspect. Beginning the U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, without complying with U.S. domestic law or constitutional practice, is an obvious political maneuver in an attempt to bind a future administration,” senators wrote in a letter to Pompeo and former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper Mark Esper The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden to update Americans on omicron; Congress back Former defense secretary Esper sues Pentagon in memoir dispute Overnight Defense & National Security — Presented by Boeing — Major Russia weapons test stokes tensions MORE . “As such, we demand that you immediately discontinue your efforts to initiate the withdrawal process until Congress is provided with the requisite notification under the [National Defense Authorization Act], and the Senate has had an opportunity to weigh in on the withdrawal.” During his first term in office, Trump and his allies have boasted that they have been tougher on Russia in recent years than any previous administration, despite claims of an inappropriately friendly relationship between the president and his Russian counterpart. In August, the Trump administration pulled out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia, an agreement banning nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers that was signed in 1987. At the time, the administration accused Russia of violating the terms of the treaty after saying U.S. officials had "tried everything possible since May 2013” to stop Russia from building up its nuclear capability.
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Tear Up Agreement
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Man detained after attempted bank robbery in El Cajon
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A 60-year-old El Cajon resident was arrested on suspicion of attempting to rob a bank in the area Monday afternoon, police said. Police responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the Bank of America on North Second Street near Peach Avenue just after 2 p.m., El Cajon police Lt. Randy Soulard said in an email. Officers, bank employees and a security guard evacuated customers from the bank, Soulard said. El Cajon police tweeted that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter was also responding to the incident and asked the public to avoid the area. ECPD has detained the suspect. Thank you for your cooperation. pic.twitter.com/KvWbSlUYT1 Minutes later, the department tweeted that the suspect had been detained. He was compliant during his arrest, Soulard said. The would-be robber was not able to take any money or property from the bank and did not use weapons. The suspect was booked in county jail following his arrest. El Cajon police were working with the FBI to investigate the incident, Soulard said. Sign up to get Breaking News email alerts
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Bank Robbery
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There was success for Britain as the 62nd Cannes film festival rolled up its red carpet this evening.
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The following correction was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Wednesday 27 May 2009
In the article below we said that Spring Fever by the Chinese director Lou Ye left empty-handed, whereas it won best screenplay. In the Un Certain Regard category, we said "Norwegian drama Dogtooth won the top gong". It is, rather, a Greek film.
There was success for Britain as the 62nd Cannes film festival rolled up its red carpet this evening. Andrea Arnold's council estate drama Fish Tank walked away with the Jury prize, shared with Park Chan-wook's Thirst, an erotic thriller about a priest who is turned into a vampire after a botched medical experiment. Both directors have had past form at the festival: Arnold's Red Road, a CCTV thriller, walked away with the same gong in 2006, while Chan-Wook won the Grand Prix in 2003 for Old Boy.
The recipient of that award this year was no surprise: A Prophet, Jacques Audiard's hotly-tipped prison drama. The best director prize was more of a surprise: Brillante Mendoza, a Filipino director whose hitman drama Kinatay created more buzz prior to the festival than during it.
But the biggest award of the festival, the Palme d'Or, went to Michael Haneke's chilly black-and-white parable of fascism set in a small German town on the eve of the first world war. Though much acclaimed by critics, there had been noises it would fall at the last hurdle on account of Haneke's close association with jury president Isabelle Huppert, who has starred in two of his most recent films. But accusations of favouritism were evidently felt to be less pressing than rewarding the film's clinical brilliance, and a director who many feel was unfairly passed over for the top prize in 2005, with fraught thriller Hidden. There were awards, too, for two of the most contentious movies on the Croisette. Charlotte Gainsbourg won best actress for her extraordinary performance as a grieving parent in Lars Von Trier's Antichrist – the scene in which she performs a clitoridectomy on herself was for many the enduring image of the festival this year. Christoph Waltz, an Austrian actor who has toiled away for years on soap operas in Germany (doctors a speciality) was a shock choice for best actor as sadistic SS "Jew hunter" Colonel Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Though many agreed that he stole the show from Brad Pitt and Mike Myers, it will no doubt ruffle feathers that Tarantino's film, this year's most high-profile disappointment, has been garlanded with any major award. There were no gongs for previous winners Ken Loach, whose Cantona fantasy Looking for Eric proved popular with the crowds, nor Ang Lee, whose Taking Woodstock was more underwhelming. Controversial love triangle drama Spring Fever, by the Chinese director Lou Ye, left empty-handed, as did Jane Campion's Bright Star, a chronicle of the relationship between poet John Keats and his muse Fanny Brawne. But one Australian did leave with an award: Warwick Thornton won the Camera d'Or with his tragic Aboriginal love story Samson and Delilah.
Yesterday saw the announcement of the awards in the Un Certain Regard category – in what was commonly perceived to be an exceptional year for the festival sidebar. Norwegian drama Dogtooth won the top gong, while the Jury prize was won by Police, Adjective. Two special jury prizes were also awarded this year, to No One Knows About Persian Cats and Father of My Children. Alain Resnais, the French new wave veteran who at 86 competed with a new film, Wild Grass, was rewarded an Exceptional prize – one of the few ever dolled out in the history of the festival.
This article was amended on 26 May 2009. The original described Christopher Waltz as a German actor. This has been corrected.
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Awards ceremony
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Kader Toy Factory fire
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The Kader Toy Factory fire occurred on 10 May 1993 at a factory in Thailand. It is considered the worst industrial factory fire in history, killing 188 persons, and injuring 469. [1] Most of the victims were young female workers from rural families. More people were killed than in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; despite this, the incident received little media attention outside Thailand. The factory was owned by the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, a Thai transnational corporation and one of Asia's largest agribusiness firms. The Kader toy factory manufactured stuffed toys and licensed plastic dolls primarily intended for export to the United States and other developed countries. The toys were produced for Disney, Mattel, and others. The factory was on Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road, in the Sam Phran District of Nakhon Pathom Province. The structures that were destroyed in the blaze were all owned and operated directly by Kader Industrial (Thailand). Kader Industrial was owned by a variety of individuals and businesses including the main Kader company, which owned the Kader Toy Factory. Kader had two sister companies that also operated at the location on a lease arrangement. The factory was poorly designed and built. Fire exits drawn in the building plans were not, in fact, constructed, and the existing external doors were locked. The building was reinforced with uninsulated steel girders which quickly weakened and collapsed when it was heated by the flames. At about 16:00 on May 10, 1993, a small fire was discovered on the first floor of part of the E-shaped building. This portion of the building was used for package and store finished products which means there is a good amount of fuel load. Fuel loads composing fabrics, plastics and materials used for stuffing, along with additional workplace materials were found in each building of the Kader facility. [2] Workers located in the upper floors were instructed to keep working because they were told the fire was minor. The fire alarm in the building did not sound. The upper floors were dedicated to store finished products causing the fire to spread quickly. Other parts of the factory were full of raw materials which also burned very fast. [3]
Workers in the first building who tried to escape found the ground floor exit doors to be locked, and the stairwells soon collapsed on top of the workers due to the fire. Many workers jumped from the second, third, and fourth-floor windows in order to escape the flames, resulting in severe injuries or death. Local security guards attempted, but were unsuccessful to put out the flames. A call was made at 16:21 to the local Nakhon Pathom Fire Department. Firefighters arrived at the factory at about 16:40, to find Building One nearly ready to collapse. The fire spread extremely quickly because of the presence of the combustible plastics and fabrics, and reportedly it took less than an hour (only 53 minutes) for Building One to collapse from the time the local police called the fire brigade until 17:14. [4]
Fire alarms in Buildings Two and Three had sounded and all the workers from these buildings were able to escape before the flames spread to these buildings.. However, the fire brigades from Nakhon Pathom and neighboring Bangkok were able to put out the fires located in buildings two and three before the buildings were destroyed. Even with the help of hydraulic cranes, it still took several days to remove all of the bodies of the victims left in the rubble. Most victims were taken by ambulance to the Sriwichai II Hospital, where 20 of them died. When the northern stairwell of the collapsed building was searched, the bodies of many others were found. These victims died of smoke inhalation, the flames, or the collapse of the building. The Kader fire created a great deal of interest in the country's fire safety measures, particularly its building code design requirements and enforcement policies. Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who traveled to the scene on the evening of the fire, pledged that the government would address fire safety issues. According to the Wall Street Journal (1993), Leekpai called for tough action against those who violate the safety laws. Thai Industry Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said that "Factories without fire prevention systems will be ordered to install one, or we will shut them down". The Wall Street Journal goes on to state that labor leaders, safety experts, and officials say that the Kader Toy Factory fire may help tighten building codes and safety regulations, but they fear that lasting progress is still far off as employers flout rules and governments allow economic growth to take priority over worker safety. Yet another incident occurred two months later at a garment factory where ten females perished because they could not escape a fire due to doors being locked and windows barred shut. [5]
As of March 2012, there is a large housing project of both townhouses and single family homes under construction on the site of the fire, being built by Pruksa, a major developer of residential subdivisions in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Potential home owners are not being informed that the property is the site of this infamous industrial accident, for fear that superstitious Thais will refuse to live there for fear of being haunted by the ghosts of the dead workers who perished in the fire. New Zealand singer-songwriter Don McGlashan released a song about the disaster named Toy Factory Fire, on his 2006 album Warm Hand. The song is narrated from the imagined perspective of a New York-based toy company executive who in the week of the 10th anniversary of the fire, is looking at a number of photographs of the disaster's aftermath. "Here's Bart Simpson with his arms all melted and twisted," he begins. And later: "They said it was a death trap from a text book... Keeping them [the photos] hidden was the best work I ever did." Globalization and Regulatory Character: Regulatory Reform After the Kader Factory Fire by Fiona Haines (2005, Ashgate Publishing, ISBN 0-7546-2563-X / ISBN 978-0-7546-2563-6)
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Fire
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24 times celebrities opened up about their divorces
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Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise were married in 2006 and got divorced in 2012. After their separation, Holmes moved to New York City with her daughter Suri, who was 6 years old at the time. In her 2020 cover story with InStyle , Holmes opened up about that time in her life. "That time was intense. It was a lot of attention, and I had a little child on top of it. We had some funny moments out and about in public," she said. "So many people I didn't know became my friends and helped us out, and that's what I love about the city." Ben Affleck said his divorce from Jennifer Garner was "the biggest regret" of his life. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner got divorced after being married for over a decade. Danny Moloshok/Reuters
In 2020, Ben Affleck opened up to The New York Times about his divorce from Jennifer Garner . "The biggest regret of my life is this divorce," he told the publication . "Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It's just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing." The pair began dating in 2004, wed in 2005, and announced their separation in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in 2018. In that same interview, Affleck was open about his battle with alcoholism and said he struggled with drinking as he faced more issues in his marriage . Brad Pitt spoke out about post-divorce parenting after his split from Angelina Jolie. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married for two years. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for WSJ. Magazine 2015 Innovator Awards
In 2017, Brad Pitt spoke with GQ about his divorce from his second wife, Angelina Jolie . "I heard one lawyer say, 'No one wins in court — it's just a matter of who gets hurt worse.'" he said. "And it seems to be true, you spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you're right and why they're wrong, and it's just an investment in vitriolic hatred. And fortunately my partner in this agrees." Pitt and Jolie met when they were filming "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" in 2004, when Pitt was still married to actress Jennifer Aniston. Pitt and Aniston got divorced in 2005. In 2010, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, which still hasn't been finalized . The pair shares six children. In that same GQ interview, Pitt also addressed the toll the divorce has taken on his family. "It's just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart," he said. "Our focus is that everyone comes out stronger and better people — there is no other outcome." Ashton Kutcher has spoken about his former marriage to Demi Moore. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore were married for almost eight years. Getty Images / Andreas Rentz
Ashton Kutcher took to Twitter when the news broke about his separation from Demi Moore. "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK" he wrote in a now-deleted tweet, per Reuters. Kutcher and Moore started dating in 2003, and their relationship ended with a complicated separation and eventual divorce in 2013. In February 2020, Kutcher shed a little more light on their relationship when he went on Marc Macron's "WTF" podcast . He explained that he still loves Moore's daughters, whose lives he was a part of for 10 years. "I love them. I'm never going to stop loving them and respecting them and honoring them and rooting for them to be successful in whatever they are pursuing," he said. Eva Longoria opened up about her mental health after her divorce from Tony Parker. Eva Longoria was married to Tony Parker for four years. Toby Canham/GettyImages
After actress Eva Longoria finalized her divorce from NBA player Tony Parker in 2013, she appeared on an episode of "The Dr. Oz Show" and opened up about how the separation affected her mental health. "That's probably the time I got the most compliments because I was so skinny. I was not eating. I was depressed. I was sad. My diet was coffee. So people kept saying, 'You look amazing. Divorce agrees with you,'" she said. "And I was like, I don't feel good. I have no energy." "I didn't know I was depressed," she continued. Longoria and Parker met in 2004 and wed in 2007. Longoria filed for divorce in 2010 and it was finalized in 2011. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have both opened up about their "conscious uncoupling." Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin divorced after a 13-year marriage. Colin Young-Wolff/Invision/AP
Gwyneth Paltrow discussed the reasons behind her divorce from Coldplay singer Chris Martin in a 2015 interview with Marie Claire. "I had built my life on trying to be all things to all people, and I just couldn't do it anymore," she said. "I really had the sense that I wasn't allowed to have needs, and I had to prove my specialness or self-worth by doing all this stuff and taking care of everybody else. And I just sort of hit a wall." The two met backstage at a Coldplay concert in 2002 and were married a year later. They had two children together, Apple and Moses. In 2014, Paltrow and Martin released a joint statement that said they were "consciously uncoupling," and their divorce was finalized in 2016. They were able to find an amicable relationship, and Paltrow even said in a 2016 interview with Glamour , "We're still very much a family, even though we don't have a romantic relationship. He's like my brother." Martin said he struggled with his mental health throughout their divorce. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's divorce was finalized in 2016. Charley Gallay/Getty
During the 2018 documentary "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams," Martin opened up about the toll his divorce from Paltrow took on his mental health . "Listen, I'm never going to moan, I'm grateful for everything, but it was pretty touch and go," he said. Jenna Dewan has spoken about the positive outcomes that came from her divorce from Channing Tatum. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan were married for almost 10 years. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In 2018, after announcing her divorce from Channing Tatum , Jenna Dewan told Women's Health that the experience has helped her grow, though it has not been easy. "I feel I've been on a wave of growth," she said. "It's always challenging to go through a big change and have the whole world have an opinion about it." Tatum and Dewan met in 2006 on the set of "Step Up." In 2009, they were married, and four years later their daughter was born. The couple took to Instagram in 2018 with a statement announcing their amicable separation. "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 couple's statement read. Their divorce was finalized in 2019. Heidi Klum said she was scared of the public backlash she would receive during her divorce from Seal. Heidi Klum and Seal were married for nine years. Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Model Heidi Klum has said the pressure of a public divorce took the biggest toll on her, but her children have remained her priority. In 2012, Klum told Elle , "I feel like I'm in the eye of the tornado. It's emotions inside of your body that are a tornado. And then the outside world doing all this craziness — with you wanting it or not wanting it — is another tornado. But as hard as it is, so is life." Klum and Seal first met in 2003 and were married in 2005. The couple had three biological children together, and Seal adopted Klum's daughter from a previous marriage. Seal and Klum announced their separation in 2012, and their divorce was finalized in 2014. In that same Elle interview, Klum also discussed why she and Seal stayed private about their split. "I don't want to talk positively or negatively about the ups and downs that we had. Every couple goes through things. Unfortunately, we're in the public, so the highs are out there," she said. "But I don't think it's necessary — especially for our children — to have the lows being printed in magazines and talked about." Anna Faris and Chris Pratt said they put their son first throughout their divorce. Anna Faris and Chris Pratt got divorced after nine years of marriage. In 2019, Anna Faris opened up about her split from Chris Pratt on an episode of the podcast "Divorce Sucks!" "It is very difficult to be completely separate from somebody you have spent so much emotional investment with," she said. "I had two 10-year relationships back to back so how do you emotionally leave that person behind?" She continued , "Under all of these uncoupling circumstances, I think that we are so good and respectful towards each other, and I think there is so much kindness and love, and I know we want to get to that ultimate goal." Faris and Pratt met on the set of "Take Me Home Tonight" in 2007 when Faris was still married to actor Ben Indra. Later that year, she filed for divorce from Indra, and she and Pratt started dating. The couple was married in 2009, and three years later they had their son, Jack. In 2017, they filed for divorce and announced their separation via matching social-media posts, writing, "We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another." Pratt had similar sentiments about their divorce. Chris Pratt and Anna Faris have spoken about their divorce a few times. Pratt spoke about his and Faris' divorce in a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly. "Divorce sucks. But at the end of the day, we've got a great kid who's got two parents who love him very much," he said. "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." Amy Poehler opened up about the loneliness that came after her divorce from Will Arnett. Will Arnett and Amy Poehler divorced in 2016. Amy Poehler wrote about her divorce from Will Arnett in her 2014 memoir "Yes Please," according to Radar Online. "When you are a person going through a divorce you feel incredibly alone, yet you are constantly reminded by society of how frequently divorce happens and how common it has become," she wrote.
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Famous Person - Divorce
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China launches commercial asteroid hunter and 3 other satellites into space
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China launched four new satellites into orbit on Thursday (June 10), including a commercial satellite for tracking near-Earth asteroids. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China on Thursday at 11:03 p.m. EDT (0303 GMT, or 11:03 a.m. local time Friday, June 11). Footage of the launch shows white insulation tiles, designed to help keep fuel at the right temperature, falling to the ground as the rocket soars into the sky. Aboard was the Yangwang-1 spacecraft for Chinese space resources company Origin Space. The firm describes (Chinese) the small satellite as China’s first optical space telescope. It has a wide field of view and collects visible and ultraviolet light to detect near-Earth asteroids. Related: The latest news about China's space program Origin Space plans to use Yangwang-1 to create a "treasure map" of potential space resources. In April, the company launched NEO-1, a satellite designed to release and collect a small target to simulate capturing small chunks of asteroid, and it's also planning a moon mission named NEO-2. The other three satellites that rode to space on Thursday are called Beijing-3, Hisea-2 and TKSY01-TJ. Beijing-3 is a remote-sensing satellite that will be operated by Twenty First Century Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd (21AT), a commercial space company. Chinese state media report that Beijing-3 will be mainly used to deliver data for resource surveys, ecological environment monitoring, fine urban management and disaster prevention and reduction. The satellite was developed by a subsidiary of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the main satellite-making arm of China’s chief state-owned space contractor, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Hisea-2 is an optical remote-sensing satellite for marine ecological environment observations for Xiamen University. It was developed by the Beijing-based DFH Satellite Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of CAST. Hisea-1 was a radar remote-sensing satellite launched on the first Long March 8 rocket in December 2020. TKSY01-TJ is a remote-sensing satellite for the Space Engineering University, the China Great Wall Industry Corporation states. The university is believed to be attached to the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF), China’s analogue to the U.S. Space Force. The state-run Chinese outlet Xinhua states that TKSY01-TJ will be used by universities for teaching and training on in-orbit services. All four satellites were sent into orbits that pass close to the poles with an average altitude of 308 miles (495 kilometers), according to U.S. space tracking data. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), another major CASC institute, provided the Long March 2D rocket for the mission. The launch was China’s 17th orbital mission of 2021. China next plans to send three astronauts to its Tianhe space station module in the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft late on June 16 EDT, according to airspace closure notices.
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New achievements in aerospace
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1999 Mauritian riots
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The 1999 Mauritian riots were national-scale rioting and protests in Mauritius following the death of the popular "seggae" musician Joseph Réginald Topize, better known by his stage name "Kaya", in police custody. [2][3] The rioting lasted for four days from 21 to 25 February 1999. Four civilians and one police officer were killed in the riots with hundreds of people suffering injuries. It was the first incidence of mass rioting in Mauritius since the country's 1968 riots. [2] The riots resulted in a majority of the island's police stations being sacked by protesters with 250 prisoners escaping prison. [1] Many businesses were looted and substantial property damage was done with over 200 vehicles being set on fire. [3]
Following independence and a period of ethnic riots shortly before independence, Mauritius experienced a thirty year period of peace and rapid economic growth. This, along with the efforts by Mauritian political and bureaucratic leaders to be inclusive of representatives of minority communities in policy-making, had the effect of reducing ethnic tensions. During this period the Hindu majority in Mauritius gained dominance within the government. The period of high economic growth also lead to significant wealth disparities despite overall increasing living standards for all Mauritians. The education system, although free and universal, was highly competitive and reliant on additional private tutoring; this resulted in widening economic inequalities by limiting access to higher education for poorer, often Creole, Mauritians. [2] In the 1990s, this phenomenon of exclusion became known as Malaise Créole. [4]
The popular Mauritian Creole seggae musician Joseph Topize (Kaya) was arrested on 18 February 1999 for smoking marijuana at a rally for its decriminalisation which had been organised by Rama Valayden at Edward VII Square, Rose-Hill. [5][6] Kaya was a vocal proponent of Creole rights and was viewed as an important voice of the Creole community. [7] On 23 February, three days after Kaya's arrest, he died in police custody. The fracturing of his skull led protesters to assume his death was the result of police brutality. The government denied allegations of brutality and blamed Kaya's death on meningitis. Mauritian prime minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam promised a full inquiry to investigate the incident. [1] At the time accusations of police brutality by the Mauritius Police Force was common with many vagrants being registered as having died whilst in police custody. [7]
Following the announcement of Kaya's death riots erupted in the predominantly-Creole Roche-Bois neighbourhood of Port Louis, where Kaya was from. [7] Riots and protests quickly spread across the island. Numerous shops, public buildings, police stations, and vehicles were looted and set on fire by rioters whilst 250 prisoners were released by rioters from a local prison. Protesters and rioters blocked roads with burning tires. [1] The death of another Roche Bois musician, Berger Agathe, after he was shot 92 times by the police, further enraged rioters. Agathe was shot whilst appealing to police for calm. [7] An estimated 2,000 rioters participated in the disturbances. [8]
Misinformation and rumours were rife. Instigators spread rumours of temples, mosques, and churches being attacked. Rumours were also spread of ethnic groups from Creole regions coming to attack other communities. This resulted in Creoles and Asian youths engaging in sporadic ethnic clashes in the streets. A number of homes where Creoles were in minority were burnt down and their occupants chased out of the area in sporadic acts of ethnic cleansing. [2] Following a judicial inquiry the court found that three officers have used excessive force disproportionate to the events and in breach of the Standing Orders of the Police Force and recommended sanctions against the three police officers involved. The family of late Berger Agathe was represented by counsel Dick Ng Sui Wa. For several days after the riots broke out there was a lack of centralised response by the authorities. There was no swift reaction from the relatively young Prime Minister, who had been elected in 1995 and was about to face general elections within a few months of the riots. [9] As the riots worsened, the absence of the head of security forces was felt; Commissioner of Police André Feillafé was overseas on holidays in Hawaii as his part of his pre-retirement celebrations. Feillafé had been promoted as Commissioner of Police after the dismissal of former Commissioner of Police Raj Dayal who was the main subject of a Commission of Enquiry led by Judge Bernard Sik Yuen. Sik Yuen's enquiry focussed on allegations of fraudulent practices with the Mauritius Police Force during the purchase of breathalysers and renovation of the main gates of police headquarters (Line Barracks). [10] [11] There was confusion within the police regarding who was in charge. [12] Eventually, it was the intervention of the President Cassam Uteem on Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation television that seemed to calm down spirits. [13] [14] [15]
Following the riots the Mauritian government established a Rs 500 million (around US$ 20 million) Trust Fund for the Social Integration of
Vulnerable Groups that amounted to 1.8% of the government's total budget for the financial year 1999-2000. The purpose of the fund was to fund micro-projects for people in poor regions of the country to facilitate national reconciliation and social integration. [2]
The riots and resulting inter-ethnic conflict increased Hindu militancy. Some members of the Hindu community argued that intellectuals and church leaders were to blame for the riots for talking too much about the 'exclusion' of Creole Mauritians from broader Mauritian society, thereby misleading them about the real causes of the Malaise Créole. [16] The Mauritian Hindu religious and political leader Harish Boodhoo and 3,500 other Mauritian Hindu religious leaders founded the All Mauritius Hindu Conference (AMHC). The AMHC denounced perceived social criticism of Hindus and alleged that Roman Catholic Church was solely responsible for the problem of Creole exclusion. The AMHC rejected calls for dialog issued by the Catholic Church. The majority of Mauritian Creoles are Roman Catholics and the church is often seen as expressing grievances on behalf of that community. [2]
A monument to the riot and Kaya's death, depicting two crossed guitars, stands at the entrance to the Roche-Bois neighbourhood of Port Louis. [17]
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Riot
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Just in time for September's high holidays, a new Jewish organization sets up in Portola Valley
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Dassi Brook and her husband Rabbi Mayer Brook are photographed in their Portola Valley home on Aug. 17, 2021. Photo by Magali Gauthier. A drive to Los Altos Hills or Palo Alto used to be required to attend Jewish religious services before Chabad Portola Valley & Woodside (PVW), a new Jewish community center, opened in Portola Valley this spring. Mayer Brook, a rabbi and co-director of the nonprofit, moved from New York to Portola Valley in April with wife and co-director Dassi Brook and their two young sons. He said he'd always dreamed of bringing a Jewish center to a place that doesn't have one. "It's very special to bring this to the area for the first time ever in the hills," said Mayer, who is currently running the center out of his home in Ladera. He said he plans to rent larger facilities down the line. He heard about Woodside and Portola Valley from his brother, who spent a summer in the Bay Area a few years ago. Mayer spent a year looking for a place to establish a center and visited Portola Valley earlier this year to meet some Jewish families. "There's not many Jewish activities in this area; you have to go past the highway to other cities," he said. "There's quite a few churches, but there are no other Jewish organizations that are in the hills." What's local journalism worth to you? Support Almanac Online for as little as $5/month. Mayer said he's been in touch with 50 to 60 families from Los Altos Hills, Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton. "We tried to stick to areas that don't have a Jewish presence," he said. "People are really happy to have a warm Jewish home." Chabad is a Jewish organization started nearly 250 years ago, which has about 5,000 branches worldwide and is known for its outreach to unaffiliated Jewish groups and its humanitarian aid. Portola Valley resident Len Lehmann said the Brookses reached out to him when they were considering settling in Portola Valley. "Chabad is a great addition to civic life in Portola Valley and Woodside," he said in an email. "They are engaging and giving, focused on serving their community, and add to our many currently available resources for spiritual growth and practice. During these times, when many are seeking meaning, that can only be a good thing." Jeffrey Carmel, a Portola Valley resident who casually attended Chabad in Palo Alto for many years, said that now that there is a Chabad house right in his neighborhood, his family has been able to take advantage of the organization. "Rabbi Brook and his amazing wife Dassi are young, enthusiastic, hospitable, warm and welcoming, and they bring a wealth of knowledge to our Jewish community and neighbors," Carmel said in an email. "What marks Chabad as a unique movement in Judaism is its non-judgmental approach to welcoming Jews of all religious levels and to enhance their cultural, religious, and educational experiences." Chabad synagogues don't have membership dues. Instead, they seek donations from those who go to their adult-education classes, attend their services and holiday celebrations, and attend Shabbat dinners. There are about 7.5 million Americans who identify as Jewish and about 16% of those participate in activities and services through Chabad,according to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey. Politics are one topic that's not on the table at Chabad PVW. "People are tired of hearing politics preached during services," Mayer said. "We don't get into any politics. We stick to our mission and our goal and community as a whole." So far locals have been kind and welcoming to the group, Mayer said. "We're getting messages from people who are really excited we're here," he said. "I'm very confident about the future of Jewish life in Portola Valley and Woodside." Before launching Chabad PVW, Brook organized Jewish outreach programs and holiday events across five continents. He received his rabbinical ordination from Sydney Beth Din in Australia. Rosh Hashanah event Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of the Jewish new year, is Monday, Sept. 6, through Wednesday, Sept. 8. Chabad PVW will host a "Shofar in the Park" event for the holiday on the Ladera Rec Center playground on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go to the group's website, or email info@chabadpvw.com. Stay informed A drive to Los Altos Hills or Palo Alto used to be required to attend Jewish religious services before Chabad Portola Valley & Woodside (PVW), a new Jewish community center, opened in Portola Valley this spring. Mayer Brook, a rabbi and co-director of the nonprofit, moved from New York to Portola Valley in April with wife and co-director Dassi Brook and their two young sons. He said he'd always dreamed of bringing a Jewish center to a place that doesn't have one. "It's very special to bring this to the area for the first time ever in the hills," said Mayer, who is currently running the center out of his home in Ladera. He said he plans to rent larger facilities down the line. He heard about Woodside and Portola Valley from his brother, who spent a summer in the Bay Area a few years ago. Mayer spent a year looking for a place to establish a center and visited Portola Valley earlier this year to meet some Jewish families. "There's not many Jewish activities in this area; you have to go past the highway to other cities," he said. "There's quite a few churches, but there are no other Jewish organizations that are in the hills." Mayer said he's been in touch with 50 to 60 families from Los Altos Hills, Woodside, Portola Valley and Atherton. "We tried to stick to areas that don't have a Jewish presence," he said. "People are really happy to have a warm Jewish home." Chabad is a Jewish organization started nearly 250 years ago, which has about 5,000 branches worldwide and is known for its outreach to unaffiliated Jewish groups and its humanitarian aid. Portola Valley resident Len Lehmann said the Brookses reached out to him when they were considering settling in Portola Valley. "Chabad is a great addition to civic life in Portola Valley and Woodside," he said in an email. "They are engaging and giving, focused on serving their community, and add to our many currently available resources for spiritual growth and practice. During these times, when many are seeking meaning, that can only be a good thing." Jeffrey Carmel, a Portola Valley resident who casually attended Chabad in Palo Alto for many years, said that now that there is a Chabad house right in his neighborhood, his family has been able to take advantage of the organization. "Rabbi Brook and his amazing wife Dassi are young, enthusiastic, hospitable, warm and welcoming, and they bring a wealth of knowledge to our Jewish community and neighbors," Carmel said in an email. "What marks Chabad as a unique movement in Judaism is its non-judgmental approach to welcoming Jews of all religious levels and to enhance their cultural, religious, and educational experiences." Chabad synagogues don't have membership dues. Instead, they seek donations from those who go to their adult-education classes, attend their services and holiday celebrations, and attend Shabbat dinners. There are about 7.5 million Americans who identify as Jewish and about 16% of those participate in activities and services through Chabad,according to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey. Politics are one topic that's not on the table at Chabad PVW. "People are tired of hearing politics preached during services," Mayer said. "We don't get into any politics. We stick to our mission and our goal and community as a whole." So far locals have been kind and welcoming to the group, Mayer said. "We're getting messages from people who are really excited we're here," he said. "I'm very confident about the future of Jewish life in Portola Valley and Woodside." Before launching Chabad PVW, Brook organized Jewish outreach programs and holiday events across five continents. He received his rabbinical ordination from Sydney Beth Din in Australia. Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of the Jewish new year, is Monday, Sept. 6, through Wednesday, Sept. 8. Chabad PVW will host a "Shofar in the Park" event for the holiday on the Ladera Rec Center playground on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 4:30 p.m.
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Organization Established
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1995 Royal Air Force Nimrod R1 ditching crash
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On 2 September 1995, a Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Nimrod aircraft crashed into Lake Ontario during an air display, killing all seven crew members on board. This was the second loss of an RAF Nimrod in four months, following the ditching of a Nimrod R1 in May. The aircraft involved was XV239, a Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Kinloss. Operated by No. 120 Squadron, the aircraft was originally delivered to the RAF as an MR.1 in 1971, before being one of 35 Nimrod airframes selected for upgrade to MR.2 standard in the mid 1970s. On 23 August 1995, the aircraft and its crew had departed RAF Kinloss for Canada, where it was scheduled to take part in two separate air shows. [1] On the 26 and 27 August, the aircraft had been displayed at the Shearwater International Air Show at CFB Shearwater in Nova Scotia. Following this, it transited to Toronto Pearson International Airport from where it would be based for display at the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS). [2] The manoeuvres planned had been used to display the Nimrod for much of the previous twenty years, with the four and a half minute routine described as "relatively straightforward". The day prior to the CIAS display, the aircraft's captain, Flight Lieutenant Dom Gilbert, gave an interview in which he stated that the plan was to approach the limits of the aircraft's performance. [3]
On 2 September, the aircraft left Pearson Airport on time for its planned display slot. The weather was classed as excellent, with a slight on-shore wind (the display was to take place offshore over Lake Ontario). Having completed safety checks, the aircraft was taken on the standard display sequence for the Nimrod, two circuits of the display line (the area where the viewing crowd was located) and two "dumb-bell" turns; the dumb-bell manoeuvre encompassed a turn away from the display line and climb to approximately 1,000 ft, followed by a turn in the opposite direction and descent back onto the display line. [2] The circuits and first dumb-bell manouvre were successfully completed, followed by a slow fly-past with the undercarriage lowered. The aircraft then turned to starboard to begin the second dumb-bell turn - the undercarriage raised and the flaps set to allow the aircraft to climb at an attitude of 24°. As it reached the top of the climb, the airspeed fell to 122 knots as a result of the engines being powered back, before the aircraft banked and pointed downwards. Although the airspeed increased slightly, it was well below the recommended 150 knots for that part of the display, while the g-force load went to 1.6g. The low speed and g-loading led to a stall which saw the aircraft's nose drop to 18° below the horizon and it bank 85° to port. Despite full starboard aileron and full power being applied, the aircraft was too low by this point to recover and it hit the water. [2] The impact caused the airframe to break up, with the seven crew on-board killed instantly. [4]
The recovery effort was immediately set in motion; divers initially located the wreckage, which had broken into four sections, but were unable to locate the crew. [5] The search was then postponed for a day to allow the air show to continue. [3] On the resumption of the search, a boat from the Toronto Police Service made its way to the crash site and dropped a remotely operated underwater vehicle containing sonar and video cameras. This was able to display images of the wreckage clearly to allow the recovery team to recover the bodies of the crew and debris from the aircraft. [6]
A significant amount of data was available, given the public nature of the accident, and the RAF inquiry was able to determine that all of the aircraft's systems had been functioning normally, making it possible to rule out any mechanical or structural failure of the Nimrod as a potential cause. This resulted in the inquiry focusing on the actions of the crew, and in particular the aircraft's captain. It was determined that, at a previous display, he had made an error following the second dumb-bell turn that led to his crossing over the display line; this had not been reported as it should have been, which would have allowed analysis of the display manoeuvres before a scheduled practice run. Instead, on deploying to Canada, the captain amended the manoeuvre by tightening his turn to avoid crossing over the crowd through reducing engine power. This removed the safety margins for the aircraft in performing the display manoeuvres (primarily the dumb-bell) as it took it below the recommended speed and led to it stalling. [1]
The inquiry identified a number of deficiencies in the training regime for Nimrod display that may have contributed to the accident. Primarily, it suggested that the lack of a structured training programme, with theory and simulation as well as practice flights, combined with a lack of supervision in the air, led the captain to try out techniques outside the recommended performance envelope of both the Nimrod and the display. [1]
The recommendations of the RAF inquiry as regards the display of the Nimrod saw a change in the selection of display crews - up to this point, several Nimrod captains and crews per display season were selected. Following the inquiry, it was decided that a single crew, made up of instructors, would be specially selected from the Nimrod Operational Conversion Unit, rather than from operational squadrons. [1]
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Air crash
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1934 London, Scottish & Provincial Airways Airspeed Courier crash
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On 29 September 1934, an Airspeed Courier of London, Scottish & Provincial Airways Ltd crashed just north of Shoreham, Kent. The aircraft was on a scheduled international passenger flight from Heston Aerodrome west of London to Le Bourget Airport, Paris. All four people on board were killed. Two people were injured by flying débris. The accident aircraft was Airspeed Courier G-ACSY, c/n 16. The aircraft had been registered on 17 May 1934,[1] The aircraft was on loan from Airspeed. [2]
The aircraft took off from Hounslow Aerodrome at around 17:00 on a scheduled international passenger flight to Le Bourget Airport, Paris France. [3] It flew into an isolated storm over north west Kent. [4] An eyewitness reported seeing the aircraft emerge from the clouds in a vertical dive. The cloudbase was at an altitude of 1,200 feet (370 m) and the hills around Shoreham reached an elevation of 600 feet (180 m). The aircraft crashed just north of Shoreham in Timberden Bottom, at the bottom of Cockerhurst Road. [5] All four people on board were killed,[3] Two women walking in the vicinity of the accident were injured when they were struck by flying débris. [4] some parts of the aircraft were found 66 feet (20 m) to the south west and 100 feet (30 m) west of the main wreckage. [6] An eyewitness stated that he thought the pilot may have stalled trying to avoid high tension power lines. [7]
An inquest into the accident was held at Sevenoaks on 2 October. The victims were identified by documentation and personal belongings as they had received injuries which made visual identification "extremely difficult, if not impossible". [citation needed] Evidence was given that the aircraft was not operating anywhere near its maximum take-off weight of 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) and that it had been airworthy on departure from Heston. The pilot, Ronald Smith (26) from Ealing, was an experienced former Royal Air Force pilot. He had 1,500 hours flying time, of which 150 hours were on the Heston-Paris route. [6]
A memorial cross was installed near the crash site on Cockerhurst Road but after it was vandalised it was removed to Shoreham churchyard, by the north west corner of the tower. [5]
Coordinates: 51°20′32″N 0°10′30″E / 51.34222°N 0.17500°E / 51.34222; 0.17500
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Air crash
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INSPIRESat-1 primed for launch, says Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
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INSPIRESat-1 CubeSat, developed under the International Satellite Program in Research and Education (INSPIRE), is ready for launch, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) has said. The small satellite that weighs less than 10 kg will be launched aboard an upcoming Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). INSPIRESat-1 is a collaborative effort by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder in the U.S., the National Central University, Taiwan, and the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, apart from the IIST. The satellite, which will be placed in a low earth orbit, is equipped with a Compact Ionosphere Probe for studying the earth's ionosphere. A constellation of earth and space-weather observation satellites is envisaged under the INSPIRE programme. IIST students were responsible for the design and development of the onboard computer and the electrical power supply for INSPIRESat-1. S. Somanath, director, IIST, and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), said on Saturday said that INSPIRESat-1 has been fully integrated, tested and is awaiting launch on a PSLV mission. ''It gave the IIST students hands-on experience in the areas of design, development and also miniaturisation since these are small satellites,'' said Y.V.N. Krishna Murthy, Registrar, IIST. The students also gained valuable experience from the global collaboration. The INSPIRESat-1 mission was originally planned for 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the collaboration, IIST students also attended training programmes hosted by LASP.
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New achievements in aerospace
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Two new generations of locusts are set to descend on East Africa again—400 times stronger
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The locust WhatsApp hotline has been pinging nonstop. Farmers and herders across large swathes of rural Kenya are sending in video clips of massive swarms flying overhead, blocking the light of the sun like a Biblical plague. This infestation of desert locusts first arrived in East Africa last June, feeding on hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops and pastureland and chomping a path of destruction through at least eight countries (Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Sudan). Scientists say these devastating insects never left East Africa: in fact, favorable wet conditions due to above average rainfall this season means they are likely to achieve two generations of new breeding by June this year, increasing their population size up to 400 times. East Africa already has 20 million severely food insecure people, who barely eat enough to fill their stomachs each day, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO), the body responsible for overseeing the locust response. This new wave of locusts poses a serious threat to food security in a region recently devastated by conflict and climate change shocks, including extreme droughts and floods, and now anticipating a sharp rise in novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. “[Farmers and pastoralists] haven’t gotten a break at all,” said Keith Cressman, UN FAO’s senior locust forecaster. The desert locust is a winged insect that travels in swarms, consuming almost every leaf of green vegetation in its wake. A typical swarm can consist of up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer. These insects move with the wind, and can migrate as far as 150 kilometers in one day. Even a tiny, one-square-kilometer locust swarm is capable of consuming the same amount of food in one day as approximately 35,000 people. This locust infestation originated in the Arabian Peninsula. In 2018, two cyclones dumped heavy rain on an uninhabited portion of the Arabian Peninsula, creating the ideal wet, sandy conditions the desert locusts require to breed. Three generations of breeding occurred in nine months, causing locust numbers to increase by 8,000 times and forming the original source of the East Africa upsurge that is still plaguing the region today. The swarms leapfrogged over the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Horn of Africa. In Somalia, Cyclone Pawan’s landfall in December 2019 triggered widespread flooding. Coupled with above-average vegetation due to good rains, this contributed to another dramatic increase in the pest’s numbers. The locusts moved west and south, reaching their zenith in Kenya in the early months of this year. Experts estimate they destroyed at least 30% of the pastureland they landed on in Kenya. Here, too, abnormally heavy rains wetted the sandy soil enough to allow the females to lay new eggs in January and February. Locust eggs take just two weeks to hatch, and wingless baby locusts—referred to as nymphs or hoppers and as tiny as a pinky fingernail—cracked open their eggs on Kenyan soil during February and early March. The hoppers shed their skin multiple times, growing larger until they reach the size of a pinky finger, become adults and grow wings. They band together into devastating swarms that take flight and begin feeding on vegetation. “That’s what’s been happening in Kenya this past month. More and more of those hoppers have become adults,” said Cressman. “So these are Made in Kenya.” These swarms are still immature, and take up to four weeks before they are ready to lay eggs. Kenya is more than halfway through this maturation cycle, and the new generation of locust swarms are expected to begin laying eggs within the week. In Kenya, the locust maturation is coinciding with the onset of the rainy season. Farmers have been sowing crops of maize, beans, sorghum, barley and millet during March and April, in hopes that a favorable rainy season will allow for abundant growth during late April and May. With the locust swarms gaining size and strength, experts fear that up to 100% of farmers’ budding crops could be consumed, leaving some communities with nothing to harvest. “The concern at the moment is that the desert locust will eat under-emerging plants,” said Cyril Ferrand, FAO’s resilience team leader for Eastern Africa. “This very soft, green material, biomass leaves, rangeland, is, of course, the favorite food for the desert locusts.” FAO is working with governments and teams from non-governmental organizations to conduct massive aerial pesticide spraying campaigns throughout the region. It hopes the locusts can be controlled temporarily until southerly winds and the dry season pushes them north in June and July. But Covid-19 poses a challenge to control activities. Disruptions to supply chains have stalled delivery of pesticide shipments, creating stockouts and shortages. Somalia is three weeks behind in receiving a shipment of biopesticides for locust control due to Covid-19 delays. Surveillance equipment, such as helicopters from South Africa, cannot reach East Africa because of lockdowns in countries where they would normally stop to refuel on their journeys north. If control activities fail and the locusts do not move out of the region, FAO fears that up to an additional 5 million people could become food insecure in East Africa by June of this year.
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Insect Disaster
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2013 Eberswalde-Finow Zlin crash
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The 2013 Eberswalde-Finow Zlin crash was an incident involving a Zlin Z 526 light aircraft which occurred on 29 June 2013 during an unauthorized aerobatics display near Eberswalde Finow Airfield in Germany. [1] The pilot was fatally injured. [2]
The Roadrunner's Paradise Race 61[3] festival was taking place at the Luftfahrtmuseum Finowfurt[4] (Finowfurt Aviation Museum), next to Eberswalde Finow Airfield. [5][6] The pilot involved made an unauthorized demonstration flight.
The aircraft took off from runway 10 at Eberswalde Finow Airfield shortly after 12:04. After takeoff, the pilot flew to the festival site and then made several low passes. On the final pass, the aircraft made a low inverted pass from an easterly direction. During this manoeuvre, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to roll the aircraft upright, but the right wing tip tank collided with the ground. This reversed the roll and the aircraft crashed upside down. [2][8] There was no fire except for a brief flash as the right wing tip fuel tank was ruptured on initial impact. [9]
The crash destroyed the aircraft and fatally injured the pilot. The aircraft crashed into the Solarpark Finow Tower, destroying a number of solar panels. No one on the ground was injured in the incident. [2]
The Zlin 526 is a low wing single-seat aerobatic aeroplane powered by a 180 hp Avia M 137 6-cylinder in-line engine. The involved aeroplane, serial number 1119, was made in 1967. It was bought by the German pilot in the Czech Republic on 29 March 2013.
The fuel system of the Zlin is optimised for aerobatics. It consists of a fuel tank in each wing feeding by gravity a 5 l (1.3 US gal) collector tank in the fuselage. A fuel pump draws fuel from the collector tank and supplies fuel - via filters - to the fuel injection pump, which in turn delivers fuel via separate lines to each of the engine's six cylinders. During inverted flight, the collector tank receives no fuel from the wing tanks, and a one-way check valve ensures the collector tank's fuel does not flow to the wing tanks. The aircraft involved in this accident was fitted with optional wing tip tanks. [2]
As of 24 November 2012 the aircraft had accumulated 3,284:19 operating hours and 18,243 flight cycles. [2]
The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) investigated the accident. The investigation revealed that on the day of the crash, the aircraft did not have a valid registration: the purchase contract required the aircraft to be promptly deleted from the Czech register. Furthermore, the liability insurance policy had ended on 1 May 2013. According to BFU, the 47-year-old crash pilot held a valid Private Pilot's License (PPL) and was rated as Pilot in Command (PIC) for Single Engine Piston land (SEP land). His license also had entries for aerobatics and night flight qualifications. The pilot had a valid class 2 medical certificate. The pilot had accumulated 3,127:55 hours and 10,445 flight cycles as per last logbook entry 13 October 2012. [2]
The investigation further found that:
BFU concluded that engine performance was impaired due to lack of fuel during inverted flight. Subsequent errors in control inputs by the pilot during the roll back to normal flight attitude resulted in the collision with solar panels and, subsequently, the ground. They further stated that the pilot's decision to conduct aerobatics in close proximity to the ground contributed to the accident.
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Air crash
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Spanish volcano remains volatile, 5 days after eruption
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TODOQUE, Canary Islands (AP) — A volcano in Spain’s Canary Islands kept nerves on edge Friday for a fifth day since it erupted, producing loud explosions, a huge ash cloud and cracking open a new fissure that spewed out more fiery molten rock. The archipelago’s emergency services ordered the evacuation of scores of people from three villages on the island of La Palma and ordered residents to stay indoors in another. Already this week, almost 7,000 people have had to leave their homes. The prompt evacuations are credited with helping avoid casualties. Loud bangs from the volcano’s mouth sent shock waves echoing across the hillsides. Explosions hurled molten rock and ash over a wide expanse. As a precaution, emergency services pulled back from the area. Regional airline Binter temporarily halted flights due to a huge ash cloud that rose 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) into the sky. More encouragingly, Spain’s National Geographic Institute said it hadn’t recorded any earthquakes in the area for 24 hours, after registering 1,130 over the past week amid intense seismic activity before and after the eruption on the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge. Also, the advance of the main river of lava slithering toward the sea slowed to 1 meter (about 3 feet) per hour. Both of the main lava flows are at least 10 meters (33 feet) high at their leading edges and have been destroying houses, farmland and infrastructure in their path since Sunday. The lava has destroyed almost 400 buildings on La Palma, including many homes, on the western side of the island of 85,000 people, a European Union monitoring program said. It said the lava stretches over 180 hectares (almost 20,000 square feet) and has blocked 14 kilometers (9 miles) of roads. Islanders make a living mostly from farming and tourism, and some may lose their livelihoods. On a visit to La Palma, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a package of measures to help get the island back on its feet and “rebuild lives.” The Spanish government will provide aid for rebuilding homes and public infrastructure, such as roads, irrigation networks and schools, as well as relaunching the island’s tourism industry, Sánchez said. He did not say how much money would be made available, but said a Cabinet meeting next week would provide more details.
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Volcano Eruption
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Air Canada Flight 624 crash
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Air Canada Flight 624[1][2][3] was a scheduled Canadian domestic passenger flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During heavy snow and poor visibility, at 00:43 ADT (03:43 UTC) on March 29, 2015, the Airbus A320-211 landed short of the runway and was severely damaged. Twenty-six people were injured. Air Canada Flight 624 departed from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) bound for Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ). It was carrying 133 passengers and five crew. The Airbus A320 operating the flight, registration C-FTJP, impacted the ground 225 metres (738 ft) short of the threshold of runway 05 (which is not equipped for precision landing),[4] smashing through an ILS-LOC antenna array. This impact caused the landing gear to separate from the aircraft. The plane also impacted a power line, which cut power to the airport. [5] The aircraft then climbed an embankment up to the runway level, skidded on its belly and stopped 570 metres (1,870 ft) past the threshold. [4] The Halifax airport was without electricity for about 90 minutes. The aircraft was extensively damaged, having lost all landing gear and its port engine. The wings and tailplane were also damaged. Both pilots, twenty-three passengers and a flight attendant were taken to hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening,[4][6] and all but one of those taken to hospital were released the same day. [7] The weather at the time of the accident was described as "stormy" (winter conditions). The loss of power to the airport was due to the aircraft clipping transmission lines before hitting the ground. [8] Electricity was restored to the airport by 02:12 ADT. [5][9]
While the aircraft collided with objects outside the airport perimeter and was damaged beyond repair, Air Canada initially described the accident as a "hard landing". [10]
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-211 equipped with two CFM56-5A1 engines. Its serial number was 233 with a fleet number of 214, and it first flew in 1991. It was owned by GECAS and leased to Air Canada. As a result of the accident, the aircraft was written off. [11]
The accident was investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. [12][13] Three Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) investigators from France and two technical advisers from Airbus travelled to Canada to participate in the investigation. [14] As a result of the accident, Air Canada revised its incorrect Airbus A320-200 Standard Operating Procedure. The final report was released in May 2017, and showed no mechanical faults contributing to the accident. Instead pilot error was mainly to blame, as the crew followed relevant Air Canada flying procedures that contradicted Airbus and pilot training guidelines. Investigators determined that the airline's standard operating procedure in regard to the selected landing mode (Flight Path Angle Guidance) was over-reliant on the Airbus' automation and lead to excessive loss of altitude. Per the SOP, the crew need not have monitored the aircraft's altitude or relation to the runway to make any subsequent adjustments to the flight path angle after the final approach fix. Subsequently, the captain and first officer failed to notice or respond to the fact that the aircraft autopilot selected a steep vertical angle flight path, causing a drop below the minimum safe altitude. Furthermore, limited visibility hampered the crew's ability to accurately perceive their surroundings. [13]
A class action lawsuit was introduced against Air Canada, the Halifax Airport, NAV Canada, Transport Canada, Airbus and the aircraft's pilots which alleges that negligence on the part of the defendants caused the crash, inflicting physical and psychological harm onto the passengers. [15] Other separate lawsuits are being assessed by medical professionals, with settlements based on the relative severity of each client's injuries. [16]
On 30 March 2017, Air Canada filed a lawsuit against Airbus, alleging that the manufacturer "failed to identify shortcomings of the Airbus A320", which included uncommanded descent below the pre-programmed glide path. [17]
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Air crash
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An explosion at a gas plant in China's central Henan province has killed at least 12 people and seriously injured 15 others,
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At least 12 people have died in a powerful explosion that ripped through a gas plant in central China. Reports said the force of the blast shattered windows and blew out doors as far as 3 kilometers away.
An explosion at a gas plant in China's central Henan province has killed at least 12 people and seriously injured 15 others, Chinese authorities said Saturday.
The blast rocked the factory in the city of Yima on Friday evening, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors within a 3-kilometer (2-mile) radius, state media reported.
Read more: Deadly chemical plant explosion hits Zhangjiakou
The official Xinhua news agency said the explosion occurred in the state-owned Henan Coal Gas facility's air separation unit.
Pictures from the site showed plumes of smoke rising from the factory premises
All production at the site has stopped. Officials said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident.
Deadly industrial accidents are fairly common in China. Safety regulations are often poorly enforced, despite recent orders from the government in Beijing to improve standards at factories and power plants.
In March, a major blast at a chemical plant in eastern Jiangsu province killed 78 people and injured hundreds. The explosion led to two dozen arrests and prompted a nationwide inspection of chemical companies. One of the country's worst workplace accidents occurred in 2015, when a massive explosion at a chemical warehouse in the northern port city of Tianjin killed 165 people.
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Gas explosion
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2013 Cameron Highlands mud floods
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The 2013 Cameron Highlands mud floods took place on 23 October 2013. Three people died while another was missing due to the mud flood in Bertam Valley, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. [1] Heavy rain had occurred continuously since 7:00pm the day before, creating a need to alleviate the water in the dam the morning of the flood. [2] The water from in the dam was released three times starting with the first at midnight, then another at 1:00am, and finally again at 2:45am. [3] The flash flood occurred at 1:00am as a result of the release of the water from the Sultan Abu Bakar dam in Ringlet that forced the Bertam River to suddenly rise and breach its banks. [3] In the aftermath, around 10 kongsi houses that were on the banks of the river were destroyed, roughly 80 houses were damaged, some of which were 3 km away, and 100 vehicles suffered damage. [1]
The Cameron Highlands are susceptible to flash floods that carry silt because of the human involvement in the area. The deforestation of the area causes the water runoff and is one of the main reasons they have flash floods. [4] One of the effects of the clearing of land for agriculture use is the heavy soil erosion that occurs in the Cameron Highlands. [5] This is a contributing factor to the floods because as the people illegally clear the land, the runoff can carry more silt with it. This places large amounts of silt into the rivers making them shallower and easier to fill which causes floods. [6] On top of this, the rivers are narrow due to the structures built on the banks and even illegal extensions into the river. [6] Another issue contributing to the water runoff is the use of plastic roofing over plots of vegetation. These areas would normally offer some buffer to flooding by absorbing water. Instead, the plastic used by many people in the area speeds up the rainwater running off into the rivers which can lead to the floods. [6]
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Floods
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3 killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from generator use in Marrero
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A family of three from Marrero died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a poorly ventilated emergency generator they were using during the post-Hurricane Ida power outage, Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich said Thursday.
He said a woman and her two children had set up the generator against an outside wall of their house. But generators should be placed at least 20 feet from a building, he said.
Their generator was new, its box still in the house, Cvitanovich said.
He identified the victims as Demetrice Johnson, 54, Dasjonay Curly, 23, and Craig Curly, 17.
"She was one of the most wonderful persons that you would want to meet," Parish Council member Byron Lee said said of Johnson. "She glowed like the sun shine. Absolutely wonderful person."
Their deaths added to a frightening surge of post-Ida carbon monoxide poisoning in people using generators inside buildings or without proper ventilation. With commercial power unavailable to tens of thousands of people in southeast Louisiana, many have fired up gasoline- or diesel-power generators to keep the lights on, refrigerator running and fans circulating air - if not to power up their entire house and air conditioning system.
A man was found dead Monday in an Uptown New Orleans business with an improperly ventilated generator, and 21 people have been hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning in New Orleans and Slidell. Jefferson first responders were were rolling to as many as five carbon monoxide poisoning calls an hour on Wednesday afternoon, said Parish Council member Scott Walker.
Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission
Email Faimon A. Roberts III at froberts@theadvocate.com.
On Wednesday, three days after Hurricane Ida knocked out the electricity to most of the New Orleans area, officials worked to stem a frighteni…
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Mass Poisoning
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1964 Philadelphia race riot
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The Philadelphia race riot, or Columbia Avenue Riot, took place in the predominantly black neighborhoods of North Philadelphia from August 28 to August 30, 1964. Tensions between black residents of the city and police had been escalating for several months over several well-publicized allegations of police brutality.
This riot was one of the first in the civil rights era and followed the 1964 Rochester race riot and Harlem riot of 1964 in New York City. In 1964, North Philadelphia was the city's center of African American culture, and home to 400,000 of the city's 600,000 black residents. The Philadelphia Police Department had tried to improve its relationship with the city's black community, assigning police to patrol black neighborhoods in teams of one black and one white officer per squad car and having a civilian review board to handle cases of police brutality.
Despite the improvement attempts of the Philadelphia Police Department, racial tensions had been high in Philadelphia over the issue of police brutality. The Philadelphia Tribune, the city’s black newspaper, ran several articles on police brutality which often resulted in white policemen being brought up on charges of brutality, only to be later acquitted. The summer of 1964 was at the peak of the civil rights movement with rioting breaking out in black areas of other northern cities including New York City; Rochester, NY; Jersey City, NJ and Elizabeth, NJ stemming from allegations of police brutality against black residents.
The unrest began on the evening of August 28 after a black woman named Odessa Bradford got into an argument with two police officers, one black, Robert Wells, and the other white, John Hoff, because Bradford stopped the car while arguing with her boyfriend and refused to move out of the intersection at 23rd Street and Columbia Avenue. The officers then tried to physically remove Bradford from the car. As the argument went on, a large crowd assembled in the area. A man tried to come to Bradford's aid by attacking the police officers at the scene, both he and Bradford were arrested. Rumors then spread throughout North Philadelphia that a pregnant black woman had been beaten to death by white police officers. Later that evening, and throughout the next two days, angry mobs looted and burned mostly white-owned businesses in North Philadelphia, mainly along Columbia Avenue. Outnumbered, the police response was to withdraw from the area rather than aggressively confront the rioters. Although no one was killed, 341 people were injured, 774 people were arrested and 225 stores were damaged or destroyed in the three days of rioting. Some of the tension was attributable to religion, with Black Muslims and black nationalists pitted against Black Baptist ministers who called for calm.
The riot was reported to have caused 4 million dollars worth of damages. Business activity in North Philadelphia declined even further after the riots, as many of the damaged or destroyed stores never re-opened for business. The riots also helped to facilitate the political rise to power of Frank Rizzo, who favored more punitive approaches to crime. In 1987, Columbia Avenue between Front and 33rd Streets was renamed Cecil B. Moore Avenue after the influential and often controversial Civil Rights leader. Although his role was limited, Moore has been regarded as a pacifying figure who helped quell the rioting. While present-day Cecil B. Moore Avenue is still largely impoverished, it has witnessed redevelopment, including expansion of the Temple University campus, such that the area around Broad Street is much more integrated with a predominantly educated population. A fictionalized version of the events of the Philadelphia riots of 1964 are depicted in the first season finale of the NBC television series American Dreams.
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Riot
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Parent of child with MIS-C encourages others to take advantage of kids' COVID-19 vaccine
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Sarah Berestecky is one of many parents happy to be setting appointments and said it was a hope she had been holding on to for the past year.
READ MORE | Hamilton County health officials answer common questions about vaccinating kids 5-11
The mother of three’s experience runs deep.
"You know I'm so relieved and excited and all of those things but it's a little bittersweet for us," Berestecky said.
Elijah, her 10-year-old, was diagnosed with Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome, MIS-C, shortly after getting the virus.
The disease attacked his gastrointestinal system, brought on a rash and a consistent fever.
"Knowing that could have prevented all of those things from happening. We'll be able to protect our kids from not just COVID but other things that develop out of COVID,” she added.
April Kapu, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and a dean at Vanderbilt, spoke about the improvements made with this age group's rollout and that it would benefit many families.
"Particularly families that have grandparents at home, or family members that are immunocompromised and then also for children to be protected and to protect their teachers and community members," Kapu said.
Things to know:
The pediatric dose is 10 micrograms, one-third of the adult dose.
Children should take two doses 21 days apart.
Kapu added that while the most common symptom is a sore arm, "some have said that they have had some mild side effects like a fever, or somebody, aches or fatigue but it's been very minimal."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the virus has impacted at least 1.9 million children since the start of the pandemic and has hospitalized some and killed others.
The Hamilton County Health Department Pediatric Clinic at 921 East 3rd St. will offer the vaccine Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 921 East 3rd St. by appointment only.
The Sequoyah Health Center at 9527 W Ridge Trail will offer the vaccine for established primary care patients by appointment only.
The Homeless Healthcare Center at 730 E 11th St. will have walk-in appointments for those who qualify.
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Famous Person - Sick
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2015 Charikot helicopter crash
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On 12 May 2015, a US Marine Corps Bell UH-1Y Venom of Camp Pendleton-based HMLA-469 squadron crashed in the Charikot region of Nepal during Operation Sahayogi Haat, a humanitarian relief effort following the earthquake that had struck the region earlier. All 13 occupants were killed. [1]
The following is a statement from PACOM: "On 12 May, at approximately 10 p.m. JST, a UH-1Y Huey with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 in support of Joint Task Force 505 was declared missing while supporting Operation Sahayogi Haat." Nepal's army, struggling with the aftermath of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit on 25 April, had deployed about 400 troops into rocky, forested terrain after the US helicopter was reported missing. [2]
A news release from III Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, Japan stated that the chosen route, which may have been made because one or more of the injured was in need of urgent treatment, took the UH-1Y Huey helicopter for a brief period over unfamiliar terrain in unstable weather. [3] The helicopter crashed in rugged terrain about 8 miles north of Charikot on a mission to evacuate casualties caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. [4]
The helicopter had arrived in Nepal on May 5. As part of Operation Sahayogi Haat, the U.S. military contributed three Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopters, four Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, four Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, four Air Force C-130 Hercules and four Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules aircraft to the relief effort. [5]
The flight crew comprised US Marine officers as pilots and several enlisted members, including two combat correspondents. [6] Also aboard were two Nepalese soldiers and five injured civilians in need of urgent treatment. [7][8][9]
According to CNN, then Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said "You know, our terrain is so ... difficult, that is why (it crashed). We feel so sorry for that. "[4]
In honour of the fallen, the Heritage Room of the U.S. Embassy, in Kathmandu, Nepal was renamed to "Vengeance Hall" after the crashed helicopter. [10]
On May 15 an "Open Letter" from the People of Nepal remembering the Marines was published. It was thereafter replied to by Peter W. Bodde, Ambassador of the United States of America to Nepal. [11]
The helicopter crash was attributed to the crew's decision to fly the most direct route to Kathmandu. The chosen course required a brief period over unfamiliar terrain with unstable meteorological conditions [12] and was necessary "due to a real or perceived urgency" concerning the condition of the injured civilians. [13]
It was reported that the aircraft "was enveloped by rapidly developing clouds or lifted into a cloud by rising air currents. As they attempted to maneuver out of the weather conditions, they lost visual reference with the terrain and impacted the ground. "[3]
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Air crash
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Breaking: Paul Okoye’s marriage crashes as wife files for divorce
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7-year old marriage of Paul Okoye, one half of defunct music duo P Square popularly known as Rude boy and his entrepreneur wife, Anita Okoye has crashed as the latter files a petition for a divorce. Details surrounding the crash of the marriage came from the leak of the official petition for the divorce which cited irreconcilable differences as the basis of the irretrievable break down of the marriage. The couple got married in 2014 after dating for 10 years and they both share three beautiful children. The news of their pending divorce comes as a massive shock to both families and their close friends. A source close to the couple confirmed that both parties will proceed amicably with the legal resolution and be the best co-parents in the interest of their children. The source also said that Paul and Anita have always been very good friends and like every couple they have had issues for a while but plan to remain on good terms and keep the friendship they have always had since their days as university students.” Vanguard gathered that Paul Okoye is currently on a press tour _ while Anita has moved to the United States where she is working on her masters degree as a graduate student.
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Famous Person - Marriage
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April 2010 Sumatra earthquake
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The April 2010 Sumatra earthquake occurred on April 7 at 5:15 AM local time with a moment magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The shock occurred near Banyak Islands, off the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. A tsunami watch was issued according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu[1] which was later canceled. [2] A 40 cm surge was reported in the Banyak Islands an hour after the quake, along with 62 injuries. [3] Power outages were reported throughout the province of North Sumatra[4] as well as in Aceh. [5][6] This quake is one of the sequence of large earthquakes along the Sunda megathrust in 2000s. In Simeulue Regency, 21 were hospitalized in Gunung Putih, Teluk Dalam subdistrict,[7] and 41 were injured in Teupah Selatan subdistrict. Some of the injured were treated at Simeulue general hospital in Sinabang. [8]
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Earthquakes
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BBC Blankety Blank: Ade Adepitan's marriage to a Scottish singer and their St Paul's Cathedral wedding guestlist from TV presenters to Olympians
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Ade Adepitan is a well-known talented athlete who is remembered for his huge victory at the Paralympics games in 2004 representing team GB. Since that time, the 48 year old has ventured into presenting and acting for TV, appearing on our screens as an actor on many of of the nations favourite shows such as Casualty and Desperados. The wheelchair basketball star, who hails from London, has also hosted the international games coverage after his retirement in 2005 alongside the likes of Clare Balding and Rick Edwards. READ MORE: Blankety Blank and Beat The Chasers fans all saying the same thing as Bradley Walsh appears on BBC1 and ITV at the same time Outside of his successful career, Ade lives a quite life with his wife and new-born child. Ade Adepitan married Scottish singer Linda Harrison who he wed at St Paul's Cathedral in 2018. Their stunning wedding took place in front of many star-studded individuals including, Camilla Kerslake and her rugby union star husband Chris Robshaw, Olympians Mark Foster and Christine Ohuruogu and TV presenter Anita Rani. The momentous occasion- which clearly looked as though it had been taken out of a fairy-tale story- was a dream come true for the couple. "Everyone says it’s the best day of your life but it was probably better than that," said the TV presenter and wheelchair basketball Paralympian in an interview with Hello magazine. At MyLondon, we want to make sure you get the latest and greatest from across the capital. And one way you can do that is by getting the best news, reviews and features from wherever you are straight to your inbox with our free email newsletters. We have seven newsletters you can currently sign up for - including a different one for each part of London, as well as an EastEnders one for all the gossip from Albert Square, and a London Underground one to keep you up to date on the latest transport news. The local newsletters go out twice a day and send the latest stories straight to your inbox. From community stories and news covering every borough of London to celebrity and lifestyle stories, we'll make sure you get the very best every day. To sign up to any of our newsletters, simply follow this link and select the newsletter that's right for you. And to really customise your news experience on the go, you can download our top-rated free apps for iPhone and Android. Find out more here. "We were ordinary people in an extraordinary place and you could see everyone take a breath as they looked around at the grand surroundings. It was slightly overwhelming" he added. It is a known fact that that Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer married in the cathedral in 1981 so it was certainly an honour for the pair, which Ade mentions. "So no pressure," confessed Ade. "Friends were saying: 'People like us, where we come from, don't have weddings like that.' But Linda and I are both dreamers - we set our goals high." "I looked around and saw Linda, and my heart was bursting out of my chest," said Ade. "She looked so, so beautiful. My eyes started watering, and quite a few of my friends turned their faces away as they didn't want to start crying, too."
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Famous Person - Marriage
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2013 Rosario gas explosion
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A gas explosion caused by a large gas leak occurred in a residential area of Rosario, the third-largest city in Argentina, on August 6, 2013. A nearby building collapsed, and others were at high risk of structural failure. Twenty-two people died, and sixty were injured. Several organizations helped secure the area, search for survivors and aid people who lost their homes. Shortly after the explosion, the time needed for reconstruction was estimated at six months. The provincial judiciary launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Primary suspects were Litoral Gas (the natural-gas provider for Rosario) and an employee who carried out maintenance work at the building that day. Several public figures sent condolences, and most of the candidates for the 2013 primary elections suspended their political campaigns. The explosion occurred at 9:30 a.m. near the intersection of Oroño and Salta Streets in central Rosario. Initial reports confirmed eight people dead, sixty injured and fifteen missing; eight more deaths were later confirmed. [3] Searches the following day revealed twelve fatalities, ten of whom were identified. [4] Of the people who were missing, some were found dead among the debris, while others were rescued. [5] The search for survivors ended on August 13, with twenty-two people confirmed dead. [6][7] A 65-year-old woman who had been injured died on October 8. [1][8]
The explosion was caused by a gas leak in a 30-year-old building. It severely damaged a nearby nine-story apartment building, causing it to collapse. [3] Mónica Fein, mayor of Rosario, asked residents to avoid the area because of the risk that more buildings might collapse, and to ease the work of disaster management personnel. The streets were covered with broken glass from damaged buildings. [9] Gas and electricity were immediately disconnected, and the national government sent an Argentine Federal Police task force to the scene. [3]
The natural gas supplier, Litoral Gas, immediately began sealing the distribution pipe to the area. [10] The Center for Ambulatory Medical Specialties of Rosario (Spanish: Centro de Especialidades Médicas Ambulatorias de Rosario) managed the information about the dead and injured, and tents were prepared for those left homeless. [11] Firefighters and other workers found people trapped on the upper floors of buildings and evacuated them over adjacent roofs. [12] Although the building was not destroyed by the explosion, a high risk of structural failure remained. [13]
Neighbors reported to the press that they had smelled a gas leak several hours before the explosion and had called Litoral Gas. Company director José María González said that the company had received no such calls, and thought that callers might have dialed the 911 emergency number instead. [10] Prosecutor Camporini reported at the trial that the building had experienced several gas leaks before the explosion. [14]
The provincial judiciary launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion. [11] The prosecution conducted a search and seizure at the offices of Litoral Gas to confirm the absence of customer complaints about the gas leak. [15] Judge Juan Carlos Curto ordered the arrest of Carlos Osvaldo García, an employee of the department responsible for gas service to the area. [16] He was captured during the night,[17] and his assistant Pablo Miño surrendered to police the following day. [18] According to witnesses, one employee fled in a van before the explosion, when he realized the severity of the gas leak, while another remained to try to evacuate people from the endangered area. [19] The van belonged to García,[14] who experienced an acute stress reaction during the trial. [14] Curto checked the remnants of the gas employee's workshop to verify García's testimony. [20][21]
Prosecutor Graciela Argüelles said that, according to the investigation, Litoral Gas ignored calls for help from García, who was not properly trained to manage such a situation. The judge suggested that documents seized from Litoral Gas might prove the existence of customer reports of a gas leak. [22] Curto thought that the employees might not bear sole responsibility, and that the liability of Litoral Gas had to be investigated as well. [21]
Pablo Miño was released from prison, but Curto refused to release García, saying that Miño had extenuating circumstances which García did not. [23] Miño's job was to give García the required tools, not to do the maintenance. He was in the street, watching over the van, which was not properly parked and locked, and did not see García's work before the explosion. Curto stopped short of pronouncing Miño innocent at that early stage. [24]
As the case expanded beyond his jurisdiction, Curto recused himself from the trial and was replaced by Javier Beltramone,[25] who released García from prison. [26] Litoral Gas demanded Beltramone's recusal for expressing an opinion about the case to the press. [27] The appeal court agreed in a 2–1 vote to remove Beltramone, and the case was transferred to Patricia Bilotta. [2] García had claimed that he was following instructions received in the days before the explosion, so Bilotta summoned the technical officers of Litoral Gas to clarify that point. [28] Litoral Gas said that García had not received any instructions prior to the explosion. [29]
Litoral Gas proposed an out-of-court settlement to the relatives of the victims, offering about 1200 US dollars per square meter of collapsed building, in addition to compensation for loss of life. [30] Vice Governor Jorge Henn rejected it as immoral,[31] and most of the families also initially rejected the proposal. [32] By May 2014, however, almost half of the families had accepted the settlement. [33]
The explosion occurred shortly before the primary 2013 Argentine legislative elections on August 11. The governor of Santa Fe province, Antonio Bonfatti, asked the political parties to end their campaigns to allow mourning for the victims of the explosion.
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Gas explosion
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Some 350,000 people experience famine-like conditions in Tigray
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G7 leaders meeting this week should galvanize an immediate global response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Yesterday, the United Nations and other aid agencies warned that some 350,000 people are already experiencing famine-like conditions in Tigray. Millions of others there are at risk of famine too, unless assistance is promptly provided. The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, says that some 33,000 severely malnourished children “are at high risk of death.” That the Ethiopian government disputes these findings only underscores the urgency of international involvement. G7 leaders should demand from Ethiopia and its allies the resumption of basic services, unimpeded aid delivery and access, and make clear that any official who blocks assistance faces immediate sanctions. The millions facing famine in Tigray cannot be explained away as a by-product of the seven-month armed conflict. Human Rights Watch research shows that warring parties have directly contributed to this man-made disaster. Government restrictions on aid access to the region and to basic services in the early months of the fighting pushed many people over the edge. Ethiopian, Eritrean and Amhara forces have also looted property, burned crops, and attacked factories, hospitals, and other infrastructure key to people’s survival. While humanitarian access in some areas has reportedly improved, warring parties are still denying aid workers’ movement, intimidating and attacking them, and confiscating supplies. Mark Lowcock, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said that in May alone, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Amhara forces were responsible for 130 out of 131 access violations. Attacks on civilians, including large-scale massacres and executions of men and boys, arbitrary detentions, and numerous horrific acts of sexual violence against women and girls, are also impeding people’s ability to reach help. Tigray has been here before. Human Rights Watch documented that Ethiopia’s military dictatorship under the Derg in the mid-1980s, plunged millions in Tigray and other areas into famine by destroying crops, bombing marketplaces, restricting movement, and deliberately targeting food distribution efforts. While different eras and realities, the parallels in the warring parties’ tactics are chilling. Iconic images of starving people from a BBC report during the 1984 famine justifiably sparked international outcry. They also became an image Ethiopia has long tried to escape. This time around, the alarm bells have been ringing for months. It’s an enduring shame that the African Union has largely remained silent, and Russian and Chinese objections mean the UN Security Council has been unable to hold a single public meeting on the crisis. G7 leaders should act now.
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Famine
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NASA awards SpaceX the contract to launch its Europa Clipper mission
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The Europa clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over Europa to determine whether the icy moon could harbour conditions suitable for life. NASA on Friday said it had selected SpaceX to launch a planned voyage to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a huge win for Elon Musk's company as it sets its sights deeper into the solar system. The Europa Clipper mission will launch in October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the total contract worth $178 million. This illustration, updated in December 2020, depicts NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft. With an internal global ocean twice the size of Earth's oceans combined, Jupiter's moon Europa may have the potential to harbor life. The Europa Clipper orbiter will swoop around Jupiter on an elliptical path, dipping close to the moon on each flyby to collect data. The mission was previously supposed to take off on NASA's own Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, with critics calling it a "jobs program" for the state of Alabama where much of the development work is taking place. While SLS isn't yet operational, Falcon Heavy has deployed on both commercial and government missions since its maiden flight in 2018 when it carried Musk's own Tesla Roadster into space. It generates more than five million pounds of thrust (22 million Newtons) at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft. The Europa clipper orbiter will make about 40 to 50 close passes over Europa to determine whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. Its payload will include cameras and spectrometers to produce high-resolution images and compositional maps of the surface and atmosphere, as well as radar to penetrate the ice layer to search for liquid water below.
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New achievements in aerospace
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Shake Shack manager sues NYPD, New York City over false claims his store poisoned officers
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An investigation found “no criminality” by Shake Shack employees, after three New York police officers were hospital after drinking milkshakes in NYC.
Buzz60
Last June, the manager of a Shake Shack was accused of poisoning three New York City Police Department officers after they complained they were "not feeling well" after drinking milkshakes from his store.
However, an NYPD investigation found there was "no criminality" done by any Shake Shack employees. Now the manager at the time, Marcus Gilliam, is suing members of the NYPD, the City of New York, as well as the unions that represent police and detectives, according to NBC News .
In the lawsuit filed Monday, Gilliam claims the June 15, 2020, incident damaged his reputation and he suffered "emotional and psychological damages." Gilliam is seeking damages for alleged defamation and deprivation.
The three officers had visited the Lower Manhattan Shake Shack to pick up strawberry, vanilla and cherry shakes. The suit claims the officers ordered their shakes via the mobile applications, and the drinks were waiting for them before they arrived.
The original case: NYPD says 'no criminality' after officers fall ill after drinking milkshakes
"Since the orders were placed using a mobile application, and not in person, Mr. Gilliam and the other Shake Shack employees could not have known that police officers had placed the order," the lawsuit said.
The officers said the drink didn't taste right, threw them in the trash and told Gilliam. He then apologized and offered the officers vouchers for free food and milkshakes. The officers accepted and left.
But they later reported to their sergeant that Gilliam had put a "toxic substance" they believed to be in bleach in their shakes. The next few hours resulted in the police declaring the store a crime scene and detaining Gilliam and his coworkers, according to the suit.
'We are also human': Man faces hate crime charge after Asian woman attacked in New York City's Chinatown
Gilliam said he spent over three hours at the police station. The investigation eventually cleared Gilliam of any wrongdoing, and the lawsuit said security footage from the restaurant also showed no one had tampered with the drinks.
However, several police unions and organizations quickly shared the news last year that the officers had been poisoned. An NYPD lieutenant emailed the Police Benevolent Association and the Detectives' Endowment Association, claiming the officers had gotten sick from the milkshakes.
The PBA wrote that the officers’ drinks had been intentionally spiked with “a toxic substance, believed to be bleach or a similar cleaning agent.” While the NYPD's detectives union posted a similar message on Twitter.
“Tonight, three of our fellow officers were intentionally poisoned by one or more workers at the Shake Shack,” the detectives’ union wrote in a message on Twitter. “Fortunately, they were not seriously harmed.”
Shake Shack spoke out at the time, tweeting that they were "horrified" by the reports.
We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now.
— SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) June 16, 2020
As a result of the public attention, the suit says people would show up to the restaurant to taunt Gilliam. It is unclear whether Gilliam is still employed by Shake Shack.
"Defendants Lynch, PBA and DEA were grossly irresponsible in disseminating the tweets since there was no evidence whatsoever that plaintiff or his employees had poisoned the officers," the suit said.
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Mass Poisoning
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1903 water riots
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The 1903 water riots took place at Port of Spain on March 23rd in the then British colony Trinidad and Tobago. As a result of the riots, the Red House, which was the seat of the Executive and Legislative Council was destroyed. At around 1900, Trinidad had a high consumption of water. In 1874 the yearly water consumption per citizen was twice as high as in London. [1] Following the building of national waterworks infrastructure, the Government passed an ordinance that increased the cost of water, enacting the installation of water meters in private homes. [2] A number of public meetings had been held to protest the increase, culminating in a demonstration on 23 March in Brunswick Square, located outside the Red House. Protesters threw rocks at the building, smashing windows (including a historical stained glass window commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus) and causing members of the legislature to hide under tables for protection. The protesters then set the lower floor on fire, at which time police opened fire on the crowd, killing sixteen people, and injuring forty-two others (among which, two teenagers and one child). The fire completely gutted the Red House..
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Riot
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Michigan's attorney general wants to investigate the Oxford school shooting
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"I didn't want to see the school district bring in a private law firm ... where they are the client," Nessel said. "I've seen it time and time again, they're not fully independent investigations when that occurs."
"Often times, they're there to represent their client, and the client is the school district," Nessel added.
Nessel explained that the state attorney general's office is in the best position to determine not just whether criminal laws were broken, but also whether there were any civil violations. "We want to answer all the questions the parents have about this," Nessel told the Detroit Free Press .
Nessel said she had emailed the school district's attorney on Saturday with the same offer, but hadn't yet heard back as of Sunday afternoon. NPR reached out to the school district for comment Sunday evening, but did not receive an immediate response.
"We're not there to protect or prosecute anyone," Nessel told the Detroit NBC affiliate . "We're just there to find out what the truth is."
The parents of the suspected shooter, Ethan Crumbley, have been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. School officials had notified Jennifer and James Crumbley about multiple concerning incidents involving their son that preceded the shooting. The morning of the shooting, a teacher found a note on Crumbley's desk that had a drawing of a semi-automatic handgun and the words, "the thoughts won't stop," "help me," and "blood everywhere," according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. Another drawing showed a person who appeared to be bleeding from gunshot wounds.
15-year-old boy charged with murder, terrorism in Michigan high school shooting
After the teacher found those drawings, Crumbley was sent to the guidance counselor's office, where he said they were part of a video game he was designing. "At no time did counselors believe the student might harm others based on his behavior, responses and demeanor, which appeared calm," Throne wrote in his letter to the school community.
In that letter, Throne said he had asked for a third-party investigation into "all of the events of the past week because our community and our families deserve a full, transparent accounting of what occurred."
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Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate
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UK miners' strike (1972)
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The 1972 UK miners' strike was a major dispute over pay between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Conservative Edward Heath government of the United Kingdom. Miners' wages had not kept pace with those of other industrial workers since 1960. The strike began on 9 January 1972 and ended on 28 February 1972, when the miners returned to work. The strike was called by the National Executive Committee of the NUM and ended when the miners accepted an improved pay offer in a ballot. It was the first time since 1926 that British miners had been on official strike, but there had been a widespread unofficial strike in 1969. The strike occurred after wage negotiations between the NUM and the National Coal Board of the United Kingdom had broken down. It was the first time since 1926 that British miners had officially gone on strike (although there had been unofficial strikes, as recently as 1969). [1] The dispute was caused by the issue of pay. In 1960, according to one study, "miners, of whom there were still half a million in 1960, enjoyed historically unprecedented standards of living. "[2] According to another study, while the real net income of an average miner in 1957 with a wife and two children was approximately 22% above that of his male counterpart in manufacturing, that fell to approximately 2% below the manufacturing figure in 1969. [3]
During the 1950s, the wages of miners went up from a prewar position of 84th to near the top in the league table of the wages earned by industrial workers,[4] and by 1960, miners' wages were 7.4% above the average pay of workers in manufacturing industries. During the 1960s, however, their pay fell behind other workers, and by 1970 miners were earning 3.1% less than the average worker in manufacturing. [5]
During a parliamentary debate on the strike in its second week, both Labour and Conservative MPs praised the miners for the forbearance shown during the mass pit closures in the 1960s. [6]
The National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers did not strike. Following some confrontations with NUM pickets, the National Coal Board adopted a policy of giving leave on full pay to any members of NACODS who faced aggressive intimidation on the way to work. [7]
The strike was characterised by the miners sending flying pickets to other industrial sites to persuade other workers to strike in solidarity, which led to railway workers' refusing to transport coal and power station workers' refusing to handle coal. [8]
Power shortages emerged, and a state of emergency was declared on 9 February, after the weather had turned cold unexpectedly and voltage had been reduced across the entire national grid. [9]
A miner from Hatfield Colliery, near Doncaster, Freddie Matthews, was killed by a lorry while he was picketing on 3 February 1972, and a huge crowd attended his funeral. [10] The non-union lorry driver had mounted the pavement to pass the picket line and struck Matthews in the process. [11] In the aftermath of the death, the picketing in the Doncaster area became more violent, with clashes reported with the NACODS members at Markham Main and Kilnhurst. [11] Tom Swain, Labour MP to Derbyshire North East, remarked, "This could be the start of another Ulster in the Yorkshire coalfield. "[11] He threatened to "advocate violence" if an immediate government statement were not made on Matthews's death. [11]
The strike lasted seven weeks and ended after miners agreed to a pay offer on 19 February. [12] The offer came after the Battle of Saltley Gate, when around 2,000 NUM pickets descended on a coke works in Birmingham and were later joined by thousands of workers from other industries in Birmingham. [13]
The result was characterised as a "victory for violence" by the Conservative Cabinet at the time, in reference to some clashes between miners and police and to some throwing of stones and bottles at lorries trying to pass the pickets. [14]
A volunteer force was planned in Scotland to break the miners' pickets during the strike. After release of government papers under the thirty-year rule, it has been revealed that civil servants, police, local authorities and other organisations worked on a secret project to gather hundreds of drivers to supply the country's power stations during the strike. [15]
A Royal Air Force base was to be used for the unit. [15] They were to have between 400 and 600 trucks and drivers. [15] Fire brigades were also contacted to provide off-duty staff and volunteer groups to cater for the coal convoys. [15] The role of the volunteers was to drive in convoys to break the picketlines blocking the supply of coal to the Scottish power plants. [15] The plans were never put into the place because the dispute was brought to a close. [15]
An inquiry into miners' pay, chaired by Lord Wilberforce, was set up by the government in February 1972, as the strike was drawing to a close. It reported a week later. It recommended pay increases of between £4.50 and £6 per week. [16] Lord Wilberforce defended the increases, which represented a 27% pay rise,[17] by saying that "we know of no other job in which there is such a combination of danger, health hazard, discomfort in working conditions, social inconvenience and community isolation. "[16] Mine workers held out for an extra £1 per week, but eventually settled for a package of "fringe benefits" worth a total of £10 million. [17]
The inadequacy of the government's response to the strike provoked re-evaluation of emergency planning. The Cabinet Office Briefing Room (known as COBR) was created to coordinate responses to national and regional crises, and is still used in British Government today. [18]
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Strike
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DRC meningitis outbreak: WHO provides more details
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In a follow-up on the meningococcal meningitis outbreak reported in Tshopo province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) published more information in a Disease Outbreak News report Monday: In early July 2021, an alert of a suspected outbreak was raised to the Health Division of Tshopo Province in the north-eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The initial alert followed an increase in deaths among people presenting with symptoms including fever, headache, and stiff neck, and some with bloody diarrhea. Samples of blood and stool were collected and tested for Ebola virus disease, shigellosis and salmonellosis. These tested negative on 19 August by the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) lab in Kinshasa. Meningitis was suspected and as of 16 September, a total of 37 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were sent from the University Clinics Laboratory of Kisangani to INRB lab in Kinshasa. Of these, seven were sent to the Pasteur Institute in Paris on 1 September from Kinshasa, and were confirmed to be Neisseria meningitidis by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 6 September. Additional testing (serotyping) was conducted on these samples from 6 to 13 September, which were identified as Serogroup W by Pasteur Institute Lab in Paris . The remaining 30 samples are planned to be sent to Pasteur Institute, Paris. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that this strain of meningococcus was susceptible to Ceftriaxone. Preliminary retrospective investigations suggested that the outbreak started in early June in two mining areas in Banalia Health Zone in the north of Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province. This outbreak is currently active and cases continue to be reported. As of 18 September 2021, a total of 608 suspected including 12 confirmed cases of meningitis, and 161 deaths (case fatality ratio of 26%), have been reported in the Banalia health zone. Among these cases, 68% (416/608) are aged 15 years or older. Additionally, 16 out of the 20 health areas of the Banalia health zone have notified at least one suspected case of meningitis.
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Disease Outbreaks
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Trump withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
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On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order removing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and declared an end to the era of multinational trade agreements. The TPP is the 12-nation trade deal that included the United States, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. The TPP was negotiated under former President Barack Obama, but never ratified by Congress. Economic analysis of the effects of the TPP show it would have contributed positively to U.S. economic growth, and it could have also enhanced American influence in Asia and in the world by reassuring allies and rivals that the United States is a multi-dimensional resident power. Removing the U.S. from the TPP increases uncertainty among U.S. allies about the reliability of the U.S. across a range of foreign and economic matters, and marks the first time the U.S. has withdrawn from an agreement it championed. President Trump has pivoted U.S. trade policy by stating he will only negotiate trade deals with individual allies, but it has yet to be determined how the administration will operationalize the strategy. In the past, the U.S. had tried bilateral agreements, but they were slow moving and some of the negotiations had to be abandoned which is a reason why there was a shift to multinational agreements. There are mega trade deals being negotiated that the U.S. will now not be a part of, including the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement and the 16-nation trade agreement between East Asian countries. These agreements will provide preferences to the participating countries and the U.S. will not receive them.
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Withdraw from an Organization
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Unbelievably Large Swarm of Locusts Threatens Middle East
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A locust plague that’s been growing in the Horn of Africa this month is slated to make its way across Northern Africa and the Middle East, the likes of which have been unseen in the region for over 30 years. In the last month, the locusts have devastated crops in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, and the swarm is still breeding. Locust plagues destroy crops and cause major agricultural devastation. This leads to famine and starvation, which in turn can kill populations. Locusts in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia have been breeding at an unprecedented rate. This represents “an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods at the beginning of the upcoming cropping season,” according to Locust Watch, a monitoring division of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which provides emergency assistance to countries facing desert locust invasions. The locust plague is already the worst in Kenya in 70 years, and in at least 25 years for other parts of the region. The swarms can move up to 90 miles a day, and can eat their weight daily. The current swarm eats as much as 35,000 humans a day would consume. The locust swarm strips all vegetation in their path, threatening the food supply for millions of people. The desert locust threatening the region “is the most destructive migratory pest in the world,” according to the Locust Watch website. Experts say that the swarm is projected to go as far east as Pakistan in the coming months. It will begin descending upon the Middle East in the next month, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Passover, which celebrates, among other things, the Biblical 10 plagues in Egypt, one of which was locusts. There are setbacks to the locust management plans. Aerial spraying is the most effective way to stop locusts, but aid agencies say there is not enough equipment or funding to adequately beat down the swarms. The setbacks are being exacerbated by the global actions taken to curb the spread of COVID-19. Experts can no longer travel to in-country meetings to train locals to comb at the locust threat, according to Rome-based Senior Locust Forecasting Officer Keith Cressman on Monday. Cressman, who has worked with the organization for over three decades, told The Times of Israel on Monday that the previous time the region has been in such danger was during the plague of 1987-1989. "Studies have linked a hotter climate to more damaging locust swarms, leaving Africa disproportionately affected— 20 of the fastest warming countries globally are in Africa," Richard Munang, United Nations Environment Programme expert on climate and Africa, said in a recent interview. "Wet weather also favors multiplication of locusts. Widespread, above-average rain that pounded the Horn of Africa from October to December 2019 were up to 400% above normal rainfall amount." The heavy rains were spurred by a cyclic shift in sea surface temperatures called the Indian Ocean Dipole, also known as the ‘El Niño of the Indian Ocean.' The pattern also led to a record level of tropical cyclone activity in the North Indian Ocean, which some researchers have linked to climate change. "While climate change is a global phenomenon, Africa stands out for its vulnerability which is driven primarily by the prevailing low levels of socioeconomic development," Munang said. "Persons living in poverty face compounding vulnerabilities to climate change impacts because they lack the resources to quickly recover from its effects. In this case, desert locusts are ravaging crops in the field before harvesting, wiping out livestock and wildlife feed, and with them savings, assets and livelihoods.”
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Insect Disaster
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A worthless withdrawal: Two years since President Trump abandoned the JCPOA
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May 8 marked two years since President Trump formally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal, while maintaining that “[i]t is the policy of the United States that Iran be denied a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles.” Since then, the Trump Administration unilaterally re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran and antagonized our allies by forcing them to comply or risk financial isolation. They have also wasted valuable time trying to disassemble the Iran nuclear deal rather than pursuing negotiations to address its concerns. Now, the United States is scrambling to respond to the impending end of a United Nations (UN) arms embargo linked to the nuclear deal.
In retaliation for the Trump Administration’s decision to leave the JCPOA, Iran incrementally stepped back from compliance with the deal one year later — beginning in May 2019 — and our allies have resisted calls to punish Iran over its legitimate grievances. Iran’s proximity to a nuclear weapon capability has gradually increased due to the Trump Administration’s policies, and Iran is now roughly six months away from having enough weapons-grade fissile material for a nuclear bomb. When President Trump took office, Iran was about a year from that milestone. As a whole, the Trump Administration’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and “maximum pressure” strategy has gotten the United States no closer to its stated goals.
In talking about the Trump approach to Iran, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the United States would “ensure Iran has no path to a nuclear weapon — not now, not ever.” There are two paths to accumulate weapons-grade fissile material for a nuclear weapon: enriching uranium-235 to 90% purity or higher and separating plutonium. The JCPOA restricted Iran from enriching uranium past 3.67% until 2030, but Iran is enriching uranium to a higher purity and its stockpile is increasing in response to the United States’ violations.
The JCPOA also blocked Iran’s ability to accumulate plutonium. This was particularly important since plutonium is the preferred fissile material of the other nuclear-armed states. Strangely, it is clear that the Trump Administration still values the plutonium-related restrictions in the JCPOA, since it routinely issues a waiver for the United Kingdom and China to modify Iran’s heavy water reactor at Arak. As originally designed, the Arak reactor could have produced enough plutonium from its spent fuel for one or two nuclear weapons per year.
Secretary Pompeo also claimed that, “after the countdown clock ran out on the deal’s sunset provisions, Iran would be free for a quick sprint to the bomb, setting off a potentially catastrophic arms race in the region.” First, as long as Iran remains in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it will never be free to pursue a nuclear weapon. It was the NPT that provided the legal foundation for the sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table in the first place. Second, Iran is now implementing the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, which significantly enhances the capabilities of international nuclear inspectors to search for clandestine programs. Under the terms of the JCPOA, Iran is supposed to extend the Additional Protocol indefinitely via ratification in 2023.
Further, if the Trump Administration had concerns about sunset provisions in the JCPOA, trying to improve the agreement seems easier than burning it down and starting again. The Trump team could have also pushed for negotiations on a testing moratorium or regional accession to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, since Egypt, Iran, and Israel are all signatories to that agreement. Either option would have reduced proliferation threats in the region.
The final critique the Trump Administration leveled on the JCPOA was that it “did nothing to address Iran’s continuing development of ballistic and cruise missiles, which could deliver nuclear warheads.” While the JCPOA focused exclusively on the Iranian nuclear program, UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses and helps implement the JCPOA, calls upon Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons” until 2023. Iran’s compliance with this provision — although it is not legally binding — is murky, but the Trump Administration did not pursue negotiations to address its concerns.
Iran’s first successful launch of a military satellite by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s Corps, not the Iranian Space Agency, does deserve attention. As a corollary, Israel and India — two nuclear-armed states — diverted technology from their civilian space programs to missiles, so there is good reason to watch these developments closely. However, the United States’ efforts to block the lifting of the UN arms embargo actually fortifies the deterrent logic of Iran’s missile program in the first place. This should not be the goal of an administration that highlights at every opportunity that “Iran has the largest and most diverse ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East.”
Two years ago, President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA promising that he could create a better deal and a safer world. He has nothing to show for it now, other than increased U.S. isolation on the global stage and an Iranian government that is closer to a nuclear capability. His maniacal need to follow through on a campaign promise has not only proven to be a worthless gesture, it is now clear that it was a reckless act that has made this country less safe.
Posted in: Iran Diplomacy, Middle East, Nukes of Hazard blog, United States 820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
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Tear Up Agreement
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'Nothing left': Kenyan mother's fields stripped by locust swarm
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Kenyan farmer Mwende Kimanzi tries to chase away individual locusts that remained after a swarm descended on her crops in the region of Kyuso, Kenya, February 18, 2020. Picture taken February 18, 2020. REUTERS/Baz Ratner KYUSO, Kenya, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Kenyan farmer Mwende Kimanzi said planes started spraying as soon as the swarm of desert locusts appeared but it was not enough to save her crops. The 38-year-old mother of three says the locusts landed in her fields two weeks ago and since then they have been eating their way through her sorghum, millet and lentils while she tries to chase them away. Locust swarms in East Africa: here's what you need to know Usually she sells the lentils and keeps the rest for her family, but the locusts' arrival in Kyuso, about 200 km (125 miles) east of the capital Nairobi, means they could soon go hungry. Farmers called the authorities as soon as the locusts arrived. Authorities used planes to spray the swarm, and while some died most ended up in Kimanzi's fields. "The locusts appeared, and we called the authorities immediately. The aeroplanes started the spraying from that edge of the river. Some died, but the rest of the swarm moved to our farms. They destroyed everything here then. They have now moved to our homes. They are now laying eggs there," Kimanzi said. She has only managed to harvest one bag of millet and one bag of lentils since the locust invasion. "The rest of the crops were all destroyed," she said. "There is nothing left. We will still face hunger." The swarms, first sighted in December, have already destroyed tens of thousands of hectares (acres) of farmland in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in the worst locust invasion in 70 years.
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Insect Disaster
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Man convicted in 2015 Palmdale murder set to be released following hearing
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/ Updated: Nov 9, 2021 / 06:08 PM PST A man convicted of murder in a 2015 case is set to be released after a new state law made him eligible to be retroactively sentenced as a juvenile offender. A lawyer for a victim’s family in the case said a Los Angeles County prosecutor purposefully did not call any witnesses at a crucial hearing. But in a statement to KTLA Tuesday, the DA’s Office said there were no witnesses who could testify in the hearing, and that the judge was “left with no legal option other than to terminate juvenile jurisdiction.” Andrew Cachu was originally sentenced to 50 years to life in prison after being tried and convicted as an adult in the Palmdale homicide of Luis Amela. The defendant was 17 at the time, but he has only served six years of his term. Kathleen Cady, an attorney representing Amela’s family said that the new state law, as well as District Attorney George Gascón’s directive to end the practice of sending youth to the adult court system, “is just not justice.”
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Famous Person - Commit Crime - Release
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Locust invasion threatens Somali farmers with starvation
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Somali farmers on Saturday urged their government and the international community to help protect their crops from an invasion of locusts that is leaving many unable to feed their families.
[…]
“Locusts already ate our grazing area so we are now fighting to save at least our farm, where we planted watermelon and beans. We aren’t able to protect them and we call on the Somali government and international community to help us,” said Jamad Mohamed, a farmer in Dhusamareb, the provincial capital of Galgadud, a semi-autonomous region.
[…]
The insects have already destroyed 70,000 hectares (175,000 acres) of farmland in Somalia and neighboring Ethiopia, threatening food supplies in both countries in the worst locust invasion in 70 years, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.
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Insect Disaster
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Pump crews work at abandoned silver mine to keep toxic spill out of Murray-Darling Basin
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Queensland Government officials have taken emergency action to stop massive mine storage ponds on the Queensland-New South Wales border discharging heavy metals into the Murray-Darling system, the ABC can reveal.
Heavy rainfall this week threatened to trigger a spill of the processing ponds and dams at the Texas silver mine in southern Queensland.
The mine's storage sites hold about 240 million litres of by-products such as copper, aluminium, iron, manganese, zinc and nickel.
Queensland's Environment Department is managing the site after its former owners went broke and abandoned the mine last year.
The ABC last year obtained an internal government document revealing it could cost up to $10 million to fully rehabilitate the site.
The government holds just $2 million from the former owners in financial assurance for the mine site.
The internal document warned that as little as 40 millimetres of rain could trigger a spill from site and send cyanide and other heavy metals into the Dumaresq River and into the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Dumaresq is a major source of irrigation water for primary producers in the region.
The site of the silver mine has received more than 90 millimetres of rain in the past 48 hours, while the region has experienced some localised flooding.
No system is 100 per cent secure, but the Signal app uses end-to-end encryption and can protect your identity. Please read the terms and conditions.
In response to the rain, Department of Environment staff and contractors were pumping to minimise the potential for the release of contaminated water, with ponds and dams on the site reaching capacity.
"As soon as this weather event became clear, [the department] had people on the ground, and dispatched additional officers on Wednesday to monitor the situation," Environment Minister Steven Miles said.
"[The department] has been liaising with its counterparts in New South Wales about site management, and will continue to consult with them about any possible environmental impacts. I want to stress that this is a problem [the department] inherited."
The minister said the Texas silver mine was an example of why it was important to have a strong financial assurance system, "otherwise taxpayers can be left with the shortfall".
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Environment Pollution
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Local boy diagnosed with brain tumor, fighting for his life at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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Local boy diagnosed with brain tumor, fighting for his life at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
A local 3-year-old boy, Nathan Johnson, is fighting for his life after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
A GoFundMe has been started to help cover the boy's unexpected medical expenses.
News Channel 3’s Madison Weil spoke with the boy’s mother, Mandy Johnson, about his prognosis.
Johnson shares that Nathan’s first symptoms began in May.
“Well he had been having some nausea and vomiting,” she said. Shortly after, she noticed he began having issues with his balance and muscle twitching in his face.
“I was looking at him straight-forward from the couch and I could tell his eyes looked crossed,” she said.
After going to two separate valley hospitals that misdiagnosed him, she took him to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
“They did the MRI and they told us it would only be 45 minutes...but two hours later...they still hadn’t brought him back,” she said tearfully. “The nurse called and said they had to do extra imaging.”
She says a neuroteam gathered and explained their son’s diagnosis: “He had a brain tumor. We never, ever in our wildest dreams thought that’s what it would have been.”
Nathan was diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of brain cancer: craniopharyngioma. The doctors said he had a tumor the size of a plum sitting on his pituitary gland — the gland responsible for the growth hormone and other vital functions.
Just a day later, Nathan underwent surgery in San Diego. The doctors said they were confident that they got 99% of the tumor. But on the three-month follow-up visit, scans revealed there were two spots indicating the tumor was still there.
“At four months...he still isn’t himself,” said Mandy. He’s gained 30 pounds...he can’t do everything physically that he used to do.”
But Mandy says little Nathan never gives up. His strong personality shines through. He still loves to read his books and even sings along with his parents between treatments.
Knowing the tumor would likely grow back, they began searching for more options. They turned to St. Jude’s hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. After careful review, St. Jude accepted Nathan’s case.
The valley family has been there for three weeks now. They arrived with the intention of starting Nathan on a treatment called ‘proton radiation.’
But, before they could begin, Nathan had another terrifying setback: while sedated, he began vomiting.
“While they were trying to suction him and give him air...he went into cardiac distress. They had to code him. All last week we were in the ICU,” said his mom.
She says they’re now waiting for Nathan to regain strength before trying again. Their family is praying that the radiation therapy will provide the miracle Nathan needs to live a normal life.
Mandy explains she hasn’t been back to work since this began last May. She typically works as a nurse in the valley. Her husband Heith has had to take off significant time from work as well.
While the medical bills thus far have been extensive, Nathan will also likely need growth hormone supplements for the rest of his childhood. A monthly supply can cost $4,000.
If you’d like to contribute to help the family cover Nathan’s unexpected medical expenses and the future treatments the boy will need to recover, you can visit their GoFundMe HERE.
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Famous Person - Sick
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1966 Peru earthquake
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The 1966 Peru earthquake occurred on October 17 at 16:41 local time (21:41 UTC). [1] It had a magnitude of Mw 8.1. The epicenter was located offcoast near Huacho. About 100 people were reported dead. Most of the damage was recorded in low buildings. Cracks were reported in higher buildings. The intensity was MM IX in San Nicolás, MM VIII in Huacho, and MM VII in Callao. [2] Landslides and huge ground cracks were reported along the Pan American Highway north of Ancón.
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Earthquakes
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'Australia not targeting China' after controversial Victorian trade deal scrapped
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Foreign Minister Marise Payne says the Australian Government is not picking a fight with China after it scrapped Victoria's controversial infrastructure agreement with Beijing. The move, amid already-heightened tensions with China, earned the immediate "strong displeasure and resolute opposition" of the Chinese embassy. But Ms Payne told Ben Fordham on 2GB today the decision was not aimed at China and the government was committed to engaging with Beijing. Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne during a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra. (Alex Ellinghausen) "I want to be clear, it's not aimed at any one country," she said. "We are absolutely committed to our continuing engagement with China." Chinese officials said the decision by Australia would have serious repercussions. "This is another unreasonable and provocative move taken by the Australian side against China," a spokesperson said in a statement. "It further shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations. "It is bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations, and will only end up hurting itself." PM weighs in The Prime Minister has responded to the government's decision to rip up the deal with China. "Australia, under our government, will always protect Australia's national interests," he said. "It is our job as a Commonwealth Government to ensure we protect those national interests, and that there is one foreign policy of this country. "The foreign relations act that our Government put in place was designed to protect our national interests by ensuring that there were no other agreements entered in to by any other level of government that would conflict with Australia's national interest. So we have followed through." 'Matter for Federal Government' Victorian MP Jaala Pulford today reiterated the decision to tear up the deal was a "matter for the Federal Government". "Our focus is on supporting Victorian businesses to participate in the global economy as best they can," she said. "We have always been a government that engages with the world." Two deals linked to China's Belt and Road Initiative were among four Victorian government agreements deemed to be "inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy or to our foreign relations", Ms Payne said last night. She told 2GB this morning that both countries had benefited from close economic ties but that Australia's national interest had to take priority. The other two agreements ripped up in the first audit of major projects of its kind were with Iran and Syria, dating back as long as 22-years-ago. Victoria's involvement with the Belt and Road Initiative has come under increasing scrutiny given Australia's tensions with China in recent months. Premier Daniel Andrews has defended his state's agreement with China to support the $1.5 trillion plan from 2018. The veto scheme giving the Foreign Minister the power to audit deals with foreign nations was introduced in December. More than 1000 arrangements between states, territories, local governments and Australian public universities have already been submitted to the minister for consideration. "The more than 1000 notified so far reflect the richness and breadth of Australia's international interests and demonstrate the important role played by Australia's states, territories, universities and local governments in advancing Australia's interests abroad," Ms Payne said. Ms Payne said she would continue to consider submissions made under the scheme and "expect the overwhelming majority of them to remain unaffected". As part of the first-ever audit, Ms Payne said she had approved a proposed memorandum of understanding on cooperation on human resources development in energy and mineral resources sector between the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation of the Government of Western Australia and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia. The four arrangements are: - Memorandum of understanding between the Department of Education and Training (Victoria) and the Technical and Vocational Training Organisation, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Islamic Republic of Iran, signed 25 November 2004. - Protocol of scientific cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education in the Syrian Arab Republic and the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Training of Victoria, signed 31 March 1999. - Memorandum of understanding between the government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China on cooperation within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, signed 8 October 2018. - Framework agreement between the government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China on jointly promoting the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, signed on 23 October 2019.
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Tear Up Agreement
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Kristin Cavallari says the thought of marriage right now 'makes me cringe'
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"I'm really enjoying where I'm at right now and I'm having a good time. But I am 100 percent single at the moment," she shared. It's been over a year since Cavallari filed for divorce from Jay Cutler. She dated comedian Jeff Dye, with the reality star joking she "got a little lazy last fall" when trying to hide her romance from the press. (They were very publicly caught making out.) "I dated somebody and it was great," Cavallari said. "He was the perfect guy to date after Jay. He was really sweet, made me feel really good. But now I just want to be by myself." Cavallari said she's open to meeting someone when it's the right time. "I'm not gonna force it," she said. "I just want to enjoy the journey... I'm OK sitting in sadness or loneliness or any of those feelings." It doesn't sound like Cavallari's relationship with Dye ever got serious enough to introduce him to her three children. "It's going to take the guy I marry next for me to introduce them to my kids," she explained. "My kids will not meet anybody until I know this is the one, which I don't even want to happen. For a long time." Cavallari said she wants "to date" and "have fun," but added, "I got married young." The former Laguna Beach star met Cutler when she was only 23, adding, "I was a baby." However, she sees herself getting married again one day. "I definitely believe in marriage and I think that I will, eventually," she stated. "But the thought of getting married right now is like, 'Oh, my God.' Makes me cringe. But yes, I still very much believe in it, and I do think that I'll meet someone eventually." Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Lady Gaga had a 'total psychotic break' after rape: 'For a couple years, I was not the same girl' Demi Lovato says 'compassion' is key when helping an addict: Tough love 'made me act out more' Morgan Wallen takes the stage at Kid Rock's bar, his first live performance since scandal Kristin Cavallari is relaxing in Cabo San Lucas! The reality star, 37, was spotted on Wednesday relaxing in the sun while on vacation in her "second home," as she dubbed it on Instagram. World champion Lewis Hamilton on Friday dominated qualifying at the Brazil Grand Prix but then found himself facing demotion to the back of the grid for Saturday's sprint race after Mercedes were placed under investigation for a potential breach of technical rules. Paris Hilton and Carter Reum got married on Thursday. Hilton wore a custom Oscar de la Renta dress with sheer lace and a high neckline. A former NBA player has issued an apology after his daughter was seen at a youth basketball game in Orange County throwing a vicious sucker punch that left another girl with a concussion. When Doug Benefield met a beautiful ballerina 30 years his junior he thought he had found his ideal match, but the whirlwind romance would end in deadly pas de deux for the pair. “He was her mark,” Doug’s cousin, Tommie Benefield, told People. “She took his money, his peace, and eventually she took his life. And he loved her until the end.” Doug was shot to death Sept. 27, 2020 after he had gone to the Florida home of his estranged wife, Ashley Benefield, during a “custody battle” for the couple Social media is in a frenzy over the dress Kendall Jenner chose to wear to her friend's wedding. Scottie Pippen: "I didn't realize how much Hakeem (Olajuwon) had diminished in the game. I didn’t realize Charles (Barkley) wasn’t as dedicated as I thought he would be." Kesha ditched her clothes on Thursday as she communed with nature while on vacation in Hawaii Sajad 'Iranian Hulk' Gharibi's training is either misguided, innovative or impressive; we're just not sure which For a hack that seems relatively simple, this little eyeliner trick has gone viral.View Entire Post › It has the makings of a Hollywood thriller: A determined dad rescues his teenage daughter from an alleged Seattle sex trafficking ring and then takes brutal Steph Curry was in his bag of tricks in the third quarter against the Bulls on Friday night. The Orphan Black actor stars as lawyer-turned-superhero Jennifer Walters in the MCU series. She-Hulk First Look Teaser Reveals a Very Green Tatiana Maslany: Watch Eddie Fu Find out how many millions he's earning now. Buffett is betting big on his favorite company. It might be time to follow suit. Kim Zolciak-Biermann is experiencing some drama away from the cameras. Bunnies aren't the only little, furry creatures that get to be all hippity-hoppity. The USMNT will face Mexico in a pivotal qualifier for the 2022 World Cup at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday. Fox NewsFox News anchor Harris Faulkner had her conspiratorial bubble surprisingly burst on Thursday by Ari Fleischer of all people, who unequivocally told her that President Joe Biden does actually control the White House.After spending an inordinate amount of her Thursday morning interview with the former Bush flack discussing the right-wing outrage du jour—that Vice President Kamala Harris supposedly used a French accent—Faulkner, who has long been touted by Fox News as one of its “straight n Here's how much $$$ that's back in her control. Richard Williams’ days of making a star may not be over. The ambitious father who turned his two daughters Venus and Serena Williams into tennis […]
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Famous Person - Marriage
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Partial solar eclipse to darken Irish skies tomorrow morning
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IRISH SKIES WILL darken slightly tomorrow morning as almost half of the sun’s diameter will be covered over in a partial solar eclipse. The astronomical event will happen just before 10am high in the morning sky as the moon moves in between the Earth and our star. David Moore of Astronomy Ireland said it is the deepest partial eclipse since 20 March, 2015 and the next such event will happen in March 2025. “Given this is the best eclipse in a decade, everyone in Ireland should make sure they witness it over the two and a half hours that it will take place so I strongly recommend people book the day off work to see this extremely rare natural spectacle. “While Ireland is a long way from the centreline of this Annular Eclipse, if it’s clear we will see a spectacular Partial Eclipse. “The good news for Ireland is that the eclipse will be high in the sky, about 50 degrees up in the southeast. “The eclipse will begin just before 10am when we will see the ‘first bite’ being taken out of the Sun, and it ends just before 12:30pm. Times around Ireland may vary but only by a few minutes. “Maximum eclipse will occur a few minutes after 11am with up to 45% of the Sun’s diameter being covered from Donegal. Other places in Ireland will see at least 40% of the Sun covered. “Given the Irish weather it is important to note that you can see the Eclipse for over two hours, so even if the weather forecast isn’t great, plan to watch the entire event, in the hope of seeing something!” Down through history, Moore said, eclipses have been blamed for the fall of the Greek and Roman empires. Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you “Eclipses are extremely important. It is a little-known fact that eclipses in the past have drastically shaped the path of human civilisation.” Moore said that the eclipse can be viewed through specialist eclipse glasses or by passing sunlight through a pinhole punched in tin foil or a sheet of paper – picking up the Sun’s image on a sheet of white paper placed a few feet away. He advised that people should not look directly at the solar phenomenon as this can cause damage to the eyes. What is this Sun thing you speak of? @Ciarán Ó Dubhda: do you have a moment to hear all about our sun god, ra.. @Ricky Spanish: Up The Ra Take a full day off work? Does that seem excessive? Could we not just look outside around 11am? @Niamh O’Toole: You actually won’t see much difference just from looking outside – the sun is so bright that having even a large portion of it blocked will not cause noticeable darkening. I think you need like 80% or more of the sun to be eclipsed to actually notice the difference. Won’t be much different to a normal overcast, dreary, day then. That’s tomorrow’s forecast :( Everyone should down tools for this. Observe nature, eg birds, sounds, light dusk dawn in a short period. Astrological event? It’s an Astronomical event. @Alfredo Maldonado: embarassing, isn’t it? That “journalists” don’t know the difference between them. @The Jounal: astronomy = science; astrology = scam. The end is nigh! Again…. Check the Irish Federation of Amateur Astronomers to get information on this event “IFAS” We get about 350 of these each year so why is this different? Don’t stare at the sun! – Remember this guy.. “rapper and noted conspiracy theorist Joey Bada$$… tweeted out his reluctance to believe any harm could happen to his eyes, Then, one day later: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, shows on the #EverybodyTour are cancelled.”
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New wonders in nature
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Westpac annual profit hit by money laundering fine and recession
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
Westpac's annual profit has slumped by two-thirds after it was fined $1.3 billion for 23 million breaches of money laundering laws.
Westpac's share price has slumped 26 per cent so far this year
The big bank says unaudited full-year net profit fell by 66 per cent to nearly $2.3 billion for the year to the end of September because of writedowns and the economic recession. Cash earnings fell 63 per cent from nearly $6.9 billion in 2019 to $2.6 billion in 2020. One-off items like the $1.3 billion penalty for breaking anti-money laundering laws lowered earnings.
And Westpac took a $3.2 billion hit from the impact of the coronavirus recession, compared to a writedown of $794 million last year. The bank's chief executive Peter King said it had been a difficult year. "2020 has been a particularly challenging year and our financial result is disappointing," he said.
"Our earnings have been significantly impacted by higher impairment charges, increased notable items and the sharp decline in economic activity."
The bank paid a dividend to investors for the second half of the financial year after no payout for the first half. However, their final dividend was cut by nearly two-thirds from last year to 31 cents a share, fully franked.
Big banks have been ordered by the banking regulator APRA to limit their dividend payouts to half of annual net profit to preserve their capital buffers. Westpac's share price has slumped 26 per cent so far this year. In September, the bank agreed to pay a $1.3 billion fine to settle a case brought by the financial crimes regulator Austrac.
The regulator uncovered 262 customers who made suspicious transactions to the Philippines, other parts of South-East Asia and Mexico, exhibiting signs of engaging in overseas child exploitation. Mr King said the bank had started a comprehensive program to strengthen its risk culture, which included significant investment in training. "We have taken accountability for our mistakes and commenced a process of fundamental change, which has included refreshing the board and management and elevating oversight of financial crime, compliance and conduct," Mr King said. The bank also paid out $280 million to customers in compensation for financial scandals. Westpac said the scandals meant that top executives won't be paid short term bonuses this year, and long term incentives were forfeited because performance hurdles were not met. Westpac says more home loan and business loan customers have started repaying their mortgages again, after being granted a repayment holiday because of coronavirus. Mr King said more than two-thirds of mortgage customers had restarted paying their loans.
The number of home loans in deferral fell from 146,000 loans worth $54.7 billion six months ago to 41,000 accounts worth $16.6 billion. Small business loans that were deferred dropped from 32,900 worth $10.1 billion to 4,300 accounts worth $1 billion. Mr King said he expected to see an improvement in the bank's mortgage book next year. However, he warned that while the bank's economists expect growth to improve over 2021 and 2022, unemployment would remain high for some time. "We remain in an uncertain environment, however the recent budget has provided significant stimulus to businesses and households," he said.
Credit ratings agency Standards & Poor's said Westpac's earnings capacity remained strong despite "significant blows from the COVID-19 pandemic" and the result was broadly in line with its expectations. It said the bank bolstered its capital buffers over the year and could cut dividends again and raise capital if needed with the likelihood that more borrowers could default on their loans as stimulus is wound back. "Realised credit losses are likely to increase next year after reduction in support to stressed borrowers from two channels: fiscal support from the Government, and the loan repayment moratoriums extended by the banks," it said. Last week, ANZ saw its annual net profit drop 40 per cent to $3.6 billion. National Australia Bank will release its annual profit results later in the week. The Reserve Bank is expected to cut official interest rates to a record low of 0.1 per cent at its meeting tomorrow. Mr King would not speculate about whether or not he thought the RBA would reduce rates at the meeting but he said authorities were doing what they could to navigate the country "through a pretty tricky time". "When you think about potential moves and what the Reserve Bank does, they have very good information and so we'll respond appropriately to what they do," he said.
"We know that depositors are very much hurting in this environment, because it is savers who are getting lower returns on their investment."
Westpac shares were sold off sharply in early trade but ended off their lows at $17.80, down 0.6 per cent. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
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Organization Fine
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Water district to consider drought rate hikes
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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Updated: November 17, 2021 @ 3:25 am The Coastside County Water District is considering drought-time rates that would force customers to pay more unless they conserve water during dry months. Adam Pardee / Review The Coastside County Water District is looking to raise rates during droughts to make up operating costs when revenue is down because residents are doing as they are told and conserving water. The drought rates, which will come in front of the district’s governing board this November and through the public hearing process by January, would give the district the option to raise water prices proportional to the current water shortage and by a percentage of customers’ bills during drought times. If approved, the rates won’t necessarily be implemented, rather, the board will have the ability to institute them if needed. CCWD General Manager Mary Rogren said that during a drought, when customers are purchasing less water, the district’s costs to treat, pump and test water remain constant. Plus, drought conditions mean CCWD is relying entirely on imported water from San Francisco Public Utilities Commission sources, which are more expensive than local sources. “A drought rate actually is a mechanism to make us financially whole without having to dip into reserves or to delay capital investments,” Rogren said. If activated, during the early stages of drought when customers are being asked to cut use by just 10 to 20 percent, rates will rise at a similar rate. In effect, this means that customers who cut their water use by the recommended amount should see their bill stay the same, Rogren said. Those who continue normal use will see a proportional increase in their bill. Consultants Sanjay Gaur and Nancy Phan, of Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc., presented the rates at the last board meeting, drawing on examples from other local districts and conversations from CCWD staff to recommend the percentage-based increases. In an example, Gaur explained that a family that typically uses 7 cubic feet of water and pays $116 per month would see their bill jump to $135, $150, and eventually $165 per month if they fail to conserve water as drought intensified. If approved, these drought rates are the highest the district could consider implementing. “What we would like to tell people is: Please cut back and your bill will stay the same,” Gaur said. The CCWD board appeared to agree that the drought rates are timely and necessary, and that a percentage-based system makes the most sense for locals who want to conserve water and keep their bills flat. “We need to do this as quickly as possible,” Board Director Chris Mickelsen said. “This is the future. We need to be transparent, and our customer base needs to buy into this. … This is just the reality of the water situation here in California.” Currently, the district is asking customers to reduce their water use by 15 percent, consistent with state-level policy. Water Resources Analyst Cathleen Brennan said last week that, so far, ratepayers have not met the Stage 1 drought goal. Looking at three-month forecasts, Brennan said district staff are considering further cutbacks before the end of the year. “It’s going to continue to be dry and warmer than normal, so staff is considering seriously going into Stage 2, probably before the end of this year or around December,” Brennan said. “Even if we saw normal rainfall, there is such a deficit.” - Attend the November CCWD meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 9, to comment on potential drought rates. A public hearing on rate changes will also be held in the coming months. What about those who have been responsibly adhering to water conservation practices all along? I'm not sure there is a way that I can cut back more. And rates have been rising for some time. Maybe set some reasonable limits based on number in the household & start the punitive rates when that's exceeded. People who scrimp and save will conserve religiously. People with disposable income won’t even notice. For punitive fees to make sense in California - from speeding tickets to water use - fines need to be based on income. A $300/month charge is brutal when you make $50,000/yr. It’s a joke to anyone pulling in $500,000+. The coast is and continues to be a land of haves and have nots. And it’s not the have nots leaving our community high and dry.
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Droughts
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2021 Frito-Lay strike
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The 2021 Frito-Lay strike was a labor strike by employees at the Topeka, Kansas Frito-Lay plant against the company's mandatory overtime policy. The strike began on July 5, 2021 and ended on July 23, 2021. Frito-Lay has a contract with the Local 218 chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union, which represents Topeka, Kansas. The warehouse employs approximately 700-800 workers, 600 of which are members of the BCTGM 218 chapter. Every two years, Frito-Lay and the BCTGM negotiate a contract for employee wages and conditions. [1] The most recent contract negotiations fell through after workers rejected a contract that had been recommended by union leadership and a work stoppage and strike occurred in response. [2][3]
The strike began on July 5, 2021, when approximately 600 members of the Local 218 chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union (BCTGM) went on strike. [4] According to a report by Mic and Food & Wine, this represented approximately 80 percent of the workforce at the Topeka, Kansas plant for Frito-Lay. [5]
It was the first time the Local 218 chapter of the BCTGM union went on strike since 1973. [6] The reasons for the strike, per the union, was that employees were working as many as 12 hour days, up to 7 days a week under mandatory overtime, which employees often refer to as "suicide shifts". [7][8] Wages had been stagnant for 15 years, and the new contract only promises a low merit-based increase of up to two percent. Some union members said that their wages had only increased 77 cents per hour in the last 12 years. [9]
The strike ended July 23 with the workers getting a contract with the company that guarantees one day off a week. [10] The new contract does away with "suicide shifts", although mandatory overtime is still in effect. Frito-Lay denied any wrongdoing on their part, and claimed that the strike is a result of union leadership, stating that "union leadership is out of touch with the sentiments of Frito-Lay employees" and "we do not anticipate any further negotiations with the union for the foreseeable future. Frito-Lay will be focused on continuing to run the operations of our plant in Topeka and has a contingency plan in place to ensure employee safety. We will continue to be attentive to the situation and welcome any employees who wish to continue to work as they are legally entitled to do so. "[11]
The Kansas City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America expressed solidarity with the strike and provided fundraising for striking workers. [12]
Members from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Industrial Workers of the World picketed with BCTGM workers, and provided food and financial assistance. [13] The Heartland IWW chapter, which represents Wobblies that live in the Kansas City area provided solidarity and fundraising during the contract negotiations with Frito-Lay and BCTGM during March 2021. [14]
As a consequence of the strike, many grocery and convience stores in the Kansas City metro area faced a chip shortage within 5 days of the strike. [15][16][17]
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Strike
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Two men are dead for vehicle accident
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UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 22, 2021 Two men are dead after a wheel fell off the pickup they were in, causing the vehicle to crash near Loon Lake. Driver Oliver G. Reynolds, 52, of Deer Park and passenger Shawn T. Palanuik, 52, of Spokane, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Washington State Patrol. Reynolds was driving west on state Route 292 at about 4:30 p.m. when the front right tire and wheel came off his 1983 Ford F250 pickup. He lost control of the truck and went off the road to the right, where the truck went through a guardrail and hit a railroad bridge. The cause of the crash was equipment failure, according to WSP. But troopers didn’t specify what caused the wheel to fall off. Local journalism is essential. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. Get the day’s latest Coronavirus news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.
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Road Crash
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Osun State Bank robbery update: Ikire, Apomu bank robbers kill pipo, attack police station
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Police for Osun state say gunmen kill two if dia officers and two special constables during Wednesday Osun Bank robbery. Di officers lost dia lives during di attack on two banks and police station on Wednesday. Bullets also hit about three civilians during di attack wey start around 6:10pm in di evening, according to police. Superintendent of Police Yemisi Opalola Olawoyin say di attackers dey about 35. And dem carry about five vehicles attack di Ikire Divisional police headquarters and dia armoured tank wit plenti explosives. She say di robbers wan subdue di police first before dem go attack di access bank and di first bank wey dey do area. According to di PPRO, di robbers no succeed in robbing any of the banks sake of how dia officers attack with strong fire power. She say plenti security formations follow attack di robbers including di Prompt Response Unit PRU, CP Surveillance Team, IRT operatives, STS, 39 PMF, JTF and local security outfits. Wia dis foto come from, Fisayo Soyombo According to local report dem attack First Bank in Ikire and Access Bank inside Apomu. Robbers storm two towns inside Osun State wia dem hit two commercial banks. Di robbers also attack a police station, inside di southwest state on Wednesday, 2 June, 2021. Police don confirm di bank robbery dem and di attack on dia station by di robbers. Tori be say di suspected robbers land a about 5.30- 6pm and begin shoot anyhow wey come cause great panic. Di towns dem attack na Apomu, di headquarters of Isokan Local Goment Area and Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Goment Area. . According to local report dem attack First Bank in Ikire and Access Bank inside Apomu. Another report say di robbers first attack di Apomu bank before moving to Ikire, according to PM News wey quote wetin residents tok. Di robbers enter Apomu and Ikire through Ikoyi town, and divide demselves into different groups before dem attack di police station. And then hit di affected banks, one of which dey for Oke-Ola area. Wia dis foto come from, File foto Osun State don record similar bank robbery in di past wit dare-devil robbers. Di second bank dey near Akire Palace while di affected police station na di Ayedaade Police Station. Di armed robbers however japa through Orileowu road afta some local hunters and policemen confront dem. Di amount of loot wey di robbers tiff carri go dey yet unknown but dem kill at least four pipo inside di two attacks. Osun State Police Command tok tok pesin, SP Yemisi Opalola, confirm di robberies. "Di robbers attack two banks and dem kill some pipo. Dem attack a police station during di operation", she tok. Osun State don record similar bank robbery in di past wit dare-devil robbers. Dis particular incident don add to di rising insecurity across Nigeria.
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Bank Robbery
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Yacolt Burn
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The Yacolt Burn is the collective name for dozens of fires in Washington state and Oregon occurring between September 8 and September 12, 1902,[1] causing 38 deaths in the Lewis River area, at least nine deaths by fire in Wind River and 18 deaths in the Columbia River Gorge. [2][3]
The Yacolt Burn (also known as the Yacolt Fire, the Yacolt Blaze, the Yacolt-Cispus Burn, or the Columbia Fire of 1902) was the result of many weather factors as well as careless humans. The summer of 1902 had been drier than normal and early September winds were blowing from east to west. A build-up of slash from loggers had not been burned off properly in the preceding two summers. [4]
On September 8 a fire was started by boys trying to burn a nest of hornets near Eagle Creek, Oregon. Other large fires there occurred independently or combined with other fires started soon thereafter, including one started by a locomotive in Dodson, Oregon. [5] Other accounts cite lightning as the genesis of the fire as well as careless campers and berry pickers, hunters, and loggers cutting slash. [3][4] The fire spread rapidly, extending from Bridal Veil, Oregon to Cascade Locks, Oregon before burning debris carried across the Columbia River to Washington. It traveled 30 miles (48 km) in 36 hours and destroyed 238,920 acres (967 km²) of timber, about 12 billion board feet (28,000,000 m³), in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties. Although the fire's namesake is for the town of Yacolt, Washington, that town did not burn in the fires. [1] The loss of all property was assessed at a 1902 value of US$12,767,100. [4] The property damage in Multnomah County, Oregon was estimated at more than one million dollars. [6]
The fire dropped one-half inch of ash in Portland, Oregon. The smoke was so thick that street lights glowed at noon in Seattle 160 miles (258 km) away and ships on the Columbia River were forced to navigate only by compass. [7] Yacolt, Washington was approached by the inferno close enough to blister paint on the town's 15 buildings, but the wind changed, causing the fire to veer north toward the Lewis River, where it burned itself out. At this point an estimated total of 500,000 acres of forest burned in the fire. [8]
The timber industry on the Columbia River garnered 13,590,599 board feet of shipments in October, 1902, setting a new record for production in a single month. [9]
Immediate calls for legislation were put into action in Oregon and Washington in order to prevent fires of this scale from breaking out again. Some bills were passed into law, but they were not effective measures. In 1929, the Dole Valley fire destroyed another 153,000 acres (620 km2) of timber, and in September 2017 the Eagle Creek Fire burned nearly 50,000 acres (200 km2) in the Columbia River Gorge. The propensity for the forested uplands in this area to be repeatedly burned is due to the presence of the Columbia River Gorge, which slices through the Cascade Mountains at nearly sea level and makes the climate of the Portland Metropolitan Area relatively immoderate compared to that of Seattle. The area's wet winters cause rapid growth of lush timber, but this is followed by the intrusion of hot, dry weather in the summer from the arid Cascade Mountain rainshadow. As a result, all logging and other commercial activity in the area is regulated by very restrictive "Yacolt Burn Rules." Coordinates: 45°50′N 122°10′W / 45.833°N 122.167°W / 45.833; -122.167
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Fire
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1919 Streetcar Strike of Los Angeles
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The 1919 Streetcar Strike of Los Angeles was the most violent revolt against the open-shop policies of the Pacific Electric Railway Company in Los Angeles. Labor organizers had fought for over a decade to increase wages, decrease work hours, and legalize unions for streetcar workers of the Los Angeles basin. After having been denied unionization rights and changes in work policies by the National War Labor Board, streetcar workers broke out in massive protest before being subdued by local armed police force. Henry E. Huntington was a notorious anti-labor businessman. His distaste of unions ran so deep that Huntington joined alliance with multiple labor opponents to ensure that unions would remain subdued. Huntington shared like-minded ideas with the likes of David M. Parry, the president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and Harrison Gray Otis, owner and publisher of the Los Angeles Times. The National Association of Manufacturers was established in 1895 and had originally promoted trade and commerce, but by 1903 it began to side with anti-strike and anti-union ideologies. Huntington and Parry worked together to demand legislation for making boycotting illegal and protecting strikebreakers and nonunion workers. Otis had been working to ensure that his publication aligned with anti-unionism policies since the 1880s. He framed supporters of unions in a highly negative light and claimed that strikers were deserters who should not be allowed into the Los Angeles community. Otis utilized the Los Angeles Times to share the ideas of men of power that union men could not be trusted and that labor leaders sought to undermine and destroy companies. [1]:137
Huntington’s involvement went beyond sharing ideas with powerful men. He supported and funded organizations that supported companies that fell victim to unions and strikes. He battled labor movements locally alongside the Los Angeles Merchants and Manufacturers Association as well as the Citizens' Alliance. The Merchants’ and Manufacturers Association (M&M) was founded in the 1890s to work with emerging businesses to encourage mediation between employers and its workers. After a union-organized strike against the Los Angeles Times in 1902, M&M shifted its platform and began to publicly attack organized labor. [1]:138 Over 80 percent of local businesses were members of M&M. Businessmen were strong-armed into supporting open-shop policies with threats of cutting off bank credit, denying advertisements in the Los Angeles Times, and withholding shipment of materials to companies, forcing them to buy from competitors. [2] The Los Angeles Citizens' Alliance (LACA) was founded in Los Angeles in 1904 and was over six thousand people strong. Members could participate so long as they did not participate in any labor unions. Huntington heavily sent his support to LACA by both joining and financially backing the organization. LACA ensured the safety of its companies from unions and boycotts by providing its members one dollar per day for each worker that walked off from a strike. [1]:138
Huntington faced his first encounter with labor in Los Angeles in 1901 when the Los Angeles Railway's platform men—and motormen—demanded that their hourly wages be increased from twenty to twenty-two and a half cents per hour. In June the employees accepted the company's counterproposal of a progressive wage scale based on seniority men with under four years experience wouldbe paid twenty cents per hour, those with four years twenty-one cents, and those with five or more years at the Los Angeles Railway twenty-two cents per hour. [3] This created a huge setback for union unity. Instead of working for a common cause, each worker sought to work towards personal gain. This dilemma increased once Huntington threatened to fire anyone who joined a union. An effort was made by the Los Angeles Council of Labor in 1901 and 1902 to amalgamate the streetcar workers in the Los Angeles Basin. Huntington trampled the attempts of the council with threats of firing employees caught joining the cause. Organizers from San Francisco came to Los Angeles and organized the Local No. 203 of the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees in 1903 despite Huntington’s work against unions in years prior. The new local gained steam and quickly accumulated over 200 in membership. Previously dismissed employees attempted to call up strikes on two separate occasions in March and April, but Huntington did not tolerate any of it. Managers were ordered to fire employees that participated or sympathized with the strike and police force were used against employees attempting to march out. Huntington rewarded employees that chose to stay loyal to the company with a ten percent wage increase. The following labor clash in April 1903 known as the Pacific Electric Railway Strike of 1903 was caused by the unrest of racial divides in labor practices. The Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees decided to assist the Mexican laborers working in the Huntington construction gangs to organize their own union. Mexican laborers were hired to lay track in the southwest because their low wage rate, $1.00 to $1.25 for a ten-hour day, was significantly less than other minorities, such as the Chinese, who collected up to $1.75 per day for the same work. [1]:139 The Mexican Federal Union was formed in 1903 and raised great support in the community. Work on the Main Street line was stopped and demands were made to Pacific Electric for increased wages. Huntington refused to meet these demands and replaced them with black, Japanese, and white laborers while still paying them higher wages than had been paid towards the Mexicans. Clashes between organized labor and Pacific Electric simmered until labor efforts were renewed in 1910. Metal trade workers began a large strike and great tensions were created between employers and workers in Los Angeles as a result. The Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees took advantage of the discourse and organized the Los Angeles trainmen and created Carmen's Local No. 410. The organization lobbied the state to create a ten-hour workday for local and interurban railway workers. The movement failed because employers threatened to fire anyone found participating in the movement. From 1913 to 1915, the amalgamated workers fought for lower work shifts and higher wages but found themselves blocked by powerful enemies of labor. Pacific Electric found a new tactic for subduing the labor movement by creating a company union in 1917. Huntington chose General Manager George Kuhrts as the group's president, and other officers were elected by the workers.
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Strike
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2007 World Judo Championships
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The 2007 World Judo Championships are the 25th edition of the Judo World Championships, and were held at the Rio Olympic Arena, usually called Arena Multiuso, that was built for the 2007 Pan-American Games, in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 13 to September 16, 2007. The competition gathered the sport's top athletes in Rio de Janeiro, with only a few exceptions, due to injuries. Among the high-profile injured judokas that were unable to participate were Brazil's Flávio Canto, bronze medallist in the -81 kg category at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, who tore a ligament in his right elbow during the 2007 Pan American Games (during the event, Canto participated as a commentator for the Brazilian paid sports channel, Sportv); and Japan's Tadahiro Nomura, the three-time Olympic champion and heavy favorite in the -60 kg category was forced to withdraw only a few weeks before the event due to injury (his replacement was able to place 7th in the competition). In the leadup to the event, Rio de Janeiro also hosted the IJF's International Congress, congregating the heads of all the national confederations affiliated to the IJF. The meeting took place on September 12, eve of the first day of competition, and in it, some important decisions were made. The first was the election of the new IJF president. Marius Vizer was elected by the attending representatives to replace Yung Sang Park, the current president. In addition, the Congress voted and approved unanimously, the extension of the IJF's president term from 2 years to 6 years. Another decision made in the meeting was the selection of the city that would host the 2011 World Championship. The contenders were the cities of Paris, France and Hamburg, Germany, and the French capital was selected as the host city for the 2011 event. Finally, the Congress also voted on the new presidency of the European Judo Union, with Russia's Sergei Soloveychik being elected president and Jean-Luc Rougé and Vladimir Barta being elected as first vice president and vice president respectively. Newly appointed IJF president, Marius Vizer, was made honorary president of the European Judo Federation as well. After the conclusion of competition in the last day of the event, the IJF members voted on the best athletes of the World Championship. In the men's side, Brazil's Tiago Camilo, who won in the -81 kg category by defeating all opponents by ippon (the perfect score, which ends the match automatically), was selected; and in the women's side, North Korea's Kye Sun-Hui, who won in the -57 kg category, was chosen as best female athlete in the competition. Both athletes were presented with an obelisk-shaped, acrylic trophy for the achievement. * Host nation (Brazil)
16 September - Final details
15 September - Final
15 September - Final
14 September - Final
14 September - Final
13 September - Final
13 September - Final
16 September - Final
16 September - Final
15 September - Final
15 September - Final
14 September - Final
14 September - Final
13 September - Final
13 September - Final
16 September - Final
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Sports Competition
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Photographer captures northern lights dancing over erupting volcano in Iceland
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Some people go to a bar, club or restaurant on their birthday. Christopher Mathews celebrated his next to an erupting volcano. The Geldingadalur volcano, in southwest Iceland on the Reykjanes Peninsula, began erupting on March 19, capturing worldwide attention and drawing small crowds to gawk at lava-filled rivers oozing from the crater. Dazzling double feature: How aurora and light pillars formed over Fairbanks, Alaska The Hindu reports that it’s the first eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula, located just 15 to 20 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, in more than 800 years. Keflavik International Airport is located on the peninsula, as are the Blue Lagoon hot springs. A swarm of earthquakes, 27 of which have been registered at magnitude 4.0 or greater, have rattled the ground beneath the volcano in the past month, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. One, a magnitude 5.3, struck just a few miles away from greater Reykjavik on March 14, shaking the city of nearly 125,000, Iceland’s largest. The eruption stems from a ruptured fissure about 2,000 feet in length. The minor eruption has become a tourist attraction, drawing large crowds of adventure-seekers willing to hike the 2.2 miles to the lava flows. On Wednesday, March 24, Mathews decided to venture to a field near Grindavík, Iceland, adjacent to the volcano. He set up his cameras, hoping for a wide-angle shot of the volcano beneath a twinkling star-studded sky above. That’s when a rogue snow squall rolled in, courtesy of Iceland’s characteristically capricious climate. “An unexpected snow squall appeared, blotting out the sky and even the eruption itself,” Mathews wrote in a photo gallery post on SpaceWeather.com. “Another heartbreaker — until the skies cleared just before midnight.” It was a birthday treat for Mathews, who watched the clouds lift like a curtain, revealing the amber glow of Geldingadalur and a glowing sky above. The northern lights were shining overhead, casting pastel green hues on the fiery landscape. Iceland sits conveniently beneath the auroral oval, a band at the Arctic latitudes over which the aurora borealis routinely shimmers. The northern lights stem from energetic eruptions on the surface of the sun, which spew charged particles into space. Earth’s magnetosphere (or magnetic field) converts that potentially harmful energy into visible light and distributes it around the poles. Here’s what it was like to fly beneath the northern lights Though Iceland frequently finds itself beneath the northern lights, the island nation is often socked in beneath cloud cover. According to data from the Icelandic Met Office, the month of March averages just over 100 hours of sunshine — or a little over three hours a day. In other words, it’s cloudy more than 70 percent of the time. “It was a magical sight, and one I took especially to heart because it happened to be my birthday,” Mathews wrote. The result? An otherworldly photo that is both serene and startling, capturing the mesmerizing juxtaposition between green pillars glowing harmlessly above and slightly less-docile sputtering lava below. Intrepid Icelanders have made the most of the volcanic eruption, seizing the opportunity to hike to it in large numbers. Viral video circulating on social media even captured several daring individuals nonchalantly playing volleyball in front of a hellish orange backdrop. Others have piloted drones over the luminous lava fields, which occupy almost 250 acres. Tourism websites have recommended hiking to the volcano on days when winds are coming from the south — so as to push toxic gas billowing from the volcano and seeping out of fissures harmlessly to the north. In April 2010, the ashy eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupted transatlantic air travel for six days, with intermittent issues continuing into June.
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Volcano Eruption
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2020 Caribbean earthquake
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At 2:10 p.m. local time (UTC-5) on 28 January 2020, an earthquake of 7.7 Mw struck on the north side of the Cayman Trough, north of Jamaica and west of the southern tip of Cuba, with the epicenter being 80 miles (130 km) ESE of Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands[3] or 83 miles (134 km) north of Montego Bay, Jamaica. [4] Schools in Jamaica and buildings in Miami were evacuated after shaking was observed in parts of the U.S. state of Florida. Light shaking was also reported on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. [7] It is the largest earthquake in the Caribbean since 1946. [8] A tsunami warning for the Caribbean Sea was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and later withdrawn. [9]
The eastern part of the Cayman Trough forms part of the Gonâve Microplate, which lies between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. It is bounded to both north and south by large transform faults that together accommodate the relative displacement of the two major plates. To the north the boundary is the western part of the Septentrional-Oriente fault zone, which accommodates 6–11 mm per year of plate boundary motion, while to the south the boundary is formed by the Walton fault zone to the west of Jamaica and the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone to the east, accommodating about 8 mm per year. [10]
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 Mww and an estimated depth of 14.8 km (9.2 mi). [1] The focal mechanism, combined with an analysis of seismic waveforms, is consistent with strike-slip motion on the Septentrional-Oriente fault zone. [11] The mainshock was followed by a series of aftershocks, with the largest being a 6.1 Mww event that occurred less than three hours later, to the southeast of Grand Cayman. [12] The modelled rupture zone extends from just west of the epicenter of the M 6.1 aftershock to just east of the mainshock epicenter, suggesting unilateral westward propagation. [11] Two episodes of supershear rupture have been identified from the inversion of teleseismic P waveforms. [13]
There were cracked roads and many sinkholes. [14] A minor tsunami of 46 cm (1 ft 6 in) was recorded. [15] All government schools were closed to allow inspections for possible damage, but they were all reopened on January 30 as no major damage had been found that related to the earthquake. [16]
A six-story building on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, containing approximately 300 students, was evacuated. [17] Damage was reported from at least two parishes in western Jamaica. [18]
Several buildings in and around the New Kingston vicinity were evacuated promptly after the earthquake, with several reports of shaking. The area was virtually shut down. [citation needed]
Tremors were felt on the southern coast of the island. A spokesman for Guantanamo Bay Naval Base stated that there were no reports of damages or injuries. [19] Granma Province was affected by the strongest shaking, being closest to the epicenter. A survey carried out by the National Center for Seismological Research, found that one house had completely collapsed and another 300 showed some damage. The houses affected were all ones that were not in good condition before the earthquake. Damage was also reported from some schools and daycare centers. [20]
Tremors were felt throughout southern Florida and several buildings were evacuated, particularly in Miami-Dade County (450 miles away) and the Florida Keys. [21] Several government buildings in Downtown Miami were evacuated, initially on a volunteer basis until a full evacuation was ordered by the local fire department. [22]
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Earthquakes
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An Alabama community is marking the 20th anniversary of an underground explosion
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An Alabama community is marking the 20th anniversary of an underground explosion that killed more than a dozen coal miners in one of the state's worst mining disasters.
The Alabama Miner's Memorial Foundation planned a remembrance Thursday afternoon at a church in Brookwood, where the blast at Jim Walters Resources Mine No. 5 claimed 13 lives on Sept. 23, 2001.
The victims were working about 2,000 feet below the surface when a pair of explosions ripped through the mine, located about 40 miles southwest of Birmingham.
An investigation showed a battery charger ignited highly flammable gas in the mine, causing the blast.
Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites.
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Gas explosion
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Balboa Park groups merge ahead of Botanical Building repairs
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Two well-known Balboa Park groups have officially tied the knot and are celebrating their union with a new name: Forever Balboa Park. Thursday, the nonprofits previously known as the Balboa Park Conservancy and the Friends of Balboa Park, announced the all-new, singular identity following a merger that went into effect on July 1. The name Forever Balboa Park, workshopped by a local branding agency, is meant to convey the legacy of one of San Diego’s greatest assets. A new logo and branding materials are still the works. “Adopting a new name demonstrates our own willingness to embrace change as well as our belief in becoming an even stronger partner to all who value Balboa Park and want to help sustain and support it,” Connie Matsui, who co-chairs the board, said in a statement. “As the new name implies, we honor the comprehensive vision of the park’s founders while encouraging ongoing innovations and improvements that will enhance the park’s vitality and rich diversity for many more generations.” The park group is in search of an executive to run the refashioned entity, which will act as a partner to the city of San Diego on projects such as the restoration of the iconic Botanical Building. It’s currently run by Matsui and Sarah Evans, the co-chairs of the board of trustees. Formed in 2011 as the city’s not-for-profit partner, the Balboa Park Conservancy’s directive has been to care for the park while also raising donor funds to improve public assets, including buildings not leased by cultural institutions. Its responsibilities have included operating the House of Hospitality, home to the Prado restaurant, and the Balboa Park Visitors Center. The nonprofit also hosted the annual December Nights festival. Meanwhile, Friends of Balboa Park, which was started by Betty Peabody in 1999, had no direct affiliation with the city, although it too worked to fundraise for park-wide improvements, and was the owner-operator of the Balboa Park Carousel. Its successful endeavors include upgrades to the Palm Canyon pedestrian bridge and completing the Morton Bay Fig Tree Platform. Forever Balboa Park will continue with each group’s respective duties. It will also need to flex its upgrading fundraising muscle almost immediately, as it prepares to collect millions in philanthropic gifts to complete its portion of the restoration of the storied Botanical Building and the surrounding gardens. Originally constructed in 1914, and one of four remaining permanent structures built for the Panama California Exposition, the free-to-the-public facility is in disrepair as a result of extensive termite damage, rust and years of deferred maintenance. The conservancy, which had been charged since 2015 with spearheading the restoration effort, helped advance the project’s schematics, but a lack of funds and complications associated with the public-private partnership stymied actual construction work. In 2019, an $8.26 million grant from the state of California appeared to resurrect what was, at one time, an $11 million project. Escalating project costs have, however, continued to sideline the long-planned restoration with momentum only recently picking up. As it stands, the city is prepared to award a construction contract for phase one improvements — or the bulk of the structural work and repairs to the building’s famous window arches — to EC Constructors, which responded to a request for proposals with the lowest qualified bid, or $12.4 million, according to a report prepared for City Council. However, the city is pegging the total project cost, including staff time, at $21.5 million, and will use proceeds from the sale of bonds to help finance construction. The second phase of improvements — namely cosmetic exterior upgrades, reconstruction of a historic pergola and two new multipurpose rooms — will be tackled by Forever Balboa Park with the organization set to sell naming rights for various building elements as soon it gets the green light from City Council. The conservancy had been working on the particulars of the naming program, a first of its kind, for years. The finalized plan includes 15 different naming opportunities with gift levels ranging from $225,000 to $8 million.
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Organization Merge
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Dragons board decided to tear up the Vaughan's NRL deal
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Paul Vaughan has been sacked by St George Illawarra for hosting a party that breached protocols. St George Illawarra have been forced to admit failings in club culture after Paul Vaughan was sacked on Tuesday for hosting an illegal party at his home with 12 other players at the weekend. In an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the Dragons board decided to tear up the remaining 15 months of Vaughan's NRL deal which was worth around $750,000 per season. Vaughan had already been fined $50,000 by the NRL and slapped with an eight-game ban for breaching COVID-19 protocols by hosting a party at his Shellharbour home. Jack de Belin and other players have copped individual breach notices from the Dragons on top of the one-game suspensions and the $305,000 worth of fines handed out to the group. Daniel Alvaro, Corey Norman, Gerard Beale, Jack Bird, Matt Dufty, Kaide Ellis, Tyrell Fuimaono, Josh Kerr, Blake Lawrie, Zac Lomax and Josh McGuire were also in attendance. All 13 players as well as Vaughan's partner were fined $1000 by NSW Police for breaching a health order. It has since emerged that de Belin and a handful of others misled authorities, the club and the NRL's integrity unit to cover up that he had been in attendance. De Belin told the club that he had been walking his dog in the general area of the party and just dropped something off at Vaughan's house. "I don't think we've got a culture problem but I don't think the culture is where we want it to be," Dragons chief executive Ryan Webb said on Tuesday. "We need to honestly look at our culture and say we're not where we want to be and ask how are we going to improve it from here?" It is Vaughan's second breach of the NRL's biosecurity rules after he attended a cafe while in the NRL bubble last season, and he was on his third warning for another unrelated incident. Speaking on Fox Sports' NRL 360 on Tuesday night, Vaughan gave an emotional apology to the community, the NRL and his family, saying he realised early on the significance of his actions. "I understand the community and the angst this has caused them. I never wanted that to happen. I can't say sorry enough," he said. The 30-year-old also said he hopes this is not the last of his NRL career. "I really hope not, this game I love so much, it really pains me to see the impact it's had on the game, it's heartbreaking," he said. "I still have a burning desire to not only continue on playing but to show people I'm a good person and to win back their faith." The 12 other players in attendance at the party were fined by the club, with the confidential figure to be donated to local charities. They will have to complete "compulsory extracurricular club service". It's understood Vaughan's eight-game NRL suspension will carry over to any subsequent NRL deal he signs. The Dragons deliberated at length about whether to sack the ex-NSW and Kangaroos prop but did not consider tearing up the contracts of senior players de Belin and Norman.
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Tear Up Agreement
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2016 Kidapawan protests
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Local Governments
Government agencies
Farmer protesters
Joined by:
For three days from March 30, 2016, thousands of farmers and their supporters blockaded the Davao–Cotabato Road in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. A day before prior to the road blockade, 500 farmers protest in front of the National Food Authority Office in Kidapawan to air their grievances. The demonstration ended violently with at least three deaths on the side of the protesters and a total of 116 injured on both sides after the police dispersed the mass action. The protesters cited the drought caused by El Niño that has been affecting the region since November 2015 and the non-distribution of rice by the National Food Authority despite the declaration of a state of calamity by the local government unit. [5]
Among the demands set by the protesters was 15,000 sacks of rice which they said North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza previously promised to give as a form of relief, seeds of vegetables resistant to drought and other relief against hunger. [5]
More than 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres) of agricultural lands had been affected by the drought according to the Department of Agriculture with about ₱5.3 billion worth of rice and corn lost as a result of the calamity. [5]
The number of people who participated in the protests ranged from 3,000 to 6,000 protesters composing of farmers affected by droughts and their supporters. The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave an estimate of about 3,000 participants, while protest organizers gave a figure of 5,000 protesters. [5][6]
According to North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, groups outside the province, namely Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, League of Filipino Students, Gabriela and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas joined to support the protesting farmers. [5] It was also reported that some of the farmers involved were from outside the province, and that they were told that they would be receiving rice from the governor of North Cotabato. [6]
According to local town municipals farmers from the municipalities of Arakan, Antipas, Magpet, Makilala and Tulunan were coerced by the New People's Army to join the demonstrations to attract the media's attention. [7]
Five hundred farmers went in front of the National Food Authority office in Kidapawan on March 29, 2016, to begin a protest saying that they were suffering from hunger, and that they had no income due to the El Niño phenomenon. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza talked with the farmers, and the names of the farmers were sent to the local government unit so that they could be given rice rations and other benefits from the calamity fund of the province. [8]
On March 30, 2016, around 6 a.m. (PST), some 6,000 farmers and their supporters began to gather at the Davao–Cotabato Road in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, to set up a road blockade. As the protesters aired their grievances, they rendered the road impassible to thousands of motorists for three days. [5] The police were also deployed in an attempt to negotiate with the protesters. Bai Alil Indayla, chairperson Gabriela Mindanao said that the protesters were suspicious of the police, and they questioned the PNP's attempts to engage open negotiations. Indayla further said that the police were ready to dismantle the barricade set up by the protesters. [8]
According to Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista, Governor Taliño-Mendoza was scheduled to have a dialogue with the farmers at the city hall in the evening of March 30, but none of the farmers came for the talks. [9] The farmers would block more portions of the highway until the government officials spoke to them. [1]
When the protesters demanded 15,000 sacks of rice previously promised by Mendoza, she reportedly refused to give in to the demands, and clarified that the rice assistance from the provincial government was intended only for resident farmers of the province. [6]
On 10:00 a.m. PST of April 1, 2016, the farmer-demonstrators' permit to rally expired. [10] On the same day, the police, led by security personnel under Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, along with personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted operations to clear the highway. They were tasked to act "upon guidance from Governor Mendoza". The goal of the clearing operation was reportedly to rescue minors who participated in the protests. [5] The minors were reportedly used as human shield by protesters, led by Mindanao-based officials of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. [9]
At 10:30 a.m., the incident started when the police tried to disperse the protesting farmers. [11] The PNP report said that the police were attacked with poles, pieces of wood, and large rocks by protesters before the police could commence their operation. A fire truck was deployed in the area. According to Norma Capuyan, the leader of the farmer's group, the PNP tried to disperse the protesters with water cannons before the police opened fire. Capuyan said that she and her fellow protesters ran into a church compound that was later surrounded by the police. [5]
The protests ended violently with 3 farmers dead. Both sides sustained injuries. Some of the protesters took refuge in nearby Spottswood Methodist Center, a Methodist church. The Mayor of Kidapawan notified the church's Board of Trustees on April 1, 2016, that the city government might revoke the church's permit to operate, due to harboring the protesters whom the city government deemed to have unlawfully blockaded the highway a few days ago. [12]
The PNP reported on April 2, 2016, that 99 of its personnel involved were injured, with one in critical condition. The PNP also stated that 2 of the protesters died and 10 were injured. The PNP acknowledged that the protester-casualty figures given were based on those who sought medical attention from the police, and that these figures did not include injured protesters who did not seek medical attention from government units. [2]
Kilab reported that 3 protesters died, while Anakpawis reported that there were 116 people injured and 88 who went missing. Prior to Anakpawis' report, the Children's Rehabilitation Center reported that 87 persons, including 6 children, went missing. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Southern Mindanao chair reported that at least 9 of the injuries were from gunshots. [3]
Some of the protesters were arrested by the PNP, including an alleged commander of the New People's Army from Barangay Basak in the town of Magpet, North Cotabato. [10]
The PNP formally filed cases of economic sabotage, illegal assembly, harassment and obstruction to traffic flow before the North Cotabato's Prosecutorial Office against 43 people who were arrested for their involvement in the violent protest. [13]
Malacanang issued a statement through PCDSPO undersecretary, Manuel L. Quezon III calling for impartial investigation of the incident saying that "There is no reason why people must die in order to be asking for assistance from their own government" and urged the public not to "rush into judgment" pending an investigation. North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said she was taking "full responsibility" for the incident. [14]
All presidential candidates of the 2016 Philippine elections, Jejomar Binay, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Rodrigo Duterte, Grace Poe, and Mar Roxas issued statements condemning the violent dispersal of the protests. In addition, Poe and Santiago recognized the rights of the protesters to organize demonstrators and Duterte directly condemned the administration of Benigno Aquino III and called for action regarding the incident. Roxas for his part called for investigations to determine the true cause of the incident. [15]
Days before his fight against Timothy Bradley, Sarangani representative and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao, also condemned the said encounter and paid condolences to the families that have been affected in the incident.
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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2021 Russian protests
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Liberal opposition:
Socialist opposition:
Government:
Supported by:
Protests in Russia began on 23 January 2021 in support of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was immediately detained upon returning to Russia after being sent to Germany for treatment following his poisoning the previous year. Prior to the start of the protests, a film by Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) called Putin's Palace, which revolves around the connection between president Vladimir Putin and a palace allegedly being built for him, was released. [44][45][2]
On the first day, protests were held in 198 towns and cities across Russia in what were one of the largest anti-government demonstrations since protests in 2011–2013 against the results of legislative elections in 2011 and Putin's re-election in 2012. [46][47][48][49] Unsanctioned by the authorities, the protests were met with police crackdowns, with thousands detained. [50] As a result, Navalny's team announced a suspension of street protests on 4 February, stating that they would focus on legislative elections that would be held later in the year,[51][52] and later announcing a shift from street protests to courtyard protests to avoid direct confrontation with police. [53][54] In response to Navalny's deterioration of health while in prison, street protests were held again on 21 April for the last time. [55]
Despite the protests, Navalny's suspended sentence of three and a half years was replaced with a prison sentence on 2 February. [56] Following the protests, the Moscow prosecutor's office on 16 April formally requested the Moscow City Court to designate organizations linked to Navalny including the FBK and his headquarters as extremist organizations, claiming: "Under the disguise of liberal slogans, these organizations are engaged in creating conditions for the destabilization of the social and socio-political situation. "[57] On 9 June, the organizations were designated as extremist and liquidated by the Moscow City Court. [58][59]
Navalny had been hospitalized on 20 August 2020, in serious condition after he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. [60] He was medically evacuated to Berlin and discharged on 22 September. [61][62][63] The use of a Novichok nerve agent was confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). [64][65] Though the Kremlin denied involvement in his poisoning,[66] the EU and the UK responded by imposing sanctions on six senior Russian officials and a state chemical centre. [67][68] Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for his poisoning. [69] An investigation by Bellingcat and The Insider implicated agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Navalny's poisoning. [70]
Navalny returned to Russia on 17 January 2021, where he was immediately detained on accusations of violating terms of a suspended jail sentence. [71] Prior to his return, the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said that Navalny may face jail time upon his arrival in Moscow for violating the terms of his probation, saying it would be "obliged" to detain him once he returned;[72] in 2014, Navalny received a suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case, which he called politically motivated and in 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Navalny was unfairly convicted. [73][74] The Investigative Committee of Russia also said that it was investigating Navalny for alleged fraud. [75] A court decision the next day ordered the detention of Navalny until 15 February for violating his parole. A makeshift court was set up in the police station where Navalny was being held. Another hearing would later be held to determine whether his suspended sentence should be replaced with a jail term. [76] Navalny described the procedure as “ultimate lawlessness”. He also called on his supporters to take to the streets, saying: “Do not be silent. Resist. Take to the streets – not for me, but for you”. Navalny's regional network head, Leonid Volkov, said that preparations were being made for protests to be organised across the country on 23 January. [77]
While in jail, an investigation by Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) was published on 19 January, accusing Putin of corruption. The video of the investigation also urged people to take to the streets. [78] Before the protests had begun, the video on YouTube received over 60 million views. [79] By the next day the state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor was demanding the social networks VKontakte (VK) and TikTok to stop the spread of calls to the protests. [80] The efficacy of these calls[clarification needed] is disputed. [81]
Arrests of several of Navalny’s aides and allies, including Lyubov Sobol, began on 21 January. [82] Several were jailed or fined on charges of disobeying police orders or organizing a public event without notifying the authorities, with Sobol being fined and released. [83] The Ministry of Internal Affairs also threatened to prosecute those spreading calls to join the protests. The Prosecutor General's Office also ordered the censor, Roskomnadzor, to block access to pages that call for unauthorized rallies. [84] On 22 January, the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Moscow issued a statement warning against calls to the protests or participation in them. It stated that any attempts to hold unauthorized events as well as “provocative actions by the participants” would be regarded as a “threat to public order” and be “immediately suppressed”. [85] Social media networks began removing information about the protests. VK blocked access to a number of pages on the protests, with the pages stating that it was blocked on the requirement of the General Prosecutor’s Office. [86] Roskomnadzor also stated that VK, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube blocked some content which involved “calls for children to participate in illegal mass events”. [87] However, Facebook and YouTube have countered this claim. Facebook said it “received requests from the local regulator to restrict access to certain content that calls for protest. Since this content doesn’t violate our Community Standards, it remains on our platform.”[81]
Reuters estimated up to 40,000 protesters gathered in Moscow. Authorities gave a figure of only 4,000 participants, while other estimates included 15,000 and 25,000 participants. [89][90] Protesters began gathering at Tverskaya Street and Pushkinskaya Square, with a procession ending near Matrosskaya Tishina where Navalny was being held. [91] Riot police in the city began breaking up the protest and detaining participants before it was scheduled to start. [44] Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was detained by police at the exit of Moscow's Teatralnaya metro station;[92] she was released after being detained for 3 hours. [93] Navalny's ally, Lyubov Sobol, was also detained shortly after arriving at Pushkinskaya Square and was later fined. [94] Clashes between police and protesters broke out. [44] In Tsvetnoy Boulevard, an FSB car was stopped by a crowd of protesters and hit with snowballs, with the driver of the car reportedly sustaining an eye injury.
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Protest_Online Condemnation
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1962 Turkish Airlines Taurus Mountains crash
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The 1962 Turkish Airlines Taurus Mountains crash occurred on 8 March 1962 at 17:43 local time (15:43 UTC) when a Turkish Airlines Fairchild F-27 airliner, registration TC-KOP, on a scheduled domestic flight from Esenboğa Airport (ESB/LTAC) in Ankara to Adana Airport (ADA/LTAF), flew into the Bolkar Mountains on approach to landing. [1]
The Turkish Airlines F-27 departed from Esenboğa Airport at 16:20 EET (14:20 UTC) for a flight to Adana. The pilot reported en route passing Aksaray and estimated to arrive in Adana at 17:40 local time. At 17:28, the pilot reported at FL175 and requested a clearance to approach. At 17:40 the flight was cleared to 5,000 ft (1,500 m) and was asked to report crossing 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and 7,000 ft (2,100 m). Nothing more was heard from the flight. It appeared the plane had crashed at 6,800 ft (2,100 m) AMSL some 76 km (47 mi) from the Adana radio range[1] at Bolkar Mountains of southeastern Taurus mountain range. [1]
The probable cause of the accident was that the pilot was unable to keep track of his exact position or to maintain exact altitude in avoiding cumulus cloud, and associated turbulent conditions. [1]
The aircraft had three crew and eight passengers on board. All crew and passengers lost their lives at the crash. [1]
The aircraft, a Fairchild F-27 with two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines, was produced by Fairchild Hiller with manufacturer serial number 83, and made its first flight in 1960. [1]
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Air crash
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2nd set of historical human remains discovered at Lockport construction site
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More historical human remains have been discovered near the St. Andrews lock and dam site in Lockport, Man., after an initial discovery was made late last month during construction in the area. Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson said early investigations suggest the remains belong to two teenagers, found within a few feet of each other. "To find two bodies that close together, I'm sure there are others in that area," he said. The province is now investigating in accordance with provincial laws, Hudson says, and carbon dating will be carried out to find out more about when the teens may have lived and died. Last month, police were called to the area on the banks of the Red River, 27 kilometres north of Winnipeg, after human remains were discovered while work to the bridge on the dam structure was being done. They were determined to be archeological in nature, RCMP said at the time. A second set of remains was found on Sept. 10, Hudson said, and elders from Peguis First Nation held ceremonies for each, lighting a four-day sacred fire. The area is part of the traditional lands of Peguis First Nation. Peguis's reserve was relocated from the former St. Peter's reserve site, which was north of Selkirk. "There are other descendants in the area — the Métis, obviously, and going back, Brokenhead [First Nation] also has used that area in the past. These are things that we're trying to research and figure that out," said Hudson. Construction work in the immediate area has been stopped while archeologists investigate, Hudson said. The investigation may also extend into Lockport Provincial Heritage Park, which is just metres away from where the remains were found. The area is one of Manitoba's most important archeological sites, with findings dating back to the 1400s. It's where the earliest known evidence of farming on the Canadian prairies was found, and is the farthest north where evidence of farming prior to European settlement in North America has been documented. Hudson said Peguis First Nation was not made aware of the construction work before it began, and hopes in the future they will be consulted about projects in their traditional areas. Hudson said one of the teens found was buried along with buffalo and birch-bark artifacts. "[They] must have been wrapped in a buffalo robe and birch bark. That's something that indicates that the individual is Indigenous," said Hudson. "It tells us that the individual was a very special person within the family group." In a Friday news release, Peguis First Nation said early investigation involving the first set of remains shows the person had tuberculosis — a disease that came to Canada with European settlers in the 1700s and still impacts many Indigenous people to this day. "It had a very negative impact on some of our tribes and some of our people in the area, and that's something we continue to try to understand, in terms of colonization and the impacts of it," Hudson said. CBC News has reached out to the Manitoba Heritage Resources Branch — which handles investigations into human remains that are discovered — for comment but has not yet received a response. The discovery of unmarked graves of children near former residential school sites across Canada has led to public outcry and demands for more searches school sites. Hudson said investigations are continuing into whether the teens could be connected with any residential school sites. "It shows a much-tainted history that has happened here in Canada," he said. "Having these bodies discovered, especially two young teenagers so close together, it questions whether there are more out there." Once carbon dating is completed, Hudson says Peguis will look at repatriating the remains to their traditional burial grounds north of Selkirk.
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New archeological discoveries
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2021 St. Charles Bend strike
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The 2021 St. Charles Bend strike was a labor strike involving technical workers at the St. Charles Medical Center – Bend in Bend, Oregon, United States. The background of the strike began in 2019, when the workers at the hospital unionized with the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Following this, the union's bargaining unit began to negotiate a labor contract between the workers and the hospital, with several dozen negotiating meetings following over the next year. By December 2020, however, both sides were at an impasse, and in February 2021, the union filed a strike notice. Despite legal challenges by the hospital, the strike commenced on March 4. On March 13, both sides agreed to a proposal by a Federal mediator, with workers to return to work while both sides continue to negotiate a contract, with a deadline of March 31. The strike officially ended on March 15, with workers returning to the hospital. A contract was eventually ratified between the union and hospital by the end of that month. In Bend, Oregon, the St. Charles Health System operates the St. Charles Medical Center – Bend, a hospital commonly known as St. Charles Bend. [1] According to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), the hospital "receives some of the most seriously ill and injured patients for over 30,000 square miles of Oregon. "[2] In 2021, the health system was both the largest employer and only hospital system in central Oregon,[3] prompting Oregon Employment Department economist Damon Runberg to refer to it as a "monopsony". [4] According to OPB, there were a number of labor dispute issues at the hospital throughout the 2010s. In 2013, two separate class action lawsuits were filed by employees of the hospital, resulting in settlements in 2017 that saw over $10 million paid out to over 1,100 workers. Additionally, between 2017 and 2018, the Oregon Health Authority investigated understaffing issues with the health system, and between 2018 and 2021, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries received 11 complaints from workers at the health system regarding wage violations, with 10 of the complaints prompting warning letters from the bureau to the health system. In 2020, the health system admitted to violating state laws regarding meal and rest breaks. [2]
In September 2019, technical workers (including medical technicians, technologists, and therapists)[5][6] at the hospital voted 90 to 34 to unionize, joining the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), an affiliate labor union of the American Federation of Teachers, which represented over 5,000 other workers at that time. [7] The local union was given the designation Local 5017. [8][2][9] That same year, the union formed a bargaining unit and began to negotiate their first ever labor contract with the hospital. [4] In early December 2020,[4] after 28 negotiation meetings,[10][11] the hospital submitted a labor contract proposal which was ill-received by union members. [4] According to union representatives, the hospital did not provide the market analyses they had used in creating their proposal. Additionally, the contract included only a 0.5% annual cost of living adjustment, which was less than the adjustment guaranteed to nurses at the hospital unionized under the Oregon Nurses Association. [4] Union members claimed they were being paid less than technical workers in other areas,[2] with Sam Potter (a union organizer affiliated with the OFNHP) claiming that the workers at St. Charles Bend made 20% less than technical workers in Portland, Oregon. [10] Following negotiations on December 3, further negotiations between the union and hospital were cancelled. [8] In 2021, over 100 people picketed on January 30 and February 1 in front of the hospital in support of the technical workers. [4]
On February 22, the union (which at this time represented 156 technical workers at the hospital)[1][12] filed a strike notice with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). [3] The announcement came on a Monday, with 94% of union members voting to approve the strike over the weekend. The notice said the strike was to commence ten days from then, giving a tentative start date as March 4. The hospital responded to the notice on the same day in a press release wherein they accused the union of bad faith bargaining and stated their intent to file an unfair labor practice charge against the union with the NLRB. [3] In a March 1 press release, the hospital stated that two charges had been filed with the NLRB. One charge pertained to bad faith bargaining, while the other charge argued that the union did not follow proper labor laws regarding notification periods for a strike, making the strike notice unlawful. Additionally, the hospital filed an injunction with the court system to "ensure healthcare services are maintained until the issue can be resolved. "[12] The following day, U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane denied the injunction, claiming that issuing the restraining order was outside of his power. [5][13]
On March 3, the day before the start of the strike, the hospital extended an offer to the union wherein they would return to bargaining if the union cancelled the strike. This offer was countered by the union, who stated they would be willing to bargain if the hospital agreed to a strike delay, not willing to cancel the strike. Potter, discussing the prospects of returning to the bargaining table after cancelling the strike, said, "We would be coming back to the table having given up every single piece of leverage." Ultimately, no agreement was made. [14] Prior to the beginning of the strike, the union and hospital had arranged for federal mediation talks on March 10. [10]
The strike began on March 4,[6][15] making it the first strike in St. Charles's history since a nurses' strike in 1980. [8] On the first day, picketing took place outside the hospital, with many strikers wearing red face masks and holding signs reading "On strike against unfair labor practices. "[6] Several elected officials voiced their support for the strikers, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and State Representative Jason Kropf (both members of the Democratic Party). [8] Over the course of the strike, Kropf and district attorney John Hummel joined the picket line with the strikers. [16] Due to the strike, the hospital limited the number of surgeries performed. [17] Additionally, some cases were relocated to St. Charles Medical Center – Redmond. [18] In order to maintain operations, St. Charles Bend contracted several dozen replacement workers. [8] However, in a March 8 article in The Bulletin, multiple registered nurses at the hospital expressed concerns over the qualifications of the replacement workers, with several claiming a more hectic work environment. [18] Several nurses picketed with strikers that same day. [16] Also on March 8, the union released a press release claiming that over $25,000 had been raised in donations from the community for the strike fund. A competing press release issued by the hospital the same day criticized the union as "unresponsive". [16] At this time, a report by local television station KTVZ reported that the union and hospital had agreed to an hourly wage of $41.94 for the first year of the contract, but disagreed on the wages for the second through fifth years of the contract.
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Strike
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US, Israel withdraw from UNESCO, accusing the cultural body of 'anti-Israel bias’
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The United States and its ally Israel officially withdrew from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close of the year 2018. The two nations had announced their intention to quit the international organisation in October 2017, accusing it of anti-Israel bias. The United States and its ally Israel officially withdrew from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the close of the year 2018. The two nations had announced their intention to quit the international organisation in October 2017, accusing it of anti-Israel bias. Speaking on the decision, the US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert had said that the decision was not taken lightly and it reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organisation and continuing anti-Israel bias. The decision comes as the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is voting to choose a new director, intense balloting overshadowed by the agency’s funding troubles and divisions over Palestinian membership. This is the second such instance when the US has withdrawn itself from a major multilateral commitment after President Donald Trump took charge, first being its withdrawal from the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. It underlines Trump’s ‘America First’ policies. The outgoing Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, called the US withdrawal a 'loss to multilateralism', while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that he 'regrets this development deeply'. "At the time when conflicts continue to tear apart societies across the world, it is deeply regrettable for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations agency promoting education for peace and protecting culture under attack," said Bokova. Impact of the Withdrawal The withdrawal of the United States, which is meant to provide a fifth of UNESCO’s funding, is a major blow for the Paris-based organisation. However, the US had already withheld much of its funding for UNESCO since 2011, when the body admitted Palestine as a full member. The United States and Israel were among the 14 nations out of the 194 UNESCO members that voted against admitting Palestinian into the body. According to estimates, the unpaid dues of the United States reportedly run up to over $500 million, while Israel owes an estimated $10m. US has pulled out of UNESCO before? • This is not the first time that the US has walked out of the UN body. The nation previously withdrew itself from the 195-member organisation once before in 1984 under former president Ronald Reagan’s administration, as it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance Soviet interests. • It was under President George W Bush that the US returned to the body in 2002, but relations soured again in 2011 when Barack Obama pulled the plug on funding to the body after its members voted to admit Palestine as a full member. • Despite cutting its funding to the agency the US had continued to cooperate with UNESCO since 2011 on programmes of interest to the Americans, such as combating the rise of extremism and perpetuating the memory of the Holocaust. • US is against any move by UN bodies to recognise the Palestinian territories as a state, believing that this must await a negotiated Middle East peace deal. Why does the US recognise Israel and not Palestine? • Firstly, the United States has recognised Israel since it was established. The State of Palestine declared independence in 1988 during six years of uprising.• Most of the areas claimed by the State of Palestine have been occupied by Israel since 1967. Hence, neither the US nor Israel recognise Palestine as a state because recognition of statehood also implies a recognition of the state’s borders.• While Israel defined its borders as suggested by UNSCOP and then by the results of a war with a cease-fire and a cease-fire line (green line) agreement, Palestine does not have a defined border.• Without a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinian governments determining the borders, recognition of Palestine would, in effect, negate recognition of Israel or reject Israel’s legitimate control over its present borders.• The US supported a peace agreement and therefore it doesn’t and will not recognise the State of Palestine until there is a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. About UNESCO • It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that has its headquarters in Paris. It was co-founded by the United States after World War II to help protect cultural and natural heritage around the world. • It is the successor of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation. • The organisation’s main objective is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. • It also aims to contribute to the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. • It is best known for its World Heritage program, which designates cultural sites and aims to preserve traditions such as the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria and the Grand Canyon National Park. • It also works to improve education for girls, promote understanding of the Holocaust's horrors, and to defend media freedom. • In total, UNESCO has 195 member states and 10 associate members and it pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture and communication and information.
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Withdraw from an Organization
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Nieuwmarkt riots
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The Nieuwmarkt riots (Dutch: Nieuwmarktrellen), also referred to as the Amsterdam metro riots, is a series of serious disturbances in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. On 24 March 1975, which later became known as Blue Monday,[1] and on 8 April 1975, protests against the planned demolition of homes[quantify] ended in confrontations with over a hundred municipal police supported by 500 military police. [2] The homes were considered by residents and protesters to be in good condition, but had to make way for the construction of the East Line tunnel of the Amsterdam metro. [3] This was needed because the construction of the 3.5 km tunnel was largely done by sinking large concrete caissons. [citation needed] As a result of the riots, the city council of Amsterdam decided to abandon further plans for additional metro lines. In 1980, the Nieuwmarkt metro station was opened. It is decorated with artworks that memorialize the turbulent times. [4]
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Riot
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1974 Norfolk mid-air collision crash
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The 1974 Norfolk mid-air collision happened on 9 August 1974 at Fordham Fen, Norfolk, England when a Royal Air Force McDonnell-Douglas F-4M Phantom FGR.2 of No. 41 Squadron RAF (41 Sqn) collided with a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee crop spraying aircraft. [1] All three aviators were killed: the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee. [1] The Phantom pilot was a Royal Air Force Group Captain and station commander of RAF Coningsby. [1] It was the first collision between a civil aircraft and a military fast jet in the United Kingdom low flying military training system. The Pawnee registered G-ASVX was a single-engined single-seat crop spraying aircraft built in 1974. [2] The Phantom serial number XV493 was a twin-engined two-seat, all-weather military strike/interceptor aircraft. [2]
The Pawnee had departed earlier on 9 August 1974 from Southend Airport to a disused airfield at Broomhill, near Downham Market in Norfolk. Broomhill was used as a temporary base to refuel the aircraft and to load pesticide. At about 14:04 the aircraft had finished spraying a field 6.5 mi (10.5 km) south of Broomhill and was returning to replenish the pesticide hopper. The Phantom departed RAF Coningsby at 13:51 to fly a low-level navigation and reconnaissance flight at no lower than 250 feet (76 m) above ground level. The Phantom was following a standard low-flying route; the Pawnee pilot was aware that military low-flying routes were in the area but the exact routing was classified and not released by the military. About 14:08 about 1 km (1,100 yd) west of the village of Hilgay, and at an estimated height of around 300 ft (91 m) the Phantom, flying at a speed of about 420 kn (780 km/h), struck the Pawnee on its right side. The Pawnee disintegrated, while the Phantom, on fire and shedding parts of its structure, continued on its heading for a further 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) before it hit the ground inverted. All three aviators were killed: the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee. [2]
Both aircraft were found to have been maintained correctly and were legally authorised for the flights. Farmwork Services, who had chartered the Pawnee, had informed the local police authority about their proposed operation and type of chemical to be used. Nothing in the regulations required them to inform the military although Farmwork Services had, as usual, informed nearby RAF Marham (an operational airfield about 8 nmi (15 km) from the accident) that they would be spraying an extensive area of Norfolk between June and the end of August 1974. [2]
Investigation of the wreckage failed to determine if either had a working anti-collision light and it was only possible to determine the height of the accident by the use of eyewitness accounts. The collision occurred in good visibility at an estimated height above ground level of 300 ft (91 m). The investigation could find no evidence to suggest that either of the pilots had a medical problem or that either aircraft had any defect that would have contributed to the accident. [2]
The rules of the air state that the Pawnee should have given way to the Phantom which was closing from the right. But it was accepted that at a closing speed of about 400 kn (740 km/h) the time needed by the Pawnee pilot to assess the situation and execute a manoeuvre was minimal. It was also a requirement of the Phantom pilot to make sure that he did not collide with the Pawnee but clearly in this accident the lack of time was an element. Also the military aircraft had only just turned on to the heading and with the Pawnee 15° to his left the view may well have been obstructed by the Phantom's canopy frame. [2]
While it accepted the need for the Royal Air Force to practise low level high-speed flying the investigation report was concerned about the lack of information on the military low-flying route available to civil pilots, particularly those involved with crop spraying, pipeline, and powerline inspection. [2]
The investigation determined "The accident occurred because neither pilot saw the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. The 'see and be seen' principle was inadequate for preventing collision in the circumstances that existed. A significant feature which contributed to the accident was the absence of any system for co-ordinating military and civil low flying activities in the low flying areas and link routes. "[2]
The accident report made seven recommendations:[2]
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Air crash
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1991 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships
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The 1991 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 55th such event sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and at the same time served as the 66th and last Ice Hockey European Championships. Teams representing 25 countries participated in several levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for group placements in the 1992 competition. The top Championship Group A tournament took place in Finland from 19 April to 4 May 1991, with games played in Turku, Helsinki and Tampere. Eight teams took part, with each team playing each other once. The four best teams then played each other once more. Sweden became world champions for the fifth time, and the Soviet Union won their 27th European title. In the European Championships, only matches between European teams in the first round were counted towards scoring. There were three significant 'lasts' in this year's championships. This would be the last year that a separate European title would be awarded, which the Soviets captured in their last appearance before the dissolution of the Soviet Union seven months later. Their position in Group A would be inherited by Russia, while newly independent former Soviet member states Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine began play in 1993 in qualification tournaments for Group C. The tournament itself would change significantly after this year as well. This was the last time the top level was contested by eight teams; beginning in 1992 it would expand to twelve, requiring both Groups B and C to promote four nations each. The final round of four teams was a very tight battle, except for the United States. Getting only a tie against the last place Germans, the Americans only advanced to the final round by narrowly defeating the host Finns. The USA were easily defeated by the three other teams in the final round, but were involved in a controversial finish. The Canadians, having tied both the Swedes and the Soviets, needed to win their game against the US by five goals, then hope that the Swedes and Soviets tied, ensuring Canada the gold. Winning 7–4 in the final minute, and despite playing short-handed, they miraculously got the two goals they needed. American coach Tim Taylor, trailing 9–4, pulled his goalie in the final minute, later claiming that he was trying to score the necessary number of goals to win the bronze medal. It was the last of many questionable finishes over the years that hastened the IIHF to change the format of the tournament. The Soviets and Swedes took a 1–1 tie into the third period of the last game, which would have given the gold medal to Canada had it held up. However, Mats Sundin scored at 9:37, and the Swedes held on to capture gold. [1][2]
No team was relegated because of the expansion to twelve teams. Played in Ljubljana, Bled and Jesenice 28 March to 7 April. With the expansion of Group A impending, promotion was available to the top four finishers. As well, the top three qualified directly for the Olympics, with fourth place needing to defeat the winner of Group C.[1][3]
Italy, Norway, France, and Poland all were promoted to Group A, no one was relegated. Played in Brøndby 23 March to 3 April. With the expansion of Group A, four openings in Group B were available. In addition, the winner got to play off for the last Olympic spot against the fourth place Group B finisher. [1]
Denmark, China, Romania and Bulgaria were all promoted. With no Group D in existence at this time, there was no relegation. The final standings of the tournament according to IIHF:
The final standings of the European championships according to IIHF:
List shows the top skaters sorted by points, then goals. Source: [1]
Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played 50% of their team's minutes are included in this list. Source: [2]
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Sports Competition
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1949 Summer Deaflympics
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The 1949 Summer Deaflympics (Danish: 1949 Sommer Deaflympics) officially known as the 6th Deaf Olympiad[1] (Danish: 6. DøveOlympiade)is an international multi-sport event that was held from 12 August 1949 to 16 August 1949. This event was hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark. [2]
This Deaflympics was held after 10 years since the last edition of the Deaflympics(1939) due to World War II. Basketball and water polo were added as events for the first time in Deaflympics history. The following countries participated in the 1949 Deaflympics:[3]
* Host nation (Denmark)
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Sports Competition
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Mining death inquest finds lack of signage and deficient record keeping led to suffocation of electrician
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Mining death inquest finds lack of signage and deficient record keeping led to suffocation of electrician Follow our live coverage for the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic A coronial inquest into the death of a central Queensland miner who suffocated on lethal gas has found operator Anglo American's record keeping was "grossly deficient" and his death could have been avoided. Six coal miners and two quarry workers have been killed on Queensland mine sites since 2018 The company was at the centre of another major incident earlier this month, when five workers were injured in an underground explosion at its Grosvenor mine, which is also in the Bowen Basin. Electrician Paul McGuire was sent to an underground area of the Grasstree coal mine near Middlemount in May 2014 to calibrate a gas monitor. But the mine's electronic job card system sent the 34-year-old to an out-of-date location. An inquest held in Mackay in February heard that Mr McGuire opened a hatch to the sealed room and suffocated on methane gas in a disused area known as a "goaf". The father-of-two died almost instantly. Handing down his findings on Friday, coroner David O'Connell said the failure in the job card system was the leading contributor to Mr McGuire's death. "The poor checking or failure of adequate checking of the completed job cards with inaction to update the system, was at the heart of where the process broke down and directly led to Mr McGuire's death," Magistrate O'Connell wrote in his findings. The inquest heard the gas monitor Mr McGuire was sent to calibrate had been removed from that location almost five months before. Magistrate O'Connell said a number of workers had previously flagged the change in location with superiors, but it was not translated to the job card system. "I have no hesitation in saying, and I find, that the mine's record keeping … was grossly deficient," Magistrate O'Connell said. "Mr McGuire was issued a work order or job card on 6 May, 2014, with patently incorrect information, and information that, if persons were diligent, could have been avoided." The inquest heard Mr McGuire could have taken two possible routes to get to the hatch. If he went through "Route A," as Magistrate O'Connell called it, he would have passed through "No Road" tape — a widely understood warning to not enter. "Many persons said that Mr McGuire was a diligent employee," Magistrate O'Connell said. "Accordingly, I find that he would not pass through two sets of 'No Road' tape." It was found the most persuasive and reasonable path Mr McGuire took was "Route B," — an area with no signage. The door to the hatch in this area also had no signage and was secured only by a single nut and bolt as it had not yet undergone a final seal. "The danger was unable to be seen, heard or felt," he said. "I am left perplexed as to why such a dangerous location could not have simple warning signs … warning of the dangers beyond. "Many people would be aware of an electrical machinery cupboard where high voltage lies behind it, and on the door it is clearly stated in signage 'Danger High Voltage' and 'Authorised Persons Only'. Why does the same not apply here?" The findings acknowledge Anglo American has since made changes including putting a padlock and warnings on hatch seals. Magistrate O'Connell said mining companies should use padlocks, clear markings, temporary fencing and "No Road" tape on seals leading to goafs. The inquest also examined whether mining incidents should be prosecuted differently. Anglo American was charged with failing a safety obligation causing death, and charges laid against an employee were eventually dropped. The company was fined $137,500 for Mr McGuire's death. While the coroner was not critical of the Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health's decision to drop charges, he said the case highlighted the benefits of having a specialist prosecutor make decisions. Since Mr McGuire's death in 2014, Queensland Parliament has passed industrial manslaughter laws that seek to hold senior staff members to account for workplace deaths. As a result, the investigating coroner made no recommendations. He found that the Outbye Electrical Coordinator at the time, who should have updated the job card system, may have committed an offence. That finding has been referred to the department for further investigation. Six coal miners and two quarry workers have been killed on Queensland mine sites since 2018. Anglo American did not respond to Friday's findings.
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Mine Collapses
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2009 Swan Islands earthquake
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The 2009 Swan Islands earthquake occurred on May 28 at 02:24:45 AM local time with a moment magnitude of 7.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The epicenter was located in the Caribbean Sea, 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of the island of Roatán, 19 miles northeast of Port Royal, Isla de Bahias, 15 miles northwest of Isla Barbaretta, and 130 kilometres (81 mi) north-northeast of La Ceiba. [1] Three aftershocks followed the earthquake within magnitude 4 range. [2]
The earthquake occurred at a depth of around 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) on a transform fault zone known as the Swan Islands Transform Fault on the southern margin of the Cayman Trough. It was a result of left-lateral strike-slip faulting. The Swan Island Transform Fault forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, and continues onshore as the Motagua Fault and the Chixoy-Polochic Fault. The 30-second offshore quake was felt in Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and as far as Cancún in Mexico. It was also felt in parts of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. [1][3][4]
The earthquake caused at least seven fatalities, 40 injuries, and more than 130 collapsed or damaged buildings across northern Honduras. [1] Two important bridges and a number of levees and port terminals were also seriously damaged. [5] In the Guatemalan department of Izabal, 35 buildings were destroyed and 80 were damaged. In Belize, at least 5 buildings were also destroyed and 25 were damaged. In Roatan, one home was damaged and one injury occurred. [1][6] The earthquake caused an estimated $37 million worth of damage, and electricity, Internet and telephone connections were cut throughout the majority of Honduras. [7]
A tsunami watch was put into effect by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize and was discontinued 90 minutes after the earthquake occurred. [3]
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Earthquakes
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Hanapepe massacre
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The Hanapēpē Massacre (also called the Battle of Hanapēpē) occurred on September 9, 1924 when an interethnic dispute amongst Filipino strike organizers in Hanapēpē, Kaua'i resulted in a violent exchange between local police officers and Filipinos. [1] The conflict began when two Ilocano youth, allegedly breaking the Filipino-led labor strike, were detained and harassed by a group of Visayans at the Hanapepe strike camp. [2] When the local police were called to settle the dispute, they arrived with a group of heavily armed special deputies. [1] Upon arrival, the officers issued warrants of arrest for the two detained Illocanos, causing the collection of Filipinos strikers to rally in opposition. [2] Despite previously ridiculing the two Ilocanos, the remaining Filipinos armed themselves and demanded the boys be released. [2] A violent exchange ensued wherein sixteen Filipino laborers and four police officers were left dead. [1]
By the 1920s, the sugarcane plantation owners in Hawaiʻi had become disillusioned with both Japanese and Filipino workers. They spent the next few years trying to get the U.S. Congress to relax the Chinese Exclusion Act so that they could bring in new Chinese workers. Congress prevented the importation of Chinese labor. [3]
But organized labor in the 1920s' U.S. mainland supported the Congress in this action, so that for a while it looked as though militant unionism on the sugarcane plantations was dead. To oppose organized labor, the Hawaiian Territorial Legislature passed the Criminal Syndicalism Law of 1919, Anarchistic Publications law of 1921, and the Anti-Picketing Law of 1923. [4]
These laws, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison, increased the discontent of the workers. The Filipinos, who were rapidly becoming the dominant plantation labor force, had deep-seated grievances: as the latest immigrants they were treated most poorly. Although the planters had claimed there was a labor shortage and they were actively recruiting workers from the Philippines, they wanted only illiterate workers and turned back any arrivals who could read or write, as many as one in six. [5][6]
In the fall of 1922, Filipino labor activist Pablo Manlapit and George Wright, the head of the American Federation of Labor, founded the High Wage Movement (HWM). [7] Building from the networks Manlapit established through the Filipino Labor Union (FLU), Manlapit and Wright drafted a petition of demands that garnered over 6,000 signatures. [7] Primarily, the HWM demanded an increase of the minimum wage to two dollars alongside the reduction of the workday to eight hours. [7] When their petition was ignored by the Hawaiian Sugar Planter's Association (HSPA) in 1923, the HWM proceeded with an organized labor strike in 1924. [7]
As they had previously, the plantation owners used armed forces, the National Guard, and strike breakers paid a higher wage than the strikers demanded. Again workers were turned out of their homes. Propaganda was distributed to whip up racism. Spying and infiltration of the strikers' ranks was acknowledged by Jack Butler, executive head of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. Strike leaders were arrested in attempts to disrupt workers' solidarity, and people were bribed to testify against them. On September 9, 1924, outraged strikers kidnapped two strike breakers at Hanapēpē and prevented them from going to work. [8] The police, armed with clubs and guns, came to union headquarters to rescue them. [9] Between 100 and 200 Filipino strikers were armed with pistols, knives, and clubs. [10]
The Associated Press flashed the story of what followed across the United States in the following words: Honolulu. - Twenty persons dead, unnumbered injured lying in hospital, officers under orders to shoot strikers as they approached, distracted widows with children tracking from jails to hospitals and morgues in search of missing strikers - this was the aftermath of a clash between cane strikers and workers on the McBryde plantation, Tuesday at Hanapepe, island of Kauai. The dead included sixteen Filipinos and four policemen. [citation needed][11]
After the massacre police rounded up all male protesters they could find, and a total of 101 Filipino men were arrested. 76 were brought to trial,[12] and of these 60 received four-year jail sentences. However, these numbers are disputed among historians, and another source claims 130 strikers and their leaders were arrested and tried, of which 56 were found guilty and imprisoned, with many later deported. [13] Pablo Manlapit was charged with subornation of perjury and was sentenced to two to ten years in prison. [14] The Hawaiʻi Hochi claimed that he had been railroaded into prison, a victim of framed-up evidence, perjured testimony, racial prejudice and class hatred. Shortly thereafter, he was paroled on condition that he leave Hawaiʻi. After eight months the strike disintegrated. The Federationist, the official publication of the American Federation of Labor, reported that in 1924 the ten leading sugar companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange paid dividends averaging 17 percent. From 1913 to 1923, the eleven leading sugar companies paid cash dividends of 172.45 percent, and most of them issued large stock dividends. After the 1924 strike, the labor movement in Hawaiʻi dwindled, but did not die, and discontent among the workers rarely surfaced again. Pablo Manlapit, who had been imprisoned and exiled, returned to the islands in 1932 and started a new labor organization, this time hoping to include other ethnic groups. But the time was not ripe in the Depression years. There were small nuisance strikes in 1933 that made no headway and involved mostly Filipinos. Protests since the massacre have discouraged carrying guns at demonstrations. The location of the graves is currently unknown,[15] and a commemorative marker was instead placed in the Hanapepe Town Park in 2006. [16]
On October 20, 2019, the Hawaii State Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society, assisted by a technician and an engineer, found a trench at the Hanapepe Filipino Cemetery which they believe may be the grave of twelve of the strikers. The finding was reported in West Hawaii Today, and the results will be presented at the Filipino American National Historical Society biennial conference in Waikiki in July 2020. The researchers also said that they will continue research to identify the 16 strikers by combing through court records and Hawaii Sugar Planters’ Association records. [17]
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Strike
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1974 Lesser Antilles earthquake
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The 1974 Lesser Antilles earthquake occurred at 05:50:58 local time on October 8 with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Four people were injured in what the United States' National Geophysical Data Center called a moderately destructive event. While the northern and southern boundary of the Caribbean Plate are complex and diffuse, with zones of seismicity stretching several hundred kilometers across, the eastern boundary is that of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone. This 850 km (530 mi) long subduction zone lacks a uniform curve and has an average dip of 50–60°. The largest known earthquake on the plate interface was a M7.5–8.0 event in 1843, but it did not generate a large tsunami. In opposition, the three largest events between 1950 and 1978 were intraplate normal faulting events. [5]
Sources
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Earthquakes
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Judges fine Minnesota coffee shop $120K for violating pandemic orders
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The owner of the Iron Waffle Coffee Co. is now facing $120,000 in fines for continuing to operate her business without a license after it was revoked for repeated violations of the governor’s pandemic-driven executive orders.
During a Zoom court hearing Thursday, Sept. 9, Ramsey County Judge Laura Nelson agreed with the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General’s request to issue a $98,000 fine — $2,000 for each of the 49 days for which a Minnesota Department of Health inspector found the business operating without a food and beverage license. Nelson also agreed to postpone the fine order for 30 days at the request of Iron Waffle owner Stacy Stranne’s attorney, a time period Nelson said provided the parties an opportunity to discuss an “offramp” to reaching a resolution in the case. In the meantime, the next step in the case is court-ordered mediation.
“If the Iron Waffle continues to operate without a license, that is contempt of court,” Nelson said. “… There are procedures to challenge decisions you disagree with. There’s a process, and this is not it.”
Thursday’s hearing came after an expedited motion from Assistant Attorney General Kaitrin Vohs — representing the Minnesota Department of Health — in mid-August seeking enforcement of the court’s June 22 contempt order. In that motion, Vohs sought a $62,000 fine in addition to the $22,000 fine already ordered by Judge John H. Guthmann.
During the intervening weeks, however, the Minnesota Department of Health continued to inspect the business and found it operating without a license on 18 more days, which at $2,000 per day equated to $36,000 more in potential fines requested by Vohs Thursday.
“That fine request may seem high, but the Iron Waffle through Stacy Stranne has always been in control of the amount of that fine,” Vohs said. “… They cannot continue to operate because they disagree with a final decision that was made by the department nine months ago. There is no exception to the law for people who disagree with the law.”
Vohs said health department officials do not take pleasure in constantly enforcing the orders in place. The department is seeking compliance through monetary pressure, she noted, and would not ask the court to exercise its inherent authority to issue a warrant for Stranne’s arrest. It would, however, reserve the right to seek that consequence in the future.
“It’s 49 times that the department has had to use its resources to send out an inspector to this restaurant, just to see if it’s open,” Vohs said. “(She) endangered the public health by operating without a license. The fine amount is high, but it’s high for a reason.”
Attorney Richard Dahl, who represents Stranne, said his client was not a threat to public health and was instead the subject of a relentless campaign by the state to abuse its political power and fraudulently revoke her license.
The latest requests from the state are part of an ongoing civil lawsuit against Iron Waffle first initiated in December 2020. The lawsuit was the next step at the time after months of inspections, fines and other administrative actions failed to prevent the business from disobeying executive orders concerning mask usage and takeout requirements while continuing operation. Before the court’s contempt findings, Guthmann on May 18 granted a state motion for a temporary injunction, which sought to prevent Iron Waffle from operating without its license first revoked in December.
Dahl argued Thursday the health department lacked the authority to revoke the license in the first place under Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers. Dahl also made the case the state agency failed to properly notify Stranne of the revocation, depriving her of her right to appeal the decision in the proper venue and within the time frame allowed by law. He called the state’s assertion Stranne received proper notice a lie and “a pile of manure.”
“They have abused the law and declared here that they are going to twist the Emergency Powers Act and allow the governor to act as a dictator on all issues of law,” Dahl said.
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Organization Fine
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Pedestrian dies after being hit by two cars at Waterloo Corner, north of Adelaide
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SA Police (SAPOL) said officers were called to the North South Motorway at Waterloo Corner about 11:30pm on Saturday. Police said the woman, a 28-year-old from Prospect, was struck by a Mitsubishi Pajero and a Toyota sedan. She died at the scene. Major crash investigators examined the scene for several hours, with the motorway closed to northbound traffic while they worked. The road has since reopened. The woman's death takes South Australia's road toll to 67, compared with 63 at the same time in 2020. SAPOL has urged anyone with information, or who witnessed the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers.
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Road Crash
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Newsom’s office crafted law protecting PG&E after company’s crimes killed 84 people | FIRE - POWER - MONEY Investigation
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Newsom’s office crafted law protecting PG&E after company’s crimes killed 84 people | FIRE - POWER - MONEY Investigation
Documents reveal how California Gov. Gavin Newsom protected PG&E after the company caused deadly fires and pleaded guilty to the felony killing of 84 people.
Author: Brandon Rittiman
Published: 5:58 PM PDT August 10, 2021
Updated: 7:23 PM PDT August 10, 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Three days after Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated his 2018 election victory, one of his major corporate campaign donors caused a mass killing .
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company pleaded guilty in June 2020 to felony involuntary manslaughter for killing 84 Californians in the 2018 Camp Fire.
PG&E’s officials walked out of court to go back to work on turning a profit, aided by state policies Newsom crafted to help the company.
“Just the depth of it, it's shocking,” said Steve Bradley, a retired Cal Fire dispatcher whose grandmother was killed by PG&E. “Even when they are held criminally responsible, nobody actually takes that responsibility. So what's to stop them?”
Bradley’s grandmother Ethel Colleen Riggs was among PG&E’s 84 felony manslaughter victims.
► IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: FIRE - POWER - MONEY
In the months after the crime, Newsom not only signed new financial protections for PG&E into law, his office hired private lawyers in New York who wrote the legislative language.
Confidential emails and documents obtained by ABC10 reveal the New York law offices of law firm O’Melvany and Myers drafted AB 1054 in the Spring of 2019, before it was introduced in the state legislature.
Credit: ABC10 / KXTV
An email from private attorneys working for Gov. Gavin Newsom with a draft version of AB 1054 attached.
The documents were obtained as part of ABC10’s news series FIRE - POWER - MONEY: How Governor Gavin Newsom Protected PG&E , which investigated how California gave financial protections to PG&E by the state government in the wake of crimes.
AB 1054 resulted in PG&E obtaining official state safety certificates for two fire seasons since the Camp Fire.
The law was written by the lawyers under a contract to represent Newsom’s office in PG&E’s bankruptcy, state records show.
After AB 1054 was already signed into law, drafting of legislation was added to an amended version of O’Melvany’s contract.
Payment records obtained through state transparency laws show O’Melvany billed California taxpayers $3 million during the time when the law took shape.
Investment bank Guggenheim also participated in crafting AB 1054 and charged $3.7 million during that time.
Adding to concerns about a lack of independence of PG&E’s state regulators , the emails reveal that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was assigned to write sections of AB 1054 by Newsom’s hired attorneys.
The CPUC, which prosecutors say harmed the Camp Fire criminal investigations , did not respond to a list of written questions for this report.
The agency is refusing to hand over its communications with key Newsom staffers around the time it waived a $200 million fine to help PG&E exit bankruptcy, prompting ABC10 to file suit under state transparency laws .
Newsom benefited from $208,400 in political contributions from PG&E to help him win his 2018 run for governor.
“If the suggestion is somehow I’m influenced by that, you’re wrong. Absolutely unequivocally wrong,” Newsom said at a 2019 news conference when ABC10 asked whether he could be a neutral broker of PG&E’s bankruptcy. “And there’s not one thing you can point to during my tenure as governor that would suggest otherwise.”
“I just think that that's naive,” said Alice Stebbins, who served as the CPUC’s executive director at the time. “Of course it has an influence.”
► RELATED: ‘Blood money' | California politicians and campaigns received $2.1 million from bankrupt, guilty PG&E
Newsom’s staff declined or ignored at least ten interview requests on the PG&E crisis from ABC10, dating back nearly three years to his time as governor-elect.
Staffers for Newsom pointed us to others for comment, including a lobbying group called “Up From the Ashes,” which was founded by attorneys for wildfire victims.
“The intent of AB 1054 was to keep utilities solvent if there was a fire,” wrote Steve Campora, a fire victims attorney who is listed as CEO of Up From the Ashes on the group’s government filings.
Campora wrote ABC10 to express concern about PG&E’s stock price falling due to the company’s suspected involvement in sparking the massive Dixie Fire , which has become the state’s single largest wildfire at nearly 500,000 acres and continues to grow.
“People need to understand that as a result of AB 1054, PG&E’s financial picture will not be damaged by the Dixie fire,” Campora wrote. “The stock price hurts the prior victims because it lessens the money in the Trust , but [there] is no real financial danger to PG&E.”
Newsom’s office sent a written statement which did not directly answer any of the 18 specific questions ABC10 submitted by email.
“No governor in California history has done more to hold PG&E accountable and force the company to make fundamental change,” said the statement emailed by Newsom spokesperson Amelia Matier, which appears in its entirety at the bottom of this article.
Comparisons to other governors are of minimal use.
PG&E was convicted of its first six felonies in 2016 during Gov. Brown’s administration when a federal jury found PG&E guilty of obstruction and breaking federal gas pipeline laws in the deadly 2010 San Bruno Gas explosion.
But the Camp Fire was PG&E’s first homicide conviction.
More than a month before Gov. Newsom’s office finished drafting AB 1054, Butte County prosecutors announced that PG&E was responsible for sparking the Camp Fire and under investigation for criminal manslaughter charges.
‘BEYOND A BAILOUT’
To victims’ families, Newsom’s policy response goes well beyond bailing PG&E out. They see PG&E being rewarded for crimes.
“If it were me, I would have been in jail a long, long, long time ago. But PG&E gets a pass. Because they’re a corporation,” Steve Bradley said.
On Nov. 8, 2018 Bradley drove from the Sacramento area toward the town of Paradise, where he used to serve as a volunteer firefighter, hoping to rescue his 96-year-old Grandma Colleen.
“I'm pretty sure she knew the house was on fire, and she wasn't going to make it out,” Bradley said. “I don't talk about it enough, but that really keeps me up at night. You know, was she expecting me? Was she expecting me to be able to get there at the last second?”
Steve’s grandmother, Ethel Colleen Riggs, was cremated alive in her laundry room.
“Nobody’s taking these things seriously enough,” said Meriel Wisotsky, Colleen’s daughter. ”We are not holding these people accountable. And we do have mechanisms to hold them accountable.”
The PG&E corporation pleaded guilty to recklessly sparking the Camp Fire through criminal negligence and to the felony manslaughter of 84 people in the deadliest wildfire in California history.
Some burned to death in their cars trying to run for their lives. Even more never escaped their own homes.
Though the law treats corporations as people, PG&E couldn’t be sentenced to the 90 years in prison the judge said its crimes deserved.
PG&E instead paid the maximum fine of $10,000 for each manslaughter victim, an amount of money PG&E earns every 17 seconds from its vast state-licensed monopoly over the power supply to four out of every ten Californians.
Prosecutors managed to convict PG&E of 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter within two years of the killings.
“You are a killer corporation,” said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. “You’re tagged a killer. That means something… with regulatory agencies, with governors offices, with legislatures.”
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Gas explosion
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Android Enjoyed and Camera Sky fined record $3 million for breaking Australian consumer laws
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A Victorian man who flew from Brisbane to Hobart on flight VA702 today has tested positive to COVID-19 and has not been allowed to board a flight to Melbourne
A Watch & Act warning is in place for a fire in the northern parts of Mokine, in WA's Northam Shire. Keep up to date with ABC Emergency
An online electronics retailer has been fined a record $3.15 million after it failed to deliver mobile phones, cameras and other electronic goods to customers across Australia.
Digital Marketing Solutions — which traded online as Android Enjoyed and Camera Sky — and its Hong Kong-based director also failed to repair goods and misled consumers, the New South Wales Supreme Court found. NSW Fair Trading received 637 consumer complaints about the company between January 2017 and July 2018.
"Either the goods wouldn't come, or they wouldn't come in a timely way or when they did come they weren't able to be used because something was wrong with them," New South Wales Fair Trading commissioner Rose Webb said.
"And in some cases they came with electronic chargers that didn't actually comply with Australian safety standards."
Steven Fernandez bought a mobile phone from the company in 2017 but after using it for a couple of weeks he noticed the screen was not responsive, particularly when texting.
He called and emailed the company several times, hoping to receive a full refund, but didn't get a response.
It was only after he contacted Fair Trading that the company offered to repair the phone, which Mr Fernandez found "frustrating" as he was forced to buy a new phone in the meantime.
"Being a mobile phone it was not something I was prepared to wait around to have repaired — I needed a working phone," he said.
The Redfern resident said the company should have been willing to provide a new replacement immediately or refund his money as the product had never worked properly.
"The deal initially looked pretty good because it was a cheap phone and exactly what I was looking for but when it didn't work, it was just a waste of $300.
"I had bought a mobile phone online previously and it was okay but now I'd be hesitant to by something like that online again."
The Supreme Court ordered the company to pay a $2.25 million penalty, while its director, Yuen Ho Wong, was fined $900,000 and banned from being a director of any Australian company for two years.
The court also found that Digital Marketing Solutions had made false representations to customers about products being in stock and that products would be delivered within a specific time frame.
"It often took weeks and weeks for them to come if they came at all," Ms Webb said.
"It also gave the impression that the goods that were in good condition and would work properly and often they didn't."
Ms Webb said it was the highest recorded fine for New South Wales Fair Trading, and warned of an increasing number of complaints about online retailers.
"People are buying more and more online and it's very opportunistic for people to put things online that look great," she said.
"I think we would to say from this case is that we would always warn people who are buying things online to do a bit of searching around before they make a purchase and to check reviews about companies."
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This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
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Organization Fine
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2000 commercial actors strike
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A nationwide strike by the members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists against the American Association of Advertising Agencies began on May 1st, 2000 and ended October 30th, 2000. [1]
At the time, SAG and AFTRA represented a total of approximately 135,000 actors who were paid $720 million USD in 1999 for their work in the advertising industry. [2] However, the average SAG member was making less than $7,000 USD per year despite having to pay many related costs out of pocket, and most SAG members had other jobs which provided the majority of their income. [3]
Unionized actors had been paid by a residuals system for network television since the 1950s. [1] This system provided actors with payment for every time the commercial aired. However, this system was not extended to network television, where the average union actor could expect to receive a $1,000 USD for their appearance in an ad, no matter how many times it aired. [4] This discrepancy was a sticking point for both advertising firms and acting unions, and the members of SAG who worked frequently worked as commercial actors had specifically lobbied William Daniels to run to ensure leadership support for negotiations on advertising fees. With an approaching expiration of the existing contract for commercial acting, the unions and advertisers both came to the table with a mind to reconcile the discrepancy between systems. With advertisers proposing a flat fee to replace the residuals system on network TV, and unions pushing for a extension of the residuals system to cable TV. [5]
The two sides met several times prior to strikes, including with the guidance of a federal mediator, but stalled on a deal over the main points of negotiation. [6] This led the SAG and AFTRA boards to vote unanimously (150-0) for a strike. [5]
At the start of the strike, the two unions offered any advertisers who agreed to their contract terms the option of signing a waiver which would allow them to continue working with unionized actors. However, none of the advertising agencies took the offer immediately. [6]
The strike surpassed the 1988 strike by the Writers Guild of America in length on October 2nd and became the longest work stoppage to have taken place in Hollywood at the time. The length of the strike caused directors to hire "scabs" to continue producing commercials. These non-unionized were used in commercials for Proctor & Gamble, which led the unions to call for a consumer boycott of the company's products that was supported by entertainment industry figures such as Susan Sarandon, Bryan Cranston and Tim Robbins. The extraordinary length also caused financial hardships for some striking actors and those working in the industry. [7] [8]
Proctor & Gamble, the second largest advertiser in the US at the time, was said to be instrumental in helping secure the final deal, which secured the continuation of the residuals system for commercials on network television. A demand by unions to extend the residuals system (also referred to as pay-per-play) to ads airing on cable television ultimately failed. The final agreement also included a provision that advertisers and union actors could freely negotiate contracts for internet ads, a relatively young industry at the time. Minimum pay for contracts was increased by more than 10% across the board. [1][5][2]
During the negotiation process, many non-union actors broke the strikelines, enabling advertisers to continue commercial production. Sara Kreiger, a union member who served as strike captain in New York, cited this as enabling a long term move towards non-union actors among advertisers. [5]
In 2020, USA Today ranked the strike as the 6th largest in American history and estimated it cost 17,280,000 job-days. [9]
SAG and AFTRA later merged into a single union, and the combined union's website contains only a small reference to the strike on their history page, saying that on "May 1: SAG & AFTRA joint Commercials Strike begins, and will officially end October 30th. It is the Guild’s 8th strike and AFTRA’s 4th national strike. "[10]
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Strike
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Hock Lee bus riots
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The Hock Lee bus workers' strike began on 23 April 1955. The incident was a result of failed negotiations between the Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus Company and its bus workers. The workers wanted better working conditions while the employers wanted to protect their business interests. The strikes eventually escalated and resulted in a clash among the Singapore Bus Workers Union, Hock Lee Employee's Union, the Singapore Chinese Middle Schools Student Union and law enforcement on 12 May 1955. The event has been commonly understood as a violent confrontation between colonialists and communists.
The global trend of decolonisation, led the way for the liberalisation of Singaporean politics. The 1948 constitution that reformed the political and judicial systems in Singapore paved the way for Singapore's first elections in 1948. This partial liberalisation was impeded as the British saw their strategic interests in Southeast Asia being challenged by peasant uprisings especially in Malaya.
To maintain their control, the British tried to construct a narrative of communist insurgencies and militarism which could be potentially threatening to the security of the region. On the premise of containing communist activities, emergency regulations were implemented in 1948. These emergency regulations increased
restriction on civil society meetings in Singapore. A turning point came as the Rendel Constitution was accepted by the British government and resulted in elections that brought David Marshall and the Labour Front party into power. This new constitution led to the provisional easing of restrictions under Emergency regulations, which in its turn sparked off much interest in politics among the people living in Singapore. This renewed liberalisation led to the establishment of many trade unions during this period which would have alarmed many employers that were worried about their business interests. Oppressive colonial educational and labour policies discriminated against Chinese students and workers. Perceived unjust colonial policies led to various episodes of labour unrests in 1954 and 1955. In 1954 there was The May 13 National Service Ordinance. And in 1955, there were three notable strikes namely the Hock Lee Bus workers' strike, the Singapore Traction Company strike and the Singapore Harbour Board strike. American officials were alarmed by both the rise of social unrest in Singapore and the Singapore's Labour Front (SLF) inability to control labour radicalism. It was estimated that 31,000 workers were involved in 129 official and sympathy strikes between March and June 1955. Some work has been done to study the significance of certain figures that arose from United States government sources. [8] The seeds of a communist discourse was being sown by American diplomats, pressuring the British government to take subversive actions against student and labour movements in post 1954 Singapore. Thus leading to the construction of events like the Hock Lee incident as a violent event instigated by communists. Ramakrishna's latest work on the communist threat in Singapore necessitates the polarisation of the scholarship on Singapore history and suggests that historians should take sides. Conventional historical narratives have represented the workers and students actions as violent and conceived out of communism. The emerging work on the Hock Lee incident have foregrounded the experiences of the people through the provision of accounts that focus on the social and economic anxieties that were felt by both the students and the workers due to life in colonial society. Bilveer Singh stated that the Hock Lee riots revealed "the ability of the communists to mobilise other elements of the [Communist United Front], such as the students. " Singh's reconstruction of the Hock Lee riots rely on the works of Bloodworth,[12] Drysdale, and Lee. His analysis agrees with the colonial perspective and concludes that the students' involvement in the Hock Lee incident was part of a larger plan of communist subversion. Bloodworth starts his narrative by accusing the 'communist' students of being at the centre of the violence that occurred in the Hock Lee event. He attributes the cause of the unrest to union leader, Fong Swee Suan and takes on a perspective which favours the actions of the bus company. The above conventional accounts commonly attribute the student involvement to be one of communist action and again do not give the students any form of political consciousness. The students who were involved in the riots were part of the Singapore Chinese Middle School Student Union (SCMSSU). The relationship between the workers and the students is one that is often overlooked in many accounts of history and thus leading to the common conclusion that students' involvement was part of a violent extremist movement. The British adopted a substitution strategy to replace Chinese schools with English institution. A ten-year education plan unveiled by the colonial administration in 1949 sought to significantly decrease student enrolment in Chinese vernacular schools. Chinese students were faced with the implementation of high school exams that served little purpose in ensuring the students' path into university. The National Service Ordinance act also disrupted the education of Chinese students as the colonial government was unwilling to allow them to defer if they had to sit for examinations. ] This eventually led to the May 13 incident in 1954. In January 1955, the students' application to register the SCMSSU was rejected and subsequently met with many obstacles which the students felt were unreasonable demands by the colonial government to prevent the set up of the student union. Newspaper reports of the government not providing help or compensation to victims of World War Two in Singapore also served as a reminder to students that they were being asked to fight for a government that does not have their interests at heart. Students were seen to be the allies of the workers serving as a political force that could influence the decisions of the ruling elite. Loh et al. highlighted that many of the workers were ex-students and that the Chinese school students knew that the workers who were intertwined in labour negotiations was a reflection of their future. The anxieties of the students coupled with the students' sympathy to the workers resulted in their support for the Hock Lee bus workers.
C.M. Turnbull saw the cause of the riots to be a battle between moderate and left-wing politics within the People's Action Party (PAP) and attributed the workers' involvement to be one of "joint direct militant campaign of obstruction and violence. " The book Men in White also frames the Hock Lee event as a "demonstration of the ruthlessness of the communists and their capacity to unleash violence in Singapore. "In both these accounts, the bus workers were not given any political consciousness as the event is seen as a spontaneous one that was initiated by the communists that eventually went out of control. Workers in the 1950s were subject to the many effects of colonial society.
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Riot
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Stratford tube crash
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The Stratford tube crash occurred on 8 April 1953, on the Central line of the London Underground. 12 people died and 46 were injured as a result of a rear-end collision in a tunnel, caused by driver error after a signal failure. This was the worst accident involving trains on the London Underground until the Moorgate tube crash in 1975. A similar accident at exactly the same location, with less serious consequences, occurred in 1946, before the line was open for public traffic; one railwayman died. A memorial plaque to the accident was unveiled at Stratford Station on 8 April 2016 by Lyn Brown, Member of Parliament for West Ham. Members of the families of those killed in the crash were also in attendance along with Mike Brown, TfL Transport Commissioner. A signal (A491) in the tunnel between Stratford and Leyton had been damaged, and this and the preceding signal (A489) were showing a permanent red aspect. Trains were being worked slowly past the failed signals under the "Stop and Proceed" rule, under which trains should proceed with extreme caution, typically less than 10 mph (16 km/h). However, one train collided with the back of another which was waiting at signal A491, and the first and second coaches of the colliding train were partially telescoped. The Inspecting Officer considered that the extent of the damage suggested the speed was in the region of 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h), and when the driver had passed signal A489, he had simply coasted down the steep down gradient, not expecting to find another train before the next signal. The driver claimed to have been travelling slowly and that his vision had been obscured by a cloud of dust, but it was felt his memory could have been affected by concussion..
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Train collisions
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1836 U.S. Patent Office fire
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The 1836 U.S. Patent Office fire was the first of two major fires the U.S. Patent Office has had in its history. It occurred in Blodget's Hotel building, Washington on December 15, 1836. An initial investigation considered the possibility of arson due to suspected corruption in the Post Office, which shared the same building, but it was later ruled out. The cause was ultimately determined to be accidental. The fire is considered to be a unique point in the historical events of the Patent Office that caused policy changes. Local fire suppression efforts were incapable of preventing the damage due to lack of fire personnel and proper equipment. Many patent documents and models from the preceding three decades were irretrievably lost. As a result of the fire, Congress and the newly legally revamped Patent Office changed the way it handled its record keeping, assigning numbers to patents and requiring multiple copies of supporting documentation. In 1810, Congress had authorized the purchase of the unfinished Blodgett's Hotel from its builder to house the Post and Patent offices. [1] Congress was aware of the fire risk. During an event of the War of 1812, Superintendent Dr. William Thornton convinced members of the British expeditionary force to leave the Patent Office standing while they burned the rest of the city. [2][3] Congress funded the covering of the building with a slate roof in 1820. They also purchased of a fire engine for protection of the building against fires. [1] Because of those changes the volunteer fire department lost its sense of purpose and was disbanded. [2][4] The complete firehouse equipped with the fire engine was just down the street. Although equipped with a forcing pump and with riveted leather hose 1,000 feet (300 m) long (all purchased 16 years earlier by Act of Congress), there were no firefighters available. [2][4]
The fire broke out at 3 a.m. on December 15, 1836. The Patent Office then was located in Blodget's Hotel, as was the fire department and the post office. Patent Office employees stored firewood in the basement of the hotel, near where postal employees disposed of the hot ashes from their fires. Sometime after midnight that morning the hot ashes ignited the firewood. The fire department's hose was old and defective and would not funnel water onto the fire, and running a bucket brigade to put out the building blaze turned out to be ineffective. [5][2][4] All 9,957 patents and 7,000 related patent models were lost. [5]
John Ruggles, chairman of the Senate investigating committee, reported that the lost items included 168 folio volumes of records, 26 large portfolios of some nine thousand drawings, related descriptive patent documents, and miscellaneous paperwork. [6] The 7,000 lost models included those of various textile manufacturing processes and several models of steam-powered machinery for propelling boats (including Robert Fulton's original bound folio of full-color patent drawings, done in his own hand). [4] Ruggles said that the documents and models destroyed by the fire represented the history of American invention for fifty years. He also said that the Patent Office's own model-cases, presses and seals, desks, book-cases and office furniture were also destroyed. [7] The entire library of books were lost except one that an employee just happened to have secretly taken home to read, which was Volume 6 of Repertory of Arts & Manufactures (1794). [6]
Congress investigated the fire immediately, suspecting arson. The Post Office Department at the time was already under investigation for allegedly awarding dishonest mail contracts. It was first thought that perhaps the fire was set to destroy evidence. However, it turned out that the Post Office Department had saved all their documents. Investigators concluded that someone had stored hot ashes in a box in the basement. The live embers then ignited the firewood; no one was identified as having caused the fire. [8] The Patent Office was moved to the old City Hall, at the time the District Courthouse. [9]
The fire occurred when the Patent Act of 1836 was being put into place, which had required that patent applications be examined before being granted. [2] An amendment to it the following year required submission of two copies of drawings—one for safekeeping in the patent office; the other attached to the patent grant transmitted to the applicant. The requirement ended in 1870 when the Office began printing complete copies of patents as issued. [10]
All patents from prior to the fire were listed later as X-Patents by the office. The March 3, 1837, Act made provisions to restore the models and drawings lost in the 1836 fire. [11] An amount of $100,000 was appropriated as a budget. Around 9,957 patent records and some 7,000 invention models were lost. One method of restoration was by getting back a duplicate from the original inventor. [12] By 1849 the restoration process was discontinued and it was determined that $88,237.32 had been spent from the budget allowed. [12] Of the estimated 9,957, only 2,845 patent records were restored. [13] Congress solicited for the restoration of the lost patents and appropriated monies for this purpose. [14] It is difficult for modern researchers to find those patents because many of the related documents were burned. [13]
In the aftermath of the fire, the way patents were identified was changed. Previously the patent records were not numbered and could be researched only by the date of patent or inventor's name. After the fire, unique numbers were issued by the Patent Office for each new patent. [15] The Patent Office through the Patent Act of 1836 became its own organization under the United States Department of State.
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Fire
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Giant clams are a delicacy of the Marshall Islands but illnesses fuel fears of nuclear contamination
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Giant clams are a delicacy of the Marshall Islands but illnesses fuel fears of nuclear contamination
Giant clams are a delicacy in the Marshall Islands but they've been found to contain high levels of plutonium — the remnants of a long history of American nuclear tests — prompting fears health issues in the country could be linked.
"You see a nice-looking edible clam in the lagoon — it's just like giving a kid a lovely lollipop," nuclear commissioner Alson Kelen told the ABC, maintaining that eating clams will always be part of Marshall Islands life. "Here it is, but just don't eat it. It doesn't work that way." From 1946–1958, the US detonated 67 nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands — some of the largest atomic weapons tests in history — and the area near the test site was evacuated, with locals receiving settlement payouts.
In the aftermath, with widespread radiation sickness being reported across the Marshall Islands, radioactive soil, debris, and wreckage was dumped into a nuclear crater on Enewetak Atoll.
The crater was capped with cement in 1980 and is officially called the Runit Dome — but locals have nicknamed it The Tomb.
On a remote Marshall Islands atoll, rising sea levels are threatening to spill radioactive waste into the Pacific Ocean.
The Enewatak people eventually began returning to the islands in the early 1980s following highly controversial talks between the United States and leaders of the Marshall Islands.
Amid reports of ongoing aftereffects and illness, a 2012 United Nations report found that the effects of the nuclear tests were long-lasting, which was followed by a 2013 US Department of Energy report which found radioactive materials were leeching out of the Dome, threatening the already tenuous existence of Enewetak locals.
Terry Hamilton, a veteran nuclear scientist at the United States Department of Energy who oversees monitoring of the site, told the ABC that while the area is still irradiated, clams and seafood should not be dangerous to eat.
"While there are higher levels of plutonium in the environment at the present time, that's not being reflected in terms of the amount of plutonium that's being taken up by the local people," he said.
His comments will likely be of little comfort to Marshall Islands residents, who have borne the brunt of the nuclear testing aftermath and remain at the centre of the debate about whether the plutonium is causing them to become ill.
Local nuclear commissioner Mr Kelen told the ABC that people remain afraid six decades after the tests.
"People live out there on the irradiated islands, they survive by eating the fish, clams and everything else that crawls on the lagoon or on land," he said. "They get sick."
But Dr Hamilton maintains that it would be unlikely anyone could ever eat enough clams to get sick. "While they're eating [them] they're just not eating sufficient [amounts to be] causing any sort discernible effect on the levels of plutonium in their body," he said.
The site was catapulted back into the international spotlight during the UN secretary-general's visit to the Pacific last month. Antonio Guterres told students in Fiji that he had deep concerns about the impacts climate change could have on the structural integrity of the Dome which he referred to as "a kind of coffin". "I've just been with the President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heini, who is very worried because there is a risk of leaking radioactive materials," he said. The US Department of Energy has admitted that radioactive water is leaking from the Dome, and that cracks have begun to form in its concrete roof, but Dr Hamilton disputed suggestions of an impending environmental catastrophe. "The idea that it may lead to some sort of catastrophic event, not only in the local marine environment but across the Pacific, is false," he said.
These soldiers were ordered to clean up the toxic legacy of America's nuclear program. Now they're dying, and their Government has abandoned them.
Dr Hamilton said that the area near the Dome was already contaminated, but maintained that it was the result of the fallout from the original nuclear tests. "The total amount of plutonium that's contained in the Runit Dome is very, very low compared with what's already out in the lagoon," he said.
"I certainly wouldn't be worried about living there from a radiological point of view."
The nuclear scientist has stressed that people living in the region are actually exposed to less radiation than people living in big cities. "If they were to move away [to other parts of the globe] their total exposure to radiation would not decrease, it would most certainly increase," he said. But for Marshall Islands Senator Jack Ading, who represents the Enewetak Atoll, Dr Hamilton's claims are "not very reassuring". "I'm not a scientist. I'm also not a doctor, but they say it's always prudent to get a second opinion no matter how good your doctor is," Senator Ading told the ABC. "[The US] has a history of underestimating the risks created by the contamination of our islands.
"We have too much at stake to rely solely on the information provided by US." But despite the contamination, any further clean up appears unlikely in the near future. "I think that would be a very difficult exercise … you would need to basically remove the contaminated sediment from the seafloor," Dr Hamilton said. "You'd be looking at millions upon millions of tonnes of material that you would need to move from the atoll, and that in itself would have probably have a more devastating effect on the land."
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Environment Pollution
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Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307 crash
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Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307 was a scheduled international flight with several domestic legs in the United States with the routing Washington, DC–Detroit–Madison–Rochester–Minneapolis-St. Paul–Winnipeg. On 7 March 1950, the flight was operated by a Martin 2-0-2, registered N93050, when it crashed into a house on approach to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport after first hitting a flagpole. [1] The three crew members and ten passengers on board were all killed, as were two children in the house. [2]
Flight 307 was attempting to land at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport the area had blowing snow. [1] The left wing hit a 70-foot flagpole about 4,180 feet from the touchdown point and 650 feet west of the approach center line. [1] The aircraft was about 3.8 miles northwest of the airport when a section of the left wing detached and the aircraft dived into the house at 1116 Minnehaha Parkway West[3] from a height of about 300 feet. [1] The aircraft was destroyed by fire and two children in the house were killed. [1]
The aircraft was a Martin 2-0-2 twin-engined piston airliner designed to carry 42 passengers. It had been delivered new to Northwest Orient Airlines on 6 May 1948 as registration N93050. [4]
The probable cause of the crash was an attempt to complete an approach with a loss of visual reference to the ground. [1]
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Air crash
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Africa: Cholera outbreaks in Niger and Nigeria
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The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today on a new outbreak event in Niger. Officials now report a cholera outbreak in the country, which since June 7, 201 confirmed cases have been reported, including 12 deaths (6% CFR). Maradi and Zinder are the two regions affected with most of the cases being related to the epidemic which is ongoing for several months in the neighboring regions of northern Nigeria where there is significant mixing of cross-border populations and with heavy rainfall recorded during this period. Nigeria In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports 31,425 suspected cases of cholera, 311 confirmed cases and 816 deaths since the beginning of the year from 22 states and FCT. The affected states are Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross River, Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Enugu, Adamawa, Katsina, Borno and FCT. Cholera Cholera is a water-borne disease characterized by sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhea, which can lead to sudden death as a result of dehydration, if not managed on time. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Most infected people may only show mild symptoms or have no symptom at all. The time between an infection and appearance of symptoms of the disease is 2 hours to 5 days. The disease is easily treatable, if detected early. Most infected people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS), with the goal to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. The ORS solution is available as a powder that can be reconstituted in boiled or bottled water. Without rehydration, approximately half the people with cholera die. With treatment, the number of fatalities drops to less than 1 percent. Severely dehydrated people may also need intravenous fluids.
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Disease Outbreaks
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With Texas in a Freeze, Take Steps to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
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TEXAS – Large swaths of Texas are entering a cold snap the likes of which hasn’t been seen in decades.
Numerous power outages have been reported in several regions of Texas already, and things are only going to deteriorate further this coming weekend and into early next week.
That raises the potential for people attempting to heat their homes to succumb to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says carbon monoxide exposures and poisonings occur more often in the fall and winter, when people are more likely to use gas furnaces and heaters. A study found roughly 480 people in the U.S. die each year due to non-fire-related CO poisoning. Another 15,200 people are treated in hospitals for it.
“This study further illustrates that carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable,” said Allison Stock, a toxicologist and one of the authors of the report. “One of the primary ways to prevent carbon monoxide poising is through yearly maintenance of gas-burning home appliances. We recommend having a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in the home to alert residents of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. But carbon monoxide detectors are not the primary way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced when a fossil fuel is burned. It can cause sudden illness and death. So how do you prevent it in your home? The CDC offers the following tips:
Craig Huber is a digital producer for Spectrum News. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University and has worked in the news industry for 25 years.
A bridge changes temperatures much faster than a road. Widespread impacts and damage occurred in a swath from the South to Northeast.
Lightning strikes the U.S. about 25 million times each year. A new NOAA tool uses artificial intelligence to predict where lightning will strike. Even the most caring parents can accidentally leave a child in a vehicle.
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Mass Poisoning
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Morrison to travel to US for Quad talks after ‘warm conversation’ with Biden
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United States President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison have reaffirmed plans for an in-person meeting of the “Quad” alliance within the next three months in their first phone call since the hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Plans to hold the summit – which involves Australia, the US, Japan and India – in late September were thrown into doubt by the upcoming Japanese election and the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Scott Morrison and Joe Biden have had their first phone conversation since the Afghanistan withdrawal. Dominic Lorrimer, AP
In his conversation with the Australian Prime Minister on Friday morning Australian time, Mr Biden affirmed plans to hold the meeting “later this [autumn]” in Washington, meaning the meeting would now likely take place in October or November.
It is unclear whether Mr Morrison will be granted his first one-on-one meeting with Mr Biden when he travels to the US. Mr Morrison met Mr Biden for the first time on the sidelines of the G7 summit in June, but the encounter was not one-on-one as originally planned, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joining in.
The Australian Prime Minister said he had a “warm conversation” with the President and was “looking forward to travelling to Washington when the Quad meeting will take place”.
“We have some working dates around it but still some confirmations around that need to occur,” he said.
The re-emergence of the Quad in recent years had angered Beijing, which has labelled the group an “Asian NATO” designed to contain China.
The four leaders of the Quad countries held their first virtual meeting in March where they pledged to distribute one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to developing countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr Morrison said support for the equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and economic development initiatives in countries in the Mekong River region downstream from China would be on the Quad agenda when the leaders meet.
The two leaders also discussed the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul in recent weeks, which saw Australia alone airlift more than 4100 Australian citizens, Afghan nationals and foreign officials.
Mr Morrison also told Biden he was sorry for the 13 American soldiers who were killed in a terror attack on the airport by Islamic State’s local affiliate. The Prime Minister said he and the US President also discussed the “next stage” of the Afghanistan exit, which involved creating a safe pathway for the hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees out of the country.
Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University, said the Quad was maintaining momentum as the “new core for security cooperation in our Indo-Pacific region”.
“The tragedy of Afghanistan does not alter the long-term strategic focus of the Quad on preventing coercion and conflict through balancing Chinese power,” he said. “Quad cooperation is rapidly being normalised, right up to leaders’ level.”
Professor Medcalf said it remained to be seen if Suga’s departure will affect the timing of the next Quad summit but “the pace and direction of the Quad won’t fundamentally change as Suga goes”.
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Diplomatic Visit
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Young successful feminist activists
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By Roger Yates, Executive Director for the Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa for Plan International We applaud young successful feminist activists such as Amanda Gorman, Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. Yet there is a real danger that the world sits by and watches as adolescent girls bear the brunt of a devastating global food crisis, shattering their ability to contribute to society. In 2019, 688 million people were chronically hungry. Today, this figure has shot up to about 1 billion and of these, 270 million are “marching towards starvation”, to borrow the haunting words of David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. The COVID-19 pandemic is a key contributing factor to this rising global hunger, which today means four countries are on the brink of famine. But it isn’t the only reason. Conflicts and insecurity have also forced huge swathes of people to flee their homes and livelihoods. Climate change is devastating harvests, inducing pests and increasing disasters such as floods and cyclones. To top this off, between January 2020 and January 2021, food prices globally have risen by 20% due to export restrictions and demand exceeding supply.[1] And girls and women, who account for 70% of the world’s hungry, are bearing the brunt. Time and again, our moral compass kicks in when we see images of emaciated bodies in the media. But by then, it is too late. Hunger has an impact on girls’ lives months and even years before, as families adopt heart-breaking coping strategies to survive. This could be pulling girls from school to support with childcare or to earn income, or worse, marrying them to obtain a dowry and reduce the number of mouths to feed. It is projected that COVID-19 will result in an additional 13 million child marriages taking place over the next 10 years.[2] On top of this, UNESCO estimates that some 24 million pupils are at risk of not returning to education due to COVID-19[3]. Being out of school exposes adolescent girls to an array of abuses, often of a sexual nature. When the 2014 Ebola outbreak[4] forced schools to close in Sierra Leone, adolescent pregnancy increased by 65%. Inevitably we will see girls becoming adolescent mothers. If they make it that far. Becoming pregnant without adequate nutrition puts mothers at risk of dying in childbirth, the leading cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19 globally. It also increases the risk of stillbirth or newborn death, low birth weight and stunting, meaning the impacts of hunger snowball and limit the prospects of generations to come. The responsibility lies with all of us to ensure adolescent girls are not forgotten. But what actions can be taken? First of all, governments worldwide must contribute the funds needed to avert famine. It has been a year since the UN warned of “famines of biblical proportions”, yet donors have still only funded 5% of the UN’s $7.8bn food security appeal for 2021. Next, we need equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in low and middle-income countries. This will prevent the setback to girls’ and women’s rights caused by the pandemic from deepening. So will peace efforts to end conflicts, which are perhaps the biggest contributor to food insecurity. And finally, we must scale up financing commitments to mitigate the impacts of the climate emergency in countries who have contributed the least to it yet are bearing the brunt of impacts. But most importantly, we must listen to the voices of adolescent girls themselves. And we need to act on what they say, if we are to prevent a catastrophe and no longer have the chance to say “never again.”
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Famine
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Shipwrecked trio stranded on deserted island for 33 days 'survived on coconuts'
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The castaways, who waved flags to get a passing helicopter's attention, told rescuers their boat capsized in rough seas and they swam ashore to the uninhabited island between Cuba and the Florida Keys Three people stranded on deserted island for 33 days lived on coconuts A shipwrecked trio who got stranded on a deserted island in the Bahamas have been rescued after they managed to survive for 33 days. The two men and a woman told their stunned rescuers they had managed to survived the epic ordeal by eating coconuts. The castaways claimed they swam to the uninhabited island after their boat capsized in rough waters. Dramatic footage captured the moment a chopper crew who spotted the marooned trio on a rocky outcrop dropped them life-saving supplies. Have you had a similar experience? Let us know by contacting webnews@mirror.co.uk The moment the chopper crew spotted the trio stranded on the uninhabited island ( Image: The crew said the three people had desperately waved flags as the craft flew over Anguilla Cay, an uninhabited Bahama Banks island, during a routine air patrol on Monday. A US Coastguard helicopter crew filmed themselves parachuting the supplies from the aircraft. It captures the moment the three castaways stranded below realised salvation had finally arrived. The trio's rescuers captured footage of their makeshift campsite ( Image: Bill Gates warns of 'next two disasters' after predicting virus similar to Covid The chopper crew's footage also captured a makeshift encampment the group had built on the island. The man and two women, who were said to all be Cuban nationals, reportedly told their rescuers they had been stranded for about five weeks on the archipelago, which is located between Cuba and the Florida Keys. None of the castaways appeared seriously hurt, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) told reporters. The castaways wave to their rescuers flying overhead ( Image: The US Coast Guard helicopter crew parachute supplies to the castaways ( Image: USCGSoutheas/Twitter) The crew that first spotted castaways had dropped water, food and a radio down to them on Monday. A crew then returned on Tuesday to airlift them to a medical centre for assessment. Their rescuers crew was floored by their incredible survival. USCG Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Murray tikd the Sun Sentinel : "I cannot recall a time that we saved people who were stranded for over a month on an island."
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Shipwreck
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1955 Connecticut floods
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The Flood of 1955 was one of the worst floods in Connecticut's history. Two back-to-back hurricanes saturated the land and several river valleys in the state, causing severe flooding in August 1955. The rivers most affected were the Mad River and Still River in Winsted, the Naugatuck River, the Farmington River, and the Quinebaug River. [1] The towns that suffered much loss include Farmington, Putnam,
Naugatuck,
Waterbury, and Winsted. 87 people died during the flooding,[2] and property damage across the state was estimated at more than $200 million, in 1955 figures. [3] The floods prompted changes in safety measures, river monitoring, and zoning laws. The flooding was caused by the rains from two hurricanes, Hurricane Connie and Hurricane Diane. On August 11, Hurricane Connie swept through the East Coast—missing Connecticut, but bringing about 4 to 6 inches of rainfall to the state on August 13. [4] Hurricane Diane came through the following week. The path of Hurricane Diane came closer to Connecticut, after soaking up waters from the Atlantic Ocean. [5] Once the hurricane reached the coast of Long Island, it dumped an additional 13 to 20 inches of rain on Connecticut over a two-day period. [6] The heavy rains on already-saturated ground made several rivers in the region begin to overflow. Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island experienced flooding, but Connecticut was hardest hit in New England. [7] New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania were also hit by flooding caused by the two hurricanes. Two months later, another storm brought an additional 12 to 14 inches of rain to New England—hitting some communities that had been affected by the August floods, and others that had escaped. [8]
The rains poured down for much of the day Thursday, August 18, starting at about 3:00 AM. By 11:00 PM, the Shepaug River and brooks in the western portion of the state had begun to overflow their banks. [9] In Waterbury, the water reached an estimated 35 feet in places, and was reported to have moved at rates up to 50 miles per hour. [10] While major rivers, such as the Connecticut River, had flood control measures in place, smaller rivers and brooks did not. That is where the major damage occurred. [11] The Housatonic River in Western Connecticut reached 24.50 feet—its highest levels until October 1955, when it again reached 24.50 feet. [12] On noon of August 20, 1955, President Eisenhower declared Connecticut a "major disaster area". [13]
Police forces, volunteer firefighters, Connecticut National Guard members, the Coast Guard, and average citizens worked together to rescue people from their homes and other buildings where they became stranded. [14] At 1:00 AM on August 19, as the water began rising over the banks of several rivers, Gov. Abraham Ribicoff mobilized the National Guard. More than 25 helicopters—from the U.S. Navy and local companies like Sikorsky—were used to rescue hundreds of people from rooftops and tree branches where they clung to life. [15] The flood hit the Naugatuck river with such fury that as many as 500 people in the Waterbury area had to be rescued by helicopter. [16]
A Sunday-Herald reporter, who flew over the region the day after the floods, described the area as "a staggering toll of death in a shroud of mud". [17] The death toll was 87 people—including people who suffered heart attacks while being rescued. [18]
The following damage figures were outlined in the state report three months after the flood:[19]
In New England, more than 200 dams suffered partial or total failure. [20] More than 50 coffins floated away from a cemetery in Seymour. [21] The state shipped in 300 temporary housing units from Groton, to help provide shelter for the newly homeless. [22]
The floods prompted the United States Army Corps of Engineers to build $70 million worth of dams and flood walls along several Connecticut rivers. In 1960, the Army Corps built the Thomaston Dam. The Thomaston Dam on the Naugatuck River is one of the largest flood control measures erected by the Army Corps of Engineers. [23] Following the building of the Thomaston Dam; the Corps built the Northfield Brook Dam, in 1965, and the Colebrook Dam, in 1969. [24]Also Hop Brook dam in Naugatuck finished in 1968.
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Floods
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European Convention on Human Rights snub 'would tear up Good Friday Agreement'
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UK proposals to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights would rip up the Good Friday Agreement, Amnesty International has claimed. Home Secretary Theresa May said the convention prevented the deportation of dangerous foreigners. But Amnesty International Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said the move threatened the human rights upon which the Northern Ireland peace accord was founded. He said: "Theresa May's proposal to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights would mean ripping up the Good Friday Agreement, on which peace in Northern Ireland has been built. "The Home Secretary's proposal is not just foolish, it is downright dangerous. To undermine an international peace agreement, on which 18 years of peace has been based, is reckless in the extreme." The human rights treaty was drafted after the Second World War during which millions of Jews perished. Mrs May said it could bind the hands of Parliament and added nothing to British prosperity.
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Tear Up Agreement
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1947 KLM Douglas DC-3 Copenhagen disaster crash
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The 1947 KLM Douglas DC-3 Copenhagen disaster was the crash of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Stockholm via Copenhagen on 26 January. It occurred shortly after the Douglas DC-3 took off from Kastrup Airport in Denmark. All 22 passengers and crew on board were killed. [1]
Among those killed in the crash were Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (at the time of his death, second in line to the Swedish throne), U.S. opera singer Grace Moore, and Danish actress Gerda Neumann. [2] Prince Gustaf Adolf was the father of the present king of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf. A hundred thousand people attended his funeral. [citation needed] Moore's body was flown to Paris on another KLM aircraft,[3] and she was buried on 3 February 1947 with more than 500 people in attendance. [4]
The probable cause of the crash was determined to be failure to remove the gust locks that had secured the aircraft's elevators while it was parked. [5] It was the worst aviation disaster in Denmark at the time of the crash. [5]
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Air crash
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Covid-19 Surpasses 1918 Flu to Become Deadliest Pandemic in American History
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But national population numbers have tripled since then. Influenza killed one in 150 Americans, while one in 500 people have died from the coronavirus Elizabeth Gamillo Daily Correspondent The coronavirus pandemic has become the deadliest disease outbreak in recent American history with tolls surpassing the estimated deaths of the 1918 flu. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, 681,253 individuals in the United States have died from Covid-19 infections, while over a century ago, the country lost an estimated 675,000 people during the 1918 influenza pandemic, reports Holly Yan for CNN. Many health experts suspect that the Covid-19 pandemic’s high death tolls are a result of America’s insufficient response to control the pandemic early on—despite modern day scientific and medical advances—and consider the phenomenon a tragedy, reports Carla K. Johnson for the Associated Press. Currently, an average of 1,900 deaths are reported per day in the U.S. Experts suspect the recent surge is due in part to the persistence of the deadlier Delta variant, reports CNBC’s Berkeley Lovelace Jr. “It’s generally known around the world that America didn’t do a very good job in the early stages of controlling the pandemic,” says David Morens, a medical historian at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to Helen Branswell for STAT News. The 1918 flu, also known as the Spanish flu, spread worldwide during 1918 and 1919. In the U.S., it was first identified in military personnel in the spring of 1918 and mostly affected children less than five years old, adults between 20 to 40 years old, and seniors 65 years of age or older. Mortality rate was high in healthy people between 20 and 40 years old, making this a unique and devastating feature of the influenza virus, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When looking at two separate pandemics that occurred in different time periods, understanding the context of all technological, medical, cultural, and social advances that occurred over the past century is important, reports CNBC. American population numbers were vastly different. In 1918, the population was less than a third of today's at 103 million people living in U.S. right before the 1920s. Now, there are 303 million people living in the country. So, while the 1918 flu killed one in every 150 Americans, Covid-19 has killed one in 500 people so far, per CNBC. Globally, Covid-19 has taken the lives of 4.7 million people, whereas the 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million people. When looking at the national population-level data during the two events, the 1918 influenza still tops Covid-19, per Stat News. Medicine was also not as advanced during 1918, and a vaccine against influenza was not available, according to CNN. To control infections a century ago, non-pharmaceutical interventions—like isolation, quarantine, use of disinfectants, cloth masks and limits of public gatherings—were enforced, according to the CDC. However, Covid-19 cases are still rising despite the availability of vaccines, and other modern medicine practices. Currently, millions of Americans have still not been vaccinated, per CNN. “Remember, we’re still counting,” Morens tells STAT News. “In 1918, the pandemic became not so deadly within two years. We have no idea — I don’t, and I don’t trust anybody who says they do — where this Covid-19 will go.” Epidemiologist Stephen Kissler from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that another reason for high rates of Covid-19 infection is from the misinformation that spread through the internet, per CNN. “The truth is we have no historical precedent for the moment we’re in now,” writes Howard Markel, the director of the Center for History of Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, last month in the Atlantic. “We need to stop thinking back to 1918 as a guide for how to act in the present and to start thinking forward from 2021 as a guide to how to act in the future.”
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Disease Outbreaks
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Nine months after the health and economic crisis began, unemployment claims near record high
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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell promised a taper, but not yet. Credit, currency and equity markets responded with a yawn. After nine months of taper talk from the American central bank, markets will not act until the Fed does. Join FXStreet senior analysts Eren Sengezer and Joseph Trevisani for a critique of the Fed's inaction. Joseph Trevisani: The Fed got its wish yesterday. The taper is closer...Treasury rates were stable and equities didn’t tank. I wonder how long the Fed can keep this juggling act aloft? The taper is by definition a rate hike. As the Fed removes its massive support for bond prices, they will sink and Treasury rates will rise and commercial rates will follow. Eren Sengezer: It was surprising to see Chairman Powell saying that the bar for taper could be met as soon as the next meeting despite the fact that the policy statement refrained from delivering a timeline. Also, he doesn't seem concerned about the labor market after the dismal August jobs report. I guess Wall Street likes the underlying economic strength Joseph Trevisani: Yes. The Fed's institutional bias is to bring rates higher. It is the same institution that hiked rates after years a zero from the financial crisis. Eren Sengezer: Do you think a rate hike will follow right after the QE is concluded? Joseph Trevisani: No. And it shouldn't be necessary. One the Fed is finished with its bond program...Treasury rates and market rates should be substantially higher. Eren Sengezer: That is the idea. The term "stagflation" has been making it rounds lately. The Summary of Economic Projections showed that policymakers are expecting Core PCE to ease to 2.3% in 2022 from 3.7% in 2021. Do you see a risk of a slowdown in activity with inflation holding above 2%? Joseph Trevisani: I have small faith in Fed projections on inflation. In the Wall Street phrase, they are talking their book. US growth will slow, it is not going to continue at 6% or even 4.5%. Stagflation implies very low or zero growth and inflation. As for inflation, I think it continues between 3% and 4% next year... The sharp increases in energy costs, a basic input for every manufactured product and a strong influence on the overall economy, have only begun to work their way into consumer pricing. Eren Sengezer: Businesses are still struggling to find workers as well, which could also contribute to rising input prices. Joseph Trevisani: Exactly. There is the puzzle of high unemployment or at least workers who are officially unemployed and record numbers of empty jobs. I think it is more than just extended insurance. Likely the lockdowns accelerated economic and job changes that are not showing up in official figures. Eren Sengezer: Again, this brings back the question of how long it will take for the labor market to settle down after the structural changes it has to go through. Joseph Trevisani: It has already taken far longer and been far more costly, in terms of wages, than anyone anticipated. The longer it continues, the greater the upward pressure on inflation. The Fed knows this. Look at the evolution of their PCE forecast this year...core 2.2% in March, 3.7% in September, six months later. That does not speak of accuracy or understanding. The headline is worse, 1.8% in March, 4.2% in September. I am not trying to call out the Fed, but just to stress that the situation has evolved in unexpected ways, the labor market being the primary one. For the markets, equities are happy. Stocks are higher today and were yesterday. Monday's fall was China-related and that seems to have calmed down. Beijing may not officially bail out Evergrande...but you can be sure they ordered it behind the scenes. US Treasury rates are higher but they have a long way to go even to return to the first quarter range. So all in all the Fed must be happy. Jerome Powell is very good at his job. Eren Sengezer: Speaking of Jerome Powell and him doing a good job... Do you think US Pres. Biden will reappoint him and would it be a big mistake if he didn't? Joseph Trevisani: I think he will. Biden has enough problems without creating another. I think the Fed is viewed positively by the US electorate and that is a bit of a rarity for US institutions these days. Eren Sengezer: Well said. Joseph Trevisani: My own opinion is that he should be reappointed. Joseph Trevisani: The dollar has lost all of yesterday's altitude but the longer-term trend is still mildly positive, more so against the euro, the aussie and the kiwi than the Canada or the yen. At this point, after almost nine months of taper speculation, no amount of Fed talk is going to move markets. Action is needed. Eren Sengezer: What about the GBP following the Bank of England's relatively hawkish outlook? Joseph Trevisani: Same issue for the BOE. Talk is a discounted commodity. Eren Sengezer: To me, it seems like the BoE is more concerned about inflation than the Fed is. Joseph Trevisani: I think it is. Inflation averaging is a get out of jail free card for Fed policy. Eren Sengezer: Let me get back to the Evergrande crisis. I agree that China will somehow bailout Evergrande. Is that a red flag though? Joseph Trevisani: No. Markets believe in credit unit they don't. I don't find the Chinese bailing out Evergrande much different than the US government having 23 trillion in debt. Joseph Trevisani: A default would upset markets, but I don’t think the Chinese will let that happen. Is there a possibility that there is a large property bubble in china...sure. Will we ever know? Not likely. Eren Sengezer: I think China is concerned about speculative movements in the real estate market as well as the widening income gap but it's difficult to say how they will deal with those problems due to the lack of transparency. Joseph Trevisani: True. I think China is best viewed historically. The current Beijing regime is essentially a new dynasty. Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page. If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet. FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted. The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice. EUR/USD is trading in a tight range near 1.1450 on Friday as the dollar consolidates its weekly gains. The data from the euro area showed that Industrial Production contracted at a softer pace than expected in September. Investors await US consumer confidence data. GBP/USD is flirting with eleven-month lows near mid-1.3300s, undermined by the persistent strength in the US dollar across its main rivals. Fresh optimism on the Brexit front fails to deter the GBP bears. The focus remains on Brexit talks and US Consumer Sentiment data amid growing inflation worries. After posting impressive gains on Wednesday and Thursday, gold lost its traction on Friday amid unabated dollar strength and rising US Treasury bond yields. Ahead of the UoM Consumer Sentiment Index data from the US, XAU/USD is trading below $1,850. $5.6 billion in SHIB has been traded in the past 24 hours across exchanges. Bricks Buster, a mobile game, burns SHIB through ad revenue to reduce Shiba Inu's circulating supply. Analysts expect Shiba Inu is ready to make an explosive move and resume its uptrend. The troubled Chinese property developer, Evergrande, has threatened to cripple the Chinese property sector and despite the news that Evergrande has managed to meet a debt obligation, concerns linger in the markets.
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Financial Crisis
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1962 LOT Vickers Viscount Warsaw crash
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The 1962 LOT Vickers Viscount Warsaw crash occurred on 19 December 1962 when a Vickers Viscount 804, operated by LOT Polish Airlines on a flight from Brussels to Warsaw, crashed on landing. All passengers and crew died. The plane was returning from Brussels, and had a mid-way landing in Berlin from where it took off at 5:55 pm. While on approach on runway 33 in Warsaw at 7:30 pm the crew received landing clearance. 46 seconds later the plane crashed and burned 1335 meters from the threshold. All 33 people aboard died – the crew of 5 and 28 passengers; among whom were:[1]
The Chief Committee of Aircraft Accident Investigation stated that at the time of the accident the plane was configured for landing (flaps set and landing gear lowered). It also stated there was no explosion mid-air and all damage was a result of the crash. The plane was landing in harsh, Winter weather conditions, with dense near-ground fog, 6/8 overcast, fractostratus clouds at 250 meters, 7-km visibility and temperature of 5 degrees below 0. One of the probable causes of stalling due to low speed was attributed to turboprop engines features which change the propellers pitch during acceleration. Hence sudden throttle increase is not recommended. Such a maneuver was probably executed by the Captain who was accustomed to flying piston engine aircraft in which such maneuvers are allowed. [2] The Vickers Viscount 804 was one of three recently bought from British United Airways in England. [1] On LOT's roster the airliner had logged only 84 flight hours. Official accident causes:
There is a possibility that one of the NDB during approach was broken unbeknown to the crew. [4]
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Air crash
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