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Mr Sathish Kumar's recovery from Covid-19

Physiotheraipst Mr Javier Luo (right) assisting Mr Sathish Kumar the prescribed exercises at the Physiotherapy clinic in Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Sept 21, 2021. SINGAPORE - About four months ago, Mr Sathish Kumar was in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, intubated and fighting for his life, having contracted Covid-19. The 52-year-old engineer survived the ordeal and was moved from the ICU after about two weeks. But he was so weak that he could not get out of bed to go to the toilet or brush his teeth without help. It took the medical team from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) to nurse him back to health. The physiotherapists first saw him on May 25 - the day he was discharged from the ICU - and taught him some simple exercises. Mr Sathish said in an interview on Thursday (Sept 23) these were critical in helping him regain the strength he lost after being confined to a hospital bed for weeks. Many Covid-19 survivors require physiotherapy as part of their recovery. The TTSH physiotherapy team has seen more than 400 recovered Covid-19 patients since the start of the pandemic last year. Healthy patients with mild forms of Covid-19 might need just a few sessions, while more severely ill patients might need a few months of rehabilitation. Exercises are tailored to what each individual needs. Following Mr Sathish's discharge from the ICU, he had to work on lifting his arms and legs, activating the muscles that allowed him to move around. His physiotherapists saw him once a day. As his oxygen levels were low at first, they had to be closely monitored, along with his heart rate. Sometimes he needed oxygen, which can be low among recovering patients, during exercise. As his health slowly improved, he was taught how to stand and do slow marching exercises on the spot. Breathing exercises, such as how to relax and breathe deeply, were also critical. Mr Sathish was diagnosed with Covid-19 early in May when he returned from a visit to India to see his mother. His condition deteriorated and he was moved to the ICU on May 12. He was discharged from hospital on June 9. Since then, Mr Sathish has been diligent about doing his exercises and has seen his health improve to close to his pre-Covid-19 state. He does his exercises twice a day - in the morning and after work. Mr Sathish does his exercises twice a day - in the morning and after work. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE The exercises are simple, such as push-ups against the wall, lifting light weights and marching on the spot. Mr Sathish has diabetes as a pre-existing condition. Dr Puah Ser Hon, a consultant in respiratory and critical care medicine at TTSH who was on Mr Sathish's care team, said that Mr Sathish's recovery is considered good given that he had developed a serious form of Covid-19 and needed invasive mechanical ventilation. "Most patients have a recovery like Mr Sathish's. But if patients take a turn for the worst while in ICU, such as if they develop multi-organ failure or require more lung support, then they may stay longer in the ICU or die," Dr Puah said. Currently, Mr Sathish returns to TTSH as an outpatient for structured physiotherapy sessions once every three weeks. He has gone back to work and is able to travel around independently but some residual symptoms continue to linger. He still tires more easily and occasionally experiences breathing difficulties.

Famous Person - Recovered

Egypt on Friday announced the discovery of a settlementin the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria

Egypt on Friday announced the discovery of a settlement in the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria dating back to at least the second century BC. An Egyptian archaeological team made the find in the city's central Al-Shatby district during nine months of excavations, a statement from the tourism and antiquities ministry said. The settlement had a "residential and commercial" function, the statement said. The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, said initial studies showed "a main road and adjacent streets linked by a sewage network". The area was in use from the late Ptolemaic period until the middle of the period of Roman rule, covering a timeframe from "the second century BC until the fourth century AD," Waziri was quoted as saying. Archaeologists discovered a large number of wells cut into the rock and a network of water cisterns, the statement said. They also found an alabaster statue of an unidentified Roman emperor, amulets, numerous amphorae and some 700 ancient coins. Ahmed Abu Hamd, head of antiquities in Alexandria, said the remains correspond to a "market, workshops and votive and sculpture shops". Cairo has announced a series of archaeological discoveries in recent years, hoping to revive a vital tourism sector battered by a 2011 uprising, insurgent attacks and the coronavirus pandemic.

New archeological discoveries

Glenwood Canyon Mudslides: Even Rainfall Events That ‘Aren’t Extreme’ Will Lead To I-70 Closures

Filed Under: Colorado News , Eagle County News , Garfield County News , Glenwood Canyon , Glenwood Springs News , I-70 , I-70 Closed , I-70 Closure , I-70 Traffic , Interstate 70 , Mudslide (CBS4) – With one rain event after the next, it’s likely going to be a long summer for those who rely on Glenwood Canyon. On Monday, less than 24 hours after Colorado Department of Transportation cleared the canyon from Saturday’s debris flows , Interstate 70 in the canyon closed once again for about an hour . “If we get more than about .3 inches of rainfall in 15 minutes or more than about a half inch of rainfall in 30 minutes, we have a chance for a debris flow in that area and that actually lines up with what we’ve seen from the recent rainfall,” said Francis Rengers, a research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. “Unfortunately they aren’t extreme events, those are pretty common rainfall events that we get in the summer here but that’s enough to cause debris to come down onto the road.” With a snow avalanche, the areas they occur in typically become more stable after a slide. That is not the case with these burn scar debris flows. “There’s unfortunately a lot of soil on those hills that can still move. I wouldn’t say that if it happens once then we’re good to go. We can’t really let our guard down this summer because there’s still quite a bit of soil and sediment that can be recruited to move around in those debris flows,” he said. There were a total of five different mudslides in the canyon over the weekend. Fortunately, drivers who were stuck made it out safely. Monday, with the threat of more rain, CDOT wasn’t taking any chances and closed the interstate. While CDOT is working closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to try and predict when closures may need to happen, it isn’t easy. “Sometimes they’ll have one little weather cell go over to a spot that wasn’t expected and then it drops a bunch of rain and then we have a mudslide there, so really pinpointing the accuracy of these smaller cells is challenging and NOAA is staying on top of it as much as they can and letting us know anytime they have new information about that,” said Elise Thatcher, Communications Manager for CDOT’s Northwest Region. Despite the difficulties in predicting the weather, the agencies involved aren’t taking chances. “It’s not worth losing your patience and getting too mad if you’re waiting in traffic because they close the road because it could be a lifesaving thing if they close the road,” said Rengers. A CDOT worker on Saturday comes to the aid of travelers who were stranded on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon when they got caught between mudslides. (credit: CDOT) Rengers said it will likely take several summers before there is enough regrowth to hold the soil on the canyonsides in place once again. “These things can actually last a while and the next couple years, we still have to be careful, this summer is probably going to be our worst summer for Glenwood Canyon,” said Rengers.

Mudslides

1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake

The 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake took place on March 9 with a moment magnitude of 8.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). It occurred south of the Andreanof Islands group, which is part of the Aleutian Islands arc. The event occurred along the Aleutian Trench, the convergent plate boundary that separates the Pacific Plate and the North American Plates near Alaska. A basin wide tsunami followed, with effects felt in Alaska and Hawaii. Total losses were around $5 million. The 2,500 mi (4,000 km) Aleutian Subduction Zone is the convergent boundary of the Pacific and North American Plates. This oceanic trench runs from the Kuril Subduction Zone in the west to the Yakutat Collision Zone in the east. At each end of the subduction zone are right-lateral transform faults, including the Queen Charlotte Fault in the east, and a similar structure at the far west end of the arc near Attu Island. [3] Because the shock occurred before the World Wide Standardised Seismological Network was in operation, few instruments captured the event, and its mechanism is not understood well as a result. Some effort was made with the limited data to gain an understanding of the rupture area and the distribution of slip. One aspect of the event that was certain was that the 750 mi (1,200 km) aftershock zone was the largest that had ever been observed. [4] In Alaska, the earthquake caused severe damage to roads and buildings on Adak Island, but no lives were lost. Two bridges and some oil and fuel-related structures at the dock were also destroyed there. On Umnak Island, a concrete mixer and some docks were lost. Prompt warnings from the Seismic Sea Wave Warning System were credited with preventing greater damage or loss of life. [5] In Hawaii, damage was much more extensive, including two indirect fatalities that occurred when a pilot and photographer were killed while attempting to document the tsunami's arrival from an airplane. On the island of Kauai, the wave height reached 52 feet (16 m). By comparison, the effects were considered about twice as strong as that of the 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake and resulting tsunami. About 50 homes were flooded on the north shore of Oahu and significant effects were seen in Waialua Bay. Buildings and bridges were also affected in Haleiwa. [5] The total damage cost over $5 million ($46 million in 2017). [6]

Earthquakes

With Deliberate Famine Threatening Millions, Tigray Demands Greater Action from the US

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began what he called a “law enforcement operation” against the Tigray Regional Government last November. Seven months later, it has turned into an internationalized civil war involving troops from neighboring Eritrea. The conflict has significantly destabilized the Horn of Africa. It has indirectly instigated a border war between Ethiopia and Sudan, as well as contributed to the escalation of rivalry between Egypt and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s construction of the GERD dam on the Nile River. Numerous war crimes have been documented by rights groups. And the United Nations humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock just declared famine in Tigray and said that starvation was being used as a weapon of war by Ethiopia and Eritrea. As a consequence of this, an estimated 350,000 are currently living in famine conditions, and 2 million more are in danger of soon being in the same situation. A Nobel Prize laureate, Abiy may be in the process of committing mass murder on a scale not seen in many decades. Lawmakers from the United States and the United Kingdom have called the atrocities committed by Ethiopia “genocidal.” While the U.S. government was initially slow to react, it has recently taken on a critical leadership role in managing the crisis. As this man-made famine could potentially claim millions of lives, it is urgent that the Biden administration intensify pressure on the Ethiopian government beyond the sanctions it has already put in place. Background The war began on Nov. 4, 2020, but there is a disagreement on who initiated it. The Ethiopian government claims that it launched an offensive in retaliation to an attack on the Ethiopian army by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While, the TPLF claims that the war was initiated by the federal government and that they were acting in self-defense. The TPLF had for weeks prior to the war warned that a joint Eritrean and Ethiopian military offensive was being planned. The African Union ’s Commission on Human and People’s Rights concluded through their own investigations that it was indeed the Ethiopian federal government that initiated the war. Diplomats on the ground have also confirmed a military build-up by federal troops along the border several days before the war began. Crucially, both the Ethiopian prime minister , Abiy Ahmed, and officials from the Amhara Regional State have admitted that they had been preparing for war for two years and that their troops were mobilized on the border with Tigray and ready to attack before the war, lending credence to the Tigrayan claim. The three actors that invaded Tigray – the Eritrean military, Ethiopian federal forces, and militia of the Amhara Regional State — had individual as well as overlapping objectives. The Eritrean government wanted revenge against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). It had been the dominant force in the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government, which led efforts to diplomatically isolate Eritrea in the past. The Amhara militia’s main strategic objectives were territorial expansion and annexation of western and southern Tigray, which it claims is historically theirs, while Abiy’s main objective was the elimination of obstacles for his autocratic power consolidation . After he indefinitely postponed elections in June 2020, he imprisoned many leading opposition leaders while other dissidents were killed . Harassment of opposition parties has also made it difficult to operate and eventually led many to boycott the political process. The TPLF, which controlled a regional state of its own, was the only force with the institutional resources to resist Abiy’s centralization efforts. For example, when he postponed the elections, the TPLF proceeded to hold local elections in defiance. The motives of these three actors converged on the desire to wage war on an entire community and collectively punish civilians in Tigray. In addition to numerous incriminating statements, the way the war was executed illustrates that civilians and civilian infrastructure were central targets of the war. One example is the use of rape as a weapon of war, which was, from the outset, widely used by the Amhara, Eritrean, and Ethiopian troops. The sexual violence often takes the form of gang rapes in groups as many as 20 to 30 men and often involves torture, leaving the assaulted women physically and mentally devastated. The latest official estimate of women needing treatment after sexual violence during the war was 22,500, but this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Amhara militias also have ethnically cleansed around 1 million people from western Tigray. The troops have also systematically vandalized health , education , and economic infrastructure. Another devastating crime against civilians in Tigray is the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Eritrean and Ethiopian troops are systematically destroying farmers’ agricultural equipment and seeds; preventing them from farming ; and obstructing the work of humanitarian workers in order to prevent food assistance from reaching the needy. Currently, 5.2 million or 91 percent of Tigrayans need emergency food, according to the United Nations, and they face a serious risk of famine. Given the level of intentional destruction, some analysts and politicians, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), have claimed the violations may constitute genocide . Eritrean Involvement The involvement of Eritrea in the war has become one of the most controversial aspects of the war, and its withdrawal of troops is a key demand by the United States and the international community. For months, both Ethiopian and Eritrean authorities vehemently denied accusations of Eritrea’s involvement, much less the way they were conducting the war. On March 23, however, Abiy admitted that Eritrean forces have been in Tigray since the war began. After months of denial, Eritrea too recently confirmed that its troops are fighting in Tigray. Eritrean forces are implicated in most of the atrocities committed in Tigray, including the massacre in the Dengelat church , another massacre and massive looting in Axum , widespread sexual violence , prohibiting Tigrayans from farming their land, and blocking relief efforts. It is imperative to note that the Abiy administration has never protested Eritrea’s involvement. In fact, multiple reports indicate that Ethiopian federal forces and Eritrean forces conduct joint military operations. In light of these facts, it seems likely that Ethiopia invited Eritrea to participate in the war, and may have helped it operate covertly. In any event, it is evident that Ethiopia created conducive conditions for Eritrean troops to commit atrocity crimes with absolute impunity. That said, the extent to which Ethiopia currently has leverage over the Eritrean army is questionable. Such utter abdication of duty makes the case for international responsibility to protect civilians in Tigray compelling. The U.S. Response to the Tigray Crisis The Biden administration spent its first five months in office trying to convince Abiy to change course, a testament to how valuable the United States sees its partnership with Ethiopia. For two decades Ethiopia was the United States’ main security partner in the Horn of Africa. There were also numerous attempts by the United States and some European States to raise the Tigray crisis at the U.N. Security Council, but they failed to produce any meaningful outcome due to opposition from Russia and China. The international organizations that had the mandate and responsibility to act abdicated their responsibility. The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Musa Faki, embraced the war and sided with the Ethiopian government early on in the conflict, while U.N. Secretary General António Guterres has not been willing to take a strong public stand against the conflict. The European Union was the only actor that confronted Abiy by withholding some of its development assistance. When the U.N. Security Council refused to seriously engage on the topic, the Biden administration focused on working directly with Ethiopia. Biden first sent Sen. Chris Coons (D-CT) as emissary and later appointed Jeffrey Feltman as special envoy to the Horn of Africa to persuade Abiy to withdraw Eritrean troops from Tigray and allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians. This policy achieved little, however, and it gave Abiy more time to commit atrocities and allowed the conflict to turn deeper into a humanitarian and regional crisis. The failure of this policy was mostly due to the belief that the Ethiopian government would be susceptible to diplomatic overtures. Historical evidence suggests, however, that governments that perpetuate systemic mass atrocities on this scale rarely allow themselves to be persuaded to halt their violent campaigns by non-coercive means. For example, the Cambodian genocide ended when the Khmer Rouge was overthrown by Vietnam, while the Bosnian genocide was halted through NATO’s military campaigns. For six months, Abiy successfully took advantage of the widely held view amongst Western governments that Ethiopia –due to its role in regional counterinsurgency and peacekeeping — is too important of a strategic partner to be sanctioned or even confronted. He used this attitude amongst Western diplomats to buy time. From the beginning of the war, he constantly made promises he didn’t keep – first, it was the withdrawal of Eritrean troops, then unfettered access to humanitarian aid. Each lie bought him some time, and rarely did the deception or atrocities have any consequences. After months of patient, but ineffective diplomacy, on May 24, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that visa bans would be applied against Ethiopian and Eritrean officials, members of the Amhara militia, and the TPLF for obstructing efforts to end the conflict in Tigray. Other sanctions included restrictions on development and security assistance to Ethiopia. The United States has also asked multilateral development banks to suspend funding to Ethiopia. The scale of the crimes and the failure of diplomatic overtures meant that the only remaining option was coercive diplomacy. The main impact of the sanctions is, however, their symbolic effects. They convey the message that Ethiopia’s war crimes and crimes against humanity in Tigray are not acceptable. Abiy’s first reaction to the U.S. sanctions was to rally the country behind the flag. The Ethiopian government has also made thinly veiled threats that it intends to look to China and Russia for alternative partnerships. This is, however, only a bluff. Ethiopia is a highly aid-dependent country, and it is extremely unlikely that China or Russia would be willing to provide the same level of development assistance that Europe and the United States have provided. Abiy’s current tactic seems to be to buy enough time to set off a major famine, in the hopes that hunger will end the Tigrayan insurgency. But, as the history of insurgencies in Ethiopia indicate, the armed resistance is likely to continue despite the famine. What More Should Be Done To be effective, the U.S. government needs to expand sanctions and intensify pressure on the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments. An incremental increase in pressure is counter-productive. Eventually, Abiy will have to politically engage his opponents; the purpose of outside pressure should be to make this happen before the famine kills hundreds of thousands of civilians and before the State collapses. It is important to disable his war machinery as early as possible. For this to happen, the Biden administration needs to mobilize and coordinate a common front together with European and African States. While the EU has taken a strong stance, individual European countries, like France, Italy, and Germany, have been reluctant to confront Abiy on his human rights record. There needs to be a concerted effort to use financial assistance as leverage. Assets of key individuals should also be frozen through the Global Magnitsky Act. While the U.N. Security Council should impose an arms embargo on the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments, action at the Council still seems unlikely given Russian and Chinese intransigence. As a second-best option, the U.S. government should impose an arms embargo on Eritrea and Ethiopia. As the United States is not a major arms trading partner for either Ethiopia or Eritrea, this would only be effective if done in conjunction with European States and by using secondary sanctions to deter arms exporters from trading with these countries. Over time, this would reduce Abiy’s access to weapons and ensure that his wars with Tigray, Oromia, and Sudan cannot continue indefinitely. It would also further isolate him diplomatically. So far, Abiy has rejected all calls for dialogue . Reduced access to weapons would eventually compel him to pursue a political solution. An arms embargo would also help disable Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s war machinery and end his destabilization of the Horn of Africa. The sanctions should be lifted only when a verification mechanism for the withdrawal of Eritrean, Amhara, and Ethiopian troops from Tigray has been put in place on the ground, and when a formal cessation of hostilities and a peace-process has begun. More than five million people are categorized as needing emergency food assistance by the U.N., and with the current trajectory, most of these will soon be in famine conditions. If Abiy’s government is not stopped, the casualties of the Tigray war will, within a few months, exceed that of Rwanda’s genocide. If this is to be averted, the Biden administration needs to establish redlines and deadlines for compliance. If there is a continued refusal to comply with demands to end the conflict and allow humanitarian access to civilians in need, then the option of humanitarian military intervention merits serious consideration. The U.N. Security Council is unlikely to support such measures, but the heavy humanitarian cost of inaction should be unacceptable. A NATO or other multilateral mission to push Eritrean troops out of Tigray and provide safe passage for humanitarian access may be the only option left to prevent the politically engineered famine from killing millions. The norm of Responsibility to Protect was formulated precisely for this type of situation. While there is little appetite for humanitarian intervention in the West, the alternative will be to allow the deliberate starvation of millions of people. We note that for a host of reasons, the United States has not clearly embraced the legality of humanitarian intervention absent Security Council authorization (although a few of its close allies, like the UK , have done so). We also suspect that the Biden administration is unlikely to change the long-standing U.S. legal view. But if the African Union, NATO, or the United States with a coalition of partners, were to intervene in Ethiopia in such circumstances, while it might be viewed as unlawful , it would not be unprecedented . Given the severity of the humanitarian situation in Tigray, such action could furthermore be morally justified. As the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty has argued, if “the Security Council fails to discharge its responsibility [to protect] in conscience-shocking situations crying out for action, then it is unrealistic to expect that concerned states will rule out other means and forms of action to meet the gravity and urgency of these situations.” Beyond Tigray, if Abiy does not commit to a political process with his opponents, it is plausible that the Ethiopian State — with its 120 million inhabitants — will collapse. This would destabilize the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, through which a substantial share of the world’s trade passes every year. Pressure by the United States and its partners may therefore play an important role in reversing this trajectory before it’s too late. Image: An Ehiopian woman, who fled the Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict as a refugee, sits on a water container at Um Raquba refugee camp in Gedaref, eastern Sudan, on December 1, 2020. Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images

Famine

1954 Aldbury Valetta accident crash

On 6 January 1954 WJ474 a twin-engined Vickers Valetta training aircraft of No. 2 Air Navigation School Royal Air Force crashed near RAF Bovingdon just after takeoff in bad weather. [1][2] The Valetta was authorised to carry out a pilot and navigation exercise from RAF Thorney Island to RAF Bovingdon and return. The flight was also to be used to transport a Rugby team for a match at RAF Halton. [3] The aircraft had completed the first leg from Thorney Island to Bovingdon with 16 passengers without incident. [4] For the return flight an extra passenger was carried although the aircraft had only 16 passenger seats. [4] The pilot had not played in the Rugby match but the other crew members had. [4] The Valetta took off at 17:16 with a visibility of 1200 yards in snow. [4] The Valetta was seen to climb to about 400 feet then during a turn to the left it hit a tree five miles north of the airfield and crashed near Tom's Hill, Aldbury on part of the estate of the Ashridge Park National Trust. [3][4][5] The aircraft crashed onto a wooded slope when both engines were torn off. The fuselage continued for another 100 yards with a debris trail of wreckage and bodies. [5] The wreckage was spread over two miles, with a cold north wind and ice and snow on the ground combined with a narrow access road made rescue difficult. [5] The fire brigade station officer said it had taken them half an hour to find the wreckage. [5] The National Trust chief ranger with four of his staff were first on the scene reported "Ten bodies were scattered about and we found two men alive. One was outside the aircraft and did not seem to be very badly hurt. The other was pulled from inside the smashed fuselage and was only semi-conscious. "[5] Two passengers were rescued but one died in hospital later;[5] all the others on board were killed. [1] The location was close to the same spot a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress had crashed during World War II. [5] The cause of the accident was not established, but the extra passenger and weather at takeoff did not contribute to the crash. [4] It was assumed that the pilot was trying to keep in eye contact with the ground in the poor visibility. [4] Verdicts of accidental death were returned for the sixteen victims at the coroner's inquest held at Berkhamsted. [6] The sole survivor[3] said at the inquest he could not remember anything after boarding the aircraft at Bovingdon. [6] The coroner said that before the aircraft departed "certain things were not done which should have been done. But the question of taking off was entirely a matter for the pilot to decide." "For some reason height was lost – no one knows why, no one will ever know. That caused the unfortunate crash. There was nothing wrong with the engines. "[6]

Air crash

Toxic chemicals found in water during East Sale RAAF Base investigation

A toxic chemical once used in firefighting foam at Department of Defence sites across the country has been detected in bore water near East Sale RAAF Base. Environmental consultants Senversa has been investigating whether the potentially dangerous chemicals from the firefighting foam have leached into groundwater. Sixteen Department of Defence sites across Australia are being tested for levels of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluotoalkyl substances (PFAS) contained in firefighting foam. The testing will also identify any possible health risks for defence personnel and nearby residents. The foam was used to fight liquid fuel fires at the East Sale air force base until 2004. Results from a preliminary site investigation released this week show low levels of PFAS have been found in three water sources near the East Sale base and in water leading into the nearby Heart Morass wetland. East Sale RAAF Base Group Captain Mark McCallum said scientists tested water and soil on the base and from land surrounding the base and found PFAS at three off-base sites. "We tested 39 bores, 36 of those came back clean with no level of PFAS detected," he said. "Three sites had low levels of detection, which were below safe drinking levels. "There were a couple of surface water sites leading into the Heart Morass which had low level detection but they require further investigation." No contamination has been found in drinking water supplies on or off the base. The results from the preliminary investigation are now shaping a more detailed look at how far the chemicals have spread. Group Captain McCallum said the Department of Defence was also looking at how to contain PFAS already found in water supplies. "We've been lucky enough that this stuff isn't significantly migrating off base and we want to ensure that it doesn't further migrate," he said. "We've got bores on the boundary of the base to look to see if there's any sub-surface movement of the chemicals, we'll also look at the surface contamination and look at containment options there." Environmental Protection Authority Victoria's Gippsland regional manager Stephen Lansdell said although the early results were pleasing, there was a lot more research to be done. "They haven't found any levels of concern or anything above screening criteria so in the scheme of things it is a good news story," he said. "Obviously there's more work to do and the testing that they've done has helped them understand a bit more around the use of the chemicals in the past at the site and where they need to look further. "It's really the start of the journey, but in terms of what they've found its good news at the moment. The next round of research will focus on further water testing in and around the Heart Morass. Field and Game Australia owns much of the Heart Morass, but spokesman Gary Howards said the organisation was not worried by the possibility of contamination. "We're not really concerned at all," he said. "The levels they're telling us about are well below the accepted levels and there are only some isolated cases at this stage. "If you started looking for other things in the wetland you'd probably find a few other things in there that we're not happy about because that's what a wetland or a swamp does, it filters water."

Environment Pollution

Rabbitohs-Roosters tensions boil over as Souths defend Latrell Mitchell and Roosters cop $40,000 NRL fine

The NRL has come down hard on the Sydney Roosters for abusing referees over the high shot that has seen Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell banned for the finals. Mitchell has been suspended for six weeks for the grade two hit on Joseph Manu that also ended his season.  Manu is now in hospital with three metal plates inserted in his face. Mitchell was sin-binned at the time, while Roosters players, officials and coach Trent Robinson abused the referees for not sending him off all together. Roosters players and officials verbally sprayed Mitchell and the match officials when he returned to the field. The NRL has described the Roosters' behaviour as unprofessional, fining the club $40,000 — $10,000 for abuse during the match, $20,000 for Robinsons' comments and a suspended $10,000 fine for the club's public commentary after the fact. Robinson, in his Friday night press conference, had said: "It's shown that the NRL bunker cannot do their job this year. It's been a farce, it's been an absolute farce." Robinson said there was bias against his side and he personally called out on-field referee Ashley Klein. "It's like the twilight zone up there when the Roosters are playing. It was laughable, it was that bad. They don't know what they were doing," Robinson said at the time. The NRL has since confirmed Mitchell should have been sent off rather than sin-binned for the tackle. The bunker referee, Henry Perenara, was stood down for the following night's match over the bungle. To make matters worse, the NRL Integrity Unit is also investigating Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for an alleged altercation with a Channel Nine cameraman. The NRL is warning abuse of match officials will not be tolerated. "There was a lack of professionalism shown by the club and its officials," NRL chief executive officer Andrew Abdo said. "There is no place for the abuse or harassment on the sideline. "It's not tolerated in community sport and it's certainly not tolerated in elite sport." The abuse towards one of the game's most polarising figures is not just coming from the rival Roosters. Mitchell's character has been brought into question by commentators and online critics, and his teammates feel it is not fair. "We are all humans at the end of the day, players make mistakes, refs make mistakes, the bunker makes mistakes," Rabbitohs captain Adam Reynolds said. Last year, Reynolds warned Mitchell was on the brink of quitting the game because of the relentless criticism he faced in the media and online. Reynolds is not sure the treatment of Mitchell has improved. "Everyone's got strong opinions of people in the game, some more than others," Reynolds said. "It's pretty easy to stand behind a microphone and bag someone or make comments about someone, but we don't know what they are thinking or feeling, so I am not too sure [if things have improved for Latrell]," Reynolds said. He said witnessing the weekend's abuse was very disappointing. "No player goes out there to deliberately hurt someone," he said  "That's all I am going to say on the situation. We can't control what's happened. now we have to move on and worry about what's in front of us." Reynolds will not comment on whether he agrees with the six-week penalty, but he did open up about Mitchell's mental state. "He's alright. We'll look after him. He's a valuable player to have on our team," Reynolds said. Souths teammate Campbell Graham was also quick to defend Mitchell. "I don't want to see Latrell change his game at all," Graham said. "I love what he brings on the field. I love his aggression and his intent on the field.  "It's a shame. There was no intent. He didn't go out there to hurt anyone. "There is a place for physicality and aggression in our game and Latrell brings that. There are plenty of other players who bring that same aggression and that's what people love to see." It is the second year in a row Mitchell will miss finals. Last year he was out with a hamstring injury. "I am sure he's upset," Graham said. "He's missed the last one (finals). It's a shame Meanwhile, Roosters skipper James Tedesco has said Mitchell, his former teammate, must change his playing ways. "You just can't do that," he said. "He's got to learn a lesson from that. He's got to find that balance of not overstepping that line. You don't want to be breaking people's faces." Souths are expected to call on rookie fullback Blake Taafe to fill in for Mitchell. 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)

Organization Fine

34 dead and hundreds missing in Brazil dam collapse, fire department says

At least 34 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are missing Saturday after a dam burst a day earlier at a Brazilian iron mine, according to the the local fire department. The dam's breach flooded parts of the southeastern state of Minas Gerais with mining debris and mud, which covered the city of Brumadinho, according to footage from CNN affiliate Record TV. Video from the scene showed helicopters hovering feet above the ground as firefighters plucked people from the muck and carried them away. The latest death toll comes from the Minas Gerais Fire Department, which is conducting search and rescue operations. The fire department had earlier said 296 people were missing. But different groups on the ground indicated the number of missing could be as high as 413. Some 279 people have been rescued, a spokesman for the civil defense agency, Officer Sargent Acquiles, told CNN. At least 200 rescuers were expected Saturday at the scene of the dam burst, double from a day earlier, according to the Minas Gerais government. The state judiciary also froze more than $260 million from Vale, the Brazilian mining giant that manages the Feijao mine, with a presiding judge citing the company's responsibility for the disaster. The money will be deposited into a judicial account to compensate for any costs to the state as a result of rescue operations or victim support. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the scene Saturday morning and met with Minas Gerais Gov. Romeu Zema before returning to the capital. "It is hard to witness this whole scenario and not be emotional," Bolsonaro tweeted Saturday. "We will do everything in our reach to help the victims, minimize damage, investigate the facts, claim justice and prevent new tragedies like the ones in Mariana and Brumadinho for the well-being of Brazilians and the environment," he said, referring to a similar mining disaster in 2015 . A "breach" Friday caused mining debris to spill into the mine's administrative area, where employees were working, according to Vale. Authorities said Friday that 427 people had been in the iron mine when the dam burst. Officials expect to contain the mudlike mine waste, called "tailings," within two days, according to the Brazilian National Water Agency. That's how long it's due for the muck to reach the Retiro Baixo hydroelectric dam, 220 kilometers (135 miles) away, the agency said. Water agency officials are "monitoring the mine tailings" and "coordinating actions" to supply quality water to the affected region, it said. In a company video, Vale chief Fabio Schvartsman asked for forgiveness Friday "from all those affected and all of Brazilian society." "Unfortunately, the dam break (today) happened. This is inexcusable," Schvartsman said, adding that Vale will "do all possible" to aid victims. "What just happened just now is beyond anything that I could imagine," he said. He also said the company had put "immense effort" into improving its dams, especially after the mining disaster in Mariana. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to help Brazil with the search and rescue, Bolsonaro said Saturday on Twitter, adding that he had accepted. The UN System in Brazil also offered support, expressing its "deep sorrow and solidarity to the families" of the victims. "The UN regrets the immeasurable loss of lives and significant damage to the environment and human settlements," a statement said. "The UN System is available to support the actions of the Brazilian authorities in the rapid removal of the victims and in the establishment of dignified conditions for the eventual homeless and the affected population. "The rigorous investigation of the facts that led to this tragedy," it added, "will be closely followed by Brazilians and the world community."

Mine Collapses

Australia's Kaylee McKeown triumphs world champion to win gold in 100m backstroke final

Australia's Kaylee McKeown dropped an F-bomb after becoming Olympic champion for the first time as she triumphed over American world champion Regan Smith in the women's 200m backstroke final. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window. This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Roadmap to net zero shows door to nuclear energy 'is not being closed' 5:15 Ageing Joe Biden got the top job ‘too late’ 5:33 Protesters who halted coal freight trains are 'disrespectful' 4:46 Kenny: ‘Light-hearted joke’ at Kennedy Awards ended in trouble 3:00 Joe Biden's 'media protection racket is not working' 2:18 ‘Idiotic’ protesters block coal trains in Hunter Valley 2:34 New OneNation advertisement pokes fun at major parties 2:37 Video paused due to user inactivity Continue watching? Kaylee McKeown has won the women’s 100m backstroke final after holding off the world champion Regan Smith. The 20-year-old was in the top three at the turn as she came from behind to win her first Olympic medal at her debut Olympics. The Queenslander finished with a time of 57.47 - an Olympic record - just a quarter of a second ahead of Canadian Kylie Masse and ahead of world champion American Regan Smith who came third. McKeown thanked her team as she said becoming an Olympic champion was a dream come true. “Something I have dreamed of to make that a reality is really amazing,” she told Channel 7 moments after the race. “I'm just thankful I have a good support team. A few people before the race came up and said just have all the faith in the world that you have got this.” When asked what she'd like to say to her mother and family back home Kaylee let slip with an on-air f-bomb. "F*** yea!," she yelled before covering her mouth in shock. After the race mother Sharon and sister Taylor were in disbelief McKeown had just become an Olympic champion. “That is so amazing. I don't even have words! I can't talk! I literally can't talk,” the older McKown sister told Channel 7. “I'm so happy for her. She just looks so beautiful on TV as well. It was such grace. I just... I'm lost for words. I can't talk!” “It hasn't sunk in. So happy and excited. Can't wait to give her a cuddle,” said Sharon. Australian veteran Emily Seebohm competed well to finish in fifth in the final at her fourth Olympics. In qualifying, McKeown broke the Olympic record with a time of 57.88 in her heat as she progressed through to the semi-finals before she went on to qualify third fastest. McKeown will now look towards her women’s 200m backstroke heat on Thursday – an event where she finished second at the World Championships in 2019. In the race after McKeown’s heroics, Australian Mitch Larkin had a tough battle in the men’s 100m backstroke final. His slow start off the blocks likely sealed his fate as he struggled to make ground on gold medal favourite Ryan Murphy. Russian duo Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov won gold and silver respectively, with Larkin finishing in seventh with a time of 52.79 – 0.5 of a second off his personal best.

Break historical records

2016–2017 South Korean protests

The 2016–2017 South Korean protests (The Candlelight Demonstrations), also known as the Candlelight Struggle[1] (Korean: 촛불항쟁) or the Candlelight Revolution[2] (Korean: 촛불혁명), were a series of protests against President Park Geun-hye that occurred throughout South Korea from November 2016 to March 2017. Protesters denounced the Park administration's 2016 political scandal and called for the resignation of Park Geun-hye. [3][4] After the impeachment of Park Geun-hye on corruption charges in December, the pro-Park rallies mobilized thousands of protesters for counter demonstrations. [5][6] In February 2017, the Liberty Korea Party, at the time the ruling party of South Korea, claimed that the size of pro-Park rallies had surpassed the size of anti-Park rallies. [7] In October 2016, a political scandal erupted over President Park Geun-hye's undisclosed links to Choi Soon-sil, a woman with no security clearance and no official position, who was found to have been giving secret counsel to the president. Choi had known Park since the 1970s, as Choi's father, Choi Tae-min, was a mentor for Park Chung-hee, then-president and Park Geun-hye's father. At the time, the Park family was still grieving from the assassination of the first-lady Yuk Young-soo,[8] and Choi Tae-min claimed that he could channel communication with her. [9] Both had remained friends since, even after Park Geun-hye became president. Park's behavior during her tenure had raised suspicions, due to her lack of communication with parts of the government and the press. [10] Choi, who had no official government position, was revealed to have access to confidential documents and information from the president, and acted as a close confidant for the president. Choi and Park's senior staff used their influence to extort ₩77.4 billion (~$774 million) from Korean chaebols – family-owned large business conglomerates – setting up two media and sports-related foundations, the Mir and K-sports foundations. [11][12][13] Choi embezzled money during the process, and it is reported that some of the funds were used to support her daughter Chung Yoo-ra's dressage activities in Germany. [14] She is also accused of rigging the admissions process at Ewha Womens University to help her daughter get accepted at the university. Ahn Jong-bum, a top presidential aide, was arrested for abusing power and helping Choi; he denied wrongdoing and claims he simply followed presidential orders. [15][16] On October 25, 2016, Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi. On October 28, Park dismissed key members of her top office staff and Park's opinion rating dropped to 5%, the lowest ever for a sitting South Korean president. [4][17][18][19] Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3% for Korean citizens under 60 years of age, while it remained higher at 13% for the over 60 years age group. [20] This also prompted President Park to fire members of her cabinet and the prime minister of South Korea in order to redirect the public's criticism. In particular, the sacking of the prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn resulted in a controversy, due to the claim that his firing had been done via text message. [21][22] On October 29th, the first candlelight protest was held with about 20,000 participants (estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000). The numbers grew rapidly in the following weeks. On 1 November, a man used an excavator to crash into the front entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building during a protest in Seoul. [24] On 5 November, people attended rally early on Saturday evening petition for Park's resignation. The police estimated 43,000, but organizers claimed more than 100,000. [25][26] On 12 November, four officers were injured during the demonstrations.Twenty-six protesters were taken to hospital with injuries and a further 29 were treated at the scene of the protests. On 19 November, a large number of South Korean high school students also joined the crowds after taking the college entrance test. [27] A short drive away from the protest, a group of conservative counter protesters gathered outside Seoul station in defense of the president until 17 December. [28] On 28 November, 1.9 million people hit the streets in a nationwide anti-president rally [29] On 3 December 2.3 million people hit the streets in a further anti-Park rally, one of the largest in the country's history. An estimated 1.6 million people gathered around the main boulevards from the City Hall to Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbok Palace. Another estimated 200,000 people gathered around the city of Busan and 100,000 in Gwangju. [30] On 10 December, following the National Assembly's vote to impeach Park,[31] hundreds of thousands gathered for weekly protests celebrating the move. [32] But, on 17 December, pro-Park supporters held their first major demonstrations in Seoul, with organizers claiming an attendance of one million. They called for the reinstatement of the currently impeached president. [33] On 24 December, 550,000 people held the Christmas Santa Rally, calling for the Park's immediate removal. [34] On 31 December, South Koreans celebrate New Year's Eve with mass protest. Over 1 million people take to the street according to Organizer, brought the cumulative number of people who have attended the protests since October to 10 millions, the largest weekly protest in South Korean history. [35][36] On January 7, hundreds of thousands of protestors returned to the streets of Seoul demanding impeached President's immediate removal and the salvaging of a sunken ferry which left more than 300 dead. At 7 pm (10:00 GMT) hundreds of yellow balloons were released and the protestors blew out the candles they were carrying as a symbolic gesture asking that Park clarify the mystery surrounding her seven-hour absence at the time of the ferry sinking. [37][38] On 21 January, South Koreans took to the streets Saturday to demand the arrest of the Samsung scion whose arrest warrant was rejected by a court last week, in the 13th candlelit protest calling for President Park Geun-hye to resign. Braving snow and cold, hundreds of thousands of protesters also demanded the Constitutional Court expedite review of Park's impeachment. [39] As the Candlelight rallies reached 100th day, on 4 February, 400,000 people gathered at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, calling for an extension of the Special Prosecutor’s investigation and for Park to step down immediately. [40] On 11 February, Hundreds of thousands of Koreans took to the streets with a Conflicting rallies between Pro and Anti-Impeachment groups. [41] Those who opposed Park held their 15th weekly candlelight rally in Gwanghwamun Square, while her supporters waved South Korean flags outside of Seoul City Hall for their 12th rally. Presidential hopefuls including provincial governor An Hee-jung and former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party Moon Jae-in attended the anti-Park rally. Rhee In-je of the ruling Saenuri Party attended the pro-Park rally "to be part of the patriotic people's wave," while Ahn Cheol-soo, a former chair of the minor opposition People's Party, did not attend either rally. [42] After Samsung vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong was arrested at 17 February by Special Prosecutors on charges of bribery in connection with the scandal, 700,000 people walked to the street on 18 February. Protesters urged the Constitutional Court, currently reviewing the legitimacy of the impeachment, to promptly reach a conclusion for the ouster of the president.. On 25 February, Hundreds of thousands of Koreans held rival demonstrations in Seoul over the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on the fourth anniversary of her swearing into office. Anti-Park protest organizers claimed a one million turnout and pro-Park supporters said they had attracted three million. The demonstrations come as court prepares to hold final hearing on president's impeachment over corruption scandal. [43][44] After Constitutional court removed Park Geun-hye from power over a corruption scandal, ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye maintained her silence on Saturday as her opponents and supporters divided the capital's streets with massive rallies that showed a nation deeply split over its future.

Protest_Online Condemnation

Thai Airways Flight 365 crash

Thai Airways Flight 365 was a Thai Airways Company Boeing 737-2P5 with the registration number HS-TBC. On 31 August 1987, the plane crashed during a scheduled flight from Hat Yai International Airport to Phuket International Airport (both in Thailand), killing all 83 people on board: 74 passengers and 9 crew. [1] Concerned by another aircraft in their vicinity, the crew reduced their approach speed while attempting to land, and failed to recover from an aerodynamic stall. In addition to pilot error, the air traffic controller was blamed for failing to keep Flight 365 and the other aircraft adequately separated. The aircraft involved was a seven-year-old Boeing 737-200 with the aircraft registration number HS-TBC and plant number 22267/685. It was built in 1980 and was delivered to Thai Airways in the same year. The aircraft had no history of malfunctioning. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was seven years and one month old and had 16,963 flying hours. [2] The captain was 53-year-old Vishanet Ampawat, who had logged a total of 19,538 flight hours, including 5,576 hours on the Boeing 737. [3] The unnamed 37-year-old first officer had 5,951 flight hours. He was far less experienced on the Boeing 737 than captain Ampawat, having logged only 156 hours on it. [4] Weather conditions were good as Flight 365 approached Phuket International Airport. As they prepared to land, the flight crew of Flight 365 expressed concern about a Dragonair Boeing 737 that was also landing at the airport but behind and below their aircraft. [citation needed] At 15:34 local time (08:34 UTC), the Dragonair captain told the air traffic controller that he was 24 kilometres (15 mi; 13 nmi) away from the airport at an altitude of 750 metres (2,460 ft) and that the Thai Airways aircraft was about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi; 4.9 nmi) in front of him. Because Dragonair's Boeing 737 was closer to the airport and flew at a lower altitude, it was the first to land. The Dragonair aircraft then turned right for the final approach to Runway 27. A few seconds later, the Thai pilots were given permission to drop to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and instructed to land second. [4] Immediately thereafter, the approach control was again called by the Thai crew, who stated that the position of the Dragonair flight was incorrect. The Thai pilots also told the air traffic controller that they were only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi; 8.1 nmi) away from the airport, even though their aircraft was further away at that time. The Thai aircraft was then given priority by the air traffic control at 15:36 for landing. [4] The captain of the Dragonair flight now warned the Thai crew of a possible collision because the Thai Boeing 737 would intercept its flight path. As a result, the Thai Airways crew reduced the aircraft's speed. A lapse in concentration by the flight crew occurred allowing the speed of Flight 365 to fall below the minimum limit. When the speed had dropped to 163 knots (188 mph), the stick shaker activated. The aircraft slowed down for another ten seconds and then entered a stall a speed of 152 knots (175 mph). In an attempt to recover from the stall, the captain increased engine power and retracted the landing gear. This failed as the aircraft was now at a low altitude. The plane crashed into the Andaman Sea 15 kilometres (9.3 mi; 8.1 nmi) east of the airport, and sank into a seabed that was 20 metres (66 ft) deep. [4] Everyone on board the aircraft was killed. [5] The probable cause for the crash of Flight 365 was determined to be "The pilot slowed the aircraft and it stalled while the pilot prepared to land first as advised by Phuket approach control. It appears that he was worrying and not sure whether he was able to land first because the pilot of the second aircraft gave warning that the first aircraft was above him and could not descend passing through his level. The pilot added power and raised the gear after the stick shaker activated but couldn’t execute a recovery before hitting the sea." In addition to pilot error, the air traffic controller was blamed for failing to keep Flight 365 and the Dragonair 737 adequately separated. [2][5] In the aftermath of the incident, the two air traffic controllers involved in the incident were assigned to other positions. [5]

Air crash

List of important military exercises of Indian Armed Forces

A military exercise involving two or more nations is a measure to test the performance of the armed forces without engaging in the battlefield. It facilitates better coordination between the militaries, observation of enemy's tactics, and familiarisation with new technologies, enabling on-the-job training of each other’s crews. These are useful in case of joint military operations be it in war or in operations other than war such as disaster relief, and humanitarian aid. Indian Armed forces conduct or participate in various bilateral and multilateral military exercises with foreign countries. This article precisely describes all of that. The Indian Military Exercises can be classified into three categories. These are as follows:1- Domestic Exercise2- Bilateral Exercise3- Multilateral Exercise Domestic Exercise: It aims at improving internal engagements. Bilateral Exercise: These involve the militaries of two nations. Multilateral Exercise: These involve militaries of more than two nations Military exercises of the Indian Armed Forces is an important examination topic. The students who are appearing for UPSC, SSC, RRB, Bank PO/Clerk or any other government and competitive examinations are advised to go through the list thoroughly.

Military Exercise

Sadiqabad railway accident

The Sadiqabad railway accident occurred on 11 July 2019 in Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. The Quetta-bound Akbar Express collided with a cargo rake at Walhar railway station (parked at the passing loop), due to improper handling of the track switching mechanism. [1][2][3][4] The accident took place around 4:30 am (Pakistan Standard Time), about 35 kilometres (22 mi) south of the district headquarters of Rahim Yar Khan and the train engines were completely destroyed. [2][3] Relief operations were launched immediately and a medical emergency was declared at nearby hospitals. [5][4] An inquiry has been ordered and proportionate compensation for the victims were announced by the railway ministry. [6][7] Whilst the unaffected coaches of the train left for its destination, regular traffic along the stretch of ML1 route was since suspended. [2][5] President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political leaders offered their condolences;[8] the opposition noted such accidents to be a recurring event in the recent past and sought for the resignation of the incumbent Rail Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad. [7][9][10] The death toll was listed as being 24 people, all of whom were on the passenger train. [11]

Train collisions

Citrus County Fire, Nature Coast EMS to merge starting Oct. 1

As of Oct. 1, Nature Coast EMS and the Citrus County Fire Department will be merging. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Katya Guillaume) Citrus County Fire, Nature Coast EMS to merge starting Oct. 1 By Katya Guillaume Citrus County PUBLISHED 9:23 PM ET Sep. 18, 2021 PUBLISHED September 18, 2021 @9:23 PM CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Starting Oct. 1, Citrus County Nature Coast EMS and the Citrus County Fire Department will merge together as one county department. What You Need To Know Citrus County Nature Coast EMS and the Citrus County Fire Department are merging, effective Oct. 1 Proponents of the move say it will mean better continuity of care and better pay for EMT's Once the merger happens, Nature Coast employees will have to re-apply for their current positions Initially, Nature Coast EMS requested additional funds from the county government to help with wages, but the county responded by canceling the stand-alone nonprofit organization and combining it with the county's fire department. “It was a surprise that it was going to happen so soon," said EMS professional development and outreach Battalion Chief Dan Brady. "They gave us about 16 days to merge with fire rescue, but we have a great relationship with all of the people who work for fire rescue so there’s definitely going to be some speed bumps and some hiccups, but it’s going to be a good thing.” And officials say it won't only be a good thing for employees, but for Citrus County residents as well. “It brings continuity to patient care," said Citrus County Fire Chief Craig Stevens. "First and foremost we want to make sure that we provide the best patient care to our residents and our visitors in Citrus county, and you have to have continuity with that.” The merger will also give paramedics and EMT's the salary bump they've been asking the county for for years. “That was the biggest struggle was getting the proper funding and everything will come under the county so they’ll be able to fix things quicker and get things squared away,” Brady said. Nature Coast employees currently make significantly less than EMT's and paramedics in surrounding counties. “Our plan to bring over to Nature Coast if they choose to apply for the positions with the county at the starting wage that Nature Coast was promising them with the increases and then of course most importantly is the benefits,” Stevens said.

Organization Merge

Black Hawk neighborhood continues to deal with mine collapse, another lawsuit filed

by: Sydney Thorson BLACK HAWK, S.D. (KELO) — It’s been almost a year since a large mine collapsed in a Black Hawk neighborhood. Several homes have been evacuated, but many other residents are worried their homes are next. A little over 80 years ago, crews operated an old gypsum mine in this area. Now, it’s a neighborhood with more than a hundred homes. Because gypsum is soluble, things like rain and snow can easily affect it. “All that area that is now Hideaway Hills, still has gypsum in there and holes and voids that are all filled with water. So the whole neighborhood is basically collapsing,” Kathleen Barrow, attorney, said. Kathleen Barrow, an attorney representing some of the neighbors in the area, says it’s only a matter of time before more of the land collapses. Barrow says the state is responsible. She also says pictures from the 1960s show that the state of South Dakota operated a second mine beneath portions of the Black Hawk area. “We want the state to pay everyone in Hideaway Hills the fair market value of their home and to properly reclaim that land for whatever us the engineers fit to be appropriate for,” Barrow said. Nick Anderson, a geophysical consultant, says research shows that the mine is bigger than what he first thought. “We found other entrances to other mines and historic pictures are showing us that there’s been a lot of strip mining activity on the surface that affects the entire neighborhood, not just this site,” Anderson said. While a big focus is on the mine collapse you see behind me here, what’s not as easy to notice is that these neighbors’ yards are actually shifting. “The streets are failing, there’s sinkholes forming, we’ve identified cavities under the surface. Worse case scenario a collapse like this, a home falls in but you can also get a gas explosion from a catastrophic event,” Anderson said. “We want those people moved out of their homes and we want them able to buy homes that they don’t have to worry about falling on top of them,” Barrow said. We reached out to attorneys hired by the state who say they will not comment on the pending litigation.

Mine Collapses

2012 EU Cup Australian rules football

The 2012 Euro Cup of Australian rules football was a 9-a-side Footy tournament held in Edinburgh (Scotland) on September 22, 2012, with 16 national men's teams and two women's teams. [1] The men's tournament was won by Ireland who defeated Denmark in the Grand Final by 1 point to claim its second EU Cup Championship. [2] Denmark's Aksel Bang was named Player of the Tournament and was the Leading Goal Kicker. [3] Matches were played at Peffermill Fields at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh. [4] 1. Ireland (EU Cup Winners) 2. Denmark (EU Cup Runners Up) 3. England (EU Cup 3rd Place Winners) 4. Italy 5. Croatia 6. Germany 7. Sweden 8. Finland 9. France (Bowl Winners) 10. Spain 11. Scotland 12. Wales 13. Norway (Plate Winners) 14. Iceland 15. Czech Republic 16. Austria

Sports Competition

Iran Air Tours Flight 956 crash

Iran Air Tours Flight 956 was a Tupolev Tu-154M which crashed 230 miles (370 km) south-west of Tehran on 12 February 2002. During a non precision approach to runway 11, the airliner impacted the Kuh-e Sefid Mountain at an altitude 9,100 feet, three nautical miles left of the runway centerline. All 12 crew and 107 passengers were killed in the crash. The aircraft was carrying four government officials. It remains the 5th worst plane crash in Iranian history. [1][2] The Tupolev TU-154 is the most widely used jetliner in Russia and is widely used throughout the region, generally seating 148 passengers. This crash was the 20th involving a TU-154 since it entered service in the 1970s. The involved aircraft was a TU-154M, with manufacturer number 91A-871, and serial number 08-71. Built by Aviakor, it made its first flight on May 21, 1991 and was delivered to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in June 1991, which assigned the aircraft registration number CCCP-85698 and sent it to the Azerbaijan Department. In 1993 the airliner was re-registered to 4K-, the aircraft registration for Azerbaijan as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. After an overhaul, the aircraft was leased to pay for the work by ARZ-400, which in turn subleased it to the Bulgarian company Balkangtsev in May 2000. The registration was changed to LZ-LTO, and in December 2000, was subleased to another Bulgarian company, Bulgarian Air Charter (BAC), with the registration once again changed to LZ-LCO. On January 21, 2002, the airliner was subleased by BAC to Iran Air Tours, and the registration changed to EP-MBS. In total, by the day of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 12,701 hours of flight time and 5516 cycles. [3] It was equipped with three turbojet engines Soloviev D-30KU-154. [4] Flight 956 of Iran Air Tours departed from Tehran to Horremabad at 7:30 a.m.[5] with 12 crew members and 107 passengers on board. Among the passengers were 4 government officials and at least 4 Spanish passengers. The landing was carried out in bad weather conditions, with the crew deviating 3 km from the left axis of the runway. Approximately 15 miles from the airport, at an altitude of 9,100 feet (2,773 meters) above sea level (5,300 feet or 1,620 meters), the Tu-154 crashed into the Kuh-e Sefid mountain near the village of Sarab-e Dowreh and exploded. All 119 occupants on board were killed. Firstly, newspapers mistakenly indicated 117 dead. [4][1] Shortly after the accident there were calls for the resignation or dismissal of Transport Minister, Ahmad Khorram, as well as the head of the civil aviation organization Behzad Mazheri. About 150 deputies wrote a letter to President Mohammad Khatami, asking him to take the necessary measures to investigate the causes of the accident. [6] Another reason cited for the catastrophe was the American sanctions against Iran, which prevented Iranian airlines from sourcing spare parts for Boeing aircraft purchased before the 1979 Iranian Revolution. They were forced instead to operate aging post-Soviet era aircraft. [1] Iran Air Tours announced that it was ceasing to operate Tupolev aircraft,[6] but this action was never implemented.

Air crash

‘Eclipse Season’ Is Over. The Next One Will Bring A 97% ‘Blood Moon’ And A Total Solar Eclipse

‘Eclipse Season’ Is Over. The Next One Will Bring A 97% ‘Blood Moon’ And A Total Solar Eclipse Discover the celestial mechanics behind eclipses and why they come in seasons. Eclipse season is done. Thursday’s annular solar eclipse—mostly seen as a partial “bite” out of the Sun by the Moon, though to some as a “ring of fire”—was the second and final eclipse of the current season. Wait. Eclipses come in seasons? Yes—and the next one beginning on November 19, 2021 is going to be way more spectacular than the one Earth just experienced. Here’s everything you need to know—and the dates for your diary—of 2021’s second eclipse season, and the celestial mechanics behind these dramatic periods: What is an ‘eclipse season’ and why do two eclipses follow each other? Every 173 days an eclipse season begins. They last between 31 and 37 days and occur when the Moon is lined-up perfectly to intersect the ecliptic—the apparent path of the Sun through our daytime sky and the plane of Earth’s orbit of the Sun. The Moon’s orbit of Earth is tilted by 5º to the ecliptic, so it must cross the ecliptic twice each month, but that tilt means it usually doesn’t align with the Sun and the Earth. However, when it does align to cause a solar or lunar eclipse, it’s still precise enough a couple of weeks later to cause the other type of eclipse. When is the next eclipse season? 2021’s second eclipse season begins with the full Moon of November 19, 2021 with a partial lunar eclipse that’s so nearly a total lunar eclipse. It will be visible in North America. It will be followed on the next New Moon—December 4, 2021—with that most dramatic kind of eclipse of all, a total solar eclipse. A full blood moon is seen during a partial eclipse in Taipei on May 26, 2021 as stargazers across ... [+] the Pacific are casting their eyes skyward to witness a rare "Super Blood Moon". What will the ‘Frosty Half-Blood Moon Eclipse’ look like? November 19, 2021’s full Moon—known colloquially as the “Frosty Moon” is technically a partial lunar eclipse since the whole of the Moon won’t enter Earth’s shadow in space. But it will be so close! In fact, 97% will turn red as seen from North and South America, Australia and Asia. Lunar eclipses can only occur at full Moon, when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun. Will it look at good as May’s “Super Flower Blood Moon,” which lasted for just 15 minutes? Probably not quite, but it’s going to be an awesome sight. The diamond ring effect occurs with Baily's Beads at the end of totality during The Great American ... [+] Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017 at Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris McKay/WireImage) WireImage What will December’s total solar eclipse look like? Occurring low in the sky above the floating icebergs of the Wedell Sea on December 4, 2021, this total solar eclipse in Antarctica won’t be witnessed by many, though over 20 cruise ships are planning to be in the area. Solar eclipses can only occur at New Moon, when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. They’ll feel the Moon’s shadow rush towards them and the temperature drop while the light plunges to twilight. With naked eyes in clear skies they’ll see the last ray of sunlight form a beautiful “diamond ring” around the Moon before the big reveal of the Sun’s delicate ice-white corona spraying into space.

New wonders in nature

2009 Guinean protests

The 2009 Guinean protests were an opposition rally in Conakry, Guinea on Monday, 28 September 2009, with about 50,000 participants protesting against the junta government that came to power after the Guinean coup d'état of December 2008. The protest march was fueled by the indication of junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara breaking his pledge to not run in the next presidential vote due in January 2010. [1] The government had already banned any form of protests until 2 October, and when the demonstrators gathered in a large stadium, the security forces opened fire at them. At least 157 demonstrators were killed,[2][3][4] 1,253 injured and 30, including Cellou Dalein Diallo, the leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UDFG), were arrested and taken away in lorries. [5][6] On the same day in 2018 six human rights organizations demanded justice to be done for perpetrators. The organizations were the Association of Victims, Parents and Friends of the 28 September Massacre (AVIPA), the Guinean Human Rights Organization (OGDH), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. [7] Sidya Touré, former Prime Minister and now an opposition leader, was also injured in the shootings and spoke to the BBC secretly from a hospital's restroom. [1] Opponents have accused the junta of limiting freedom of speech and violating human rights. [5] Camara said that the troops responsible for the shooting spree were out of his control. On 24 December 2008, about six hours after the death of Lansana Conté, a statement was read on state radio announcing a military coup d'état by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara[8][9] on behalf of a group called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), which said that "the government and the institutions of the Republic have been dissolved." The statement also announced the suspension of the constitution "as well as political and union activity. "[9] According to Captain Camara, the coup was necessary because of Guinea's "deep despair" amidst rampant poverty and corruption, and he said that the existing institutions were "incapable of resolving the crises which have been confronting the country." Furthermore, Camara said that someone from the military would become president, while a civilian would be appointed as Prime Minister at the head of a new government that would be ethnically balanced. Initially when Camara took over power there was some support, the public being tired of Lansana Conté's 24-year-long authoritarian rule. Camara promised a smooth transition of the country to democracy and a presidential election in which he would not stand. He gained much popularity by cracking down on drug dealers, including Ousmane Conté, son of the former president, and by making them admit wrongdoing on his television show. [10][11] Later, Camara lost support because of his dictatorship-like rule and abusive behavior by him and his forces that indulged in violence, robberies and rapes. [3] He himself humiliated several foreign ambassadors, politicians and leaders by telling them to "shut up or leave" from meetings. [11] This had a negative impact on his image in public, and garnered him criticism for the erratic behavior. The opponents had decided to stage a demonstration on 28 September against the likely participation of Camara in the next presidential election, and despite the government's ban on protests, they decided to carry on with their scheduled protest. [5] A crowd of around 50,000 people gathered at the Stade du 28 Septembre on the day, carrying signs that read "Down with the army in power" and calling for an end of the "Dadis show". According to eyewitness accounts, the elite Presidential Guard, commonly known as the "Red Berets", came in trucks and threw tear gas on the crowd at first, but later opened fire. In the atmosphere of terror and panic, people started running, falling and getting hit. Youssouf Koumbassa, an eyewitness, claimed that the troops stripped down some female protesters. The equipment of a French journalist was seized and smashed. [1][3] Protesters fled the stadium and poured into the streets, where they were pursued and fired on by troops. After the shooting incident, soldiers were seen publicly raping women, killing people, and looting stores. [12][13] According to one eyewitness, soldiers asked people if they supported Camara, and those who did not were summarily executed, that some women were raped with guns, and shot dead, and that civilians were beaten and old men yanked by their beards. [14] The wounded were taken to hospital, where they were visited by human rights activists. Although many had gunshot wounds, some were found to have been severely beaten. The dead were taken to a mortuary, and soldiers stood guard outside. Relatives were called in to collect the dead. According to many victims' families, the military secretly disposed of over 100 bodies, as many had found that the bodies of their relatives had disappeared. Many witnesses reported seeing presidential guards loading some of the bodies into trucks. Images showing dozens of bodies lined up on the street were uncovered, and human rights groups used them as evidence to show that the death toll was much higher than government figures. [15] In the aftermath of the protests, hundreds of protesters who had taken part were arrested and imprisoned without charge. [citation needed] Camara, in an interview to Radio France Internationale (RFI) said that the troops responsible for the killings were "uncontrollable elements in the military" and "Even I, as head of state in this very tense situation, cannot claim to be able to control those elements in the military". He also denied any responsibility for the killings, claiming that he did not issue any shooting orders, and was in his office. [2][16] Camara has also denied knowledge of sexual assaults by soldiers. [12] He later called for a UN investigation into the incident, an African mediator between the various Guinean political parties and a national unity government. [17] The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) dispatched President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso to act as a mediator. [18] The proposal for national unity government was rejected by the opposition, calling it a tactic to divert attention from the massacre. [19] On 7 October, Camara announced a 31-member commission, including 7 judges from the Justice Ministry, to investigate the details behind the incident. Camara claimed that it would be an independent inquiry. [20] Three days after the incident, the junta stuck to asserting a death toll of 56, while they were accused of secretly burying several bodies in the Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp. Both, Guinean Organisation for the Defence of Human Rights (OGDH) and African Assembly for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO) confirmed that it had received requests from families to look into the alleged clandestine burials performed by the military. The cold rooms at a hospital were opened for journalists on 1 October. Dr. Hassan Bah, the forensic expert who allowed the media into the morgues denied the occurrence of any secret burials by soldiers. [21] The firing by security forces received international criticism. Chile – The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Chile issued a statement, that "facing a wholesale slaughter of people for political reasons, atrocities and extreme violence, Chile demands from the authorities of Guinea immediate action leading to prosecution of perpetrators, the release of opposition leaders, the restoration of order and respect for civil and political rights so as to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy soon".

Protest_Online Condemnation

Aeroflot Flight 1969 crash

Aeroflot Flight 1969 was a passenger flight operated by an Antonov An-10 that crashed during the approach to Luhansk on 31 March 1971, resulting in the death of all 65 people on board. An investigation revealed that the Antonov's right wing failed structurally during approach to Luhansk International Airport. Flight 1969 was a scheduled domestic flight from Kurumoch to Luhansk. At 11:13 local time the An-10 departed Kurumoch International Airport and climbed to a cruising altitude of 7,800 meters. After passing a waypoint at Rostov the crew was instructed by air traffic control (ATC) to descend to an altitude of 5,700 meters. Shortly afterwards the crew received a report of weather conditions at the destination airport: solid clouds with a base of 600 meters, visibility 10 km, wind 50 degrees at eight meters per second with gusts up to 12 meters per second. [1][2][3] At 12:58:46 the crew reported an altitude of 1,200 meters and were given permission to continue their descent to 600 meters. The crew's last transmission was at 12:58:50 when they reported they were continuing to descend. Before the An-10 reached 600 meters, approximately 13 square meters of the right wing including an aileron, separated from the rest of the aircraft severing hydraulic lines during the process. Part of the detached wing section struck the right horizontal stabilizer, damaging its structure while tearing off part of it and its elevator. The aircraft immediately yawed right and entered a steep bank also to the right. As the Antonov plummeted towards the ground both right engines lost oil pressure, causing their propellers to go into fine pitch, inducing both of them to rotate at very high rpm. At 12:59:30 the aircraft struck the ground in a 60 degree pitch down, 50 degree bank right attitude, killing all 65 people on board. [1][2][3] The Antonov An-10 involved was serial number 8400701 and registered as CCCP-11145 to Aeroflot. The construction of the airliner was completed on 31 December 1958 and it had sustained a total of 14,337 flight hours and 9,081 takeoff and landing cycles at the time of the crash. [1][2][3] Investigators discovered that a riveted seam of the right wing nine ribs wide had separated in flight due to excessive shear loads. The investigators focused on two scenarios that could have led to the accident. The first was that the wing fractured due to over pressurization. It was theorized that if the vent outlet of the air bleed anti ice system were blocked by ice build up, too much pressure could cause a riveted seam to split open. Static testing with partially and completely blocked outlets showed that the pressure build up was negligible, due mostly to the systems design having numerous other paths for the bleed air to escape. The second synopsis was based on weakness of the joint due to a defect and/or fatigue cracks near the riveted seam. Testing of similar structures under laboratory conditions were performed but no weakening of the wing panel was found. Investigators failed to find the root cause of the wing panel failure and an official cause of the accident was never established. [1]

Air crash

Lattimer Massacre

The Lattimer massacre was the violent deaths of at least 19 unarmed striking immigrant anthracite miners at the Lattimer mine near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 1897. [1][2] The miners, mostly of Polish, Slovak, Lithuanian and German ethnicity, were shot and killed by a Luzerne County sheriff's posse. Scores more workers were wounded. [3] The massacre was a turning point in the history of the United Mine Workers (UMW). [4] The economies of Central and Eastern Europe were struggling in the late 19th century. The European rural population was growing faster than either the agricultural or new industrial sectors of the economy could absorb, industrialization was disrupting both the agricultural and craft economy, and there was increasing competition from large-scale commercial and foreign agricultural producers. [5] These factors drove most of the mass immigration to the US. [5] Disproportionate numbers of new Slavic immigrants worked in the coal mining industry,[5] where they were among the most exploited of all mine workers. [4] During strikes in Northeast Pennsylvania by English-speaking miners in 1875 and 1887, many Slavic miners were imported as strikebreakers, and were "despised as scabs" by the English-speaking immigrant and American miners of the region. [6] Conditions in coal mines of the late 19th century were harsh. Mine safety was poor, such that 32,000 miners in Northeast Pennsylvania had died since 1870. [7] Wages, already low in a competitive industry, fell 17% during the mid-1890s after a coal industry slump. [4][8] Although wages had improved some by the fall of 1897, anthracite coal companies in the region cut wages and consolidated operations within the mines (often resulting in more laborious working conditions). [4] In some cases, companies forced workers to lease homes from the company and required them to see only company doctors when injured. [4] In August 1897, the Honey Brook division of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company laid off workers at its strip mines, cut the pay of the remaining employees, and raised fees for workers residing in the area's company towns. [4] The company consolidated its mule stables, forcing teenage mule drivers to travel much farther each day to pick up their mules (time for which they were not compensated). [4][9] After inconclusive talks, 25 to 35 teenaged drivers struck on August 14, 1897. [4][9] A scuffle between a supervisor and some drivers led to additional walkouts by strip miners as well as underground coal miners, and by August 16 nearly 2,000 workers were on strike. [4][9] Nearly all the miners joined the UMW (United Mine Workers) on August 18, and within two days almost all the mines in the region had closed due to the spreading strike. [1] Many Slavic miners had not joined the nascent United Mine Workers, both because of ethnic discrimination exhibited by English-speaking and American miners but also because of the poor relationships between unionized miners and the former strikebreakers. [6] But worsening working conditions and a UMW call for a 15 percent wage increase drew many Slavic miners into the union. [1][10] The first wave of the strike ended on August 23, after the company agreed to pay overtime, bring wages up to the regional average, allow miners to see their own doctors when injured, and no longer force miners to live in company-owned housing. [4] A second strike began on August 25. Teenaged breaker boys at the A.S. Van Wickle coal breaker in the nearby village of Colerain struck for higher wages as well. [4] When Van Wickle attempted to use Slavic workers as strikebreakers, the Slavs joined the strike instead. Although the strike spread to two other nearby coal works, the company quickly agreed to raise wages up to the regional average and the strike ended on or about August 28. [4] But when the new pay rates were announced on September 1, only a limited number of workers received raises. [4][10] Management did agree to treat Slavic workers more fairly,[10] but the mine owners reneged on their other promises. [4] The strikes resumed. On September 3, 3,000 workers marched on four mines, shutting them down. [1][11] The mine owners' private armed force, the Coal and Iron Police, proved too few in number to break the strike, so the owners appealed for help from Luzerne County Sheriff James F. Martin. [10] Martin established a posse of about 100 English and Irish citizens to prevent any further marches from occurring. [1][2] Within five days, 8,000 to 10,000 miners were on strike. [1][4][12] On September 8, mine owners demanded that the sheriff of Schuylkill County arrest several thousand miners who had assembled near Pottsville and had forced a mine to shut down, but the sheriff refused. [10] On Friday, September 10, about 300 to 400 unarmed strikers—nearly all of them Slavs and Germans—marched to a coal mine owned by Calvin Pardee at the town of Lattimer to support a newly formed UMW union. [1][2][4][9][10] Their goal was to support the newly formed UMW union at the still-open Lattimer mine. [2][9] The demonstrators were confronted by law enforcement officials several times on the road and ordered to disperse, but kept marching. [10] The deputies had spent most of the morning joking about how many miners they would kill. [13] While on a streetcar headed for Lattimer with the sheriff and his comrades, one deputy was overheard saying "I bet I drop six of them when I get over there. "[14][15] When the demonstrators reached Lattimer at 3:45 pm, they were met again by the sheriff and 150 armed deputies. [2][9][16] Sheriff Martin ordered the marchers to disperse, and then attempted to grab an American flag out of the hands of the lead marcher. [2][9][17] A scuffle ensued, and the police opened fire on the unarmed crowd. [2] At least 19 miners died, and anywhere from 17 to 49 others were wounded. [1][2][3][9][17] Many had been shot in the back, and several had multiple gunshot wounds, which indicated that they had been targeted by the deputies. [10][18] The strike led to temporary mass unrest in the area. After Sheriff Martin telephoned for help, the Pennsylvania National Guard was dispatched to the county to restore order. [10][19] Late on the evening of September 10, more than 2,500 troops of the Third Brigade (partly stationed in Luzerne County) had been deployed. [19] Local Slavic community leaders held a rally on September 11 to try to calm the workers, raise money for the provision of the families, and seek the prosecution of Sheriff Martin and his deputies. [10] Outraged miners searched in vain on September 12 for Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company mine superintendent Gomer Jones, and destroyed his home when they could not find him.

Strike

2019 Air Dynasty helicopter crash

On February 27, 2019, Air Dynasty's Eurocopter AS350 B3e carrying six passengers and one pilot was scheduled to travel on a domestic flight from Pathibhara Devi Temple in Taplejung to Chuhandanda in Tehrathum, Nepal. [1] The aircraft crashed at approximately 1.30 p.m. (NPT) due to bad weather in Taplejung. All seven people on board died in the crash, including Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, Nepal's Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. [2] Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal Rabindra Prasad Adhikari came to Taplejung to inspect the under-construction airport at Chuhandanda. [3] After inspecting the airport, the fellow passengers and crew went to see one of the most significant temples in Nepal, Pathibhara Devi Temple by helicopter. [4] After visiting the temple Adhikari and other passengers were returning to Chuhandanda in Tehrathum. [5] The aircraft involved was a Eurocopter AS350 B3e bearing the registration 9N-AMI. It was built by Airbus Helicopters in 2017 and delivered to Air Dynasty brand new. [6][7] On board the helicopter were, among the minister Adhikari, Ang Tshering Sherpa, managing director of Yeti Airlines and Air Dynasty,[8] an aid to Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, two representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, a security personnel and the Captain of the aircraft. [9] The helicopter crash occurred due to critical weather in Taplejung, Nepal. [10] The crash killed all seven people on board, including Nepalese Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Prasad Adhikari. The pilot of the helicopter reported heavy snowfall in the area of the airport and stated that he was unable to remain airborne, according to The Kathmandu Post. After the incident Air Dynasty was informed at 1:30 p.m. Nepal Standard Time (NPT). [11] The helicopter crashed at Sisne Khola, Pathibhara, Taplejung, Nepal. Nepalese police reported that Rabindra Adhikari and another passenger were in an identifiable state. [12] Moments after the helicopter went missing, Taplejung residents reported to the police that they had heard a loud bang and seen smoke and fire in the area. [13] Suraj Bhattarai, a witness also reported to the police "The helicopter is in pieces, and scattered all over". [14] The helicopter caught fire after hitting Chuchche Dada and falling down to Sisne Khola. [15] The Office of the Prime Minister declared 28 February 2019 to be national mourning day in Nepal to pay respect to those who died in the helicopter crash. [16] Nepal's Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa said "All educational institutes, government offices, diplomatic missions will remain closed with a national flag lowered half-mast to mourn the death. "[17] Thapa also said that "The national flag will be hoisted at half-staff to mourn the departed souls. "[18] The bodies of four people were brought to Suketar Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Chief District Officer of Taplejung District Anuj Bhandari said "There has been heavy snowfall. We could not take out all the bodies. We will try again tomorrow", he also added that recovering bodies in the crash site is difficult due to helicopter crash site being at the slope of a hill. [19] Nepal's prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the media "The country has lost a dependable youth leader with abundant possibilities in the demise of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari". [20] Mourning the loss of their managing director, Yeti Airlines, and Tara Air cancelled all flights on 1 March 2019. [21][22] The bodies of the passengers and the pilot were brought to Kathmandu on February 28 at 12:10 p.m.[23] Nepal Communist Party (NCP) said all of the bodies would be cremated with state honours at Ramghat in Nepal. Before the funeral Adhikari's body would be kept at Exhibition Centre at local Nayabazar to pay respect toward him[24][25] and his body would be cremated at Pokhara, Nepal. [26] On 28 February, the Government of Nepal opened an investigation into the accident. [27] Four months after the accident, the investigation committee released a preliminary report which blamed violations of operating procedures, such as a misbalance of weights and an inexperienced pilot,[28] and the weather conditions[29] for causing the crash.

Air crash

Southwest U.S. drought, worst in a century, linked to climate change: NOAA

Human-caused climate change has intensified the withering drought gripping the Southwestern United States, the region’s most severe on record, with precipitation at the lowest 20-month level documented since 1895, a U.S. government report said on Tuesday. Southwest Drought: @NOAA Drought Task Force Report Precip deficits lowest on record. Climate change not related. Vapor pressure deficits were the highest on record. Climate change related. — NIDIS Drought.gov (@DroughtGov) September 21, 2021 Over the same period, from January 2020 through August 2021, the region also experienced the third-highest daily average temperatures measured since record-keeping began near the end of the 19th century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) drought task force. The study warned that extreme drought conditions are likely to worsen and repeat themselves “until stringent climate mitigation is pursued and regional warming trends are reversed.” The drought emerged in early 2020 in California, Nevada and the “Four Corners” states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico and has led to unprecedented water shortages in reservoirs across the region, while fueling devastating western wildfires over the past two years, the report noted. The study also cited dwindling reservoir levels that have threatened or disrupted drinking supplies, irrigation systems, hydropower generation, fishing and recreational activities, with immediate economic losses in the billions of dollars. Much of the record below-normal wintertime precipitation was likely due to natural weather variations, including a La Nina pattern, while research suggests that successive summers of scant monsoonal rainfall may also occur by chance, the NOAA report said. However, unusually high temperatures coinciding with the Southwest’s historic dry spell are symptomatic of human-caused climate change and have intensified the drought, making it “more impactful” in a number of ways, the report’s authors concluded. Above-normal heat helps dry up surface and soil moisture and reduces snowfall in winter, which in turn diminishes dry-season surface water storage from snow-melt runoff, the report said. Low snowpack and parched soil can also create a “land-atmosphere feedback” that deepens a drought by helping raise ground temperatures while leaving less moisture available to evaporate for future precipitation, according to the study. Extremely high temperatures also sharply boost demand for water, further straining depleted reservoirs and rivers. The report noted that the drought has been so severe that states sharing the Colorado River, the region’s principal river basin, experienced the first ever water delivery shortfall. The report focuses on drought in six states comprising the American Southwest, home more than 60 million people, but its implications stretch beyond that region, the authors said. “Half of the United States is in an unprecedented drought, precisely as the country’s economy is struggling to emerge from the effects of COVID,” lead author and Dartmouth College geography professor Justin Mankin said in a statement. While summer 2021 brought welcome monsoon rains to parts of the Southwest, several years of above-average rain and high-elevation snow are needed to replenish the region’s reservoirs, streams and soils. “This suggests that for much of the U.S. Southwest, the present drought will last at least into 2022, potentially longer,” the report said.

Droughts

Border Fire

The Border Fire was a large wildfire that burned in Potrero, San Diego County, California, as part of the 2016 California wildfire season. [1] The fire was so named due to its proximity to the United States-Mexican border. The fire, which was first reported around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 19, started along the United States-Mexican border between Highway 188 and Highway 94. [2] Reported at 5 acres, the fire burned at a moderate rate of spread before rapidly exploding into 1,500 acres (610 ha) within a matter of hours due to gushy winds within the fire area. [3] The fire then quickly jumped Highway 94 and moved northwest threatening multiple structures and prompting evacuations for the community of Potrero. [2] Homes along Highway 94 between Emory Road and Plaskon Road were evacuated, along with residents in the community of Potrero. [3] Initial reports detailed that 4 outbuilding has been destroyed. [3] That evening, the fire was reported to be burning eastward with 5 percent containment. [4] By Monday morning, June 20, the fire was estimated to be 1,900 acres large and temperatures were expected to reach 107 degrees in the area that day, elevating the fires activity. [4] By midday, authorities had issued additional mandatory evacuation orders for the nearby communities of Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch and Canyon City because of "extreme fire behavior and activity. "[4] Evacuation advisory were also issued for areas near Campo and Buckman Springs. "[4] An American Red Cross shelter was set up at Los Coches Creek Middle School for evacuees displaced by the fire. "[4] As the day went on, the fire rapidly expanded to an estimated 7,500 acres with only a reported 10 percent containment. [5] The fire is also believed to have been the cause of a power outage that affected several hundred people near the communities of Potrero, Dulzura and Campo, according to authorities. [4] During the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 21, the fire was downgraded to a more accurate 6,020 acres (2,440 ha) due to better mapping. [6] Upwards of 1,550 firefighters from across Southern California were on scene battling the now three day old wildfire with more being requested. [6] Reports suggested the fire was moving north and northeast, threatening parts of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as well as its surrounding communities, Tuesday. [6] The fire grew a mere 480 acres that day, expanding the burn area to 6,500 acres (2,600 ha). [7] A spot fire 1.2 miles northeast of the main fire had burned 40 acres as of early Wednesday morning, June 22. [7] Five homes and eight other buildings were reported destroyed as the incident continued to grow to 6,700 acres (2,700 ha). However, as the fire reached 20 percent containment Wednesday evening, officials began lifting evacuation ordersfor the greater Potrero community. [8] Officials set backfires on Thursday, June 23, burning out much of the brush ahead of the Border Fire to keep it from spreading further. [9] By 6 p.m. Thursday, all evacuation orders and warnings for residents in the affected areas had been lifted. [9] By Friday morning, June 24, the fire had been at 45 percent containment and was 7,609 acres (3,079 ha). As of 6 p.m. that Friday, Cal Fire officials reported that containment on the blaze had grown to 60 percent. [9] Reports stated that the fire has destroyed a total of five homes and 11 other buildings over its six-day span. [9] On Friday morning, Cal Fire officials said firefighters had been able to build stronger containment lines along the perimeter of the Border Fire, increasing the control. [9] On Sunday June 26, all evacuation orders were lifted as the fire reached 80% containment. [10] On Thursday June 30, the fire was deemed 100% contained with a total of 7,609 acres (3,079 ha) burned. [11] Along with widespread evacuations the fire also caused power outages that affected more than 1,000 homes and businesses in Potrero as well as the communities of Campo and Dulzura, according to San Diego Gas & Electric. [12] On June 29 authorities announced that the bodies of two missing individuals had been located in the burn area. The two were believe to have been killed by the inferno. [13]

Fire

Slavic stronghold reveals hundreds of artefacts from the Middle Ages

The hillfort, known locally as “Szwedzkie Wały”, dates from the 8th to 10th century AD, and was one of the largest tribal centres in the area of historical Lesser Poland. The stronghold was protected by three ramparts, and occupied an area of 19.7 acres (or between 197.5 to 247 acres including the surrounding cluster of auxiliary settlements and cemeteries adjoined to the south-east). In 2020 and 2021, archaeologists conducted excavations in an area identified through geophysical studies that revealed several rectangular features. Dr. Łukasz Miechowicz from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences said: “We wanted to establish whether these were residential buildings in the stronghold, and verify our knowledge about the final stage of the functioning of the site”. During the excavations, archaeologists discovered hundreds of clay vessels fragments that date from between the 8th-10th century AD, and military artefacts such as arrowheads and spears. The researchers also unearthed traces of clothing and decorative items, such as a bronze ring clasp, a lunula crescent-shaped pendant, a lead gaming piece, and a silver anthropomorphic figurine. Describing the figurine, Dr. Miechowicz said that no other examples have been found or documented in publications from archaeological sites from this period in the region. The hillfort was previously thought to have been abandoned in the 10th century AD, however, the discovery of two early medieval denarii in situ during this seasons excavations has suggested that occupation continued through to the 11th century AD.

New archeological discoveries

2008 Universal Studios fire

On June 1, 2008, a fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood, an American film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. The fire began when a worker used a blowtorch to warm asphalt shingles that were being applied to a facade. [1][2][3] He left before checking that all spots had cooled, and a three-alarm fire broke out. Nine firefighters and a Los Angeles County sheriffs' deputy sustained minor injuries. The fire was extinguished after 24 hours. [4] Universal Pictures said the fire destroyed a three-acre (1.2 ha) portion of the Universal backlot, including the attraction King Kong Encounter[5][6] and 40,000 to 50,000 archived digital video and film copies. A 2019 New York Times Magazine exposé asserted that the fire also destroyed 118,000 to 175,000 audio master tapes belonging to Universal Music Group (UMG). This included original recordings belonging to some of the best-selling artists worldwide. UMG initially disputed this, but CEO Lucian Grainge later confirmed a significant loss of musical archives had occurred. [7] On June 1, 2008, a three-alarm fire broke out on Universal Studios Lot, the backlot of Universal Studios. [4] The fire started when a worker was using a blowtorch to warm asphalt shingles being applied to a facade. [1][2] The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) reported that Brownstone Street, New York Street, New England Street, the King Kong attraction, some structures that make up Courthouse Square, and the Video Vault, which contained duplicates of Universal's film library, had burned down. Aerial news footage captured the Courthouse building surviving its third fire, with only the west side slightly charred. The LACFD sent 516 firefighters,[2] as well as two helicopters dropping water. Nine firefighters and a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy sustained minor injuries. The fire took at least 12 hours to extinguish,[8] in part because of the low water pressure due to the low capacity of Universal's pipes; firefighters had to tap streams and lakes. [5] Universal executives initially claimed the fire destroyed 40,000 to 50,000 archived digital video and film copies of Universal movies and TV shows, some almost a century old, and including the films Knocked Up and Atonement, the NBC series Law & Order, The Office, and Miami Vice, and the CBS series I Love Lucy. [9][10][11] Universal president Ron Meyer told the media that "nothing irreplaceable was lost" and that the company had duplicates of everything destroyed. [12] Several days after the fire, the King Kong attraction was reported to be replaced by a new attraction. [6] However, Universal reverted to its original plan, basing the new attraction, King Kong: 360 3-D, on the 2005 King Kong film. [13] In June 2019, The New York Times Magazine published an investigative article by music journalist Jody Rosen arguing the damage was far more serious than the studio had said. The fire destroyed Building 6197, a warehouse adjoining the King Kong attraction. In addition to more videos, it housed a huge archive of analog audio master tapes belonging to Universal Music Group (UMG). [4] The collection included the master tape catalogues of many labels acquired by UMG, including Chess, Decca, MCA, Geffen, Interscope, A&M, Impulse!, and their subsidiary labels. [4] Estimates of the individual items lost range from 118,000 to 175,000 album and 45-rpm single master tapes, phonograph master discs, lacquers, and acetates, as well as all the documentation contained in the tape boxes. [4] Many tapes contained unreleased recordings such as outtakes, alternative versions of released material, and instrumental "submaster" multitracks created for dubbing and mixdown. Randy Aronson, manager of the vault at the time, estimates that the masters of as many as 500,000 individual tracks were lost. [4] Among the possible losses were the entire AVI Records catalog, all of Decca's masters from the 1930s to the 1950s, most of the original Chess masters, which included artists such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf, as well as most of John Coltrane's master tapes from his later career on Impulse! Records. On Twitter, Rosen stated that the Coltrane masters were among the most checked-out Impulse! items in the vault, and a source had told him that the masters for A Love Supreme were likely elsewhere during the fire. [14] Two weeks later, Rosen wrote a follow-up article, listing at least 700 additional artists named in internal UMG documents as possibly affected. Determining which recordings had been destroyed, or how much of an artist's discography had been affected, was impossible, he wrote. [15] For example, Rosen said it was difficult to confirm whether the Neil Young recordings listed in the documents were the original master tapes of the albums he recorded for Geffen Records in the 1980s, or session outtakes from those records. [15] Rosen tweeted that the documents also listed several Broadway cast recordings among the tapes destroyed. [16] Additionally, several nonmusical audio recordings were reported as destroyed, including the original recording of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 "Remaining Awake During a Great Revolution" sermon delivered at the Washington National Cathedral. [17] Bryan Adams, Semisonic drummer Jacob Slichter, and Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz said they had been told that UMG had misplaced their tapes. [15] Richard Carpenter told the Times he had been informed about the destruction of his tapes by a UMG employee while he was working on a reissue, and only after Carpenter had made multiple, persistent inquiries. [15] Following the publication of Rosen's articles, several affected musicians posted reactions on social media, with some noting specific tapes that may have been lost. [18][19] For instance, singer-songwriter Jill Sobule said she had lost two masters in the fire, including tapes for an unreleased album produced by Joe Jackson. [20] After being listed in the New York Times piece, the Canadian band The Tragically Hip discovered that their master tapes had been transferred from the Universal facility to Canada in 2001 and had escaped the fire. [21] Within two weeks of Rosen's article, five plaintiffs (singer-songwriter Steve Earle, the estates of the late Tupac Shakur and Tom Petty, and the bands Hole and Soundgarden) filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against UMG. [22] In their complaint, the plaintiffs claimed UMG never told artists about the effects of the fire and had breached their contracts by failing to properly secure its master tape collection. [22] They further alleged that UMG did not share insurance or legal payouts received as a result of the fire. [22] The lawsuit also alleged that Universal had compiled a master inventory list of master tapes that had been destroyed. [23] The plaintiffs sought to recover half of any insurance payments UMG received from the fire, and half of any losses that were not covered by those settlements. [24] An uninvolved industry attorney told Billboard that the case concerned property rights, as in whether UMG or the artists owned the master tapes. [25] A month later, Universal moved to dismiss the class-action lawsuit. [26] On August 16, 2019, Hole dropped out of the lawsuit after UMG assured them that the band's masters were not affected by the fire. [27] Slightly over a month later, UMG also claimed that Shakur, Earle, and Petty did not lose their masters in the fire, and that an investigation with Soundgarden was still going on.

Fire

Corkman Pub developers hit with $1.3m fine for 'reprehensible' demolition

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 Developers charged over the illegal demolition of a 160-year-old Melbourne pub have been fined $1.325 million plus costs, after pleading guilty to breaching building and planning laws. Developer Raman Shaqiri and his company 160 Leicester Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in May last year for knocking down the Corkman Irish Pub in Carlton in October 2016 without building or planning approval. The company's other director, Stefce Kutlesovski, pleaded guilty to charges in January this year. Magistrate Ross Maxted fined the company $850,000, while Shaqiri and Kutlesovski were fined $220,000 and $255,000 respectively. Magistrate Maxted described the pair's behaviour as "reprehensible" and said significant fines were necessary to send a strong message to the building and development community that disregard for the law should not be seen as a mere cost of doing business. "Such recklessness and bravado and such disrespect for proper compliance will be severely punished," he said. "In my view the conduct of all three accused was sufficiently jointly reprehensible. "The penalties will be imposed to deter such speculative and base mercantile thinking and behaviour." Since the demolition, which sparked public outrage, the pair committed "unequivocally" to rebuilding the pub in a letter to planning minister Richard Wynne sent in October 2016. But more than two years on, the court heard no building application had been lodged. "The company has not taken steps to honour that," Magistrate Maxted said. The Corkman Pub, formerly known as the Carlton Inn Hotel, was built in 1858 and although it wasn't on the Victorian Heritage Register, it was covered by heritage rules. It was demolished over a weekend in October 2016, a week after a deliberate fire was lit inside the building. Magistrate Maxted said the pub was seen by many in the community as the "character and embodiment of community spirit". "Its historical and local significance cannot be underestimated," he said. The court heard that after the demolition works had begun, Kutlesovski was ordered by a City of Melbourne council officer to stop the work, to which he replied, "it's my site, I can do whatever I want". The latest penalties come after the pair and the company were fined close to $600,000 last year, for moving asbestos from the demolition site to a construction site surrounded by homes at Cairnlea, in Melbourne's north-west. The Environment Protection Authority confirmed debris on the Corkman site contained asbestos and ordered the developers to cover it. Five days later a pile of rubble was found at Cairnlea, in Melbourne's north-west, opposite residential homes and only 350 metres from a childcare centre. It was traced back to the demolished pub. The developers pleaded guilty to moving asbestos from the site and illegally dumping it. Shaqiri and Kutlesovski were each fined $120,000 for failing to securely contain the asbestos-riddled debris, and for then dumping it in Cairnlea. Their company, 160 Leicester Pty Ltd, was fined a further $300,000.

Organization Fine

2010 Damghan earthquake

The 2010 Damghan earthquake (also known as the Kuh-Zar earthquake) occurred in northern Iran at 11:53:49 local time on August 27 with a moment magnitude of 5.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). This strike-slip event damaged and destroyed a number of small villages in a sparsely populated region near the Alborz mountain range. It left four people dead, forty injured, and about 800 people without homes. The deaths and injuries in this moderate event were attributed to the low quality construction styles that are typical of the area. The Iranian Strong Motion Network provided data by which seismologists determined the type and extent of the slip as well as the peak ground acceleration. Other large and destructive earthquakes have affected the Semnan Province, including several events in 856 AD and 1953. The tectonics of Iran are dominated by the continental collision of the Arabian and Eurasian Plates. The rate of convergence has been estimated at two centimeters per year for the past 10 million years; about half of that occurs across the Zagros fold and thrust belt. The northern Iran region near the Alborz mountains contains numerous reverse and left-lateral strike-slip faults that lie to the south of the Caspian Sea. The Astaneh strike-slip fault was a likely source of the 856 Damghan earthquake that caused the largest loss of life in the history of Iran—more than 200,000 deaths. [4] A more recent damaging event that also occurred near the Alborz mountain range was the 1953 Torud earthquake, in which more than 900 perished. Like that shock, the 2010 Damghan event took place in a rural area that exposed relatively few villages to strong shaking. It occurred at 11:53 local time in the north-central desert region of Iran on a fault that dipped 78° to the northwest. Fault motion occurred on a NE–SW striking fault that was almost pure left-lateral strike-slip. A Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong) was observed in Kuh Zar and the nearby villages of Tuchahi, Kelu, and Shimi. In Hoseynian, Moalleman, Satveh, and Torud, the intensity was VI (Strong). Some surface cracks and fissures were present near Tuchahi and Kelu villages, but no significant surface faulting occurred. [2] The affected area has a low population density and has an abundance of homes that are constructed with local clay material by unskilled workers. The unreinforced stone masonry or adobe homes are sometimes overloaded single story structures with flat wooden roofs with steel beams. Most of these types of homes suffered partial collapse, and led to a number of roof collapses. Fifty homes were destroyed, three-hundred were damaged, including a roof cave-in that left two women dead. Overall, seven villages sustained damage and twelve were destroyed. Four people died, forty were injured, and 800 were left homeless, but no major infrastructure (dams, bridges, or power stations) were impacted. [3] The first isoseismal map that was created in Iran was for the earlier 1953 Torud event. In an effort to focus on the association between the macroseismic effects and the instrumental intensity for the 2010 event, seismologists Shahvar and Zaré conducted a field investigation and interviews. An isoseismal map that was created using the data aligned with a ShakeMap that was created by the Tehran-based International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. The closest strong motion station was about 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) to the east of the origin of faulting, and showed a horizontal acceleration of .55g. The peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity that were attained from the Iranian Strong Motion Network were considered high for a moderate event. [3]

Earthquakes

Environment, Land & Resources

Home > Environmental, Social and Governance > SEC Creates Enforcement Task Force to Assess ESG-Related Disclosure The Division of Enforcement’s new Climate and ESG Task Force will use data analysis to mine and evaluate registrant information for possible violations. By Paul A. Davies, Paul M. Dudek, and Andra Troy* On March 4, 2021, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the creation of a Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement. According to the SEC, the Task Force will develop initiatives to proactively identify ESG-related misconduct in the form of gaps or misstatements of issuer disclosure by means of the Division’s resources, including the collection of tips and whistleblower complaints and the use of data mining and analysis. Background The creation of the Task Force follows a February 24, 2021 directive from Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee to the Division of Corporate Finance to enhance the focus on climate-related disclosure in public company filings. The directive instructs SEC staff to take the following actions: In addition, the Division of Examinations announced on March 3, 2021 its 2021 examination priorities, which include an “enhanced focus” on climate and ESG-related risks. This announcement came one day after the Senate confirmation hearing for Gary Gensler, President Biden’s nominee for SEC Chair, who also touched upon climate risks in company disclosures during the hearing. Enforcement Objectives “Climate risks and sustainability are critical issues for the investing public and our capital markets,” said Acting Chair Lee, who specified that the Task Force “will play an important role in enhancing and coordinating the efforts of the Division of Enforcement, the Office of the Whistleblower, and other parts of the agency to bolster the efforts of the Commission as a whole on these vital matters.” Consistent with this messaging, the primary actions for the Task Force are to: The Task Force, led by Acting Deputy Director of Enforcement Kelly L. Gibson, views emerging disclosure gaps as a threat to investors and the market. To conduct a proactive assessment, the Task Force intends to use sophisticated data analysis to mine and evaluate registrant information for possible violations in addition to accepting tips and whistleblower complaints. The announcement of the Task Force is another sign of the SEC’s intention to further the climate agenda set forth by President Biden. For now, SEC disclosure obligations remain principles-based with the recent announcements introducing no new line-item disclosure requirements. However, over the past several weeks the SEC has signaled more climate-specific attention than it has in the 11 years since the 2010 guidance was first published. Global developments over the past decade surrounding climate regulation and legislation, the increased frequency of severe weather events and other physical climate impacts, and market trends on ESG in general put the 2010 guidance in a new light. Combined, the new initiatives from the SEC promise to review, examine, and investigate instances in which issuers may have fallen short in disclosing known direct or indirect trends or uncertainties that pose material threats to their business as a result of climate change. In addition to these increasing spheres of liability exposures that are taking shape, ESG-related risks are gaining ground in the form of ESG litigation and activist exposure. Interested parties such as plaintiffs and investors are increasingly able to utilize sophisticated data analysis to mine and evaluate ESG information, and this data is likely to continue to play a key role going forward. Now is a good time for issuers to conduct a thorough assessment of not just the ESG disclosure that is in existence, but also the gaps or omissions regarding what is not disclosed and perhaps should be.

Organization Established

WFP Warns That Another 3 Million People Are “Hovering on the Brink of Famine” |

0 Views That number increased from 42 million at the start of the year and 27 million in 2019, the agency said in a press release. The increase is based on those living desperately within the IPC’s official hunger classification4 and beyond, in Afghanistan, along with other increases in Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Angola, Kenya and Burundi. “Tens of millions of people are staring into an abyss. We have conflicts, climate change and COVID-19 that increase the number of those suffering from acute hunger and the latest figures show that there are now more than 45 million people marching to the brink of hunger, “said the director. WFP executive David Beasley. He was speaking following a fact-finding mission to Afghanistan, where WFP is increasing its support to assist nearly 23 million people in need. “Fuel costs have risen, food prices are skyrocketing, fertilizers are more expensive, and all of this is fueling new crises like the one now occurring in Afghanistan, as well as long-standing emergencies like Yemen and Syria,” WFP said that, together with humanitarian partners in hunger hotspots around the world, they are doing everything they can to increase aid to millions of people at risk of hunger. However, the resources available are unable to keep up with demand at a time when traditional funding flows are under enormous pressure. WFP estimates that the cost of preventing famine globally is now $ 7 billion, up from about $ 6.6 billion at the beginning of the year. “As the cost of humanitarian assistance increases exponentially, we need more funds to reach families around the world who have already exhausted their capacity to cope with extreme hunger,” the WFP head added. The agency said families facing severe food insecurity are forced to make “devastating choices to cope with growing hunger”. A vulnerability analysis in the 43 countries surveyed shows that families are forced to eat less or skip meals altogether. Sometimes children are fed, while parents sacrifice meals and are forced to go hungry. In Madagascar, where famines are already a reality, some are forced to eat locusts, wild leaves or cacti in order to survive.

Famine

Mumbai bank sues Nawab Malik for ₹1,000 crore

A defamation suit claiming damages worth ₹1,000 crore has been filed in the Bombay high court by Mumbai District Cooperative Bank against NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik and seven others for putting up defamatory banners and hoardings relating to an investigation by the economic offences wing of Mumbai Police A defamation suit claiming damages worth ₹1,000 crore has been filed in the Bombay high court by Mumbai District Cooperative Bank against NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik. (HT PHOTO) Published on Nov 30, 2021 09:13 PM IST Share Via Copy Link ByKAY Dodhiya, Mumbai A defamation suit claiming damages worth ₹1,000 crore has been filed in the Bombay high court by Mumbai District Cooperative Bank against NCP leader and minister Nawab Malik and seven others for putting up defamatory banners and hoardings relating to an investigation by the economic offences wing of Mumbai Police. The suit has claimed that the content of the hoardings which were put up from July 1 to 4 at prominent locations in the city tarnished the reputation of the bank as it attributed alleged irregularities of ₹123 crore to the bank. The suit has stated that though the police had concluded that the allegations of irregularities were based on mistaken facts and closed the case, the hoardings gave the opposite message and hence the bank was aggrieved. The HC has asked Malik and others to respond to the suit within six weeks. According to the suit, hoardings had been put up at Ballard Pier and Ghatkopar (W) on July 1 showcasing a news article which stated that no investigation had been conducted on an alleged complaint of financial irregularities of the bank in 2015. The hoarding also had the photographs of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and leader of opposition in the Maharashtra legislative Council, Pravin Darekar, who is also current chairman of Mumbai Bank, shown behind bars. The suit has claimed that the hoardings had been up till July 4 during which the contents were seen by a large number of people and thus tarnished the image of the bank. When the defamation suit came up for hearing before the single judge bench of justice Riyaz Chagla on Monday, advocate Akhilesh Chaubey informed the bench that an interim application had been filed in the suit seeking an injunction against Malik and others from tarnishing the image of the bank and its office bearers and also to issue a public apology for the putting up the hoardings. The bank in its suit has stated that the hoardings were put up at the instance of Malik and others. The defamation suit has sought directions to Malik to issue an unconditional apology to the bank, to retract the allegations against the bank made through the hoardings and to pay ₹1,000 crore as damages to the bank.

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate

'Grim and very sad': Gardaí examine possible alcohol poisoning in Cavan deaths

Garda forensic officers at a house in the Cloverhill area of Belturbet, Co Cavan, where the bodies of a man and a woman, both in their 40s, were discovered yesterday. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Gardaí are investigating if the deaths of a man and a woman in a remote Co Cavan house was the result of accidental alcohol poisoning. Officers are examining if this could have been the result of the unwitting consumption, and toxic effects, of non-commercial spirits. Gardaí have found no signs of a break-in at the rural bungalow, in Cloverhill, near Belturbet, or any signs of violence on the bodies or a struggle in the home or anything that might suggest something suspicious. But officers stressed that they are examining all possibilities until the completion of a post mortem examination. The couple were named locally as Rolandas Jarmalvicius and Rita Martinkiene. They were both aged in their 40s and from Lithuania. Gardaí were called to the home on Sunday evening by concerned family after the couple had not been seen or heard from for days. When gardaí and emergency services entered the house they located the two bodies, in separate rooms. They had already passed away. A Garda statement issued this morning said: "Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the unexplained deaths of a man and woman at a house in the Cloverhill area of Belturbet, Co. Cavan. "Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene on the evening of 07/02/2021. The man and woman, both aged in their 40s, were discovered deceased in the house." Gardaí sealed off the house and awaited the arrival of forensic experts and the State Pathologist. Forensic teams arrived in the morning and conducted an examination inside and outside the property. Sources said tests will be conducted on apparent vodka bottles in the house to determine whether they contained normal vodka or non-commercial spirits. Sources said that given both of them died in or around the same time after consuming the alcohol it may suggest toxic illicit product rather than commercial spirits, but said this would not be clear until full tests were carried out. The couple has been described as hard workers and are believed to have lived in the house for up to seven years. They were understood to be employed in a factory just across the border. It is understood that the man was found in the bathroom and the woman in a separate room. It is thought they might have been dead for a number of days. Gardaí have not yet found any other obvious alternative causes of death and pointed to a lack of violence or obvious struggle or a break-in. While carbon monoxide did not appear to be a factor, that will be examined, sources said. The bodies were removed for a post mortem examination just before 2.30pm.  The examination conducted yesterday evening is likely to be followed by urine and blood tests to establish the quantity and type of alcohol consumed and the presence of anything else. Once the post mortem is completed, gardaí are expected to send a file to the coroner. “It’s a very grim and very sad,” said one source. "However, there is nothing to indicate anything suspicions at the moment. There are no signs of break-in, no signs of violence and there are no indications of a struggle in the house. This will most likely result in a file to the coroner."

Mass Poisoning

South Korean railroad strike of 2006

The South Korean railroad strike of 2006 was a four-day walkout by members of the Korean Railway Workers' Union employed by the Korean National Railroad. It lasted from March 1 to March 4, when the union called a halt to the strike after most of the workers voluntarily returned to work. The number of striking workers fluctuated throughout the strike, but reached over 16,000 workers at its peak. During the strike, Korail's passenger service was decreased by 60%, on both national and Seoul Subway lines. Freight service was also greatly reduced. The economic impact the four-day strike had on KORAIL, the estimated loss was 29.9 billion won which is $26,580,869.77 in USD. The NLR which stands for National Labor Relations Commissions decided to bring the labor dispute to arbitration on March 15 as both sides failed to come to an agreement or solution. Such strike created a sense of loss of trust between KORAIL and the citizens of South Korea because they were not able to help solve the solution prior to the strike. However, the union workers were met with pressure by both the KORAIL and police because the government was going to give out serious punishments to the union workers due to the effect it had on the economy. The police arrested about 411 strikers across the county and out of them only 401 were released with a warning. However, the remaining ten were indicted on interfering in the execution of duty. The arrest of the union workers affected the morale of the strike because 50% of the workers return to work the following day. The principal issue, which was not resolved during the strike, was Korail's replacement of regular long-term positions with short-term contract positions. The strike was declared illegal by the government after emergency arbitration was imposed, and at least 411 strikers were arrested. 10 of those were indicted on charges of "interference with execution of duty," but the rest were released. [1] The strike only lasted four days as the result of disgruntled citizens who did not support the strike for it to gain traction or popularity. The demands the union strikers asked for did not help the rail worker welfare as the demands were more about re-instating laid-off workers and making temporary employment to regular employment. The demands created a discussion between workers, stating why they should care for someone who has only worked for two years for KTX, while they have been working for ten years on other trains. The end of the four day strike gave the upper hand to KORAIL as they were given the opportunity to dish out any punishment trough legal proceedings against its unionized workers who participated in the strike. 2000 union workers were also suspended by Korail during the incident. In addition, KORAIL is handing out severe disciplinary measures for the strike leaders, but heed the warnings of laying-off workers as it can further escalate the disgruntled citizens as it can further disrupt transportation problems. On the other hand, KORAIL did not scurry away from this problem without facing backlash on how they could’ve prevented this or created a failsafe in case of a strike. The strike could’ve been avoided all together as they were warned by the union that a strike would occur if changes were not done. The female KTX attendants' union, whose members are not employed by Korail but by a subcontractor, continued their walkout.

Strike

Illingworth explosion: Three people taken to hospital

Three people have been taken to hospital following an explosion at a house in West Yorkshire. Onlookers said the home, in Green Lane, Illingworth, near Halifax, was "completely destroyed" in the blast, which sounded "like a bomb went off". A woman suffered severe burns and a man was seriously injured, West Yorkshire Police said. A second woman sustained minor injuries. The force said it was continuing to investigate the cause of the blast. Ch Supt Sarah Baker said officers were conducting inquiries alongside the fire service, local council, Health and Safety Executive and Northern Gas Networks. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said six nearby homes had been evacuated. 'Like a horror story' Andy Sykes, who lives nearby, said: "It's been completely destroyed. It's a real mess. "The house is at the end of a row of three and and it just looks like it is completely gone. It's like a bomb has gone off." Media caption, Footage from the scene shows a large fire at the explosion site Candice Nevison described hearing a "massive bang". "I saw people jumping out of the house, literally there was no front to the house," she said. "I heard people saying get the old lady out who lives next door. They managed to get her out, I saw them carrying her over their shoulder. "It was just like something out of a horror story." Image caption, An investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way Benjy Bush, group manager for West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said about 20 firefighters were sent to the incident following reports of an explosion at 07:30 GMT. "Crews on the ground reported scenes of fire and extensive damage to the property," he said. "We had reports that there were three adults in the property. Those adults got out of the property and they were being dealt with by Yorkshire Ambulance Service on the scene and then they were transported to hospital." Firefighters were likely to be on the scene for some time and an investigation had been launched, he added. A fundraiser for those affected by the blast has been set up, with people offering to donate clothes and food to the family through local businesses and charities. Mr Sykes, who works at the Noah's Ark Centre, in nearby Ovenden, said the charity was helping to co-ordinate fundraising. "We've had lots of people contacting us wanting to make donations," he said. "I'm sure over the course of the next 24 hours the community will rally round and we will end up with a good bit of support." Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here .

Gas explosion

Aero Flight 217 crash

Aero Flight 217 (AY217) was a domestic passenger flight from Helsinki to Mariehamn in the autonomous territory of the Åland Islands, operated by the Finnish flag carrier Aero O/Y (since 1968 officially known as Finnair). On 8 November 1963, the aircraft serving the flight crashed in poor visibility while attempting to land on a non-precision approach at Mariehamn Airport in the municipality of Jomala. Resulting in the deaths of 22 people out of 25 on board, the crash remains the second most deadly aviation accident in Finland. [1] Flight 217, operated with a Douglas DC-3, was scheduled to take off at 14:50 GMT and travel along the Helsinki-Turku-Mariehamn route from Helsinki Airport. [2]:1 The crew consisted of pilot Pekka Marttinen, co-pilot Pekka Yli-Niemi and flight attendant Marianne Kullberg. The flight departed later than scheduled, at 15:09 GMT. [2]:1 Everything proceeded as planned as far as the stopover at Turku Airport. The aircraft departed from Turku with 21 passengers, three crew members, one deadheading person, 789 kilograms of cargo and 1,100 litres of fuel. [2]:1 At this time, the weather was foggy and near Aero O/Y's planning minimal limit that would have cancelled the flight. [2]:2 In Mariehamn, horizontal visibility was slightly worse and thus partially under these limits. [2]:2 According to the flight plan, Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden was reserved as a back-up airport for Flight 217. [2]:2 Nothing unusual was reported via radio during the flight from Turku to Mariehamn, which was flown at 2,000 feet. The aircraft was nearing the non-directional beacon (NDB) "MAR" from northwest so that it was aligned for the final approach already in Godby. [2]:2 It flew past the non-directional beacon at 16:57-16:58 GMT and was prepared to land on the runway. However, the aircraft struck trees 1,480 meters before the runway and 50 meters before the final approach beacon ("Locator S"). [2]:2 The airplane had been perfectly aligned for the runway at the time of the contact. The plane hit the ground after rotating leftwards on its longitudinal axis, landing upside down and immediately catching fire. [2]:2 The flight attendant and two male passengers escaped from the burning wreck before rescuers arrived. Everyone else had died either from impact forces or the fire. After AY217 had not responded to any calls, the flight controller called a major alarm without delay. Rescue work was hindered by foggy weather and poor road conditions in the area of the accident. [2]:2 Mariehamn Airport used two radio transmitters for contacting airplanes: the "MAR" and "Locator S" beacons. The airport was not equipped with an instrument landing system (ILS) or a radar;[2]:8 while ILS equipment had been purchased for the airport two years before the accident, local land disputes postponed their installation. [2]:21 A low-power approach lighting system stretched from 1,020 meters before the runway and was powered from the same source as "Locator S" which could mean turning on the lights may have reduced the voltage to the beacon. [2]:8 The area around the beacon, which had the highest obstacle profile, did not have any lights. [2]:8 Contemporary press went so far as to call the landing equipment of the airport a "death trap" after the accident. [3] Investigation after the accident revealed that one deadheading person who was not included on the passenger list was present on the plane. He was a former Aero O/Y pilot and WWII fighter ace Ilmari Joensuu who was allowed to travel in the cockpit by the pilots. [2]:6 Contrary to the speculation in the press following the incident,[4] his presence likely did not have any connection to the occurrence of the accident, according to the investigation report. [2]:20 The official investigation concluded that the crash happened because of lack of awareness on the part of the pilots, either of the plane's altitude or of its location. [2]:21 The misconception of the altitude could have resulted from the altimeter displaying a wrong altitude or the pilots correcting a known altimeter error the opposite way. Another OH-LCA pilot, captain Tamminen, had informed the investigators that the altimeter had erroneously shown an altitude fifty feet higher than the actual altitude one day before the flight. [2]:22 If this error remained, the pilot might have corrected the 50 feet error in the opposite direction, resulting in an altitude 100 feet greater than was correct. [2]:22 According to the investigation report, this still would not have been enough to hit the trees, but it would have been possible with an additional error in flying even lower. [2]:22 Technical investigation of the altimeter determined that it was also possible that a new malfunction occurred during the flight. [2]:22 The other possibility of mistaken location was supported by statements of other Aero O/Y pilots who claimed that the radio transmitter beacon "Locator S" had given wrong readings to the airplane radio compass. [2]:23 This wrong reading may have given an impression that the airplane had passed the beacon earlier than it did in reality. [2]:23 However, the investigation board stated that it was unlikely as Flight 217 flew very close to the beacon, which meant the signal must have been strong and that the likely reason was the pilots' misconception of the altitude instead. [2]:23 The investigation board recommended that airlines use stricter weather standards than those prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization's Obstruction Clearance Limit (OCL). [2]:25 It also criticized the use of NDB-only landing systems and proposed that ILS and GCA equipment would be speedily taken to use at Finnish airports. [2]:25 Wreckage from the aircraft was left in the forest in the vicinity of the airport for nearly 55 years, before being removed in 2018 due to environmental concerns. A memorial plaque was then placed at the site. [5]

Air crash

Karthik Sivakumar to Kajal Aggarwal: Popular celebrities who had an arranged marriageG48

Updated May 20, 2021 | 15:08 IST There are few celebrities in the film industry, who chose arranged marriage over love marriage. Let us have a look at such couples who are now an inspiration to many young couples out there. Popular celebrities who had an arranged marriage Key Highlights Few of our popular actors and actresses in have opted for an arranged marriage over love marriage Dhanush and Aishwarya got married after their parents believed that they make a good pair Kajal Aggarwal's parents decided to get her married to Gautam Kitchlu After working together in films, actors and actresses sometimes fall in love with each other. In Tamil cinema, we have seen witnessed such instances in the past. Most of our Tamil actors and actresses, who fell in love, end up getting married. But few celebrities ditched love marriage and went for an arranged marriage, as per their parents' wish. These celebrity couples are also an inspiration for many young couples out there. Let us look at some of the most popular South Indian celebrities who went for an arranged marriage. Karthi and Ranjani Actor Karthi had a lavish wedding with Ranjani. After giving a few hit films, Karthi was the most eligible bachelor in the town back in the day. While everyone was expecting that the actor would opt for love marriage like his brother Suriya, people got to know that he was getting married to Ranjini, as per his parent’s wish. Actor Karthi and English literature postgraduate Ranjani tied the knot in 2011. The wedding happened traditionally, with all the elders in the family blessing the couple. Dhanush and Aishwarya Actor Dhanush married superstar Rajinikanth’s first daughter Aishwarya Rajinikanth in a private ceremony. The wedding took place in 2004, November. Dhanush and Aishwarya tied the knot in a traditional South Indian ceremony and are now proud parents of two lovely sons. Before they got hitched, media reports suggested that they were seeing each other. And all of a sudden, on one fine day, both their parents met and decided that the duo should get married. Dulquer Salmaan and Amal Sufiya Dulquer Salman is still a heartthrob for many girls. His marriage came as a huge shock due to his female fans. Dulquer and Amal Sufiya got married, on October 22, 2011. It was more like a love-cum-arranged marriage, the actor said in one of his recent interviews. Though they both met each other first, they went to their parents and informed, got their permission, and married each other with their blessings. The couple now has a daughter, and they are an inspiring couple for the young married couples out there. Arya and Sayyeshaa Arya was a lover boy of Tamil cinema. The actor took part in a reality show Enga Veetu Mapillai to find a life partner. But the actor couldn’t find one and eventually, the show received a lot of criticism. After this show, there was surprising news that Arya and Sayeshaa are planning to get married. Reports suggested that Arya’s parents went to Sayeshaa's family with the proposal. And eventually, this couple got married and they are living a happy married life now. Kajal Aggarwal and Gautam Kitchlu Kajal Aggarwal got married to Gautham Kitchulu last year post-lockdown. Their wedding ceremony was held on a grand note in Mumbai. Gautham Kitchulu is a businessman. Kajal’s parents had taken the initiative of getting her married to Gautham. Kajal is one actress who gives more importance to family and particularly her parents. So, she left the decision to her parents, and now she is happily married to Gautham. They both went on a dreamy honeymoon trip to the Maldives, and those pictures went viral on the internet.

Famous Person - Marriage

FBI: Serial bank robbery suspect on the loose in Houston area

HOUSTON (CW39) The FBI Violent Crime Task Force and the Houston Police Robbery Division need the public’s assistance identifying the suspect responsible for a series of bank robberies in Houston. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at around 1:30 pm, an unknown male entered a bank at the 700 block of Main, in Houston, Texas. The male lingered in the lobby for over ten minutes, writing on deposit slips and using the ATM, before eventually approaching an open teller station. The suspect then presented a demand note written on a deposit slip to the teller that demanded cash and threatened that he had a gun. The teller did not immediately open her teller drawer, so the suspect gestured towards his waistband as though he was going to grab a gun. In fear for her safety, the teller collected an undisclosed amount of cash and gave it to the suspect. The suspect took the cash and left the bank walking onto Travis Street and no vehicle was observed. The suspect was described as a Black male, approximately 5’5-5’8″ tall, thin, wearing a black button-up shirt and black pants. The suspect wore a black COVID mask, was balding, and was described as being between 30-50 years old. It is believed this same suspect robbed this same bank on Feb. 22, 2021 and attempted to rob another bank located inside the Galleria Mall on Feb. 26, 2021. In both of those incidents, the suspect wore a chef’s jacket. Please contact Crime Stoppers of Houston DIRECTLY if you have any information related to this investigation. Information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any felony suspects may result in a cash payment up to $5,000. Tipsters MUST contact Crime Stoppers DIRECTLY to remain anonymous and to be considered for a cash payment by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitting an online tip at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.

Bank Robbery

Unemployment rose higher in three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession

The COVID-19 outbreak and the economic downturn it engendered swelled the ranks of unemployed Americans by more than 14 million, from 6.2 million in February to 20.5 million in May 2020. As a result, the U.S. unemployment rate shot up from 3.8% in February – among the lowest on record in the post-World War II era – to 13.0% in May. That rate was the era’s second highest, trailing only the level reached in April (14.4%). The rise in the number of unemployed workers due to COVID-19 is substantially greater than the increase due to the Great Recession, when the number unemployed increased by 8.8 million from the end of 2007 to the beginning of 2010. The Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, pushed the unemployment rate to a peak of 10.6% in January 2010, considerably less than the rate currently, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of government data. The COVID-19 recession, barely three months old, has had a sharp and severe impact on unemployment among American workers. This report focuses on how the recession has affected unemployment among major demographic groups of workers. The key indicator analyzed is the unemployment rate, which is the number of workers actively seeking work – the unemployed – as a share of workers either at work or actively seeking work – the labor force. Most estimates of the unemployment rate in this report are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, based on its survey of households, the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is the government’s official source for monthly estimates of unemployment. Additional estimates, specifically those for racial, ethnic and nativity groups in the Great Recession, are based on the analysis of CPS data by Pew Research Center. Most estimates for the Great Recession period are adjusted to account for the effects of annual revisions to the CPS. All estimates are nonseasonally adjusted because seasonal adjustment factors are not available for many of the demographic groups included in this report. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected data collection efforts by the U.S. government in its surveys, especially limiting in-person data collection. This resulted in about a 10 percentage point decrease in the response rate for the CPS in March and April 2020 and an even greater decrease in May 2020. It is possible that some measures of unemployment and its demographic composition are affected by these changes in data collection. The unemployment rate in May might have been as high as 16%, by the U.S. government’s estimate. But it is not recorded as such because of measurement challenges that have arisen amid the coronavirus outbreak. Also, a sharp decline in labor force participation among U.S. workers overall may be adding to the understatement of unemployment. In May, 9 million Americans not in the labor force were in want of a job compared with 5 million in February, per government estimates. But these workers are not included in the official measure of unemployment. Thus, the COVID-19 recession is comparable more to the Great Depression of the 1930s, when the unemployment rate is estimated to have reached 25%. Unemployment among all groups of workers increased sharply in the COVID-19 recession. But the experiences of several groups of workers, such as women and black men, in the COVID-19 outbreak vary notably from how they experienced the Great Recession. Here are five facts about how the COVID-19 downturn is affecting unemployment among American workers. 1The unemployment rate for women in May (14.3%) was higher than the unemployment rate for men (11.9%). This stands in contrast to the Great Recession, when the unemployment rate for women had peaked at 9.4% in July 2010 compared with a peak of 12.3% for men in January 2010. One reason women have seen a greater rise in unemployment in the current downturn is that they accounted for the majority of workers on the payrolls of businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector and educational services sector in February. Employment in these two sectors fell by 39% and 15% from February to May, respectively, leading most other sectors by a wide margin. By contrast, job losses in the Great Recession arose primarily from the construction and manufacturing sectors, where women have a much lighter footprint than men. 2The unemployment rate for black men in May (15.8%) was substantially less than the peak rate they faced in the Great Recession (21.2%). Black men are the only group among those examined in this analysis for whom such a notable gap exists. The reasons for this are not entirely clear but are likely rooted in the occupation and industry distributions of black men. Recessions in which the turmoil is centered in goods-producing sectors, such as the Great Recession, appear to take a greater toll on the job prospects of black men. The unemployment rate for black men previously topped 20% in the twin recessions of the early 1980s, when manufacturing employment also took a sharp dive. Among other men, Hispanic workers faced an unemployment rate of 15.5% in May, higher than the rates for Asian (13.3%) and white (9.7%) men. While the unemployment rates for Asian and white men increased sharply in the COVID-19 recession, they remain below the rates for black and Hispanic men. Hispanic women had the highest rate of unemployment in May (19.5%), compared with other women or men among the nation’s major racial and ethnic groups. The unemployment rate among white women jumped nearly fivefold, climbing from 2.5% in February to 11.9% in May. A steep increase in the unemployment rate among Asian women also pushed their unemployment rate in May (16.7%) to near parity with the unemployment rate among black women (17.2%). The recent experience of white and Asian women stands in contrast to their experience in the Great Recession, when their unemployment rates peaked at levels substantially below the levels reached for black and Hispanic women. 3Immigrants saw their unemployment rate jump higher than the rate for U.S.-born workers in the COVID-19 downturn, mirroring their experience in the Great Recession. In February, immigrants and U.S.-born workers had similarly low rates of unemployment, 3.6% and 3.8%, respectively. By May, the unemployment rate for immigrants had risen to 15.7%, compared with 12.4% for U.S.-born workers. The steeper increase in the unemployment rate for immigrants is driven by the experience of Hispanic workers who comprised 47% of the immigrant workforce in February, compared with 12% of the U.S.-born workforce. Compared with non-Hispanic workers, Hispanic workers are relatively young and are less likely to have graduated from college. Additionally, 44% of Hispanic immigrants in the labor force are estimated to have been unauthorized in 2016. These characteristics of Hispanic workers make them more vulnerable to job losses in economic downturns. 4Workers in all but one age group saw their unemployment rate climb into the double digits in May due to the COVID-19 outbreak, unlike the Great Recession when this was true only for younger workers. The unemployment rate among young adults ages 16 to 24 (25.3%) exceeded the rate among other workers by a substantial margin in May, more than double the rate among workers 35 and older. A key reason is the concentration of young adults in higher-risk industries, such as food services and drinking places, that were more affected by the need for social distancing and government mandated shutdowns. Changes in the unemployment rate by age in the COVID-19 recession are consistent with patterns in past recessions. During the Great Recession the unemployment rate for young adults peaked at 20% in June 2010, compared with no greater than 10.9% among older workers. 5Unemployment rates in the COVID-19 downturn are lower among workers with higher levels of education, as in the Great Recession. The unemployment rate in May was lowest among workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher education (7.2%), the only group among those examined not to experience an unemployment rate in the double digits. In contrast, 18.5% of workers without a high school diploma were unemployed in May. In the Great Recession, the peak unemployment rates for the different groups ranged from 5.3% among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher education to 17.9% among those without a high school diploma. A unique factor in the COVID-19 recession is the significance of teleworking in keeping people on the job. The option to telework varied considerably across workers in February depending on their education level, with those with a college degree six times as likely to have the option as those without a high school diploma, 62% vs. 9%. Nonetheless, the May unemployment rate among college graduates was nearly four times that of February.

Financial Crisis

Indiana woman is first to receive sentencing in Capitol riot

An Indiana woman on Wednesday became the first defendant to be sentenced in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and avoided time behind bars, while a member of the Oath Keepers extremist group pleaded guilty in a conspiracy case and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a major step forward for the massive investigation. The two developments signal that the cases against those charged in the deadly siege are slowly advancing, even as the Department of Justice and the courthouse in Washington, D.C., struggle under the weight of roughly 500 federal arrests across the U.S. And it comes as Republicans in Washington attempt to downplay the violence committed by members of the mob supporting then-President Trump . Graydon Young, who was accused alongside 15 other members and associates of the Oath Keepers of conspiring to block the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory, pleaded guilty to two counts: conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding. It was the first guilty plea in the major conspiracy case brought against members of the group. The second charge calls for up to 20 years in prison, but U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said federal sentencing guidelines call for Young to serve between 5 1/4 years and 6 1/2 years behind bars. Prosecutors may seek even less time in exchange for his cooperation against other defendants. Young, 55, of Englewood, Fla., was arrested in February and charged in the sweeping conspiracy case accusing members of the Oath Keepers of coming to Washington prepared to use violence and intent on stopping the certification of the vote. Authorities said in court documents that Young joined the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers in December, writing that he was “looking to get involved in helping ...” Later that month, Young reached out to a company that does firearms and combat training about a rifle class for four people, according to the indictment. Authorities say Young, wearing a helmet and tactical vest, was part of the military-style “stack” seen on camera marching through the crowd before entering the Capitol building. Young’s attorneys didn’t immediately respond to emails sent Wednesday seeking comment. Another Oath Keepers member, Jon Ryan Schaffer, has also pleaded guilty in the riot but was not charged in the conspiracy case. Schaffer has agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify against other defendants. Fox News declines to air ad about Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol The network canceled a nearly $200,000 ad buy about the insurrection, according to the PAC behind the commercial. Anna Morgan Lloyd, 49, of Indiana, was ordered by a federal judge to serve three years of probation, perform 120 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution after admitting to unlawfully entering the Capitol. She pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge under a deal with prosecutors. After the riot, Lloyd described Jan. 6 on Facebook as the “best day ever.” On Wednesday, she apologized to the court, her family and “the American people,” saying she went to Washington that day to peacefully show her support for Trump. “I’m ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day. And I would have never been there if I had a clue it was going to turn out that way,” Lloyd told the judge. “It was never my intent to be a part of anything that’s so disgraceful to our American people.” In seeking probation for Lloyd, prosecutors noted that she was not involved in any violence and destruction or preplanning and coordination of the Capitol breach. Lloyd was invited by her hairdresser to drive to Washington to hear Trump speak, her attorney wrote in court documents. U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth said he was giving her a “break” but didn’t want others to think that probation — and not a stiffer sentence — would be the norm. “Legally, I could give you the six months, but is that really what we want our judiciary to do?” the judge asked. Lamberth said he struggled with what would be an appropriate sentence for Lloyd because he views the riot as a serious crime. “This wasn’t a peaceful demonstration the way it turned out. It was not an accident,” he said. “It was intended to and brought a halt to the very functioning of our government.” He said he was “especially troubled” by some lawmakers who are seeking to rewrite the history of the Capitol riot. “I don’t know what planet they were on, but there were millions of people in this country that saw what happened on Jan. 6 and that saw what you saw and what you just described: a disgrace to our country,” the judge said. In a letter to the judge asking for leniency, Lloyd wrote that she was a registered Democrat but that she and her husband began supporting Trump in 2016 because “he was standing up for what we believe in.” After her arrest, Lloyd’s lawyer gave her a list of books and movies to help her “see what life is like for others in our country,” Lloyd wrote. Lloyd said she has sought to educate herself by watching movies such as “Schindler’s List” and the History Channel’s “Burning Tulsa” and reading Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy.” “I’ve lived a sheltered life and truly haven’t experienced life the way many have,” Lloyd wrote. “I’ve learned that even though we live in a wonderful country, things still need to improve. People of all colors should feel as safe as I do to walk down the street.” Four other people — a Tennessee man, a Maryland man and a Virginia couple — have pleaded guilty to the same misdemeanor charge in the last two weeks. Earlier Wednesday, another man, Robert Maurice Reeder of Maryland, admitted to entering the Capitol, but his lawyer said he didn’t force his way inside and didn’t damage any property or hurt anyone. Before his arrest, an attorney for Reeder provided federal authorities with a compilation of photos and videos that he took with his cellphone at the Capitol. A video seemed to show Reeder chanting, “Fight for Trump!” and he recorded an assault on a Capitol police officer, according to the FBI. “You need to retreat!” Reeder apparently told the officer, an FBI agent wrote in a court filing. A prosecutor said Tennessee resident Brian Wayne Ivey, who pleaded guilty on Tuesday, entered the Capitol through a window that somebody else broke with a riot shield and spent roughly 30 minutes inside the building. Joshua Bustle of Virginia, who pleaded guilty alongside his wife, will also be seeking probation, his lawyer said. Jessica Bustle’s attorney described them as “good, decent, hardworking people” who were urged to come to Washington by “very powerful people and groups.” “They are not criminals or insurrectionists or rioters. They were not looking to break laws when they came to DC on the 6th. They violated minor laws on the 6th, and they have accepted responsibility and accountability for doing so,” Jessica Bustle’s attorney, Nabeel Kibria, wrote in an email.

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Sentence

Relive the Stunning ‘Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse Over the Philly Region

SkyForce10 captured the dramatic minutes as the moon partially obscured the sun during the “Ring of Fire” eclipse early on Thursday, June 10, 2021. SkyForce10 captured the partial "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse Thursday morning over Philadelphia. The event, known as an annular solar eclipse, occurs when the moon is too far from Earth to block out the entire sun, leaving the sun peeking out over the Moon's disk in a "ring of fire,“ according to NASA. On the morning of Thursday, June 10, skygazers in parts of North America got to witness the partial solar eclipse. The moon passed in front of the sun starting around just after daybreak in the Philadelphia region. Since looking directly at the sun with the naked eye isn't safe, SkyForce10 and other cameras gave viewers a glimpse of the show in the sky. The last sliver of the moon passed over the sun above the Philadelphia region around 6:30 a.m. Clouds obscured the eclipse in parts of the Philadelphia region, however, you could see some of it above the Jersey Shore.

New wonders in nature

Maria Fire

The Maria Fire was a wildfire that burned the south of the community of Santa Paula in the area of Somis, California on the top of South Mountain in Ventura County. The fire ignited in the evening hours of Thursday, October 31, 2019 and consumed well over 4,000 acres (16 km2) within its first several hours of burning. [3] Despite the aggressive initial attack by first responders, the fire exploded rapidly due to a strong Santa Ana wind event that was occurring in the area during its ignition. [3] On the eve of Thursday, October 31, at 6:13 pm, the Maria fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula and Somis and was seen making an aggressive run southwest towards the community of Somis as the fire expanded throughout that evening. [4] Heavily influenced by 20-30 mph winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration within its first several hours of burning, growing from 50 to 750 acres inside an hour, to over 4,000 acres (16 km2) by 9:45 pm. [4][5] The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula in the Santa Clara River Valley, whose topography can serve as a wind tunnel for Santa Ana winds. [6] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residents. [4][5] Shortly before 11 pm, a drone had been reported flying over the fireline which immediately caused the suspension and grounding of all nighttime water-dropping helicopters that were currently fighting the fire. [7] This hazard then allowed the incident to continue its critical rate of spread virtually unchecked. By 11:45 pm, the fire had reportedly grown to 7,400 acres with zero containment as the fire progressed predominantly westward. [8] During the day of November 1, three different DC-10 air tankers contracted to the US Forest Service (910, 911 and 914) and flying from Santa Maria[9] and San Bernardino airports made multiple runs on the Maria Fire, along with helicopters including an Erickson Skycrane. Initial inquiries into the cause or origin of the Maria fire revealed that Southern California Edison (SCE), the power utility operating in the area, had re-energized 16,000 volt transmission lines in the vicinity roughly 13 minutes before first reports of the fire were received. The lines were de-energized beforehand specifically to avoid the possibility of its power lines causing fires due to the high winds in the area. SCE issued a statement indicating that it had no specific information on the cause of the fire and that it would "cooperate with the appropriate investigative agencies if asked to do so. "[12] The final report issued in October 2020 on the cause of the fire cited a combination of extreme wind conditions and a power line owned by California Resources Corporation that touched a metal pipe on the ground after an electrical conductor separated. [2]

Fire

Hefei student protests

2003 Hefei Student Protests, also known as 一七事件 (the January 7th incident), were protests started on January 7, 2003 in Hefei, Anhui by students from the Hefei University of Technology. These protests were the People's Republic of China's largest student protests[1] since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. [2] At around 7:30 pm on January 6, 2003, at the intersection of Tunxi and Xuancheng Rd (near the southern entrance to the Hefei University of Technology), there was a car accident that caused the injury of three female students. Two of the students, English and Commerce joint majors at Hefei University, died from the accident (the former, An Ruifang, died from a cracked skull), and the third student was seriously injured. In the afternoon of January 7, 2003, an influential newspaper in Anhui Province called the Xinan Evening Post (新安晚报) published a controversial article saying that the students were victims to a driver who had overrun a red light. Authorities also initially claimed that the accident was the victims' fault. [3] These roused dissatisfaction amongst the students at the university, which was a cause of the protests afterwards. At 12 noon on January 7, students from Hefei University of Technology gathered at the front gate, blocking the traffic on Tunxi and Xuancheng roads. They demanded that all cars circle around them, and that all motorcycles and other vehicles be pushed. Later, students put up the slogan "还我同学，严惩凶手", or "Return our classmate, punish the assailant". At around 2 pm, 5000 students and some social workers from Hefei University of Technology converged at Changjiang Rd, one of the most important roads in Hefei, and soon marched into the provincial hall. It was only after much dissuasion from professors and students alike that they were finally convinced to leave the compound. At 2:10 pm, Anhui Province's Superintendent of Education asked to speak with a student representative. However, the students believed that Superintendent Chen Xianzhong's rank wasn't high enough, and called for a different representative. Afterwards, more students joined in and they began displaying the slogans "Only twenty-two" and "What are the 'Three Represents'?". At this point in time, the number of students reached nearly 10000, and at 2:40 pm, the students decided to overtake the provincial hall again. At 3 pm, once again after dissuasion from professors and other students, the protesters left the building again. At 4:34 pm, Anhui's Superintendent Chen Xianzhong once again attempted to speak with the students, and brought up four points: However, the students at the protest objected to these four points. At around 6 pm, the students protested at the Xinan Evening Post's office. They complained that the Xinan Evening Post had been lying to them, and demanded a public apology from the newspaper. The Xinan Evening Post's chief editor spoke with the students and brought up four points: After this, the students began to split into two parties. The hardliners wanted the Xinan Evening Post to place their apology on the front page, or else they would attack the Post's office. A different group of students wanted everyone to remain calm and rational. The hardliners began to attack the newspaper's office and tried to plan a surprise attack on the newspaper's chief editor. Under the police's protection, the chief editor was able to retreat into the newspaper's office building. However, at this point, the situation became out of control and the hardliners began attacking the newspaper's facilities, showing tendencies towards arson. After further persuasion from professors and students, all protesters finally left the building at 6:16 pm. At around 7 pm, the area in front of the entrance to Hefei University of Technology remained closed to vehicles. As the night closed in, students began to spontaneously light candles, provide flowers and other items of mourning in order to mourn and commemorate the accident victims. Many students and passersby participated in the memorial, and the mourning continued until early morning. At 5 am on January 8, the items of mourning were moved away and the memorial service ended. Vehicles also were allowed into the previously closed off area, marking the end of the protests. The handling of the Hefei student protest had been effective if its dispersal later was any indication. While the protesters were dissatisfied with the initial actions with respect to the commission of the crime as well as its resolution, there was no violent dispersal, which could have aggravated the situation. This can be attributed to the immediate response of the national government to the crisis. When news broke out about the protest, Hu Jintao, the then newly installed General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the figure being groomed to be head of state during the March National People's Congress (NPC), expressed his sympathy for the Hefei students, urging authorities and the protesters to hold dialogues to resolve the unrest. [3] Hu Jintao is the only Anhui native, occupying the highest position in national politics during the period. [4]

Protest_Online Condemnation

Immigrants have a history of winning Nobel science awards

This year's awarding of the Nobel Prize in chemistry to two female scientists was outstanding because it was the first time two women are sharing the prize. It was quite a regular affair in another regard: One of the two laureates, Emmanuelle Charpentier, is working as an French expat at the German Max Planck Institute in Berlin. Expats and immigrants winning Nobel Prices in the sciences for institutions in their host countries is a common scenario, as our graphic shows. Since 1969 (the year the economics prize was added), a majority share of Nobel Prizes in the science categories have gone to U.S. institutions. But the scientists carrying out the cutting-edge research there have for a long time come from all over the world. Out of the 281 laureates that were exclusively affiliated with U.S. institutions, 87 had been born abroad, according to the Nobel Prize Foundation website. The trend is the same for other countries. Top UK institutions host just as many immigrants and foreign scientists, with 15 out of 45 laureates since 1969 having been born abroad. The biggest share of foreign laureates can be found in Switzerland (Eight foreign-born laureates opposite seven Swiss-born laureates). Here, top scientific research institutions like the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich attracted many foreign researchers. Countries whose institutions made the top 10 without the help of any immigrant scientists are Japan, with 15 homegrown laureates, as well as Sweden (8 laureates). World Economic Forum Type may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. Katharina Buchholz, Data Journalist, Statista With the collaboration of Statista. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Climate migrants are increasing across the developing world as people struggle with droughts, heatwaves, storms on a scale never seen before. Up to 32 million people in West Africa could be forced to move by the climate crisis. It's time for the rest of the world to act. Here's what has to happen.

Awards ceremony

Woman found dead, 3 missing after Colorado flooding and mudslides that destroyed at least 5 houses

A day after flooding on the Poudre River, the river was black, debris filled it and search and rescue were recovering a body. Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan RUSTIC, Colo. – A woman was found dead and three other people were missing after rain triggered flooding and mudslides in an area of northern Colorado burned by a large wildfire last year , authorities said Wednesday. The woman’s body was found near the small community of Rustic, about 100 miles northwest of Denver, after a mudslide sent a large amount of debris into a scenic, winding canyon Tuesday evening, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said. Her identity and cause of death will be released by the coroner's office at a later time. Search operations are set to resume Thursday. About an inch of rain fell on the Crown Point area in a short period of time Tuesday, Larimer County Sheriff's Office Capt. Joe Shellhammer told the Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY Network. That rain drained into the Black Hollow area and created a debris dam that burst, causing flash flooding and mudslides. Around six mudslides happened as a result of flooding, a Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson said. At least five houses were totaled and a private bridge was damaged. A long debris field was left behind along the river, including propane tanks, stove pipes, lawn chairs, dishes, garden hoses and an American flag. The area burned last year in the 326-square-mile Cameron Peak Fire, which likely contributed to the flooding and mudslides, sheriff’s spokesman Jered Kramer said. Fires torch vegetation that usually helps absorb rain, making those areas more vulnerable to flooding, especially in steep sections. The soil in burned areas can also repel rain. Heavy rain over the Cameron Peak Fire burn area has stopped and "flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat," according to National Weather Service. Black Hollow flood devastation As of Wednesday afternoon, at least five houses in the canyon’s Black Hollow area were totaled, including Joyce Sjogren's cabin along Black Hollow Road. Sjogren purchased the property with her husband in 1972 and replaced its existing mobile home with a cabin in the 1980s, she said. “We liked it (up there) so much and we were both retiring,” Sjogren said. Wednesday, Sjogren got a call from her neighbor following Tuesday’s devastating flood, which is being called the "Black Hollow Flood" by county emergency officials. “He was safe, but (my cabin) right next door is on a slope from Black Hollow Creek and the water came down and took my cabin clear away,” Sjogren said. At this point, Sjogren said she is unsure if she and her husband will rebuild on the site. “It’s very sad for me and my family who enjoyed it until right now,” she said.

Mudslides

FedEx Express Flight 14 crash

FedEx Express Flight 14 was a scheduled cargo flight from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey, via Malaysia, Taiwan, and Alaska. On July 31, 1997, the aircraft flying this route crashed during landing on its final segment at Newark International Airport (EWR), catching fire as it flipped upside down, injuring all five people on board. [1] Flight 14 crashed while landing on runway 22R at Newark Airport on July 31, 1997. The flight originated in Singapore with intermediate stops in Penang, Malaysia, followed by Taipei, Taiwan, and then Anchorage, Alaska. In addition to the Captain and First Officer there were three passengers on board, including one riding in the jump seat. During the flight, the pilots were concerned that they would have little stopping distance after landing, and the captain said that he wanted to put the aircraft down early on the runway. The aircraft had departed with one thrust reverser (on the left engine) inoperative, and the pilots knew of incidents in the aircraft's maintenance log where the auto-brakes had failed to activate during landings. They had also misinterpreted the runway data, and so believed they had less stopping distance than was actually available. [2][3] The landing was normal until the beginning of the flare phase. The MD-11 touched down, bounced, and rolled to the right. On the second touchdown, about 1,100 feet later, the right gear snapped and the No. 3 engine (right wing engine) contacted the runway, with the right roll continuing until the right wing spars broke. The aircraft came to rest off the right side of the runway, on its back, and on fire. All five occupants escaped through a cockpit window. The airplane was destroyed by fire. [4][3] The aircraft, named Joshua by FedEx, construction number 48603 and line number 553, was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freight model, powered by three General Electric CF6-80C2D1F engines. Registered in the United States as N611FE,[5] the aircraft was delivered new to FedEx in September 1993. Prior to the crash, the aircraft had a total of 13,034 flight hours and 2,950 flight cycles (a flight cycle is defined as a takeoff and landing), and had been involved in two prior incidents. In January 1994, when it sustained underbelly damage during a bounced landing at Memphis International Airport. Then in November 1994, the aircraft was involved in a tailstrike at Anchorage International Airport. Permanent repairs were made from the Anchorage incident within days of the tailstrike, and permanent repairs to the Memphis incident were made at the next C check in August 1995. [2] The captain was 46-year-old Robert M. Freeman who joined FedEx in 1988 when it bought Flying Tiger Line, which he had previously worked for. Freeman had logged a total of 11,000 flight hours, including 1,253 hours on the MD-11. The first officer was 39-year-old Donald E. Goodin, who had been with FedEx since 1994, having served as a former U.S. Air Force pilot and had 3,703 flight hours, though only 592 of them were with FedEx. Goodin only had 92 hours on the MD-11. [2]:11–12[6][7][8] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a full investigation of the accident and concluded that the probable cause was the captain's over-control of the aircraft during the landing and his failure to go around after a destabilized flare. Beginning about 17 feet above the runway, the captain had let the nose lower, probably to achieve an earlier touchdown, then raised it and increased thrust to slow the plane's descent, then pushed the nose down again (around the time of the first touchdown) to try to keep the plane on the runway. These last control inputs were "too late and too large" to stabilize the landing, and the plane's high sink rate and rightward roll compressed the right landing gear strut at the second touchdown, which broke the right wing rear spar and ruptured the right fuel tank. [2][4][3] As a result of its investigation of this accident, the NTSB made new recommendations based on their findings and conclusions to improve the safety of operations of the MD-11 type aircraft including that the FAA develop new pilot training tools to "include information about factors that can contribute to structural failures involving the landing gear, wings, and fuselage, such as design sink rate limits; roll angle limits; control inputs' roll rate; pitch rate; single-gear landings; the effect of decreased lift; and structural loading consequences of bottoming landing gear struts and tires; provide a syllabus for simulator training on the execution of stabilized approaches to the landing flare, the identification of unstabilized landing flares, and recovery from these situations, including proper high sink rate recovery techniques during flare to landing, techniques for avoiding and recovering from overcontrol in pitch before touchdown, and techniques for avoiding overcontrol and premature derotation during a bounced landing; and to promote an orientation toward a proactive go-around. "[2][4][3] For his role in the accident, captain Freeman was fired from FedEx on October 30, 2000. However, the FedEx pilot union criticized the decision and announced that they would appeal it, citing that the crash was caused by aircraft design flaws. [9] FedEx Express continues to use Flight 14 as an active flight number today; the route has been modified to originate in Hong Kong, with the stop of Taipei before continuing on to Anchorage and Memphis as destination. The crashes of FedEx Express Flight 14, and a similar crash in 2009 of another McDonnell Douglas MD-11, FedEx Express Flight 80 at Narita International Airport in Japan, are both covered on Season 14 of Mayday (Air Crash Investigation), episode 5, titled The Final Push. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Air crash

2012 IIHF World Championship

The 2012 IIHF World Championship was the 76th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 4–20 May 2012 in Finland and Sweden. This tournament determined the countries’ seeding for the men's Olympic Ice Hockey tournament in Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and for all countries participating in the qualification program leading up to the Olympics. [1] Russia won the tournament by defeating Slovakia 6–2 in the Final game; the Russians finished the tournament undefeated with a record of 10–0–0, becoming the first team to win every game in regulation since the Soviet Union in the 1989 World Championships. [2] The Czech Republic captured the bronze medal by defeating co-host Finland 3–2 in the bronze medal game. [3] The tournament's top scorer, Russia's Evgeni Malkin, was named the most valuable player of the tournament. [4] At the IIHF congress in Moscow in 2007 four nations submitted bids to host the 2012 World Championship: Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The Hungarian and Czech bids were withdrawn before the vote, which was then contested by Finland and Sweden. Finland won with 64 votes to Sweden's 35. [5] Sweden later won the vote to host the 2013 World Championship. At the congress in Bern in 2009, it was announced that Finland and Sweden would instead co-host both the 2012 and 2013 tournaments. [6] Group A preliminary round and quarterfinals were played in Hartwall Areena, Helsinki. Group B preliminary round and quarterfinals were played in Ericsson Globe, Stockholm. All semifinal and medal games were played at the Hartwall Areena. For the first time since 2000, a new format was adopted in the IIHF World Hockey Championships. The preliminary round and qualification round were merged into one (two pools of eight teams), with the top four teams from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals. [7] Each team's roster for the 2012 IIHF World Championship consisted of at least 15 skaters (forwards, and defencemen) and 2 goaltenders, and at most 22 skaters and 3 goaltenders. [8] All sixteen participating nations, through the confirmation of their respective national associations, had to submit a roster by the first IIHF directorate meeting. This group saw the three favourites, Canada, the United States and Finland advance pretty easily. All three teams advanced a day before the group play was done. Canada lost just one game, their second game, against the Americans in overtime. [9] The Americans themselves needed to win their last game against Switzerland to capture the second place in the group ahead of Finland and did so with the result being 5–2. [10] For the final spot of advancing, Slovakia and France played in a "final", where France needed a win to advance to the quarterfinals. The game was close throughout, tied the whole way until it was 4–4, this is when Slovakia scored the final and decisive goal to win 5–4 and get to the fourth spot in the group. [11] France, Switzerland were eliminated alongside Belarus, with Kazakhstan finishing in the last spot and being relegated. [12] They ended the tournament with one point, by losing to the United States in overtime. [13] Canada faced Slovakia, and the United States played against Finland in the quarterfinals. Russia went through the group undefeated by winning all seven games. Co-host Sweden captured the second place, after falling short to Russia. [14] Czech Republic rounded up the third place and advanced to the quarterfinals. Norway, Latvia and Germany all fought for the last spot in the next round but Germany was eliminated after failing miserably 4–12 to Norway. [15] Latvia lost to Denmark and was eliminated,[16] which meant that Norway advanced. Italy finished last and was relegated to Division I. [17] In the quarterfinals, Russia took on Norway, while Sweden battled the Czech Republic. The Slovak team was the underdog going against Team Canada who had lost just one game so far. But the game started with a surprising strong start by Slovakia, who scored twice in the first 10 minutes to get a 2–0 lead. Evander Kane was able to cut into the lead before going into the first break. [18] In the second period Canada scored twice and got the lead and Slovakia was down by one going into the last period. With just 6 and a half minutes to go Milan Bartovič tied the game before Michal Handzuš even took the lead with a bit over two minutes to go. Canada pulled the goalie but was not able to connect against and lost 3–4. [19] The crowd was stunned and the surprise perfect, Slovakia advanced to the semifinals while Canada was eliminated. [20] The undefeated Russian team added Alexander Semin and Alexander Ovechkin to their roster before the quarterfinals. Ovechkin went right away and scored the equalizer after Per-Åge Skrøder gave Norway the lead. After Russia took the lead, Patrick Thoresen made it a tied game just 28 seconds after the second period started, with his 18th point of the tournament. [citation needed] The game went into the last period tied, 2–2. Not even one minute into the third period, Alexei Emelin gave Russia the lead. [21] After Russia raised the lead to two, Ilya Nikulin finished Norway off by making it a 5–2 lead with just five minutes to go. Norway was outshot 45–21 and eliminated. [22] Co-Host Finland tried to advance against the US-team who they lost to in the preliminary round. The first period ended scoreless, before Jesse Joensuu broke the tie, just to be answered 21 seconds later by Kyle Palmieri.

Sports Competition

The Hartford Announces $1 Million Scholarship Fund For UConn Hartford Students

Company creates The Hartford Scholars Program to allow 50 students to attend tuition-free for all four years HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hartford has committed $1 million to provide funding for 50 UConn Hartford students who are residents of the City of Hartford. The funding will cover the gap between a student’s existing financial aid package and the remaining tuition amount, allowing them to attend UConn Hartford tuition-free for all four years. Starting this semester, The Hartford will fund the scholars, as identified by The University of Connecticut’s Division of Enrollment Planning and Management, in two groups – 25 first-year students in 2021, and an additional 25 first-year students in 2022. “We are proud to support incoming students in our namesake city as they begin their studies at UConn Hartford” “We are proud to support incoming students in our namesake city as they begin their studies at UConn Hartford,” said The Hartford’s President Doug Elliot. “This new commitment builds on our enduring legacy of community engagement in the City of Hartford as we strive to advance equal economic, educational and workplace opportunities. We recognize that equitable access to a quality education can be a critical component to future success and look forward to mentoring The Hartford Scholars as they chart a course to accomplish their goals.” Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, Ph.D., director of UConn Hartford said, “UConn Hartford extends our sincerest appreciation to our neighbor in the city, The Hartford, for their generous gift and meaningful partnership. The Hartford Scholars Program will ultimately provide support and mentoring opportunities to 50 students who live in the City of Hartford and attend the UConn Hartford campus. By supporting UConn Hartford — where first-generation college students and students of color represent the majority of the student population — The Hartford’s partnership demonstrates the company’s commitment to positive change in the City of Hartford and an understanding of the importance of higher education in expanding opportunity for the youth in our community. UConn Hartford is proud to partner with The Hartford in this worthy endeavor.” The scholars must be residents of the City of Hartford and demonstrate a financial need. Scholarships for tuition and fees will be renewable for four years. Each student will also receive a set allowance for other expenses, such as books and transportation. In addition to financial support, The Hartford will provide mentorship opportunities, unique group experiences and interactions with the company and its employees, and utilize its existing resources for professional development. The new scholarship fund builds on a longstanding partnership with the University of Connecticut, which includes internships, research and recruiting. “I am beyond thankful for this opportunity. Being named a scholar gives me a push to keep doing whatever I need to do to succeed,” said Cesar Carreno, a first-year UConn Hartford student who was born and raised in the City of Hartford and is one of The Hartford Scholars. “The financial support also means that I can rearrange my schedule so that I don’t have to work as much, so I can focus more on my education and have more time to study.” The Hartford’s Commitment To City of Hartford The $1 million donation announced today is part of a broader commitment by The Hartford to advance equitable access to economic, educational and workforce opportunities for residents in the City of Hartford. Last year, the company made a $10 million, 5-year commitment to the Asylum Hill neighborhood to address top priorities identified by residents and non-profits through The Hartford’s Asylum Hill Neighborhood Survey. Earlier this year, The Hartford announced a $1 million grant to make affordable homeownership more accessible in the Asylum Hill Neighborhood. About The Hartford The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com. Follow us on Twitter at @TheHartford_PR. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice. HIG-C Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

Financial Aid

Chinese military conducts drill along India border with advanced equipment: Report

According to reports, China has stepped up night drills near the Himalayan border with India in order to familiarise troops with its new equipment. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly wants "higher standards" from troops stationed at high altitudes. China's state-run Global Times had reported last month that the PLA's Tibet military command had conducted large-scale joint exercises in the Tibet plateau region. Watch: The exercise known as "Snowfield Duty-2021" involved ten brigades and regiments affiliated with the PLA Tibet military command. The drill included the latest weapons and equipment as PLA troops held the exercise at an elevation of 4,500 meters. Also Read: China building 30 airports near India’s border in Tibet, Xinjiang: Report The night and day exercise was conducted with howitzers, multiple rocket launcher systems including anti-aircraft batteries. Reports claimed the PLA also used attack helicopters and Type 15 light tanks during the exercise. PLA daily claimed forces in the Xinjiang military district have been carrying out night drills at an altitude of around 5,000 metres. Earlier, senior military commanders linked to PLA had conducted an exercise at Zhurihe training base. The military exercise was reportedly conducted to ensure "combat readiness". There were at least 200 military commanders from three theatres during the exercise including from Tibet and Xinjiang. The heightened Chinese military exercises come as President Xi Jinping visited Tibet in July. During the visit, Xi reportedly also visited the Nyingchi railway station to plan the Sichuan-Tibet railway line. The Chinese president reportedly met locals and spoke in front of Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama. Xi had last visited the region in 2011 when he was vice-president.

Military Exercise

'I felt I killed my children': lead poisons California community – and fills kids' teeth

A battery recycling plant blanketed Latino communities with chemicals – and thousands of properties remain toxic Last modified on Mon 29 Mar 2021 10.17 BST For years, Terry Gonzalez-Cano encouraged her children to get outside and play in the dirt. “I grew up doing everything outside, and I encouraged my kids to do the same thing. We played in the backyard, we gardened,” she said. “I thought I was being a good mother by forcing them to spend time outside.” Gonzalez-Cano, 48, didn’t know that, for decades, the Exide lead battery recycling plant in the neighboring Los Angeles-area city of Vernon had blanketed blue-collar Latino communities with layer after layer of lead and cancer-causing arsenic. In June 2015, the soil on her property in the LA neighborhood of Boyle Heights was tested for lead by the California department of toxic substances control. Gonzalez-Cano said the results had come back in April 2016, 10 months after her property had been tested: her home had more than double the 80 parts per million (ppm) that California deems acceptable. At her father’s home a block away, where she and her brother spent countless hours playing in the backyard when they were children, the number averaged over 800ppm. One neighbor’s soil tested so high that it surpassed the 1,000ppm required to qualify as toxic waste. “When I found out, I couldn’t breathe,” said Gonzalez-Cano. “I felt like I was the worst mother in the world. I felt that I had killed my children.” Sitting next to her on the couch at her home recently, her brother Jose Gonzalez emptied a plastic bag full of bracelets from his dozens of trips to the hospital for sinus cancer on to the floor. “Here’s Exide’s legacy,” he said. “I thought I was staying fit when I used to play football in the mud. I didn’t know it, but I was poisoning myself.” Six years after their property was tested, the siblings say that the state has not given them even a prospective timeline for when their property will be cleaned up. They worry about the damage that has already been done, and the health problems they and their families may have that will only manifest with time. The evidence of the plant’s contamination is not just in the soil of local homes, but in the teeth of the children who inhabit them. A 2019 study found high levels of lead in the teeth of local children, indicating long-term exposure that was passed along to many while they were still in their mother’s wombs. “Mothers in these communities are exposed, and they pass that exposure on to their children before they’re even born,” said Jill Johnston, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California who authored the study. Despite its nearly 100-year presence, many in the community had never heard of Exide until less than a decade ago, although community organizers had been protesting against the plant and demanding action for many years. The company could not be reached for comment. “This was a facility with a long history of violations,” said Sean Hecht, co-executive director of the UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. “But the regulatory system sees these facilities as serving an important purpose” – about 11m used lead batteries were processed by the smelting plant on an annual basis – “and this gives these companies leverage, even when they’re violating the law.” Idalmis Vaquero, a Boyle Heights resident and volunteer with Communities for a Better Environment, said that, when she first heard about Exide in 2013, she was shocked they hadn’t been shut down by regulatory agencies. “They knew for years and did nothing. I realized that they weren’t interested in protecting us. They were interested in protecting Exide,” she said. Many residents expressed skepticism that the pollution would have gone on as long as it did if their neighborhood looked different. “Because we’re working-class and Latino, we’re not a priority,” Terry Gonzalez-Cano stated flatly. She had to sell her father’s home in part to cover medical bills. The plant was shuttered in 2015 as part of an agreement with the US Department of Justice that allowed Exide to avoid criminal prosecution for a litany of emissions and hazardous waste violations, although the department promised the company would be financially responsible for the cleanup. The enormous plant now stands derelict, covered with a white sheet meant to stop toxins from escaping. At least 7,800 properties in the area have dangerous levels of lead contamination. About 3,200 are considered the most affected, but so far only 2,407 have been cleaned, and a damning report by the California state auditor found that the rest of that initial, most-dangerous batch are not expected to be cleaned until August 2022, over a year behind schedule. The state has not given any timeline for the remainder, leaving thousands of families with few options but to tell their children not to play in dirt that has been infected with toxins for decades. “They tell us to stay home to stay safe from Covid-19,” said Rossmery Zayas, a community organizer. “But for us, home isn’t safe. There’s no escaping the contamination.” Kids are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, and once exposed, the effects on their development can be devastating, such as learning disabilities, fatigue and seizures. Lead poisoning can also cause premature births and slowed growth in toddlers. Yet with the exception of a single childcare center, between May 2018 and May 2020, the state toxic substances department had not cleaned any “childcare centers, parks, or schools”. The department said that about 10 remained to be cleaned. The California auditor blasted it for careless mistakes that “put the children and other at-risk individuals who spend time at these properties at unnecessary risk of the serious consequences of lead poisoning”. “This is the largest residential cleanup of its kind in California,” the toxic substances department told the Guardian in an email. “We have listened to the heartbreaking stories from residents of the communities surrounding Exide and know they are dealing with the negative impacts from contamination from nearly a century of smelting activity.” The department said it had implemented a handful of recommendations from the auditor’s report meant to speed up operations and allow for the expeditious decontamination of sensitive locations frequented by children. But residents and activists are unimpressed. Some worry that as officials clean individual parcels instead of cleaning up block by block, properties risk being recontaminated when the wind blows dust from properties that have yet to be cleaned on to those that have been. Johnston from USC also said it was “highly unlikely” that the 1.7-mile radius cleanup area accurately captured the full extent of Exide’s contamination. “I don’t believe that for a second,” said mark! Lopez, an organizer with East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. “But that’s the last thing the state wants to hear. They’re strapped for cash, and they want to put this behind them and move on. But we’ll still be living here with the effects.” The community’s morale was dealt yet another blow last year when a Delaware bankruptcy court ruled that Exide could walk away from the property without financing the remaining cleanup costs, despite the government’s assurances otherwise. It has left California taxpayers on the hook for the cleanup effort that could surpass $650m, a decision the state has vowed to fight. Residents are unanimous in their own verdict: disgust. “We were told Exide was going to pay to clean up its mess,” said Pastor John Moretta of Resurrection church in Boyle Heights. “But they’re getting off scot-free. We feel betrayed.”

Mass Poisoning

Mormon crickets devour crops, turn roads "blood red" - CNN

Mormon crickets devour crops, turn roads "blood red" A woman looks at a Mormon cricket on her house north of Reno, Nevada. You drive down the street and they pop like bubble wrap. -- Amy Nisbet, Nevada resident SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Reuters) -- Mormon crickets, the plague of the western United States, are on the march again, ravaging farms and turning roads "blood red." Farmer Duane Anderson said the bugs are at times so thick that he could kill 10 crickets with a single step on his 3,200-acre spread in Dog Valley about 100 miles south of Salt Lake City. Officials in Utah, Idaho and Nevada say this year's infestation may be the worst in recent history. The grasshopper-like insects have become a traffic hazard, rendering some hilly roads impassable as they become caked with crushed bug carcasses. During one recent drive in his truck, Anderson said he came upon a road that was "blood red from smashed crickets." But for Anderson and other farmers, the bigger concern is economic. Mormon crickets and grasshoppers have for six years in a row wreaked havoc in Utah and exacerbated the drought of nearly the same duration. "They've raised hell with my livelihood," said Anderson, 72, who has spent a lifetime farming in the state. He has already has lost 15 percent of his crops to this year's invasion. In recent years, due to lack of water and sparse crops he also has been forced to cut his herd of cows to 60 from 135. "Last year I had a total disaster. Nothing was green: the drought, and then the crickets," he said. Farm losses This year's cricket infestation already has caused $25 million in damages from lost crops in Utah, officials said. Last month, Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt declared a statewide agricultural disaster based on the triple-whammy of insect attack, drought and high winds. State officials said a single Mormon cricket, which is actually a katydid, during its lifetime can consume 38 pounds of plants -- targeting everything from sagebrush and weeds to alfalfa and vegetable crops. Utah has been afflicted by Mormon crickets and grasshoppers throughout its history, as many parts of the state are ideal breeding and hatching grounds. Mormon crickets were so dubbed after the chewing insects destroyed the crops of Utah's Mormon pioneers in 1848. According to state history, their unrelenting attack was finally shut down by thousands of sea gulls, which answered the religious settlers' prayers by consuming the crickets and sparing their crops. The crickets make their way across a Nevada road earlier in June. The insects, which cannot fly, vary in color from light green to red-brown and may grow to 2 to 3 inches in length. Ravenous adults can cover a mile a day and up to 50 miles in a single season, devouring everything in their migration path, according to the Grasshopper Hotline Web site operated by Utah State University and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. "It's a serious problem. The crickets eat in the field until it's bare and they they move on," said Jeff Banks, who advises farmers as part of Utah State University's Extension Agent Program.

Insect Disaster

Police Nab Would-Be Bank Robber in San Jose, Bomb Squad Responds

Police arrested a would-be bank robber in West San Jose on Saturday morning and called the bomb squad to the scene to check on a suspicious device the robber left behind, according to the police department. At about 9:35 a.m., officers responded to the Chase Bank branch in the 1700 block of Saratoga Avenue, near Westgate and El Paseo de Saratoga shopping centers, on reports of a robbery in progress, police said. Witnesses reported on social media the robber was armed, but police did not immediately confirm it was an armed robbery attempt. A suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and no injuries were reported, police said. SJPD's bomb squad responded to the scene to investigate a suspicious device the suspect left in the bank, police said. The bank was evacuated safely, and the device was later rendered safe. The bank is in one of the busiest areas of the city, with the two large shopping centers and several popular restaurants at the intersection of three main corridors: Saratoga Avenue, Lawrence Expressway and Prospect Road/Campbell Avenue.

Bank Robbery

At Least 110 Dead and More than 200 Missing After Brazil Dam Collapse (PHOTOS)

More than 200 people are still missing on Thursday after a mining dam collapsed in Brumadinho, Brazil, on Friday. Searches continue in the mud and debris left behind by the disaster. The death toll reached 110 on Thursday, local authorities said. Searches were halted on Sunday for about 10 hours amidst fears of a second dam failure. Around 24,000 people were evacuated near the dam site. (MORE: Brazilian Dam Collapse Search Continues)

Mine Collapses

Nottinghamshire gas blast victim, 75, returns home after 13 months

A 75-year-old man who was seriously injured when his cooker exploded has finally returned home after 13 months. Neville Westerman suffered severe burns to both hands in the gas explosion at his house in Beeston Rylands, Nottinghamshire, in December 2019. He spent three months in hospital before being moved to temporary accommodation while his house was made safe. Mr Westerman was cheered by neighbours as he moved back in on Tuesday. Banners were also put up and he was presented with his favourite cake. The accidental early morning blast knocked out windows and doors at the house. Following his discharge from hospital, Mr Westerman spent almost a year living in sheltered accommodation in Sandiacre before repairs were completed and he was given the green light to return. Arriving home, he said: "It's beautiful, fantastic. I've waited for this moment for a long time. "It's very nice to get back home after a year. To be honest, I was very lucky to survive." Neighbour Dave Fox said he had known Mr Westerman since his school days. "We wondered what had happened, but bless him," he said. "He's a character. Everybody knows Nev." Maria Ferrara, who lives in the house next door, said: "He keeps you happy. I missed him so much. I'm so glad he's come back."

Gas explosion

Alabama postpones Laughlin concert

LAUGHLIN — The legendary country music group Alabama has postponed its concert in Laughlin for a little more than a year. The band, in the middle of its heralded 50th Anniversary Tour, was scheduled to play Sunday at the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater at Harrah's Laughlin, a night after playing at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey's in Stateline, Nevada. Alabama announced on its website that both of those dates have been pushed to consecutive nights in 2022 — Stateline on Sept. 9 and Laughlin on Sept. 10. Postponement of the Lake Tahoe appearance comes as parts of that area are under evacuation orders because of the Caldor Fire, which is threatening South Lake Tahoe and likely will jump from the California side of the border into Nevada. “We've been advised by local officials that the fires are making conditions too unsafe for us to perform this Saturday and South Lake Tahoe is currently under evacuations in the area,” the band said on its website's tour listings. “We have worked with the casino to reschedule the date of Sept. 9, 2022.” No specific reason was given for the Laughlin postponement at a venue about 400 miles away from Tahoe. “Due to circumstances beyond our control, Alabama is postponing the show... to a new rescheduled date of Sept. 10, 2022.” For both Nevada shows, tickets already purchased will be honored on the new dates and refunds will be available for 30 days. “For all guests who have purchased tickets for the original concert this Sunday, their tickets will be honored at the rescheduled show,” said Barbie Greenwood, marketing communications/public relations manager for Harrah's Laughlin. ‘If they are unable to attend the new date, they will be able to request a refund at the point of purchase until Oct. 1, 2021.” The original concert had not been sold out; tickets still were available early Monday afternoon. Later in the day, ticket links began showing the new concert date next year. Alabama is scheduled to resume its tour in the Midwest, playing Sept. 16 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the following night in Oklahoma City before moving to Dayton, Ohio, on Sept. 24 and Pittsburgh on Sept. 25. The Nevada concerts aren't the first to be canceled by the popular group. The band has twice rescheduled a concert appearance with the Beach Boys in Wichita, Kansas. The original date of July 31, 2000, was postponed because of the COVID-19 precautions — many of the band's tour stops were postponed last year for that reason — and was rescheduled for March 27 of this year. It was postponed again and rescheduled for Feb. 12, 2022. Several other earlier dates in 2021 also have been rescheduled, mostly due to COVID-19 and public health concerns. The band also rescheduled more than 20 dates in 2019 — when the 50th Anniversary Tour actually began — because of health issues surrounding lead singer Randy Owen. Greenwood said there have been no other changes in the lineup of acts coming to the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater. “The next concert in the Rio Vista ... is Los Tigres Del Norte concert on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, followed by Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening on Friday, Oct. 22, and Justin Moore on Saturday, Nov. 6,” she said.

Organization Closed

1998 Ninglang earthquake

The 1998 Ninglang earthquake (1998年宁蒗地震) occurred on November 19 at 19:38 local time. The epicenter was near the border between the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, China. The United States Geological Survey stated that the epicenter was located in the Sichuan Province, while the China Earthquake Data Center provided a different location in Lanniqing Township (烂泥箐乡), Ninglang, Yunnan Province. The magnitude of the earthquake was put at Ms 6.2 and it caused five deaths, with 208 seriously injured in Yunnan and 20 people seriously injured in Sichuan. Building damage was reported in Ninglang, Yunnan and Yanyuan, Sichuan. [3][4] A dammed lake was formed by a landslide in the Lanniqing Township. [5] The earthquake occurred around the time of New Year Festival of the Yi people. [5] The lowest temperature in the mountainous area of Ninglang had dropped to about 0 °C at night. Around 30,000 people lived outside. The local government distributed tents and blankets in the earthquake stricken areas. [6] The Japanese government provided 200,000 US dollars. [7] The focal mechanism was of right-lateral strike-slip faulting in the NNW direction. The earthquake was preceded by prominent foreshocks, the largest of which occurred on October 2 at 12:49 UTC (20:49 local time) with a magnitude of Ms  5.3. The aftershocks were distributed in a belt in the NW direction. [8] Underground water anomalies were recorded before the earthquake. [9]

Earthquakes

Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic quits after receiving prison sentence for fraud

The manager of Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb has resigned after receiving a five year prison sentence for fraud on Monday. Zoran Mamic had been preparing his side for their Europa League round of 16 second leg tie with Tottenham but after confirmation of his sentence he immediately stepped down. He is to be replaced by assistant manager Damir Krznar, who will also serve as Dinamo's sporting director. "Although I don't feel guilty, I resign as I said before I would do if the sentence was confirmed," Mamic said in a statement. "I wish all the good luck to the club." Dinamo will be attempting to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit to Tottenham at the Stadion Maksimir on Thursday. Mamic and his brother Zdravko were handed jail sentences in 2018 after being found guilty of siphoning off millions in transfer fees from Dinamo. An appeal to Croatia's supreme court saw the length of his sentence reduced by three months but he will still have to serve a jail term of four years and eight months. The trial of the Mamic brothers, club director Damir Vrbanovic and tax inspector Milan Pernar drew public interest across Europe in 2018 with former players Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren called to testify in the case. The quartet were charged with diverting 116m Croatian kuna ($18.3million) in transfer fees to themselves while also evading taxes. "The Supreme Court has confirmed the Osijek Municipal Court's verdict sentencing Zdravko Mamic to six and a half years of imprisonment for the embezzlement of 116 million kuna ($18.26 million) from Dinamo football club," said a statement released by Croatian state broadcaster HRT. "Zoran Mamic's sentence has been reduced to four years and eight months from four years and 11 months, while Milan Pernar had his sentence reduced to three years and two months from four years and two months." The international break was once again a mixed bag for the United States men's national team. They had an epic 2-0 over heated rivals Mexico and then a drab 1-1 draw away at Jamaica. To break it all down CBS Sports analysts Roger Gonzalez, Chuck Booth and Mike Goodman take a look at the good and the bad from the past two matches. Michael Goodman: Alright, another international break has come and gone. In some ways it felt like a microcosm of the United States men's national team experience. There was the incredible high of the second half against Mexico followed by the grinding mediocrity of an away draw in Jamaica. So I guess the place to start here is, what should we take away from these two games? Should we focus on beating Mexico for the third time in a calendar year? Is that indicative of a team turning the corner and heading in the right direction? Or is this just another case of two steps forward and one step back? Chuck Booth: I think this break should be summed up as getting the amount of points expected but in the wrong order. If you told me ahead of time that the USMNT would pick up four points playing Mexico and Jamaica I'd take it and run. But as you'd assume that the draw would have been vs. Mexico, it's fair to feel a little disappointed not collecting six points. Roger Gonzalez: I'm convinced it was a step forward. How could it not be when you had the team's most convincing performance under Berhalter in the 2-0 win over Mexico? The result at Jamaica isn't a step back as winning on the road, especially in Concacaf, is so challenging. A point on the road anywhere at this stage is something to be excited about, even if the play isn't all that great. I think the results have put this team on a sure path to the 2022 World Cup, and they've handled some massive challenges along the way. They still have to go to Mexico and Costa Rica, but USMNT fans can feel confident in them qualifying. Craving even more coverage of the world's game? Listen below and follow ¡Qué Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more. MG: I think this kind of gets at the heart of the question here. From a qualification standpoint it's hard to be upset with where this team is right now. It's going to be very hard to mess up enough over the last six matches not to qualify for Qatar. But I think if we're talking about just the performance on the field it's trickier. Like part of what makes the Jamaica match so frustrating is that it comes right after we have that second half against Mexico that shows just how dominant this team can be sometimes. And I guess part of this then gets down to individual players and tactics. This window the U.S. didn't get much of anything (barring a nice touch to set up Tim Weah's goal against Jamaica) out of Ricardo Pepi, a far cry from earlier this cycle when his clutch goals really rescued this team. He's only 18, so there are ups and downs to be expected. But is part of the inconsistency of the United States right now that they're relying pretty exclusively on him, at such a young age, to lead the attack. Should the side be looking at the broader set of options available? CB: Yes and no haha. While Pepi didn't have a great second half, it also isn't his fault that he was isolated due to the midfield not being able to play through Jamaica's defensive setup. The elephant in the room is that without a midfield that includes both Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, the team can't create much. Adams needs space to turn and use his excellent vision to set up others but without driving runs from McKennie, teams can collapse on him. This isn't to say that Yunus Musah and Gianluca Busio won't be able to be helpful in that role soon, but McKennie is irreplaceable to this team at the moment. It doesn't matter who is up top if no one can help them get the ball in space. RG: Yeah, I think Pepi's fine. It's true he hasn't scored a goal in over a month, and if he isn't called up to the team in December, or if he is and doesn't score, then he could be looking at a three-month goal drought entering the Jan. 27 game with El Salvador. That's not ideal, but it isn't something to worry about. I think he's continuing to do the little things well, and his passing has been quality as we saw with the assist to Weah against Jamaica. He's the No. 9 and is expected to score goals, but we have to remember he is young, inexperienced and has a lot of room to grow. I think, up to this point, Berhalter has to be thrilled with what he's seen, even though the statistics might not jump out. MG: So, I definitely think optimism around Pepi long-term is warranted, but I also do wonder if the USMNT just has too much attacking talent to keep carrying Pepi given his limited ability to influence the match elsewhere on the field. If the U.S. can't get him the ball, there are other players who might work as strikers and could allow the side to cram more attacking talent on the field. In both matches this break Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah started as wingers. They've both spent some time with their club teams at striker, and I wonder if it might be worth trying to give them a spin in the middle at a national team level. At some point there's just a question of how do you get all the attacking (but not necessarily naturally striker) talent on the field. Christian Pulisic came back this window and reminded us how important he is to the team, but we're still waiting on Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna. With Weah and Aaronson's emergence, is Reyna even still a guy we'd automatically slot in on the wing over them? CB: This is a good problem to have with four wingers who all deserve to start but a healthy Pulisic and Reyna are still first choice. I'd wonder if Gregg Berhalter will either fiddle with Weah up top even though he has been more of a winger than a center-forward this year or play Reyna or Aaronson centrally. If it comes down to it though, Weah would be the most likely player to be benched of the four due to his ability to change the pace of a game as a substitute similar to what Pulisic did against Mexico. RG: I think Reyna's the most talented player in the pool and a top talent, even more so than Pulisic. So, for me, he will rank as the top attacking player on this team, but that's in terms of potential. He has to stay healthy and contribute to play ahead of, say, a red-hot Tim Weah. I think Reyna can be, truly, a dominant attacking midfielder. Berhalter likes to put him on the right, but right now he is firmly behind Weah due to the Lille man's recent performances. Now, that's not to say Reyna doesn't return to the starting lineup in January. We all thought Matt Turner had won the goalkeeper job, after all. MG: Turner vs. Zack Steffen is an argument I just don't have the fortitude to weigh in on, though I do have another personnel question in defense. It was interesting to me that Joe Scally didn't crack the field at right back with Dest out. Yedlin is the steady-handed vet at this point, and he was understandably trusted against Mexico, but was it a missed opportunity not to rotate him in and get him some minutes against Jamaica? CB: I'd say yes. While you understand that Berhalter was trying to avoid a repeat of Panama with a young team losing after changing half the lineup it was clear pretty early that good Yedlin didn't make the trip to Kingston. Yedlin had a strong performance against Mexico and you don't want to change too much of the backline at once, so starting made sense. But when there was a need for anyone to push the ball forward to free Weah and Pepi, Scally should've been the second player called on after Pulisic. While we can't be a fly on the wall in training to see how Scally did in this camp, following impressive Bundesliga appearances this feels like a missed opportunity. MG: It does seem like we've kind of landed in a pretty good place here, much like the USMNT. The team is in good shape, but they aren't the finished product. To the extent they have problems, they're mostly about having a lot of talent and needing to figure out how to fit it all together. Do that and you get a lot more performances like the one against Mexico, and a legitimately high level competitive international team. Fail? Well, we all saw what sitting through that Jamaica match looked like.

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Sentence

Kaylee McKeown secures 100m backstroke gold for Australia at Tokyo Olympics

Kaylee McKeown of Team Australia poses with the gold medal after winning the Women's 100m Backstroke Final on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.   -  GETTY IMAGES Australia's Kaylee McKeown set a new Olympic record to win the women's 100m backstroke gold medal on Tuesday, upsetting arch-rival Regan Smith. The 20-year-old touched in 57.47sec, fractionally outside her own world record, with Canada's Kylie Masse, the Rio bronze medallist, second in 57.72 and American Smith third in 58.05. "My legs were definitely hurting in the last 20," said an ecstatic McKeown. "I'm sure it would have been pretty noticeable on the TV, but I trained for that, and I knew that I had a really strong back end and a really good chance to be on the podium." RELATED| Olympic triathlon: Duffy wins first gold for Bermuda as Britain’s Taylor-Brown gets silver Masse turned first at 50m with McKeown third, but the Australian powerfully brought it home. McKeown had a tough lead-up to the Games, with her father dying last year from brain cancer. But she used his memory as inspiration to swim a sensational race and smash Smith's world record at the Australian trials last month. "It's not necessarily what I've been through," she said. "Everyone has a journey of their own, and it just so happens that mine's been a really tough one. RELATED| Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 4: List of Gold medallists "I wouldn't have it any other way because I don't think I'd be where I am today without all that happening." She is also targeting the 200m backstroke gold, having recently set the fourth quickest time in history.

Break historical records

2002 Northern Chile floods and mudflow

The 2002 Northern Chile floods and mudflow were a series of flash floods and mudflows that affected north-central Chile in early June 2002. [1] The floods and mudflows were the result of heavy rains in the area. Overall 17 human casualties can be attributed to the rainfalls. [2] Among the casualties, there were twelve direct deaths, four indirect deaths and one disappearance. [2] The Locality of Los Molles was particularly badly affected. [1][2] According to National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (ONEMI) 71 and 347 houses were destroyed in Coquimbo and Valparaíso regions respectively. [2]

Floods

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington, United States, with an intermediate stop at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California. On January 31, 2000, the aircraft operating the route, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, crashed into the Pacific Ocean roughly 2.7 miles (4.3 km; 2.3 nmi) north of Anacapa Island, California, following a catastrophic loss of pitch control. The accident killed all 88 on board: two pilots, three cabin crew members, and 83 passengers. The subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that inadequate maintenance led to excessive wear and eventual failure of a critical flight control system during flight. The probable cause was stated to be "a loss of airplane pitch control resulting from the in-flight failure of the horizontal stabilizer trim system jackscrew assembly's trapezoidal nut threads. The thread failure was caused by excessive wear resulting from Alaska Airlines' insufficient lubrication of the jackscrew assembly." The aircraft involved in the accident was a McDonnell-Douglas MD-83, serial number 53077, and registered as N963AS. The aircraft was the 1995th DC-9/MD80 family airframe built,[2] was manufactured and delivered new to Alaska Airlines in 1992 and had logged 26,584 flight hours and 14,315 cycles before the crash. [3][4] The pilots of Flight 261 were both highly experienced aviators. [5] Captain Edward "Ted" Thompson, 53, had accrued 17,750 flight hours, and had more than 4,000 hours experience flying MD-80s. [1]:10–11 First Officer William "Bill" Tansky, 57, had accumulated 8,140 total flight hours, including about 8,060 hours as first officer in the MD-80. [1]:11 Neither pilot had been involved in an accident or incident prior to the crash. [1] Three Seattle-based flight attendants were on board. [6] The three flight attendants and 47 of the passengers on board the plane were bound for Seattle. [7] 32 passengers were traveling to San Francisco; three were bound for Eugene, Oregon; and three passengers were headed for Fairbanks, Alaska. [8] Of the passengers, one was Mexican and one was British, with all others being American citizens. [9] At least 35 occupants of Flight 261 were connected in some manner with Alaska Airlines or its sister carrier Horizon Air, including 12 actual employees,[10] leading many of the airline's personnel to mourn for those lost in the crash. [11] Alaska Airlines stated that on less busy flights, employees commonly filled seats that would otherwise have been left empty. Bouquets of flowers started arriving at the company's headquarters in SeaTac, Washington, the day after the crash. [12] Alaska Airlines Flight 261 departed from Puerto Vallarta's Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport at 13:37 PST (21:37 UTC), and climbed to its intended cruising altitude of flight level 310 (31,000 ft or 9,400 m). The plane was scheduled to land at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Some time before 15:49 (23:49 UTC), the flight crew contacted the airline's dispatch and maintenance-control facilities in SeaTac, Washington, on a company radio frequency shared with operations and maintenance facilities at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), to discuss a jammed horizontal stabilizer and a possible diversion to LAX. The jammed stabilizer prevented operation of the trim system, which would normally make slight adjustments to the flight control surfaces to keep the plane stable in flight. At their cruising altitude and speed, the position of the jammed stabilizer required the pilots to pull on their yokes with about 10 lb (44 N) of force to keep level. Neither the flight crew, nor company maintenance, could determine the cause of the jam. Repeated attempts to overcome the jam with the primary and alternate trim systems were unsuccessful. [1] During this time, the flight crew had several discussions with the company dispatcher about whether to divert to LAX, or continue on as planned to SFO. Ultimately, the pilots chose to divert. Later, the NTSB found that while "the flight crew's decision to divert the flight to Los Angeles [...] was prudent and appropriate", "Alaska Airlines dispatch personnel appear to have attempted to influence the flight crew to continue to San Francisco [...] instead of diverting to Los Angeles". Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcripts indicate that the dispatcher was concerned about the effect on the schedule ("flow"), should the flight divert. [1]:195–197 At 16:09 (00:09 UTC), the flight crew successfully unjammed the horizontal stabilizer with the primary trim system. Upon being freed, though, it quickly moved to an extreme "nose-down" position, forcing the aircraft into an almost vertical nosedive. The plane dropped from about 31,500 ft (9,600 m) to between 23,000 and 24,000 ft (7,000 and 7,300 m) in around 80 seconds. Both pilots struggled together to regain control of the aircraft, and only by pulling with 130 to 140 lb (580 to 620 N) on the controls did the flight crew stop the 6,000 ft/min (1,800 m/min) descent of the aircraft and stabilize the MD-83 at roughly 24,400 ft (7,400 m). [1] Alaska 261 informed air traffic control (ATC) of their control problems. After the flight crew stated their intention to land at LAX, ATC asked whether they wanted to proceed to a lower altitude in preparation for approach. [1] The captain replied: "I need to get down to about ten, change my configuration, make sure I can control the jet and I'd like to do that out here over the bay if I may. "[1]:8 Later, during the public hearings into the accident, the request by the pilot not to overfly populated areas was mentioned. [16]:6–9 During this time, the flight crew considered, and rejected, any further attempts to correct the runaway trim. They descended to a lower altitude and started to configure the aircraft for landing at LAX. [1] Beginning at 16:19 (00:19 UTC), the CVR recorded the sounds of at least four distinct "thumps", followed 17 seconds later by an "extremely loud noise", as the overstrained jackscrew assembly failed completely and the jackscrew separated from the acme nut holding it in place. As a result, the horizontal stabilizer failed, and the aircraft rapidly pitched over into a dive. [1] The crippled plane had been given a block altitude,[17] and several aircraft in the vicinity had been alerted by ATC to maintain visual contact with the stricken jet. These aircraft immediately contacted the controller. [18] One pilot radioed, "That plane has just started to do a big huge plunge." Another reported, "Yes sir, ah, I concur. He is, uh, definitely in a nose down, uh, position, descending quite rapidly. "[18] ATC then tried to contact the plane. The crew of a SkyWest airliner reported, "He's, uh, definitely out of control. "[18] Although the CVR captured the co-pilot saying, "mayday", no radio communications were received from the flight crew during the final event.

Air crash

1991 Sierra Madre earthquake

The 1991 Sierra Madre earthquake occurred on June 28 at 07:43:55 local time with a moment magnitude of 5.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The thrust earthquake resulted in two deaths, around 100 injuries, and damage estimated at $33.5–40 million. The event occurred beneath the San Gabriel Mountains on the Clamshell–Sawpit Fault, which is a part of the Sierra Madre–Cucamonga Fault System. Instruments captured the event at a number of strong motion stations in Southern California. Due to its history of generating great earthquakes (1857, 1906) the focal point of earthquake hazard assessment in California has been the strike-slip San Andreas System of faults. However, a system of faults, including the Sierra Madre–Cucamonga Fault System that runs along the border of the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys, has also caused a series of moderate to large events in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The westernmost portion of this fault system ruptured in 1971 and has been identified as one of six major fault systems that pose a threat to the highly populated region. [6] Geodetic research has shown that crustal shortening is occurring in the region of the Transverse Ranges at a rate of 0.33 inches (8.5 mm) per year. Although a number of earthquakes have occurred in the Los Angeles area since 1971, the rate of moderate events since then may not be typical, and few large events have occurred since records have been kept. The rate of contraction and too few moderate events that have occurred indicated to researchers that a deficit of seismic energy release exists, and that larger, but less frequent events may also contribute to the release of strain accumulation. [6] To the west of the San Andreas Fault, the southern edge of the Transverse Ranges has been in a state of contraction during the Quaternary Period, with active reverse faulting that has uplifted San Gabriel Mountains. The west-striking (and range-bounding) Sierra Madre–Cucamonga Faults, as well as the San Cayetano Fault and Santa Susana Faults all exhibit a component of left-lateral strike-slip motion and share a similar trend. [7] The Malibu Coast–Santa Monica Fault lies at the southern flank of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Raymond Fault runs to the south of the Verdugo Mountains and meets the San Gabriel Mountains at Monrovia. The Clamshell–Sawpit Fault lies beneath the San Gabriel Mountains inline with the Raymond Fault. The characteristics of the various faults are difficult to interpret, but they all dip steeply to the north with several thousand feet of displacement. [7] The shock occurred on June 28, 1991, at 07:43:55 local time, and was the result of thrust faulting on the Clamshell–Sawpit Fault at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Mountains. At less than 0.39 in (1 cm), the total amount of uplift was very minimal, considering the 6 ft 7 in (2 m) of vertical displacement that was observed during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The uplift initiated about two million years ago, and is a result of the convergence of the Pacific and North American Plates near the restraining bend of the San Andreas Fault. [8] The earthquake was felt from Santa Barbara in the north, to Palm Springs in the east, and south to the Mexico–United States border. It was centered about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) northeast of Sierra Madre. Hundreds of homes were damaged and at least three roads leading up to Mount Wilson were blocked by landslides. A woman was killed when a steel beam fell at the Santa Anita Park raceway in Arcadia and another woman died as a result of a heart attack in Glendale. [5] Also in Arcadia, a Motel 6 was badly damaged. Other structural damage resulted from the shock. For example, both Monrovia and Pasadena each had more than a dozen buildings that were uninhabitable, but for the most part damage was limited to cracked plaster and broken windows. The Pasadena City Hall had moderate damage consisting of a cracked wall, dislodged marble barriers in the restrooms, and an offset dome. In Sierra Madre, four apartment buildings and nine homes were also tagged as uninhabitable. Of the more than 100 injuries that were reported in Arcadia, Pasadena, Glendale, and Sierra Madre, most were cuts, bruises, and sprains, but some serious injuries also occurred. [5] With an area of perceptibility of around 58,500 km2, the shock was felt from Santa Barbara and Bakersfield to San Diego, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. This is about half the felt area that was seen during the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, which was felt over an area of 110,000 km2. The maximum intensity observed in the urban areas that were affected was VII (Very strong), but the intensity in the epicentral area is unknown because of its remote location in the mountainous Angeles National Forest, though rock slides and landslides occurred there as a result of strong shaking. Intensity VI (Strong) effects were observed over 1,100 km2, from Altadena and La Verne along the base of the mountains, to East Los Angeles. [9] The California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP) obtained 120 records from 48 ground response stations, 38 buildings, six dams, an airport control tower, and a power station. The individual stations that reported were as close as 2.5 miles (4 km) (Cogswell Dam) to as far as 50 miles (80 km) (Neenach), but most were within 40 km (25 mi). In downtown Pasadena, accelerations of .20g were measured at the bottom floor of three buildings, but the duration of strong motion was only about two seconds. At the Altadena station (8.1 mi (13 km) from the epicenter) .46g was recorded. The Cogswell Dam station recorded a peak horizontal acceleration of .58g, but no major damage occurred. [4] Although the long term slip rate of the constituent faults that make up the Sierra Madre Fault Zone are not precisely known, several studies have put forth scenarios for possible future activity. Two independent reports suggested that if the complete (62 mi (100 km)) fault system were to rupture, it could result in a Ms 7.7 shock similar to the 1952 Kern County earthquake. One researcher stated that the recurrence interval for such an event would be greater than 5,000 years. Another proposal was for one of the seven individual segments to rupture in a M6.4–6.6 event, comparable with the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The recurrence interval for this type of event was placed at 200 years. [8]

Earthquakes

Partial solar eclipse to darken Irish skies

People in the southeast of the country look set to have the best opportunity to witness a rare solar event tomorrow morning. A Partial Solar Eclipse, where almost half of the Sun's diameter is covered, will occur, and will be the deepest partial eclipse since 20 March 2015. According to Astronomy Ireland, there will not be a deeper partial solar eclipse from Ireland until 29 March 2025. Editor of Astronomy Ireland magazine David Moore said that although Ireland is a long way from the centre line of the Annular Eclipse, if skies are clear tomorrow, people should get a chance to see "this extremely rare natural spectacle". Eclipses happen once or twice every year around the world, but are often only visible in very inaccessible remote places. "The good news for Ireland is that the eclipse will be high in the sky, about 50 degrees up in the southeast," said Mr Moore. He said the eclipse will begin just before 10am, with the "first bite" being taken out of the Sun, and it should end just before 12.30pm. The maximum eclipse will occur a few minutes after 11am where people in Donegal may see up to 45% of the Sun’s diameter being covered, while people in other places around Ireland will see at least 40% of the Sun covered. Ireland's last Total Solar Eclipse was in 1724, with the next one not due until 23 September 2090. If you are planning to check the skies tomorrow morning, remember you must never look directly at the sun, either with the naked eye or with devices such as telescopes or binoculars, as it can severely damage your eyes. There are some safe ways to view the eclipse, however, including CE approved special eclipse viewers, which have filters on them that protect the eyes from the harmful effects of the Sun. A simple pinhole projector, made with a piece of card or stiff paper, will also work. Punch a hole in the card and hold this in front of a second piece of paper and the image of the Sun will be projected through the hole onto the second piece of paper, keeping your eyes safe. Alternatively, there will be many viewing events, including one by Astronomy Ireland, which plans to livestream the eclipse. Researchers at I-LOFAR in Birr Castle Demesne, Co Offaly and DIAS Dunsink Observatory in Dublin will have solar telescopes with cameras set up at both locations and will be also be live streaming the event. Met Éireann is forecasting a warm and humid day tomorrow, with cloudy conditions in the western half of the country.

New wonders in nature

2009 Karonga earthquakes

The 2009 Karonga earthquakes occurred near Karonga, Malawi in December 2009 near the northern tip of Lake Malawi in southeast Africa. Over 1000 houses collapsed, 4 people were killed and 300 people were wounded in this earthquake sequence. [5] The majority of the building collapse was caused by liquefaction that occurred within a shallow layer of saturated unconsolidated lake sediments along the shoreline. [6] The locations of ground damage and liquefaction align with the fault that ruptured the earthquake. [6] The 6.0 earthquake could also be felt in Tanzania and Zambia. [7] Being in the southern East African Rift, the 100 km-long Livingstone Fault marks the limit of the Karonga Basin. The earthquakes, located at about 50 km west of the Livingstone Fault, occurred along previously unknown buried faults beneath the Quaternary unconsolidated sediments. Satellite-based geophysical investigations indicated that one of the west dipping faults which cut the Karonga Basin might have ruptured during the earthquakes. [8][9] The studies also estimated a maximum slip of about 120 cm at 3–5 km depth with no evidence of dike-injection related activity associated with many earthquakes in Eastern Africa. [9] Another study utilized aeromagnetic data to image the basement structure around the rupture area and found that multiple buried faults ruptured during the earthquake among which are the St. Mary Fault (extending over 37 km in length) and the Kaporo Fault which is 36 km long and is buried beneath Lake Malawi. [10] Scientists have proposed that the dominance of seismicity in this part of northern Malawi may be due to the presence of pre-existing planes of weakness in the basement rocks that are favorably oriented to the tectonic stress field of the East African Rift. [10]

Earthquakes

Man dies in horror Kwinana Freeway crash near Nambeelup

A man has died and a woman is seriously injured after a horror rollover on the Kwinana Freeway last night. The man was with a woman and two children travelling in a white Nissan X-Trail southbound near Pinjarra Road in Nambeelup when the car smashed into a steel barrier about 6.50pm. The 34-year-old man died at the scene while a 27-year-old woman in the front passenger seat was flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition. Two children — a six-year-old and a five-year-old girl — were taken to Perth Children’s Hospital. Both children are believed to have non life-threatening injuries. About 40km away in Atwell, another crash saw the left lane of Kwinana Freeway southbound closed from Lakes Road to Pinjarra Road and the right lane of Russell Road westbound.

Road Crash

Firework throwing yob hunted by cops after Grangemouth residents hear 'explosion'

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may access more detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse consenting. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at any time by returning to this site or visit our privacy policy. The incident left many people who live nearby concerned there had been a massive blast. Residents in Grangemouth have been reassured by police that the sound of an 'explosion' on Monday evening was actually a firework. Worried locals had reported the sound of a blast at around 8:15pm on Monday September, 20, after a huge bang caused home windows to vibrate in the Westerton Road and Strowan Road areas. Police have confirmed a rocket was thrown in the direction of Calor Gas, within Abbotsinch Industrial Estate. An investigation has been launched into the incident which is being treated as reckless conduct Falkirk Live brings you the latest headlines from Falkirk and beyond. But did you know all the ways you can stay informed with us? We share live news and exclusive scoops every day so make sure you're following us so we can keep you informed on all things Falkirk! Officers carried out door-to-door enquiries in recent days and discovered the item was let off in Inchyra Park. No arrests have been made at this stage. One person posted on Facebook: "WTF was that noise, it was like an explosion, my windows actually rattled." Another said: "That was some bang there, I felt the vibration go through me." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 9pm on Monday, 20 September, 2021, a firework was let off in the Inchyra Park area of Grangemouth.

Gas explosion

US decides to withdraw from the UNESCO

“On October 12, 2017, the Department of State notified UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova of the U.S. decision to withdraw from the organization and to seek to establish a permanent observer mission to UNESCO. This decision was not taken lightly and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO. The U.S. will officially withdraw at the end of 2018 but would like to remain as a nonmember observer state. State Department Updates Travel Advisories for Handful of... COVID Restrictions Close Some European Christmas Markets,... Will Inflation Impact Your Upcoming Travel Plans? According to the State Department, the U.S. would like to continue to “contribute U.S. views, perspectives and expertise on some of the important issues undertaken by the organization, including the protection of world heritage, advocating for press freedoms, and promoting scientific collaboration and education.” UNESCO is well known by travelers for the heritage sites and reserves it protects around the world but the organization's mission has a broader scope that includes fostering and maintaining intellectual solidarity. The U.S. stopped its UNESCO funding when the organization voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. Currently, the U.S. owes $550 million to UNESCO since that time. Its withdrawal will halt the growing funding bill. Following the U.S. pullout from UNESCO, Israel followed suit. Isreal has complained over the years that the organization was inserting itself into international relations and taking sides on the issue of Palestine. “Today is a new day at the U.N., where there is a price to pay for discrimination against Israel,” Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said to Reuters. UNESCO responded with its own statement in which Bokova said: “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. This is a loss to the United Nations family. This is a loss for multilateralism.” READ MORE: 6 German Caves Receive World Heritage Status Even though the U.S. has been with UNESCO since its inception, it has had a long history of disputes with the organization mostly having to do with its recognition of Israel. The most recent conflict occurred this year when UNESCO recognized the city of Hebron, but included it for Palestine and not Israel. At the time, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called the decision “another delusional decision by UNESCO.” Whether or not the decision will affect U.S. sites protected by UNESCO remains to be seen. In 2015, Philadelphia was named the first UNESCO World Heritage City in the U.S. According to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the city’s mayor said the city was “disappointed by the decision” and that officials were trying to determine what will happen to Philly’s status as a World Heritage City. Other sites protected by UNESCO in the U.S. include popularly landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall and the San Antonio Missions. Natural landmarks include the Grand Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Yellowstone, Yosemite and more. Overall, there are more than 20 UNESCO sites in the U.S.

Withdraw from an Organization

Eastern Air Lines Flight 21 crash

Eastern Air Lines Flight 21, registration NC28394, was a Douglas DC-3 aircraft that crashed while preparing to land at Candler Field (now Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 26, 1941. Eight of the 16 on board were killed, including Maryland Congressman William D. Byron. [1] Among the injured was Eastern Air Lines president and World War I hero Eddie Rickenbacker. Flight 21 departed New York City's LaGuardia Airport on the evening of February 26, stopping briefly at Washington Hoover Airport before departing at 9:05 PM Eastern Time for Atlanta. After Atlanta, it was scheduled to stop at New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, before ending its trip at Brownsville, Texas, on the morning of the 27th. At 11:38 PM Central Time,[2] the aircraft called the Eastern Air Lines operator in Atlanta[3] to advise that it had passed over the Stone Mountain reporting point and was descending. The operator provided the pilots with the altimeter setting for Candler Field and with the current weather. Flight 21 then contacted the Atlanta control tower twice, first to advise that it was making an approach and then to advise that the aircraft was over the Atlanta range station two miles southeast of the airport at an altitude of 1,800 feet (550 m). [4] Eastern's company operator then contacted the flight to suggest a straight-in approach; the aircraft acknowledged the transmission, but nothing further was heard. The wreckage was found in a pine grove five miles southeast of the Atlanta Range station just after 6:30 AM. Rescuers found a number of survivors still alive in the wreckage, including Eastern Air Lines President Eddie Rickenbacker, who had suffered a dented skull, other head injuries, shattered left elbow and crushed nerve, paralyzed left hand, several broken ribs, a crushed hip socket, twice-broken pelvis, severed nerve in his left hip, and a broken left knee. Most shocking, his left eyeball was expelled from the socket. He recovered from these after months in the hospital, and regained full eyesight. Investigators with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the predecessor of the NTSB, determined from the evidence at the site and the survivors' testimony that the aircraft had first struck the tops of three small pine trees while the aircraft was flying in a northerly direction. The lowest tree was struck at an elevation of 915 feet (279 m) above sea level. Flight 21 then apparently continued across a small valley in the same direction in level flight for about 1,500 feet (460 m) before the right wing tip struck the top of a poplar and the aircraft crashed into a thick grove of pine trees. Captain Rickenbacker testified that he first felt a slight bump. At that point, he jumped from his seat and started to move toward the rear of the aircraft, but the aircraft crashed and he was thrown from his feet. At the time of the accident, it was standard practice for an air carrier aircraft to have two altimeters; one set to sea level air pressure (as expressed in inches of mercury) and referred to during en route flight, and one used for instrument approaches and set to the air pressure of the airport the aircraft was about to land at. In this case, the instrument approach altimeter was found after the crash to be set to 29.92 inches of mercury. However, the altimeter setting at Candler Field on the morning of February 26 was 28.94. This setting had been transmitted to the aircraft by Eastern Air Lines's company operator at 11:38 PM and acknowledged by one of the pilots, but the approach altimeter apparently had been set incorrectly. Although the setting could have been disturbed in the crash, as seems to have happened to the en-route altimeter, the error in the setting was almost exactly one inch of mercury. This would correspond to the difference between the aircraft's actual altitude at the time of the crash and the altitude it should have had during a normal instrument approach. The CAB issued the following statement as to probable cause: On the basis of the foregoing findings and the entire record available to us at this time, we find that the probable cause of the accident to NC 28394 (Eastern Air Lines Trip 21) on February 26, 1941, was the failure of the captain in charge of the flight to exercise the proper degree of care by not checking his altimeters to determine whether both were correctly set and properly functioning before commencing his landing approach. A substantial contributing factor was the absence of an established uniform cockpit procedure on Eastern Air Lines by which both the captain and pilot are required to make a complete check of the controls and instruments during landing operations.

Air crash

Shōwa financial crisis

The Shōwa Financial Crisis (昭和金融恐慌, Shōwa Kin'yū Kyōkō) was a financial panic in 1927, during the first year of the reign of Emperor Hirohito of Japan, and was a foretaste of the Great Depression. It brought down the government of Prime Minister Wakatsuki Reijirō and led to the domination of the zaibatsu over the Japanese banking industry. The Shōwa Financial Crisis occurred after the post–World War I business boom in Japan. Many companies invested heavily in increased production capacity in what proved to be an economic bubble. The post-1920 economic slowdown and the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923 caused an economic depression, which led to the failures of many businesses. The government intervened through the Bank of Japan by issuing discounted "earthquake bonds" to overextended banks. In January 1927, when the government proposed to redeem these bonds, rumor spread that the banks holding these bonds would go bankrupt. In the ensuing bank run, 37 banks throughout Japan (including the Bank of Taiwan), and the second-tier zaibatsu Suzuki Shoten, went under. Prime Minister Wakatsuki attempted to have an emergency decree issued to allow the Bank of Japan to extend emergency loans to save these banks, but his request was denied by the Privy Council and he was forced to resign. Wakatsuki was succeeded by Prime Minister Tanaka Giichi, who managed to control the situation with a three-week bank holiday and the issuance of emergency loans; however, as a result of the collapse of many smaller banks, the large financial branches of the five great zaibatsu houses were able to dominate Japanese finances until the end of World War II.

Financial Crisis

Alitalia Flight 618 crash

The crash of Alitalia Flight 618 was an accident involving a Douglas DC-7C of the Italian airline Alitalia in Shannon, Ireland, on 26 February 1960. Of the 52 people on board, only 18 survived with serious injuries. [1] On the morning of 26 February 1960, Flight 618 arrived at its first stopover at Shannon Airport for refueling in order to continue its journey across the Atlantic, while under the supervision of a check pilot. The flight had been given permission to takeoff from runway 05 with a clear but still dark and partially overcast sky just 45 minutes after its initial arrival. Takeoff proceeded without issue and the crew retracted the gear before making a left turn when the aircraft had climbed to a height of 165 ft (50 m) with the landing lights still on. While turning, the aircraft's power was reduced slightly but the flaps were never fully retracted. Instead of climbing, the airliner only accelerated and lost altitude very quickly. The pilots were unable to prevent the left wing tip from striking a stone wall near the Clonloghan church followed by the left engines and the rest of the wing which also struck several gravestones of the surrounding cemetery. At this point the aircraft's fate was sealed and after the propellers of the right engine also scraped past the wall, the out of control aircraft slammed into the ground in an open field beyond the cemetery and burst into flames. [2] The post-crash fire quickly engulfed the aircraft and badly burned most of the survivors, as locals and rescue workers arrived at the scene. The fire gutted the wreckage, leaving the tail section as the only recognizable part left of the aircraft. The crash also took its toll on the passengers and crew on board, with only a single crew member surviving the crash alongside 17 passengers, who were all seriously injured. [3] The Douglas DC-7C involved, I-DUVO (msn 45231) was built in 1958 and was used by Alitalia from 1958 until its destruction in 1960. [4] The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire with the wreckage being documented on film and by photography. An investigation of the accident revealed the aircraft speed at impact as between 170 and 180 knots. Investigators failed to find any evidence pointing to the cause of the crash. [1]

Air crash

Cheapside Street whisky bond fire

The Cheapside Street whisky bond fire in Glasgow on 28 March 1960 was Britain's worst peacetime fire services disaster. The fire at a whisky bond killed 14 fire service and 5 salvage corps personnel. This fire was overshadowed only by a similar fire in James Watt Street (also in Glasgow) on 19 November 1968, when 22 people died. On the evening of 28 March 1960, a fire started in a bonded warehouse owned by Arbuckle, Smith and Company in Cheapside Street, Anderston, Glasgow. The Glasgow Fire Service was initially alerted by a 999 call at 7:15 pm from the foreman of the Eldorado Ice Cream Company, which was near the whisky bond. He reported smoke coming from a second floor window of the warehouse. In response, two pumps from West Station with Sub Officer James Calder in charge were sent, along with a turntable ladder from Central Station. Also responding initially was the fire boat St Mungo and a salvage tender and crew from the Glasgow Salvage Corps. The first fire crews arrived at 7:21 pm and after a quick reconnaissance three more pumps were requested to attend. Crews were informed by civilians that smoke and flame had been seen on the Warroch Street side of the building and additional crews and equipment were sent to investigate. Assistant Firemaster Swanson had now arrived on the scene and having been fully apprised of the situation increased the number of pumps (fire engines) to eight. This message was sent at 7:49 pm. Seconds after it was transmitted, an explosion occurred. The warehouse contained over a million gallons of whisky held in 21,000 wooden casks,[1] and 30,000 gallons of rum. As the temperature of the fire increased, some of these casks ruptured, causing a massive boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE) that burst the front and rear walls of the building outwards causing large quantities of masonry to collapse into the street. This collapse instantly killed three firemen in Cheapside Street as well as 11 firemen and five salvagemen who were battling the blaze from the rear of the building in Warroch Street. By 8:12 pm, Firemaster Chadwick assumed command and upgraded the incident to twenty pumps. At its peak, thirty pumps, five turntable ladders and various special vehicles attended. [2] In all, 450 firefighters[3] from the Greater Glasgow area were involved in fighting the fire, which took a week to extinguish. Witnesses reported seeing bright blue flames leaping 40 feet (12 metres) into the sky, with the glow visible across the entire city. Neighbouring buildings, including a tobacco warehouse, an ice cream factory and the Harland and Wolff engine works, were engulfed. [4] The recovery of the bodies in Warroch Street was not completed until 10.20 am on 31 March. The incident remains Britain's worst peacetime fire services disaster. [5][6] The following is a list of the fire fighters/salvagemen who lost their lives in the line of duty on 28 March 1960 during this event:[7] Several awards for bravery were presented:[8] The men who were killed were buried in the rubble, but were later laid to rest in the fire service tomb in Glasgow Necropolis. A memorial service is held on 28 March each year, with representatives of the fire service and Glasgow City Council present. Memorial services and other observations were held in 2010 to mark the 50th anniversary of the disaster. [10] Due to the ban on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 60th anniversary commemoration was a more limited affair, signified by a wreath-laying by Chief Officer Martin Blunden alone. [11] The reverse side of the monument remembers those firefighters lost in the Kilbirnie Street fire in 1972. Coordinates: 55°51′27″N 4°16′17″W / 55.8575°N 4.27136°W / 55.8575; -4.27136

Fire

October 2017 Northern California wildfires

The October 2017 Northern California wildfires, also known as the Northern California firestorm, North Bay Fires, and the Wine Country Fires[7] were a series of 250 wildfires that started burning across the state of California, United States, beginning in early October. Twenty-one became major fires that burned at least 245,000 acres (99,148 ha). [1] The wildfires broke out throughout Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte, and Solano Counties during severe fire weather conditions, effectively leading to a major red flag warning for much of the Northern California area. Pacific Gas and Electric reported that red flag conditions existed in 44 of the 49 counties in its service area. [8] Seventeen separate wildfires were reported at that time. [9] These fires included the Tubbs Fire (which grew to become the most destructive wildfire in the history of California up until that time - fires in 2018 were more destructive),[1][10] the Atlas Fire, Nuns Fire, and others. These wildfires were also the most destructive ones of the 2017 California wildfire season. The October 2017 fires were the costliest group of wildfires on record at the time, causing around $14.5 billion (2017 USD) in damages, including $11 billion in insured losses and $1.5 billion in fire suppression costs,[2][3] surpassing the 1991 Oakland firestorm, which until then had been the single costliest fire on record. [11][12] In addition, the Northern California fires were predicted to cost the US economy at least $85 billion. [13] In 2018, the Camp Fire (2018) surpassed the October 2017 fires to become the single-costliest fire on record, causing an estimated $16.5 billion (2018 USD) in property damage. [14] Owing to the extreme conditions, shortly after the fires ignited on October 8 and 9, they rapidly grew to become extensive, full-scale incidents spanning from 1,000 acres (400 hectares) to well over 20,000 acres (8,100 ha), each within a single day. By October 14, the fires had burned more than 210,000 acres (85,000 ha)[1] while forcing 90,000 people to evacuate from their homes. [15] In total, the Northern California fires killed 44 people[4] and hospitalized at least 192 others,[16][5] making this one of the deadliest wildfire events in the United States during the past century. [17][18][1][19][20] Days prior to the wildfires, the National Weather Service had begun issuing red-flag warnings throughout much of northern California as conditions were expected to become extremely volatile, with winds expected to be gusting between 25 and 35 miles per hour (40 and 56 km/h) from the north to the south. [21] By the evening of October 8, the Diablo winds were reported gusting up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) within the affected areas as over a dozen wildfires began to break out. [22] Many of those killed in the fires are believed to have died late on October 8 or early on October 9, 2017, when most of the fires broke out overnight. Most of the victims were elderly, though the ages of the victims ranged from 14 to 100 years old. [23] On October 9, California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, and Orange, and sent a letter to the White House requesting a major disaster declaration. [24][25] President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration on October 10. [24] That evening, Gov. Brown issued an emergency declaration for Solano County. [24] Surveying the region, representative Mike Thompson of California's 5th congressional district said, "I fully expect this will be the worst fire disaster in California history. "[24] More than 10,000 firefighters battled the blaze, using more than 1000 fire engines and other equipment, with crews arriving from as far away as Canada and Australia. [15][23] Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reported mobilizing 4,300 workers to restore power. [8] It also said that more than 350,000 customers had lost electric service and 42,000 customers gas service since the wildfires began on October 8. By October 14, PG&E had restored electricity to 92% and gas service to 16,800 of the customers affected. [20][8] Reinsurance broker Aon Benfield stated that these are the costliest wildfires in U.S. history, with an estimated eight billion U.S. dollars in insured losses. The largest portion of these losses was to residential property. Additional losses were to automobiles, commercial property including business interruption insurance, and to crops. Many of the losses were in urban areas not historically prone to wildfire exposure. [26] By October 12, the air quality in the city of Napa was ranked the poorest in the nation, due to high levels of particulates and ozone. [27] By October 13, air quality in the city reached the "hazardous" level, the most dangerous on the Environmental Protection Agency scale. [20] In Solano County, over 250 people were sickened by smoke inhalation, and sought care at hospitals. Twenty-three were admitted to emergency rooms. [27] By October 12, smoke from the wildfires had spread nearly 100 miles, with "unhealthy" air quality indices registered in the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Rafael. [27] Due to the poor air quality, San Francisco State University canceled classes, and outdoor activities were canceled in a number of cities, including Danville, Palo Alto, and Walnut Creek. [28] Visibility issues spurred the Federal Aviation Administration to implement a ground delay program at San Francisco International Airport, and nearly 280 flights were canceled over a three-day period. [29] Over a week after the fires started, flights continued to be canceled and delayed due to poor visibility from the smoke. [30] The Cherokee Fire broke out on the evening of Sunday, October 8, near Oroville in Butte County just after 9 PM PDT. Reportedly igniting near Cherokee Road, the fire quickly expanded from hundreds to thousands of acres within a few hours of burning as it threatened nearby Oroville and surrounding rural neighborhoods. [42] The Atlas Fire burned Napa County, north of the city of Napa, near Napa Soda Springs. [32] On October 29, the fire had burned 51,057 acres and was 100% contained. [32] The Tubbs Fire started near Tubbs Lane in Calistoga on the evening of October 8, 2017 and burned at least 34,000 acres (13,759 ha). [24][43] In the Fountain Grove area numerous homes, the Fountaingrove Inn, the historic Round Barn, and a Hilton resort were destroyed. [44] By October 14, the death toll from this fire alone had risen to 20. [20] By October 20, the Tubbs Fire had become the most destructive wildfire in the history of California. [1][10] This was later surpassed by the Camp Fire (2018) A filing by PG&E to the judge overseeing PG&E's probation for the 2010 San Bruno fire said that the Tubbs Fire may have started with privately owned equipment on private property for which PG&E was not responsible. [45] The Nuns Fire, centered in the areas to the east and north of the city of Sonoma, merged with the Norrbom fire on October 11. [46] The Adobe fire merged with Nuns/Norrbom on October 12. [1] The Partrick fire joined the four-fire conflagration on October 13.

Fire

$1 Million in Fines Proposed Over Nitrogen Leak That Killed 6 at Poultry Plant

Federal officials proposed the fines against four companies after finding that they could have prevented the deaths at the Foundation Food Group plant in Gainesville, Ga., in January. By Michael Levenson Federal workplace safety officials have proposed nearly $1 million in fines against four companies after finding that they could have prevented the deaths of six workers from a liquid nitrogen leak at a poultry plant in Gainesville, Ga., in January. Foundation Food Group, a Gainesville-based poultry processing company, as well as Messer, of Bridgewater, N.J., an industrial gas company that installed the liquid nitrogen freezer system at the plant, “failed to implement any of the safety procedures necessary to prevent the nitrogen leak, or to equip workers responding to it with the knowledge and equipment that could have saved their lives,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a statement on Friday. Advertisement BASIC SUBSCRIPTION Special offer: Get unlimited access for $0.50 a week. $2.00 $0.50/week Billed as $8.00 $2.00 every 4 weeks for one year. You can cancel anytime. SUBSCRIBE NOW By buying your subscription with Apple Pay, you consent to our Terms of Service and our Terms of Sale, including the Cancellation and Refund Policy, and you acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You will be automatically charged the introductory rate every four weeks for one year, then the standard rate every four weeks thereafter. Sales tax may apply. You will be charged in advance. Your subscription will continue until you cancel. You may cancel at anytime. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period. No commitment required. Cancel anytime. Limited time offer. This is an offer for a Basic Digital Access Subscription. Your payment method will automatically be charged in advance every four weeks. You will be charged the introductory offer rate every four weeks for the introductory period of one year, and thereafter will be charged the standard rate every four weeks until you cancel. Your subscription will continue until you cancel. You can cancel anytime. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period. The Basic Digital Access Subscription does not include e-reader editions (Kindle, Nook, etc.), NYT Games (the Crossword) or NYT Cooking. Mobile apps are not supported on all devices. These offers are not available for current subscribers. Other restrictions and taxes may apply. Offers and pricing are subject to change without notice. This is an offer for a Basic Digital Access Subscription. The Basic Digital Access Subscription does not include e-reader editions (Kindle, Nook, etc.), NYT Games (the Crossword) or NYT Cooking. Mobile apps are not supported on all devices. These offers are not available for current subscribers. Other restrictions and taxes may apply. Offers and pricing are subject to change without notice.

Gas explosion

Bank Robbery at BMO Harris Bank at Washington St and Redstart Rd, Naperville

Naperville police responded about 10:27 a.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2021 to a report of a bank robbery at the BMO Harris Bank, 1795 South Washington Street on Naperville’s near southeast side. The suspect is described as a male/white 5’6″ with a slim build. The suspect was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black mask, and blue pants. The suspect fled westbound on foot.

Bank Robbery

Air Canada Flight 646 crash

Loss of control on go-around (Rejected Landing) Air Canada Canadair CL-600-2B19 C-FSKI Fredericton Airport, New Brunswick 16 December 1997 The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigated this occurrence for the purpose of advancing transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. This report is not created for use in the context of legal, disciplinary or other proceedings. See Ownership and use of content. Air Canada Flight 646, C-FSKI, departed Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, at 2124 eastern standard time on a scheduled flight to Fredericton, New Brunswick. On arrival, the reported ceiling was 100 feet obscured, the visibility one-eighth of a mile in fog, and the runway visual range 1200 feet. The crew conducted a Category I instrument landing system approach to runway 15 and elected to land. On reaching about 35 feet, the captain assessed that the aircraft was not in a position to land safely and ordered the first officer, who was flying the aircraft, to go around. As the aircraft reached its go-around pitch attitude of about 10 °, the aircraft stalled aerodynamically, struck the runway, veered to the right and then travelled - at full power and uncontrolled - about 2100 feet from the first impact point, struck a large tree and came to rest. An evacuation was conducted; however, seven passengers were trapped in the aircraft until rescued. Of the 39 passengers and 3 crew members, 9 were seriously injured and the rest received minor or no injuries. The accident occurred at 2348 Atlantic standard time. Ce rapport est également disponible en français. Air Canada Flight 646, a Canadair CL600-2B19 Regional Jet,Footnote 1 departed Toronto-Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario, at 2124 eastern standard time (EST)Footnote 2 on a scheduled flight to Fredericton, New Brunswick. On board were two flight crew, one flight attendant, and 37 passengers plus two infants. The first officer, in the right-hand seat, had been assigned the pilot-flying (PF) responsibilities for this flight. The forecast and reported weather for the Fredericton Airport for the time of arrival was vertical visibility of 100 feet and horizontal visibility of one-eighth of a mile in fog. The runway visual range (RVR) was 1200 feet for the landing on runway 15 with the runway lights set to strength 5. The flight was unremarkable until the aircraft was on final approach to the Fredericton airport. The autopilot was controlling the aircraft based on commands from the crew, the flight management system, and signals from the ground-based instrument landing system (ILS) for runway 15 at Fredericton. The aircraft's landing lights were on for the approach and landing. The captain saw the glow from the runway approach lights through the fog at about 300 feet above ground level (agl), 100 feet above decision height for the approach. At decision height, 200 feet above the runway, the captain, the pilot-not-flying (PNF), called the lights in sight and the first officer responded that he was landing. The first officer disconnected the autopilot, at about 165 feet above ground, to hand fly the rest of the approach and landing. After the autopilot was disconnected, the aircraft drifted above the glide path, and twice the captain coached the first officer to get the aircraft down to the glide path. The first officer reduced thrust in response to the captain's first mention to get the aircraft down, and he reduced thrust to idle at about 80 feet agl. Moments later, the captain, aware that the aircraft was left of the centre line but not knowing the distance travelled down the runway, and not sure that a safe landing could be made, ordered a go-around, which the first officer acknowledged. The thrust levers were advanced, the first officer selected the go-around mode for the flight director, and he started to increase the pitch of the aircraft to the command bar indications, 10 ° nose up. About one second after the first officer acknowledged the go-around, the stick shaker (stall warning) activated. As the aircraft reached 10 ° nose up, about one and one-half seconds after the stick shaker activated, the captain called flaps and selected them to the go-around setting, the warbler tone associated with the stall protection system (SPS) sounded, and the aircraft stalled aerodynamically. The aircraft rolled right to approximately 55 ° of bank, and the right wing tip contacted the runway about 2700 feet from the threshold and 45 feet left of the centre line, the right wing tip bending upwards about four feet from the tip. The aircraft rolled left toward wings level, then, about 260 feet further down the runway, struck it again, this time banked about 20 ° to the right with the nose down about 12 °. The nose wheel assembly broke off, the right winglet broke off, the radome and underside of the nose cockpit area were heavily damaged, and electrical power, except for emergency lighting, was lost. The aircraft rolled left onto its main wheels and, with the engines now at full power, departed the right side of the runway just past the intersection with runway 09/27. The aircraft plowed through the snow, on its main wheels, until it struck a ditch parallel to and about 200 feet from the runway. The tracks in the snow past the ditch were much lighter than the tracks left by the main wheels. These marks were made by flap fairings and aircraft equipment dangling on wiring still attached to the aircraft. The marks show that the aircraft became airborne after striking the ditch, very low to the ground, and flew in an arc to next strike a sand hill about 1000 feet right of the runway. Ground marks made by the aircraft were largely obliterated by traffic during the rescue, and it could not be determined where the aircraft first hit the hill; however, there were pieces of the aircraft near the bottom of the hill. At the top of the hill, the aircraft slewed to the right, struck some trees, one approximately 22 inches in diameter, and came to rest. The aircraft stopped on a heading of 314° magnetic, about 1130 feet west of the runway and 2100 feet from the first impact point on the runway. See diagram at 1. The right engine stopped at the top of the hill. The left engine continued to run for a few minutes to 15 minutes (by witness accounts), and the captain finally managed to shut it down with the engine thrust lever. After the aircraft struck the runway and during its excursion, the crew were not able to control the aircraft because of the darkness inside and outside the aircraft, aircraft damage, disorientation, and the roughness of the ride. There was no post-crash fire. The time of the accident was 2348 Atlantic standard time(AST).Footnote 3 An emergency evacuation of the aircraft was conducted. Seven passengers had to be extricated from the aircraft by emergency response personnel, the last one at 0234. Of the 42 persons on board, 35 were sent to hospital, and 9 were hospitalized. The aircraft remained generally intact, with no damage to the empennage and damage to the top of the aircraft limited to the tear caused by the large tree.

Air crash

Disney Store closings: More locations are closing but here’s the list of stores staying open — for now

The Walt Disney Co. previously announced plans to close nearly 60 of its full-size retail locations across the country "on or before" Sept. 15. As of Sept. 14, the store locator tool didn't indicate which locations may have already closed and which are ending liquidation sales Wednesday. Another two locations are set to close "on or before" Sept. 22. After the latest closures, about two dozen stores will remain, the store locator showed Tuesday. The closings don't affect more than 600 stores inside Disney theme parks and other locations, including small Disney shops inside Target stores. ►Happy Meal toys:McDonald's Disney toys arrive in Happy Meals to mark Disney World's 50th anniversary ►New Disney Store locations:Target to add more than 100 Disney Store locations by the end of 2021, releases top toy list The company said in March that it was reducing the number of stores to focus on its e-commerce business. It announced nearly 40 closures . "While consumer behavior has shifted toward online shopping, the global pandemic has changed what consumers expect from a retailer,” Stephanie Young, president of consumer products, games and publishing, said in a statement at the time. The closures come as Target plans to open more than 100 new Disney shops inside its stores by the end of 2021. It's also right before Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary. California, which is losing 18 stores after the Sept. 22 closure of the Sacramento store, will have five remaining stores, which is the most of any state. Texas will have four stores, but many states will have a single location left.

Organization Closed

Black Friday bushfires

The Black Friday bushfires of 13 January 1939, in Victoria, Australia, were part of the devastating 1938–1939 bushfire season in Australia, which saw bushfires burning for the whole summer, and ash falling as far away as New Zealand. It was calculated that three-quarters of the State of Victoria was directly or indirectly affected by the disaster, while other Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory were also badly hit by fires and extreme heat. As of 3 November 2011[update], the event was one of the worst[clarification needed] recorded bushfires in Australia, and the third most deadly. [1] Fires burned almost 2,000,000 hectares (4,900,000 acres) of land in Victoria, where 71 people were killed, and several towns were entirely obliterated. Over 1,300 homes and 69 sawmills were burned, and 3,700 buildings were destroyed or damaged. [2] In response, the Victorian state government convened a Royal Commission that resulted in major changes in forest management. The Royal Commission noted that "it appeared the whole State was alight on Friday, 13 January 1939". [3] New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory also faced severe fires during the 1939 season. Destructive fires burned from the NSW South Coast, across the ranges and inland to Bathurst, while Sydney was ringed by fires which entered the outer suburbs, and fires raged towards the new capital at Canberra. [4] South Australia was also struck by the Adelaide Hills bushfires. Eastern Australia is one of the most fire-prone regions of the world, with predominant eucalyptus forests that have evolved to thrive on the phenomenon of bushfire. [5] However, the 1938-9 bushfire season was exacerbated by a period of extreme heat, following several years of drought. Extreme heatwaves were accompanied by strong northerly winds, after a very dry six months. [6] In the days preceding the fires, the Victorian state capital, Melbourne, experienced some of its hottest temperatures on record at the time: 43.8 °C (110.8 °F) on 8 January and 44.7 °C (112.5 °F) on 10 January. On 13 January, the day of the fires, temperatures reached 45.6 °C (114.1 °F), which stood as the hottest day officially recorded in Melbourne for the next 70 years. (Unofficial records show temperatures of around 47 °C (117 °F) were reported on the Black Thursday fires of 6 February 1851). [7] The subsequent Victorian Royal Commission investigation of the fires recorded that Victoria had not seen such dry conditions for more than two decades, and its rich plains lay "bare and baking; and the forest, from the foothills to the alpine heights, were tinder". The people who made their lives in the bush were worried by the dry conditions, but "had not lived long enough" to imagine what was to come: " the most disastrous forest calamity the State of Victoria has known." Fires had been burning separately across Victoria through December, but reached a new intensity and "joined forces in a terrible confluence of flame...". [2]:Introduction - Part 1on Friday, 13 January. The most damage was felt in the mountain and alpine areas in the northeast and around the southwest coast. The Acheron, Tanjil and Thomson Valleys and the Grampians, were also hit. Five townships – Hill End, Narbethong, Nayook West, Noojee (apart from the Hotel), Woods Point – were completely destroyed and not all were rebuilt afterwards. The towns of Omeo, Pomonal, Warrandyte (though this is now a suburb of Melbourne, it was not in 1939) and Yarra Glen were also badly damaged. [citation needed] The Stretton Royal Commission wrote:[2]:Introduction - Part 1 "On [13 January] it appeared that the whole State was alight. At midday, in many places, it was dark as night. Men carrying hurricane lamps, worked to make safe their families and belongings. Travellers on the highways were trapped by fires or blazing fallen trees, and perished. Throughout the land there was daytime darkness... Steel girders and machinery were twisted by heat as if they had been of fine wire. Sleepers of heavy durable timber, set in the soil, their upper surfaces flush with the ground, were burnt through... Where the fire was most intense the soil was burnt to such a depth that it may be many years before it shall have been restored..." An area of almost two million hectares (four point nine million acres) burned, 71 people killed, and whole townships wiped out, along with many sawmills and thousands of sheep, cattle and horses. According to Forest Management Victoria, during the bushfires of 13 January 1939: "[F]lames leapt large distances, giant trees were blown out of the ground by fierce winds and large pieces of burning bark (embers) were carried for kilometres ahead of the main fire front, starting new fires in places that had not previously been affected by flames... The townships of Warrandyte, Yarra Glen, Omeo and Pomonal were badly damaged. Intense fires burned on the urban fringe of Melbourne in the Yarra Ranges east of Melbourne, affecting towns including Toolangi, Warburton and Thomson Valley. The alpine towns of Bright, Cudgewa and Corryong were also affected, as were vast areas in the west of the state, in particular Portland, the Otway Ranges and the Grampians. The bushfires also affected the Black Range, Rubicon, Acheron, Noojee, Tanjil Bren, Hill End, Woods Point, Matlock, Erica, Omeo, Toombullup and the Black Forest. Large areas of state forest, containing giant stands of Mountain Ash and other valuable timbers, were killed. Approximately 575,000 hectares of reserved forest, and 780,000 hectares of forested Crown land were burned. The intensity of the fire produced huge amounts of smoke and ash, with reports of ash falling as far away as New Zealand". There were five major fire areas. Smaller fires included; East Gippsland, Mount Macedon, Mallee and the Mornington Peninsula. The major fires, listed roughly in order of size, included; The subsequent Royal Commission, under Judge Leonard Edward Bishop Stretton (known as the Stretton Inquiry), attributed blame for the fires to careless burning, campfires, graziers, sawmillers and land clearing. Prior to 13 January 1939, many fires were already burning. Some of the fires started as early as December 1938, but most of them started in the first week of January 1939. Some of these fires could not be extinguished. Others were left unattended or, as Judge Stretton wrote, the fires were allowed to burn "under control", as it was falsely and dangerously called. Stretton declared that most of the fires were lit by the "hand of man". [2][8] Stretton's Royal Commission has been described as one of the most significant inquiries in the history of Victorian public administration. [9] As a consequence of Judge Stretton's scathing report, the Forests Commission Victoria gained additional funding and took responsibility for fire protection on all public land including State forests, unoccupied Crown Lands and National Parks, plus a buffer extending one mile beyond their boundaries on to private land. Its responsibilities grew in one leap from 2.4 to 6.5 million hectares (5.9 to 16.1 million acres). Stretton's recommendations officially sanctioned and encouraged the common bush practice of controlled burning to minimise future risks.

Fire

Microplastics found in Antarctic ice core sample taken 10 years ago

It is one of the world's most remote locations and home to few inhabitants, but despite this, researchers say they have discovered plastic microfibres for the first time in Antarctic sea ice. The pollution was discovered by a team of Tasmanian researchers who took an ice core from the eastern side of the continent in 2009. The lead researcher with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), Anna Kelly, said the ice core, which was kept in a freezer for years, was recently melted down and its contents put under the microscope. "If we've got plastic particles in Antarctica, in one of the most remote habitats on Earth, [then plastics] are extremely widespread and we are having a big impact even in places that most of us will never get to visit," Ms Kelly said. While microplastics have previously been found in sea ice in the northern hemisphere and in sea surface water samples in Antarctica, this is believed to be the first time microplastics have been identified in an ice core from Antarctica. Ms Kelly said the research was a complicated process that took about a year of laboratory work. "We had to do quite a few test runs to make sure no plastic from me or from anywhere in the lab was getting into the ice, so I actually made some fake ice cores and practised," she said. "The plan was to cut it up into different sections, melt the different sections, filter the water and then look at the filter under a microscope to see what type of plastics we had. "I had a special body suit I would wear over all of my clothing so that none of my sweaters or jumpers would contaminate the sample," Ms Kelly said. The researchers from IMAS and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) found 96 microplastic particles in the decade-old ice core from 14 different types of polymer, including polyethylene which is used in plastic bags. Other fibres identified were polyester and nylon. Ms Kelly said the amount of microplastics found equated to almost 12 particles per litre. "The more microplastics you have in the sea ice, the easier the ice melts, so it could have some big implications for biogeochemical cycles," she said. "And if the plastics are small enough, it could have some big implications if they get out of the ice and how that is affecting the marine life in the Antarctic." Researchers believe the pollution most likely came from somewhere nearby due to the large size of the microfibres. "The microplastic polymers in our ice core were larger than those in the Arctic, which may indicate local pollution sources because the plastic has less time to break down into smaller fibres than if transported long distances on ocean currents," Ms Kelly said. "It could be coming from the continent and travelling through the currents, it could be coming from boat traffic or more local pollution like tourism or researchers, but we don't have any solid data on that yet," she said. Ms Kelly, who grew up in America before moving to Tasmania, said she hoped to take ice core samples from the western side of Antarctica to help determine more about the sources of pollution. "In my PhD I'm doing right now, I'm looking at more ice cores and broadening the scope of the study," she said. "It is worth noting that plastic contamination of west Antarctic sea ice may be even greater than in our ice core from the east, as the Antarctic Peninsula hosts the bulk of the continent's tourism, research stations and marine traffic." Researchers also hope to discover if sea ice contains more pollution now, compared with the 2009 sample. The research has been published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin. )

Environment Pollution

Rothbury riot

On 16 December 1929, New South Wales Police drew their revolvers and shot into a crowd of locked-out miners in the New South Wales town of Rothbury in Australia, killing a 29-year-old miner, Norman Brown, and injuring approximately forty-five miners. The incident became known as the Rothbury affair or the Rothbury riot, and is described as the "bloodiest event in national industrial history. "[1] In 1929 colliery owners on the Northern New South Wales coalfields combined as the Northern Collieries Association. On Thursday 14 February 1929 the mine employers gave their 9,750 employees 14 days' notice, that they (the miners) should accept the following new conditions: A wage reduction of 12½ per cent on the contract rates, one shilling ($0.10) a day on the "day wage" rate; all Lodges must give the colliery managers the right to hire and fire without regard to seniority; all Lodges must agree to discontinue pit-top meetings and pit stoppages. [2] The miners refused to accept these terms, and on Saturday 2 March 1929, all miners were "locked out" of their employment. [3] In September 1929, the NSW State Parliament introduced an Unlawful Assembly Act designed to suppress the miners, which authorised police to break up any gatherings. [2] On 16 December 1929 about 5,000 miners demonstrated against the introduction of non-union labour into the Rothbury mine by the conservative Bavin government, which had taken over the colliery. The government called in 70 New South Wales police officers from districts outside Newcastle to protect the colliery and allow the entry of non-union labour. Angry miners marched to the mine gate led by a pipe band. When they charged the gate bearing clubs and firearms, the miners were met with defensive baton blows by the police and there were hand-to-hand clashes. Three shots had been fired at the police and the order to draw their revolvers and fire a volley of shots over the heads of the rioters and then into the ground. One miner, Norman Brown, received a fatal wound from a ricocheting bullet. The youngest miner was 15-year-old Joseph Cummings, who risked his life, dodging bullets as he ran for the doctor, in a futile effort to help save Brown's life. The Sydney Daily Telegraph Pictorial described the event as "the most dramatic industrial clash that has ever shocked Australia. "[4] In June 1930, after fifteen months of living in poverty and starvation, the miners capitulated and returned to work on reduced contract wages. However, the lockout failed to break the resolve or organisation of the miners union. The Rothbury mine finally closed in 1974. A monument in honour of Norman Brown is located at North Rothbury. [5] The site is now a railway workshop, restoring locomotives and rollingstock used on railways in the local coalfields. The word Rothbury has been trademarked by the Fosters Group. [6]

Riot

Kenya and a number of countries in the horn of Africa experienced the worst locust attack in seven years

Farmers in Makueni County have expressed fears over the huge losses they would suffer if their crops were ravaged again by locusts that were spotted in the large areas of Mbooni and Kaiti. In March 2020, Kenya and a number of countries in the horn of Africa including Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda, experienced the worst locust attack in seven years. The first wave took its toll on Kenyan farmers. Eventually, the locusts disappeared, and the government helped affected farmers by offering provision-free seeds and fertilizers. One by one, fields were replanted, and the farmers eagerly awaited the next harvest, which usually takes place in mid-February. Now it seems their efforts were all for naught, writes Andrew Wasike for Deutsche Welle. Kenya: 'I Have Lost Everything. What Do You Expect Me to Eat?' DW, 17 February 2021 While Kenya is having some success fighting desert locust swarms, farmers in the north and center of the country face huge losses from ongoing waves of locust swarms. Read more » Kenya: Swarms of Locusts Invade Mbooni in Makueni County Capital FM, 1 February 2021 Swarms of locusts have invaded farms in sections of Makueni County Monday. Read more » Kenya: Farmers Struggle As Locusts Ravage Crops Again DW, 27 January 2021 As another wave of locusts looms over East Africa, farmers are struggling to come to grips with the destruction of yet another harvest. Read more » Kenya: Second Wave of Locust Invasion Causes Panic in 11 Counties Nation, 27 January 2021 Kenyans in 11 counties are staring at hunger following a second wave of invasion by gigantic swarms of desert locusts from neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia that continue to devour… Read more » East Africa: East African Countries Better Prepared, but Desert Locust Threat 'Not Over' UN News, 19 January 2021 Action to control unprecedented desert locust infestations in the Horn of Africa last year has protected crops and livelihoods, but funding is needed to sustain operations against… Read more » The United Nations (UN) has set aside U.S.$1.5 million (Sh164 million) from its Central Emergency Response Fund to fight desert locusts in Kenya. The money was released to the Food ... Read more » The Desert Locust crisis that struck the greater Horn of Africa region earlier in 2020, could re-escalate, as recent strong winds carried small mature yellow swarmlets from ... Read more » Disaster response teams in Kenya's Samburu have started using drones equipped with mapping sensors to spray desert locusts that are ravaging crops and pasturelands in the region. ... Read more » Young people are often missing from leadership positions because of they lack experience, but members of Natiira Ateni Self Help group in Kenya's Turkana County changed this ... Read more » Control operations have been intensified in Samburu and Turkana counties as the government seeks to eliminate the destructive pests, which are heavily feeding on vegetation and ... Read more » Residents of Mahiga-Meru village chase desert locusts using old aluminium cooking pots, iron sheets and twigs, in Laikipia County, Kenya (file photo).

Insect Disaster

The Great Lockdown: Worst Economic Downturn Since the Great Depression

The world has changed dramatically in the three months since our last update of the World Economic Outlook in January. A rare disaster, a coronavirus pandemic, has resulted in a tragically large number of human lives being lost. As countries implement necessary quarantines and social distancing practices to contain the pandemic, the world has been put in a Great Lockdown. The magnitude and speed of collapse in activity that has followed is unlike anything experienced in our lifetimes. April World Economic Outlook projects global growth in 2020 to fall to -3 percent. This is a crisis like no other, and there is substantial uncertainty about its impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. A lot depends on the epidemiology of the virus, the effectiveness of containment measures, and the development of therapeutics and vaccines, all of which are hard to predict. In addition, many countries now face multiple crises—a health crisis, a financial crisis, and a collapse in commodity prices, which interact in complex ways. Policymakers are providing unprecedented support to households, firms, and financial markets, and, while this is crucial for a strong recovery, there is considerable uncertainty about what the economic landscape will look like when we emerge from this lockdown. Under the assumption that the pandemic and required containment peaks in the second quarter for most countries in the world, and recedes in the second half of this year, in the April World Economic Outlook we project global growth in 2020 to fall to -3 percent. This is a downgrade of 6.3 percentage points from January 2020, a major revision over a very short period. This makes the Great Lockdown the worst recession since the Great Depression, and far worse than the Global Financial Crisis. Assuming the pandemic fades in the second half of 2020 and that policy actions taken around the world are effective in preventing widespread firm bankruptcies, extended job losses, and system-wide financial strains, we project global growth in 2021 to rebound to 5.8 percent. This recovery in 2021 is only partial as the level of economic activity is projected to remain below the level we had projected for 2021, before the virus hit. The cumulative loss to global GDP over 2020 and 2021 from the pandemic crisis could be around 9 trillion dollars, greater than the economies of Japan and Germany, combined. This is a truly global crisis as no country is spared. Countries reliant on tourism, travel, hospitality, and entertainment for their growth are experiencing particularly large disruptions. Emerging market and developing economies face additional challenges with unprecedented reversals in capital flows as global risk appetite wanes, and currency pressures, while coping with weaker health systems, and more limited fiscal space to provide support. Moreover, several economies entered this crisis in a vulnerable state with sluggish growth and high debt levels. For the first time since the Great Depression both advanced economies and emerging market and developing economies are in recession. For this year, growth in advanced economies is projected at -6.1 percent. Emerging market and developing economies with normal growth levels well above advanced economies are also projected to have negative growth rates of -1.0 percent in 2020, and -2.2 percent if you exclude China. Income per capita is projected to shrink for over 170 countries. Both advanced economies and emerging market and developing economies are expected to partially recover in 2021. Alternative adverse scenarios What I have described is a baseline scenario but, given the extreme uncertainty around the duration and intensity of the health crisis, we also explore alternative, more adverse scenarios. The pandemic may not recede in the second half of this year, leading to longer durations of containment, worsening financial conditions, and further breakdowns of global supply chains. In such cases, global GDP would fall even further: an additional 3 percent in 2020 if the pandemic is more protracted this year, while, if the pandemic continues into 2021, it may fall next year by an additional 8 percent compared to our baseline scenario. Exceptional policy actions Flattening the spread of COVID-19 using lockdowns allows health systems to cope with the disease, which then permits a resumption of economic activity. In this sense, there is no trade-off between saving lives and saving livelihoods. Countries should continue to spend generously on their health systems, perform widespread testing, and refrain from trade restrictions on medical supplies. A global effort must ensure that when therapies and vaccines are developed both rich and poor nations alike have immediate access. While the economy is shut down, policymakers will need to ensure that people are able to meet their needs and that businesses can pick up once the acute phases of the pandemic pass. The large, timely, and targeted, fiscal, monetary, and financial policies already taken by many policymakers—including credit guarantees, liquidity facilities, loan forbearance, expanded unemployment insurance, enhanced benefits, and tax relief—have been lifelines to households and businesses. This support should continue throughout the containment phase to minimize persistent scars that could emerge from subdued investment and job losses in this severe downturn. Policymakers must also plan for the recovery. As containment measures come off, policies should shift swiftly to supporting demand, incentivizing firm hiring, and repairing balance sheets in the private and public sector to aid the recovery. Fiscal stimulus that is coordinated across countries with fiscal space will magnify the benefit for all economies. Moratoria on debt repayments and debt restructuring may need to be continued during the recovery phase. Multilateral cooperation is vital to the health of the global recovery. To support needed spending in developing countries, bilateral creditors and international financial institutions should provide concessional financing, grants, and debt relief. The activation and establishment of swap lines between major central banks has helped ease shortages in international liquidity, and may need to be expanded to more economies. Collaborative effort is needed to ensure that the world does not de-globalize, so the recovery is not damaged by further losses to productivity. At the International Monetary Fund, we are actively deploying our 1-trillion-dollar lending capacity to support vulnerable countries, including through rapid-disbursing emergency financing and debt service relief to our poorest member countries, and we are calling on official bilateral creditors to do the same. There are some hopeful signs that this health crisis will end. Countries are succeeding in containing the virus using social-distancing practices, testing, and contact tracing, at least for now, and treatments and vaccines may develop sooner than expected. In the meantime, we face tremendous uncertainty around what comes next. Commensurate with the scale and speed of the crisis, domestic and international policy responses need to be large, rapidly deployed, and speedily recalibrated as new data becomes available. The courageous actions of doctors and nurses need to be matched by policymakers all over the world so we can jointly overcome this crisis.

Financial Crisis

p

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has declared three days of official mourning after 80 people died in a train crash. Mr Rajoy visited the scene where the train derailed on the outskirts of the northern city of Santiago de Compostela. 94 people were injured, of whom 35 were in a serious condition, including four children, the deputy head of the regional government said. The official said the death toll could rise further. Police have taken the driver of the train into custody in hospital. The Galicia region supreme court said in a statement that the judge investigating the accident had ordered police to put the driver in custody and take a statement from him. The arrested man, who is under formal investigation, was one of two drivers of the train. Newspaper accounts cited witnesses as saying one driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, who had helped rescue victims, shouted into a phone: "I've derailed! What do I do?" El Pais newspaper said one of the drivers told the railway station by radio, "We're only human! We're only human!" "I hope there are no dead, because this will fall on my conscience," he is reported to have said. Firefighters had to clamber over the twisted metal to try to get survivors out of the windows of the carriages. Security camera footage of what appears to be the crash has been posted on the website of the El Pais newspaper. The footage shows a train entering a sharp bend at high speed then careering off the tracks, smashing into a wall running alongside the rail. The train operated by state rail company Renfe with 256 people on board derailed on the eve of the ancient city's main festival when thousands of Christian pilgrims travel to the city. It is reported that people from several different countries are among the injured. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore said at this stage there is no indication of any Irish involvement in the tragedy. Mr Gilmore said: "The Galician region and the city of Santiago is a popular destination for Irish travellers and the Irish Embassy in Madrid has been in contact with the regional authorities since the accident occurred. “The situation is still developing and it will be some time before all of those involved have been identified.” The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said it is awaiting details from the Galician authorities, who are preparing a list of all passengers and staff on board the train. "It was going so quickly ... It seems that on a curve the train started to twist, and the wagons piled up one on top of the other," one passenger told Cadena Ser radio station. One witness near the scene told the radio station she heard an explosion before seeing the derailed train. The train was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol on the Galician coast when it derailed, Renfe said in a statement. Mr Rajoy, who was born in Santiago de Compostela, held an emergency meeting with his ministers last night. "In the face of a tragedy such as just happened in Santiago de Compostela on the eve of its big day, I can only express my deepest sympathy as a Spaniard and a Galician," Mr Rajoy said in a statement. Festivities cancelled as city mourns Santiago de Compostela's tourism board said all the festivities, including the traditional High Mass at the centuries-old cathedral, were cancelled as the city went into mourning. El Pais cited sources close to the investigation as saying the train was travelling at over twice the speed limit on a sharp curve. Both Renfe and state-owned Adif, which is in charge of the tracks, have opened an investigation into the cause of the derailment, Renfe said. An official source said no statement would be made regarding the cause of the Spanish derailment until the black boxes of the train were examined, but said it was most likely an accident. "We are moving away from the hypothesis of sabotage or attack," he said. Clinics in the city were overwhelmed with people flocking to give blood, while hotels organised free rooms for relatives. The government sent forensic scientists and hospital staff to the region on special flights. Firefighters called off a strike to help with the disaster, while hospital staff, many operating on reduced salaries because of spending cuts, worked overtime to tend the injured.

Train collisions

Pandemic threatens ‘biblical famines’, warns UN food programme

The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to 'biblical famines' and almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday (21 April) as it released a new report on food crises around the world. EPA-EFE/YAHYA ARHAB Comments Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp The COVID-19 pandemic could lead to ‘biblical famines’ and almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday (21 April) as it released a new report on food crises around the world. Addressing the UN Security Council during a video conference on Tuesday (21 April), WFP head David Beasley said the world had to “act wisely and act fast”. “We could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a short few months,” he said. The annual Global Report on Food Crises, which is based on data from 2019, estimates that 265 million people in low and middle-income countries will be in acute food insecurity by the end of 2020 unless swift action is taken South Sudan had 61% of its population in a state of food crisis (or worse) in 2019. Six other countries also had at least 35% of their populations in a state of food crisis: Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Haiti. Food shortages are set to be intensified by the lockdown measures and restrictions on trade flows imposed to control the coronavirus pandemic. Most African countries have imposed lockdowns and curfews comparable to those in Europe, prompting fears that harvests will not be fully collected and intensifying the prospect of food shortages. Meanwhile, a locust pandemic has also decimated crop production across much of East Africa. “COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” said WFP’s Senior Economist, Arif Husain. “It is a hammer blow for millions more who can only eat if they earn a wage. Lockdowns and global economic recession have already decimated their nest eggs. It only takes one more shock – like COVID-19 – to push them over the edge. We must collectively act now to mitigate the impact of this global catastrophe,” said Husain. While the WFP is facing a dramatic increase in the need for its services, like other UN agencies, it is also facing financial pressure following funding cuts by the United States and other donor governments. Earlier this month, the WFP announced that it would be halving its aid programme in Yemen, citing funding shortages. A recently established UN Supply Chain Task Force coordinated by the World Health Organisation and WFP to facilitate global COVID-19 support for the countries most in need is reliant on donors, including the EU, providing $350 million in additional funds. Last week, EU Foreign Affairs chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted that the EU was “steadfast supporter” of the WFP and its “main contributor”.

Famine

2013 Muzaffarnagar riots

The clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, India in August–September 2013, resulted in at least 62 deaths including 42 Muslims and 20 Hindus[3] and injured 93 and left more than 50,000 Muslims displaced. [6][7][8][9] By date 17 September, the curfew was lifted from all riot affected areas and the army was also withdrawn. [10] The riot has been described as "the worst violence in Uttar Pradesh in recent history", with the army, as a result, being deployed in the state for the first time in last 20 years. [11] The Supreme Court of India, while hearing petitions in relation to the riots, held the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party prima facie guilty of negligence in preventing the violence and ordered it to immediately arrest all those accused irrespective of their political affiliation. The Court also blamed the Central government for its failure to provide intelligence inputs to the Samajwadi Party-governed state government in time to help sound alerts. [12] In 2021, a local court allowed the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government to withdraw all cases against BJP leaders involved in the riots. [13] On 21 August 2013, communal clashes were reported from Muzaffarnagar and police registered cases against 150 people and 14 persons were taken into custody. Clashes between two communities, Hindus and Muslims, in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar grew on 27 August 2013. The original cause of the rioting is disputed according to bipartisan claims largely concerning the affected communities. [14] In this case, the cause of this rioting alternates between a traffic accident and an eve-teasing incident. According to the first version, the cause was a minor traffic accident involving some youths which then spiralled out of control when it eventually took on religious overtones. [15] In the second version, a girl from the Hindu Jat community was allegedly harassed in an eve-teasing incident by one Muslim youth in Kawal village. [16][17] In retaliation, Hindu relatives of the girl in question, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh,[18][19] killed the youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi. [20] The two brothers were lynched by a Muslim mob when they tried to escape. [19] The police arrested eleven members of the girl's family for killing the Muslim youth. [17] According to Zee News report some locals, the police did not act against the killers of the Hindu brothers. [17] According to police records, Gaurav and Sachin picked a fight with Shahnawaz over a motorcycle accident. While it has been widely reported that the fight was sparked off when Shahnawaz harassed Gaurav and Sachin's cousin sister, the FIR in the murder makes no mention of sexual harassment or molestation. [15]According to the other version the girl who was allegedly harassed by Shahnawaz commented that she had not gone to Kawal or known anybody by name of Shahnawaz. [21] In the FIR registered for Shahnawaz's death, five people along with Sachin and Gaurav were named as responsible for his death. The reports mentions that the seven men entered Shahnawaz's home, took him out and killed him with swords and knives; he died on the way to the hospital. [21] In the FIR registers for Sachin and Gaurav's death, seven other men were reported to be responsible; that episode was sparked by an altercation after Mujassim and Gaurav were involved in a bike accident. [21] After news of the killings spread, the members of both communities attacked each other. The police took possession of the three dead bodies, and temporarily brought the situation under control. The authorities also deployed Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel to Kawal. [22] In September 2013, fresh riots sparked off and around 11 people including TV journalist Rajesh Verma were killed and more than 34 were injured after which indefinite curfew was clamped and the army deployed to help maintain law and order. [23] The killing of the three youths in Kawal village started echoing across the district. On 30 August, two days after the incident, despite ban on assembly of crowd, Muslim religious leaders gathered after Friday prayers and local Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress leaders had hijacked the Muslim meeting demanding justice for the Kawal incident and made inflammatory speeches. [24][25] Also, local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders allegedly gave an incendiary speech instigating the Hindu farmers on 31 August. A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against all the leaders. After the meeting, the farmers were attacked and killed on their way home by mob with assault rifles and weapons. [26][24] Clashes between the two communities occurred at low frequencies for the next two weeks. The Beti Bachao Mahapanchayat, attended by lacs of people, proved to be inflammatory as it was allowed to be held by the district administration, despite imposition of 144 Crpc in the area, around 2,000 Jats returning from Panchayat were ambushed by Muslim[27] mob armed with assault rifles and other sophisticated weapons near Jauli Canal on 7 September. [26] The mobs had set fire on 18 tractor trollies and 3 motorbikes. According to an eyewitness account, the bodies were dumped into the canal. [26] Although six bodies were recovered, it was rumoured that hundreds were missing. [26] Bodies of three Jats were found at the site of violence and three Hindus bodies were fished out from Jauli Canal. [28] District Magistrate agreed that many bodies were still missing, but doubted whether the missing people were killed or had migrated earlier from the village. [26] Survivors of the Jauli Canal incident added that the policemen who were watching the assault did not help the victims, as they had said that 'they do not have orders to act'. [27] This Jauli Canal incident aroused Jats to go on a rampage against Muslims with the claim that the latter were responsible for the killings. [26] This led to the riots, which killed around 43 muslim people and 20 hindu (including a news reporter and a photographer). [29] The casualties occurred before the Army was deployed and a curfew was imposed in Muzaffarnagar and its surrounding Shamli district. Even with the curfew and use of army the clashes continued for the next three days, with casualties increasing to 43 by 12 September 2013. A state home department official said that 38 people died in Muzaffarnagar, 3 in Baghpat, and one each in Saharanpur and Meerut. [30] The first case of gang-rape was registered in the aftermath of the riots from the village of Fugana in Jogiya Kheda. [31] Later two more cases of rape were registered in October. [32] It was reported on 15 November 2013 that a total of 13 rape and sexual harassment cases were registered over the past two months of rioting and the report named 111 people in the incidents but no arrests had been made till then. [33] A Mahapanchayat (great council) of 40 villages was held in Khera, Sardhana on 29 September 2013 to protest against the Uttar Pradesh government charging the local BJP MLA Sangeet Singh Som under the National Security Act. The crowd became violent when the police began to brandish sticks. The situation turned tense when a rumour spread that a youth injured in police action had died.

Riot

2000 Australia Beechcraft King Air crash

On 4 September 2000, a chartered Beechcraft 200 Super King Air departed Perth for a flight to the mining town of Leonora, Western Australia. The aircraft crashed near Burketown, Queensland, Australia, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants. [1] During the flight, the aircraft climbed above its assigned altitude. When air traffic control (ATC) contacted the pilot, the pilot's speech had become significantly impaired, and he was unable to respond to instructions. Three aircraft intercepted the Beechcraft, but were unable to make radio contact. The aircraft continued flying on a straight north-easterly heading for five hours, before running out of fuel and crashing 40 mi (65 km) south-east of Burketown. [2] The crash became known in the media as the "Ghost Flight. "[3][4] A subsequent investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) concluded that the pilot and passengers had become incapacitated and had been suffering from hypoxia, a lack of oxygen to the body, meaning the pilot would have been unable to operate the aircraft. Towards the end of the flight, the left engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion, and the aircraft crashed into the ground. The investigation report said that, due to extensive damage to the aircraft, investigators were unable to conclude if any of the eight aboard had used the oxygen system. The final report stated that the ATSB could not determine what incapacitated the occupants. A number of safety recommendations were made following the crash. [5] The aircraft involved in the crash was a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air, registration VH-SKC, serial number BB-47, manufactured in 1975. The aircraft had about 19,000 hours of service before the crash. [6] The amount of air passed into the cabin is controlled by bleed air valves on the engines. [7] The positions of the bleed air valves can be altered by the pilot. [8] According to the investigation report, "The aircraft was not fitted with a high cabin altitude aural warning device, nor was it required to be. "[7] The aircraft was fitted with an emergency oxygen system—an oxygen tank which could supply oxygen to the crew through two masks located in the cockpit, and to passengers through masks which drop from the ceiling of the cabin. [9] Investigators concluded the aircraft was airworthy at the time the crash occurred,[10] and a pilot who flew the aircraft earlier in the day said the aircraft functioned normally. [11]The investigation report stated that "the maintenance release was current, and an examination of the aircraft's maintenance records found no recurring maintenance problems that may have been factors in the accident. "[10] On Monday 4 September 2000,[12] the Beechcraft, chartered by mining company Sons of Gwalia,[13] departed Perth, Western Australia, for the town of Leonora, Western Australia,[12] On board were seven mine workers travelling to Gwalia Gold Mine. [13] The aircraft took off from Perth at 6:09 pm local time (1009 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)), and was cleared by ATC to climb to FL130 (13,000 feet (4,000 m)). Five minutes later, at 1015, it was further cleared to its cruising altitude of FL250 (25,000 feet (7,600 m)); with an instruction to be at FL160 by 36 nautical miles (67 km; 41 mi) from Perth. The pilot acknowledged this transmission. [12] Five minutes later, at 1020, as the aircraft climbed through FL156 (15,600 feet (4,800 m)), it was cleared to waypoint DEBRA. The pilot again acknowledged. At approximately 1033, the aircraft passed through its cleared level, and at FL256 (25,600 feet (7,800 m)), ATC asked the pilot to confirm his altitude. “Sierra Kilo Charlie—um—standby,” the pilot replied. [12] This was the final spoken transmission from the aircraft, and its climb continued. According to the investigation report, several open-microphone transmissions followed, with the sound of background noise from the engines, a person breathing, "one unintelligible syllable," and "two chime-like tones, similar to those generated by electronic devices." During this time, ATC attempted to regain contact with the pilot. At 1040, the controller called out, “Sierra Kilo Charlie Sierra Kilo Charlie, Melbourne Centre, if receiving this transmission squawk ident.” [14] At 1041, the controller asked again, “Sierra Kilo Charlie, only receiving open mike from you. Would you contact me on one two five decimal two.”[15] The aircraft continued to climb, and left radar coverage at 1102, passing FL325 (32,500 feet (9,900 m)). Thirty-one minutes later, Australian Search and Rescue asked the crew of a business jet to approach the Beechcraft. They reported that it was in level flight at FL343 (34,300 feet (10,500 m)), and they could see no movement on the flight deck or in the cabin. [12] However, the conditions made it difficult to observe closely. Two other aircraft which were asked to monitor the Beechcraft intercepted it over the Northern Territory, north-west of Alice Springs. The pilots reported that it was now in a steady descent, and both aircraft followed it as its airspeed increased. The investigation report stated that the pilots observed that "although its external lights were on, nothing could be seen inside the cabin." The investigation report then describes how "the crews of the chase aircraft attempted to contact the pilot of the Beechcraft by radio, but they did not receive a response." At 1510, the aircraft turned left through 90 degrees as it descended through 5,000 feet (1,500 m). About 40 mi (65 km) south-east of Burketown, Queensland, it hit the ground and disintegrated. [16][17] The pilot and seven passengers were killed. [17] The crash was investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), a federal body responsible for investigating transportation accidents in Australia. [18] The final report was published in March 2001. [19] The report was unable to make a definitive conclusion as to the cause of the crash. [20] The report found all those aboard the aircraft, including the pilot, had likely become incapacitated and begun suffering from hypoxia. [21] The report stated, "After the aircraft climbed above the assigned altitude of FL250, the speech and breathing patterns of the pilot, evidenced during the radio transmissions, displayed changes consistent with hypoxia. "[5] Investigators were, however, unable to conclusively dismiss toxic fumes as the cause. [22] "The incapacitation of the pilot and passengers was probably due to hypobaric hypoxia because of the high cabin altitude and their not receiving supplemental oxygen" the report said, adding, "The reasons for the pilot and passengers not receiving supplemental oxygen [from the oxygen tank aboard the aircraft] could not be determined.

Air crash

Angelina Jolie Reportedly Objects to a Divorce Ruling That Grants Brad Pitt More Custody of Their Kids

Pitt was allowed "significantly more time" with their children, a source said of the latest court decision. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window. Brad Pitt has been awarded more time with his children amid his ongoing custody battle with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. According to a source for People magazine, Judge John Ouderkirk has tentatively granted Pitt more custody over five of the couple's six children: Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, and twins Knox and Vivienne, who turn 13 this summer. Jolie's eldest adopted child, Maddox, 19, is no longer part of the custody case because he is now a legal adult. "A few weeks ago, the judge's decision came down after a months long trial," the source said. "Brad has been awarded significantly more time with the kids. He had had very limited time before." The decision was reportedly based on testimony from "witnesses, experts, people who have been with the kids," though the couple's children have not been called to testify themselves. It's unclear if the latest decision is legally binding. But People's source said that Pitt "has always wanted what is best for the kids, and to spend time with them." Jolie is reportedly not thrilled with the latest court decision and on Monday filed a complaint to California's Second District Court of Appeal over the ruling. She also previously attempted to remove the judge overseeing the divorce case. "Joint custody is not the issue that Angelina objects to," a source close to the actress revealed to People. "There were other issues of concern, but the court proceedings are closed and sealed."

Famous Person - Divorce

2017 World Junior Speed Skating Championships

In 1971, the ISU congress decided to hold a World Junior Speed Skating Championships. After two test-championships (1972 and 1973), where only a boys' competition was held in the 1972 edition, the first official championship was introduced in Cortina d'Ampezzo. In this championship boys and girls could enter. Since this championship the World Junior Speed Skating Championships are held every year. The distances the boys have to skate in a championship were the 500m, 1500m, 3000m, and the 5000m. In 2015 the 1000 metres replaced the 3000m as part of the allround competition. Girls have the 500m, 1000m, 1500m and the 3000m on the programme. In 2002 the team pursuit was added to the allround competition and the 2009 edition saw the introduction of medals for the individual distances. In 2015 the team sprint and mass start events were added. The 2021 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sports Competition

Scranton general strike

The Scranton general strike was a widespread work stoppage in 1877 by workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which took place as part of the Great Railroad Strike, and was the last in a number of violent outbreaks across Pennsylvania. [1] The strike began on July 23 when railroad workers walked off the job in protest of recent wage cuts, and within three days it grew to include perhaps thousands of workers from a variety of industries. Many had returned to work when violence erupted on August 1 after a mob attacked the town's mayor, and then clashed with local militia, leaving four dead and many more wounded. [2] State and federal troops were called to the town, and imposed martial law. Minor acts of violence continued until the last of the strikers returned to work on October 17, having won no concessions. More than a score of those involved in the shooting were arrested for murder, and later tried and found not-guilty of the crime of manslaughter. Two were tried and one convicted in libel suits related to published criticism of the militia. The militia would go on to be reformed into a battalion of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Opinions differ on the root causes of the strike and ensuing violence. The Long Depression, sparked in the US by the Panic of 1873, had far reaching implications for US industry, shuttering more than a hundred railroads in the first year and cutting construction of new rail lines from 7,500 miles of track in 1872 to 1,600 miles in 1875. [3] Approximately 18,000 businesses failed between 1873, and in 1875, production in iron and steel alone dropped as much as 45%, and a million or more lost their jobs. [4][5] In 1876 alone, 76 railroad companies went bankrupt or entered receivership. [6]:31 The resulting public dissatisfaction erupted July 14, 1877 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and spread to Maryland, New York, Illinois, Missouri and Pennsylvania. [7][8][9] Violence broke out in Pittsburgh, and between July 21 and 22, 40 were killed and more than a 1,000 rail cars and 100 engines were destroyed. [9][10] Another 16 were killed in an uprising in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and strikers set fire to much of central Philadelphia in disturbances there. [11] In 1874 mine owners reduced workers' wages by ten percent. Efforts to rouse a strike in response were fruitless. [12]:316 The next two years saw the mines run on two-thirds time, and another wage reduction of fifteen percent was made in 1876. Again, efforts to organize a strike were ineffective. By the summer of 1877 tensions were high as news spread of the violence in industrial centers across Pennsylvania and the nation. Making matters worse, the local mining companies had again reduced wages, and railroad and industry owners imposed similar cuts for rail and manufacturing workers. [13] As one observer stated "the great trouble here in Scranton is our population, an excess of miners for the work to be done. "[14] On July 23, the workers of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in Scranton proposed that their wages be restored to that prior to the recently imposed 10% reduction. On July 24 at 12:00 P.M., 1,000 employees of the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, unaffiliated with the railroad, peacefully walked out due to their own wage reduction. The railroad workers struck at 6:00 P.M. that same day. [15] The railroad strike carried implications for the remainder of local industry, as large amounts of goods could not be transported in or out of the city without the use of rail. As one man said, "If the coal trains shall cease to carry the coal to market, the mining of coal must cease. "[16] The strikers allowed some passenger trains to reach their destinations. They did not, however, allow mail to enter the city. The strikers met that night at Father Matthew Hall, and agreed to "Be in favor of maintaining the peace and quiet of the city in every emergency. "[16] Mayor Robert H. McKune issued a proclamation, urging "all good citizens to use their best efforts to preserve peace and uphold the law," and to "abstain from all excited discussion of the prominent question of the day." Referring to the recent violence in Pittsburgh, he concluded: Every taxpayer will realize that any destruction of property will have to be paid for by the city, and would by so much increase the burden of taxation. In one day Pittsburgh has put upon herself a load that her taxpayers will struggle under for years. I again earnestly urge upon men of all classes in our city the necessity of sober, careful thought and the criminal folly of any precipitate action. [17]:198 On July 25 The New York Times reported that a general strike had taken place in Scranton. [15] A committee representing the miners called a meeting with W. R. Storrs, coal superintendent. They demanded higher wages, and vowed not to return to work, even if the railroad workers abandoned their strike. [17]:201 The brakemen, firemen and others joined, and every industry in the city was halted with the exception of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The railway strikers held a mass meeting and resolved to demand a 25 percent increase in wages, "in order to supply ourselves and our little ones with the necessaries of life. "[18] General Manager William Walker Scranton replied that same day, insisting that "nothing in the world would give me more pleasure," but continued: with the present frightfully low prices of iron and steel rails it is utterly impossible for us to advance wages at all ... Our steel works, as everybody knows, are now idle because we have no work to do there. Until the reduction of ten per cent on the 10th of this month there has been no reduction in your wages for nearly a year, while during that time there has been a falling off in the prices we get for iron and steel of over twenty-five per cent. I think you ought to consider these things fully and reflect whether the little work we can give you is not better than no work at all. I assure you when prices will warrant it we shall be very glad to pay wages in proportion. [18]:498 On the morning of July 26, Mayor McKune proposed organizing a group of armed special police to help maintain order in the city. At the time the local militia were stationed across the state in response to railway strike-related struggles occurring in Altoona, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. The police group was later renamed as the "Scranton Citizens' Corps," and included 116 members. [19][20] Mayor McKune met on July 27 with representatives of the Brotherhood of Trainmen. Following a meeting of the railway strikers, the firemen and brakemen agreed to return to work at their previous wages. Shortly thereafter, the mill workers returned to work, with assurances from W. W. Scranton.

Strike

Sifan Hassan and Mo Farah break one hour world records in Brussels

Long-standing distance marks fall in the King Baudouin Stadium as Mondo Duplantis and Faith Kipyegon fall short with world best attempts.  Sifan Hassan and Mo Farah were the stars of the show at the Brussels Diamond League meeting on Friday (4 September), setting new one hour world records. The Dutchwoman, who won 10,000m gold at last year's World Championships, surged clear of world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei in the final minute to cover a distance of 18.930km. Kosgei was later disqualified for stepping inside the track. And at the end of the night, Farah broke Haile Gebrselassie's one-hour world best by sprinting away from training partner Bashir Abdi on his way to a new mark of 21.330km. Mondo Duplantis cleared a meeting record of 6.00m in the pole vault but failed three times at a new outdoor world record of 6.15m. Faith Kipyegon was also unsuccessful with her attempt at the 1000m world record inside the King Baudouin Stadium. Sifan Hassan set the first world record of the night in the women's one hour. An army of pacemakers did a superb job to take the field round well inside world record pace pretty much from the start, meaning the only question was who would finish in front. Kosgei did her best to shake off the track world champion but at the gun signalling one minute to go, Hassan hit the front. And despite Kosgei's best efforts to stay with her, Hassan - the world record holder over one mile - soon raced away. Her final distance was 18.930km, over a lap further than the previous record of 18.517km set by Ethiopia's Dire Tune in 2008. In her first official track race, Kosgei was disqualified for stepping inside the kerb with second place going to Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Salpeter whose 18.571km was also further than the previous world best. Hassan said in her on-track interview, "I'm very happy. I never thought I would run so far. Actually, at the start I didn't feel good but after 30 minutes it got easier. It was a very strong race. Thank you for organising this in a very difficult time. I'm so happy to be here." Farah's record bid looked in serious doubt after 35 minutes when the last pacemaker departed leaving him alone with his training mate Abdi. At this point, television viewers could see a hologram of Gebrselassie's world record run in lane three some 10 metres ahead of the pair. But Farah, shouted on by Gebrselassie's former manager Jos Hermans, quickened the tempo to get in front of the Wavelight time guide on the kerb. In his first track race for three years, Farah was doing most of the work at the front but Abdi took the lead with five minutes to go. That move was clearly part of a plan as it saw the Belgian break Gebrselassie's 20km world record, unofficially timed at 56:20.02, and gave the four-time Olympic champion a welcome breather. The Briton then produced a trademark kick to burst clear of his friend in the closing stages and record a distance of 21.330km, 55m further than the Ethopian great's mark from 2007. Farah said on the track afterwards, "That's incredible. I'm very happy to break the world record today. Me and Bashir Abdi worked together. I'm so pleased for him and for myself. An amazing race to do it and to show the people what is possible. "I feel tired but at the same time, in the middle part of the race we had to work hard and get on the light. We were just helping each other to get through it. It's nice to break a world record." - Mo Farah Faith Kipyegon failed in her bid for the world 1000m record having come desperately close in Monaco three weeks ago. The Olympic 1500m champion looked on course after 400m but running solo for the last lap was tough for the Kenyan who clocked 2:29.92, almost a second off double Olympic champion Svetlana Masterkova's 1996 mark set in the same stadium. Just 48 hours after his sensational duel in the centre of Lausanne with Sam Kendricks, pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis cleared six metres again outdoors. The Swede then had three unsuccessful attempts at a new outdoor world record of 6.15m, one centimetre higher than Sergey Bubka's mark of 6.14m from 1994, but only came anywhere near close with his first effort. Jakob Ingebrigtsen won his last race as a teenager, running the last lap in glorious isolation as he took the 1500m in 3:30.69. The Norwegian set a European record of 3:28.68 last month in Monaco behind world champion Timothy Cheruiyot. He was unable to come close to that time tonight with no one able to stay with him after the pacemakers dropped out. World heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson had two season's bests in her two events of the night although she may think she could have done better. With home favourite and reigning Olympic champion Nafi Thiam missing due to an Achilles injury, the Briton was slowly out of the blocks in the 100m hurdles on her way to fourth place behind Belgium's Anne Zagre. Despite that, her time of 13.57s was her quickest of the year as Zagre won in 13.21s. In the high jump, she equalled her season's best of 1.84m before three failures at 1.88m which left her down in sixth place. Australia's Nicola McDermott emerged victorious with 1.91m. Italy's Eseosa Desalu kept up his impressive recent form with a comfortable victory in the men's 200m in 20.39s. Poland have strength in depth in the women's 400m and Iga Baumgart-Witan showed that here, clocking a season's best 52.13s.

Break historical records

1957 Fethiye earthquakes

The first of the 1957 Fethiye earthquakes occurred on April 24, 1957, with the second and larger event about seven hours later on the following day. Both earthquakes had epicentres in the eastern Mediterranean between Rhodes and the coastal city of Fethiye in Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey. [1] As noted by a scientist from Istanbul Technical University, the tectonics of the Aegean Region of Turkey, which incorporates many faults, produces earthquakes frequently. The quakes can reach magnitudes up to 7.2 with aftershocks of 5.1. A geological fault in the southern part of the region stretches from the Greek island of Rhodes northeastwards to Burdur and passes close to the vicinity to Fethiye. [2] The first earthquake hit at 21:17 hours local time on April 24, 1957 and lasted 25 seconds having a magnitude of 7.1 on the moment magnitude scale; a stronger second quake occurred at 04:26 hours on April 25; this one lasted for 60 seconds and had a magnitude of 7.3.The earthquakes also shook many locations around Fethye, the epicenter, including Isparta, Burdur, Tefenni, Acıpayam, Denizli, Nazilli, Aydın, Yatağan, Milas, Bodrum, Ödemiş, Muğla, Marmaris, Köyceğiz, Kaş and Finike as well as the Greek islands of Kos, Symi and Rhodes. [6] Around 1,500 structures, including public buildings such as schools, hospital, prison, gendarmerie station, community health center and city hall, were damaged. The number of affected people was around 8,000. A 5–6 m (16–20 ft) section of the harbor quay broke away and sank into the sea, and asphalt road surfaces split and cracked. The earthquake ruined almost the entire city, with 90% of buildings being damaged. [5] Thanks to the strict evacuation order of the district governor Nazif Okuş after the first quake, the number of dead remained at only 19 for the city and the villages around with a total population of around 60,000. According to another source, a total of 67 people were killed, 27 in the city and in its villages, 40 in the surrounding districts. [6] Telecommunications were interrupted as the telephone lines broke, but communications were restored two days later by the use of field telephones. [1] The first actual relief came on April 26 from the Turkish Red Crescent (Turkish: Kızılay) with 2,500 blankets, 1,350 tents and a field hospital. President Celal Bayar, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and high government officials visited the disaster region on April 28. [5] Wreck removal works were hampered by uninterrupted rainfall. [1] On April 29, the destroyer HMS Dainty, a warship of the British Mediterranean Fleet delivered 2,000 blankets, 500 tents, medicine and food to the earthquake victims in Fethiye. In 2013, the mayor of Fethiye held a commemoration event featuring a photography exhibition. [6]

Earthquakes

‘This sentence will go on forever’: Morristown lawyer gets probation in corruption case

A Morristown lawyer who pled guilty to records tampering to secure municipal contracts avoided prison on Friday, receiving three years’ probation and community service from a judge who said she can “do far more good…outside the prison cell.” Elizabeth Valandingham, 49, was charged in connection with a state political corruption investigation that centered on her boss, attorney Matt O’Donnell. He pled guilty last week to corporate misconduct and conspiracy to tamper with records, and under a plea deal faces three years in state prison when sentenced in January. State prosecutors argued that Valandingham should serve 364 days in the Morris County Jail for her role, to deter others who might view probation as merely “the cost of doing business” in New Jersey government. Between 2013 and 2017, authorities charged, she helped secure at least $600,000 in legal work for O’Donnell’s now-shuttered Morristown firm, O’Donnell McCord, by falsely representing to Mt. Arlington and Bloomfield officials, and to the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, that the firm had made no political contributions in those towns. In fact, nearly $250,000 of donations had been funneled through “straw donors” recruited by Valandingham and reimbursed by the law firm, according to state Deputy Attorney General John Nicodemo. Valandingham’s repeated, deliberate actions duped the public, undermining “the very nature of our elections,” and undermined the integrity of the municipal governments she misled, Nicodemo said. And lives were harmed: Valandingham “exposed her trusted loved ones to criminal charges as her straw donors,” Nicodemo said during a two-hour virtual sentencing before Superior Court Judge Robert Hanna. Hanna said he grasped the need for deterrence, and strongly considered jailing Valandingham under terms of her plea deal. But in this case, he concluded, “I just don’t think it would do any good.” Moved by 74 letters of support that extolled a lifetime of good works and charitable endeavors, Hanna said, “I think she is a good person at her heart. Obviously, (she) made very egregious mistakes. And I think she can do far more good through the community service…on the outside of the prison cell rather than sitting inside the prison cell.” In addition to probation and 324 hours of community service imposed by the judge, Valandingham will forfeit her law license and is barred from seeking public contracts for a decade. She also must continue cooperating with state investigators. Unlike O’Donnell, she won’t be required to make restitution. But she must pay a $75,000 “Public Corruption Profiteering Penalty.” She will pay $20,000 up front, with $500 monthly payments to follow. Nicodemo said Valandingham could have faced up to five years in state prison if convicted on her initial charges– making a false representation for a government contract and misconduct by a corporate official, both second degree offenses. In April, she pled guilty to the downgraded charge of records tampering, a third-degree crime. “This sentence will go on forever,” Valandingham said, choking back tears in the office of her attorney, Anthony Iacullo. “I made a mistake. And while I know myself, I don’t get a second chance, I pray for forgiveness from my family and my friends and I beg the court for mercy when it comes to my freedom. And I’m just so sorry that… my mistakes led to something like this.” Valandingham took responsibility for her actions, and said she already has suffered severe punishment. She’s been shunned, and mocked. Her roller derby name, Lawless Lizzie, made headlines and appears in Google searches. At times, she feared her phone was tapped and she was being followed. Unable to sleep or eat, she has sought counseling. The judge described her as resilient. “My life savings is gone, my professional earning power is gone. My good name is gone. All those things are gone. You know, I’m turning 50. So to start anew, I hope I am resilient, because it’s not easy,” Valandingham said in response. Hanna said he could not understand the “disconnect” that led Valandingham down this path. Testimonials painted a glowing picture. The daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran, Valandingham worked multiple jobs to put herself through college and law school. She helped raise two younger sisters, and established college funds for her nieces. During travels to six continents, she performed charitable works, buying rice for the poor and sending supplies to schools in Burma. Her roller derby team was active in the community. She volunteered as a public defender for 20 years, she said, and offered pro bono legal help to friends. Iacullo pointed to O’Donnell as the mastermind. Valandingham “basically was a good soldier,” a salaried employee who “did what was required,” from getting coffee and office supplies to “picking up (O’Donnell’s) clothes,” Iacullo said. The state investigation has led to bribery charges against five public figures: A former Morris County Commissioner, a former Mt. Arlington councilman, a former Jersey City school board president, a former state Assemblyman, and a former Morris County commissioner candidate from Morristown. A judge tossed the charge against the former Assemblyman, and the commissioner candidate got probation under a plea deal. Arguing for leniency, Iacullo said it was unfair for the state to seek jail time for Valandingham while offering probation in the candidate’s case. A form of probation called pretrial intervention also was offered to a handful of straw donors — including Valandingham’s brother-in-law–who were charged in connection with her case. Valandingham ender her statement with a special apology, to the late Superior Court Judge Sybil Rappaport Moses — “a legend,” according to Hanna– for whom she clerked after law school. “And I am sorry to Judge Moses in heaven, because I know she would not have wanted this for me…and I did let her down.”

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Sentence

Bird flu outbreak amidst COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: Efforts and challenges at hand

Over the months of April and May 2021, South Africa has witnessed several outbreaks of highly infective avian influenza (H5N1) in different poultry farms. This came as a shock to a country that was already battling with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of the virus has spurred import bans and massive culls in the poultry business. Local experts have also called for a restriction on the movement of people and cars in and out of their chicken farms. Employees have also been encouraged to shower in the mornings when they arrive at the farms and wear fresh clothes, as the flu spreads very quickly. In a country that is already facing the economic implications of the COVID-19, this has the potential to cause a significant dent in the economy, as well as severely impact people's day-to-day life. Bird flu—also called avian influenza—is a viral infection that can infect not only birds but also humans and other animals. The threat of a new influenza pandemic has prompted countries to draft national strategic preparedness plans to prevent, contain and mitigate the next human influenza pandemic. This paper describes the South African burden, current efforts, and preparedness against the avian influenza virus. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the avian influenza viruses (AIVs)—which attack mainly bird species—as one among the nonprioritized zoonosis.1 Even though high-ranked international organizations recommended that more efforts be made in fighting these diseases,2-5 little has been done as they remain neglected.1 However, AIVs impose high morbidity and mortality risks,6, 7 and cause important economic losses.8 For these reasons, more focus should be diverted to Africa as it already suffers from the burden of different infectious diseases, a weak healthcare system, and more reliance on poultry as a food source and a business industry.9, 10 On the other hand, as AIVs are impossible to eliminate, rigorous surveillance should be implemented to investigate suspicious outbreaks so that the risk could be minimized.11 Nevertheless, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has difficulties managing zoonosis due to multiple factors of which we cite finance insufficiency, inappropriate facilities, and lack of biosecurity measures.2, 12 Consequently, despite all the conducted efforts, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 remains in different parts of the African ecosystems.13 Even worse, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic added a huge burden on the emerging African nations, leaving them in a more disadvantageous situation.14 By May 12, South African regulators reported nine HPAI H5 outbreaks in a monthly period, occurring in different parts of the country.15 Some had different strains,15 which means that they have separate causes. One of these outbreaks was the H5N8 type, while all the remaining others the H5N1 type. Moreover, a similar H5N8 outbreak was detected in 201714; and even though it was believed that H5N8 does not infect humans, the Russian health department proved the opposite in February 2021.16 Furthermore, following the latest update of the H5N1 status in Nigeria, the country's Center for Disease Control declared that they had detected seven patients infected by influenza A (H5) by March 2021,17 and the latest reported case in all Africa was in 2007.17 Although H5N1's human-to-human transmission is infrequent, the WHO fears a genetic mutation that could make this phenomenon possible; hence, inflicting new global health and economic crises18 equivalent to the new COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the lack of HPAI management policies in the SSA in general,2, 12 and South Africa in particular,14 the One Health program led by the WHO to fight zoonosis is harder to be achieved.2 Therefore, it is essential to review the status of the AIVs before and during COVID-19 in South Africa and assess the challenges and efforts essential to mitigate the additional burden of bird flu in this nation. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which emerged in late 2019 based on the COVID-19 pandemic, has caused a global health emergency leading to a state of alertness from all the nations against this single virus. Meanwhile, during April and May 2021, South Africa has witnessed several outbreaks of avian influenza (H5) in different poultry farms.19 The H5 strain is responsible for the HPAI that caused several epidemics throughout the years, the last one in 2017.20 However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, there is no report of low pathogenic avian influenza since April 28, 2021.21 According to the WHO, there has been no contamination to human yet22; however, the South Africa Poultry Association confirms that all measures of precautions are being taken in the concerned farms: farms' isolation, culling of the exposed birds… to prevent a potential outbreak amid the COVID-19 pandemic which can make the situation hard to control.23 Due to the numerous similarities between Influenza and COVID-19 in terms of the symptoms—fever, cough, shortness of breath; the vulnerable population—elderly population (>65 years old); the incubation period—2–14 days for COVID-19 and 2–5 days for influenza; the way of transmission—respiratory droplets,24, 25 the differentiation between the two viruses would be difficult accounting for a possible delay in diagnosis, therefore increase in hospitalization, ICU admission, and risk of an increased mortality rate (Table 1). It is worth noting that the five regions hit by the HPAI outbreak constitute around 60% of the total COVID-19 cases in South Africa.26 Two of them, Gauteng and Western Cape, are facing the biggest burden as the numbers of infections makeup, respectively, 26.8% and 18.1% of the total incidents.26 Some African countries have already stopped importing poultry products from South Africa as a preventive measure27; therefore, more than 1300 people have lost their jobs, and South Africa is witnessing an increase in prices of poultry products because of the preventive measures farms are taking which are making those products less affordable for lower-income groups. All countries, including South Africa, are already struggling economically during the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, the country cannot tolerate an added crisis due to the avian influenza.28 Bird flu—also referred to as avian influenza—is an influenza A virus. It is fatal to poultry and is potentially destructive in humans. Bird flu spreads between both wild and domesticated birds. It has also been passed from birds to humans in close contact with poultry or other birds.29 The impact of COVID-19 on the economy and then the concomitant disruptive effect of the bird flu outbreak has a rough impact on the employment and welfare of the country.30 Humans in contact with the contaminated bird are at risk of developing health problems that can be detrimental amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has overwhelmed the healthcare system. Furthermore, the outbreak of bird flu amid the present ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected people psychologically due to fear and anxiety. Again, it may result in another lockdown of the nation and thereby affect vaccination of the country for COVID-19, which could become another hazard. It was reported by Meyer on April 20, 2021 that the whole poultry sector is now on alert and biosecurity contingency plans have been set in place. Also, he underlined the necessity to report any sick or dead birds to the veterinary services. Poultry producers are advised to step up their biosecurity to avoid virus contamination from the wild birds or their stools.30 Therefore, WHO has pointed out the need for collaboration between the animal and public health sectors to identify disease activity in animals to control the diseases in animals regarding reduced human exposure.31 There should be an effective means of communication to the rural resident to improve their understanding of animal diseases and human behavior, and the possible risk of acquiring avian influenza.31 Also, methods to early detection of viruses should be better understood for conditions that predispose humans to infection and emergence of a pandemic.31 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted different challenges related to healthcare across the world, such as accessibility, awareness, the importance of evidence-based practices, and trustworthy information for the public, and also the risk of rising other highly infectious diseases such as HPAI. The HPAI is a worrying disease in public and global health, but until this moment, there have not been cases of the H5 strain of HPAI causing an infection in humans in the South African outbreaks in April and May of 2021.15 As those outbreaks were recent, very few studies have been conducted regarding its manifestations, specificities, infection ratio, and possible infection in humans. In this context, there is a demand for evidence-based data, with a highlight on epidemiological studies, it is necessary to conduct further studies on HPAI in the scenario of the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2.15, 22 One health concept is important in HPAI disease, demanding awareness from governmental powers, interdisciplinary work to prevent food and animal infections, and a structured action plan to prevent mass casualties.32 In this context, the authors recommend adopting interdisciplinary initiatives, highlighting the need for collaboration with experts on animal and environmental health between the local and national health workforce of the region.32, 33 Collaboration is imperative to minimize damages, prevent infections, provide quality healthcare for the population, and develop a safe environment for all people. The emergence of bird flu, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, is another threat to the economy and public health of the people in the country. In a country that has already suffered huge losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fight against the new zoonoses may not be as effective as necessary. The country's efforts are channeled towards the earlier pandemic, and this may lead to neglect of the flu, which could also have another disastrous effect on the economy. Though there is no reported case of human infection, the country's health system needs to be vigilant, and establish a good preparedness system that would be able to deal with such outbreaks. The country also needs to institute a strong surveillance system for the mitigation of the flu. Farmers that have suffered huge losses because of the flu need to be supported. This calls for strong collaboration between the government and other stakeholders. The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests. Conceptualization, project administration, writing—review and designing: Olivier Uwishema. Supervised, reviewed, and edited the first and second draft: Helen Onyeaka. Collection and assembly of data: Olivier Uwishema, Lubanga F. Adriano, Elie Chalhoub, Helen Onyeaka, Melissa Mhanna, Success C. David, Yves Nasrallah, Lucas L. P. A. Ribeiro, and Christin Berjaoui. Data analysis and interpretation: Olivier Uwishema, Lubanga F. Adriano, Elie Chalhoub, Helen Onyeaka, Melissa Mhanna, Success C. David, Yves Nasrallah, Lucas L. P. A. Ribeiro, and Christin Berjaoui. Manuscript writing: Olivier Uwishema, Lubanga F. Adriano, Elie Chalhoub, Helen Onyeaka, Melissa Mhanna, Success C. David, Yves Nasrallah, Lucas L. P. A. Ribeiro, and Christin Berjaoui. Final approval of manuscript: Olivier Uwishema, Lubanga F. Adriano, Elie Chalhoub, Helen Onyeaka, Melissa Mhanna, Success C. David, Yves Nasrallah, Lucas L. P. A. Ribeiro, and Christin Berjaoui. Volume93, Issue10 Special Issue on New coronavirus (2019‐nCoV or SARS‐CoV‐2) and the outbreak of the respiratory illness (COVID‐19): Part‐XV October 2021 Pages 5676-5679 Influenza Epidemics Influenza Epidemics and Pandemics Influenza Epidemics Measles crisis in Africa amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic: Delayed measles vaccine administration may cause a measles outbreak in Africa Dengue fever outbreak in Cook Island: A rising concern, efforts, challenges, and future recommendations

Disease Outbreaks

Dam frustration compounded by drought

Two years on from the decision to lower the wall of the Paradise Dam, CANEGROWERS says a lack of direction for the future of the water storage is adding insult to the injury of the region’s drought and pushing the impact into 2022 and beyond. CANEGROWERS Isis Chairman Mark Mammino is again calling for the 50% water price rebate being offered for horticulture crops to be extended to other irrigated crops. “We are trying to farm in continuing drought conditions with only 22% of our water allocations available to use in the Paradise part of the irrigation scheme,” Mr Mammino said. “Even though only 22% of the water is available, we still have to pay the high fixed charges on the total nominal allocation no matter what is available for use. “The Queensland Government could show some compassion and provide us with immediate financial relief by making its inequitable water price reduction policy fairer and extending the 50% rebate to all crops. “It’s so frustrating that we have excellent sugar prices but not the water to get the most out of our cane crop this year or next, because now is when the young cane should be getting a start for 2022.” It’s not just sugarcane which is being held back in the Childers and Bundaberg regions. “Some cane growers who usually grow peanuts in rotation are holding back on preparations for a crop because it’s too dry,” Mr Mammino said. “That means the 2022 peanut harvest from February to June is also at risk. “No wonder growers are questioning what the situation would be like if the 100,000+ megalitres of water wasn’t released from the dam two years ago to allow for work to start. Would we have better allocations now if that water was still in the system and would our crops and farm finances be looking healthier?” The immediate anxiety is on top of the long-running frustration about a lack of clear direction for the future of water storage in the region. This uncertainty is having significant impact on grower’s mental health. “We’ve been waiting and waiting for various reports on the options for the future of the dam to be completed and handed down but nothing seems to be happening,” Mr Mammino said. “We’ve been calling for a quick decision but two years on we are still unable to move on and plan our futures with any certainty. The Government needs to come clean on what the future of irrigation in this region will look like.”

Droughts

1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision crash

On 12 November 1996, Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763, a Boeing 747 en route from Delhi, India, to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76 en route from Chimkent, Kazakhstan, to Delhi, collided over the village of Charkhi Dadri, around 100 km (62 mi; 54 nmi) west of Delhi. The crash killed all 349 people on board both planes, making it the world's deadliest mid-air collision[1][2] and the deadliest aviation accident to occur in India. [3][4] The Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) Boeing 747-168B, registration HZ-AIH,[5] was flying the first leg of a scheduled international Delhi–Dhahran–Jeddah passenger service as Flight SVA763 with 312 people on board;[6] the Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD,[7] registration UN-76435, was on a charter service from Chimkent Airport to Delhi as KZA1907. [6] SVA763 departed Delhi at 18:32 local time (13:02 UTC). [5] KZA1907 was descending simultaneously, to land at Delhi. [6] Both flights were controlled by approach controller VK Dutta. The crew of SVA763 consisted of Captain Khalid Al-Shubaily [ar], First Officer Nazir Khan, and Flight Engineer Ahmed Edrees. The crew of KZA1907 consisted of Captain Alexander Cherepanov, First Officer Ermek Dzhangirov, Flight Engineer Alexander Chuprov, Navigator Zhahanbek Aripbaev, and Radio Operator Egor Repp. [8][9] KZA1907 was cleared to descend to 15,000 feet (4,600 m) when it was 74 nautical miles (137 km) from the beacon of the destination airport while SVA763, travelling on the same airway as KZA1907 but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to 14,000 feet (4,300 m). About eight minutes later, around 18:40, KZA1907 reported having reached its assigned altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 m) but it was actually lower, at 14,500 feet (4,400 m), and still descending. [7] At this time, Dutta advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, 10 nautical miles (19 km). Report in sight. "[9] When the controller called KZA1907 again, he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance, but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of KZA1907 cutting through SVA763's left wing and horizontal stabiliser. The crippled Boeing quickly lost control and went into a rapidly descending spiral with fire trailing from the wing. The Boeing broke up before crashing into the ground at a nearly supersonic speed of 1,135 km/h (705 mph). The Ilyushin remained structurally intact as it entered a steady but rapid and uncontrolled descent until it crashed in a field. [10] Rescuers discovered four critically injured passengers from the Ilyushin, but they all died soon afterwards. Two passengers from the Saudia flight survived the crash, still strapped to their seats, only to die of internal injuries soon after. [11][12] In the end, all 312 people on board SVA763 and all 37 people on KZA1907 were killed. Captain Timothy J. Place, a pilot for the United States Air Force, was the sole eyewitness of the event. He was making an initial approach in a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter when he saw that "a large cloud lit up with an orange glow". [13] The collision took place about 100 kilometres (60 mi) west of Delhi. [14] The wreckage of the Saudi aircraft landed near Dhani village, Bhiwani District, Haryana. The wreckage of the Kazakh aircraft hit the ground near Birohar village, Rohtak District, Haryana. [15] The captain of the flight was a 45-year old veteran pilot with more than 9,800 flying hours. [15] An article published in The New York Times on 14 November 1996 stated that 215 Indians who boarded the flight worked in Saudi Arabia;[16] many of them worked or planned to work in blue-collar jobs[17] as house maids, drivers, and cooks. The article also stated that 40 Nepalis and three Americans boarded the Saudi flight. [16] According to an article published a day earlier in the same newspaper, the passenger manifest included 17 people of other nationalities, including nine Nepalis, three Pakistanis, two Americans, one Bangladeshi, one British, and one Saudi. [4] Twelve of the crew members, including five anti-terrorism officials, were Saudi citizens. [18] The captain of Flight 1907, aged 44, was also highly experienced, with more than 9,200 flight hours. [15] A company from Kyrgyzstan chartered the flight, and the passenger manifest mostly included ethnic Russian Kyrgyz citizens planning to go shopping in India. [4][8][16] Thirteen Kyrgyz traders boarded the flight. [18] The crash was investigated by the Lahoti Commission, headed by then-Delhi High Court judge Ramesh Chandra Lahoti. Depositions were taken from the Air Traffic Controllers Guild and the two airlines. The flight data recorders were decoded by Kazakhstan Airlines and Saudia under the supervision of air crash investigators in Moscow and Farnborough, England, respectively. [10] The ultimate cause was held to be the failure of Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907's pilot to follow ATC instructions, whether due to cloud turbulence or due to communication problems. [9][19][20][21][additional citation(s) needed] The commission determined that the accident had been the fault of the Kazakhstani Il-76 commander, who (according to FDR evidence) had descended from the assigned altitude of 15,000 to 14,500 feet (4,600 to 4,400 m) and subsequently 14,000 feet (4,300 m) and even lower. The report ascribed the cause of this serious breach in operating procedure to the lack of English language skills on the part of the Kazakhstani aircraft pilots; they were relying entirely on their radio operator for communications with the ATC. The radio operator did not have his own flight instrumentation and had to look over the pilots' shoulders for a reading. [22] Kazakhstani officials stated that the aircraft had descended while their pilots were fighting turbulence inside a bank of cumulus clouds. [9][20][better source needed] Indian air controllers also complained that the Kazakhstani pilots sometimes confused their calculations because they are accustomed to using metre altitudes and kilometre distances, while most other countries use feet and nautical miles respectively for aerial navigation. [11] Just a few seconds from impact, the Kazakhstani plane climbed slightly and the two planes collided. This was because the radio operator of Kazakhstan 1907 discovered only then that they were not at 15,000 feet and asked the pilot to climb. The captain gave orders for full throttle, and the plane climbed, only to hit the oncoming Saudi Arabian plane. The tail of the Kazakhstani plane clipped the left wing of the Saudi Arabian jet, severing both parts from their respective planes. Had the Kazakhstani pilots not climbed slightly, it is likely that they would have passed under the Saudi Arabian plane. The recorder of the Saudi Arabian plane revealed the pilots recited the prayer that is required, according to Islamic law, when one faces death.

Air crash

1943 Gibraltar B-24 crash

The 1943 Gibraltar Liberator AL523 crash was an aircraft crash that resulted in the death of General Władysław Sikorski, the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army and Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile. Sikorski's Liberator II crashed off Gibraltar almost immediately after takeoff on 4 July 1943. An estimated sixteen people died, including many other senior Polish military leaders. The plane's pilot was the only survivor. The crash was ruled to have been an accident, but Sikorski's death remains an unsolved mystery. The crash marked a turning point for Polish influence on their Anglo-American allies in World War II. The relationship between the Soviet Union and Poland was tenuous at best during World War II for a variety of reasons, and became more so, after the 1940 Katyn massacre of over 20,000 Polish servicemen by the Soviets came to light. However, pragmatic general Władysław Sikorski was still open to some form of normalisation of Polish-Soviet relations, while general Władysław Anders was vehemently opposed. [1] To boost morale, Sikorski began a tour of inspection of the Polish forces stationed in the Middle East in May 1943, tending to political affairs where necessary. [1] On 4 July 1943, while Sikorski was returning to London from an inspection of Polish forces deployed in the Middle East, his aircraft, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Consolidated Liberator, serial number AL523, crashed into the sea 16 seconds after taking off from Gibraltar Airport at 23:07 hours. [1][2][3] This Liberator C II was purchased and converted by the RAF for use as a transport and operated by No. 511 Squadron of RAF Transport Command on long range flights between the UK and Gibraltar. [citation needed] In 1972, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Eduard Prchal, described the events: "I received the green light from the tower and we began our take-off run. I pulled the stick back and the aircraft started to climb. When I was at 150ft I pushed the controls of the aircraft forward to gain speed. Suddenly I discovered I was not able to pull the stick back. The steering mechanism was jammed or locked." The aircraft then lost height rapidly. Prchal closed the four throttles and warned the others through the intercom "Attention, crash". The aircraft crashed into the sea. [4] Sikorski, his daughter, Zofia Leśniowska (his Chief of Staff), and eight other passengers were killed. While the official death toll included 11 fatalities, the exact number of passengers was not known. Of the six crew members on board, only Prchal survived. [1][5] Prchal was later interviewed several times about the crash. [citation needed] The only survivor of the accident was the pilot Flight Lieutenant Eduard Prchal, one of six crew on the aircraft. [1] Among the 11 passengers killed were: Sikorski's body was collected by the Polish Navy destroyer ORP Orkan and transported to Britain. [2] He was subsequently buried in a brick-lined grave at the Polish War Cemetery in Newark-on-Trent, England, on 16 July that year. [1] Winston Churchill delivered a eulogy at his funeral. [3] The bodies of Sikorski's daughter and four other passengers and crew were not found. [11] Sikorski's death marked a turning point for Polish influence amongst the Anglo-American allies. He had been the most prestigious leader of the Polish exiles and it was a severe setback for the Polish cause, for no Pole after him would have much sway with the Allied politicians. [12] A British Court of Inquiry convened on 7 July 1943 to investigate the crash, following the order by Air Marshal Sir John Slessor of 5 July 1943. [13] On 25 July 1943 the Court concluded that the accident was caused by the "jamming of elevator controls" which led to the aircraft being uncontrollable after take-off. [14] The report noted that "it has not been possible to determine how the jamming occurred" although it ruled out sabotage. [15] Slessor was not satisfied with the report and on 28 July ordered the Court to continue its investigation to find out whether the controls were indeed jammed or not, and if they were, then for what reason. Despite further investigation the Court was unable to resolve Slessor's doubts. [16] The Polish government refused to endorse this report because of the contradictions cited therein, and the lack of conclusive findings. [17] "Conclusions a) Liberator AL 523, total all up weight 54,608 lbs, took off from Gibraltar at 23.07 hours on 4 July 1943 bound for UK. The weather was fine, wind light, no cloud, visibility 10 miles. The aircraft was airborne after a run of approximately 1100 yards, climbed to about 150 feet in a perfectly normal manner and then gradually lost height, striking the sea on an even keel approximately 1200 yards after leaving the ground. The evidence suggests that the pilot had throttled back a moment before impact and that his engines had been running normally up to that time. The pilot was recovered by the Station rescue dinghy within six minutes of the crash and was the sole survivor. b) The cause of the accident was, in the opinion of the Court, due to the aircraft becoming uncontrollable for reasons which cannot be established. The pilot, having eased the control column forward to build up speed after take-off, found that he was unable to move it back at all, the elevator controls being virtually jammed somewhere in the system. It is impossible, from the evidence available and examination of the wreckage, to offer any concrete reason as to why the elevator system should have become jammed." "... The findings of the Court and the observations of the officers whose duty it is to review and comment on those findings have been considered and it is apparent that the accident was due to the jamming of the elevator controls shortly after take-off with the result that the aircraft became uncontrollable. After most careful examination of all the available evidence, including that of the pilot, it has not been possible to determine how the jamming occurred but it has been established that there was no sabotage. It is also clear that the captain of the aircraft who is a pilot of great experience and exceptional ability was in no way to blame. An officer of the Polish Air Force attended throughout the proceedings."

Air crash

Dr. Anthony Fauci to deliver Emory Commencement address

Dr. Anthony Fauci will deliver the 2021 Commencement address for Emory College of Arts and Sciences and receive the Emory University President’s Medal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he will give his remarks virtually. Print Emory ranks 5th among U.S. universities for infectious diseases program Jan. 12, 2021 Emory University Commencement Elaine Justice404-727-0643elaine.justice@emory.edu University, Community, Academics, People, Commencement Dr. Anthony Fauci will deliver the 2021 Commencement address for Emory College of Arts and Sciences and receive the Emory University President’s Medal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his address will be given virtually and will be available to all Emory graduates and the university community via livestream.  Fauci has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health since 1984, advising seven presidents on domestic and global health issues, including COVID-19. “I cannot think of a more inspiring person than Dr. Fauci to address the Class of 2021, whose Emory experience has been so dramatically shaped by the pandemic, and whose resilience and determination have inspired us again and again,” says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. “During the past year, Dr. Fauci’s name has become synonymous with truth, clarity and medical expertise. As chief physician to our country in the midst of a pandemic, he has become one of the most trusted voices in medicine for millions of Americans, and we are excited to honor him as part of Emory’s 176th Commencement.”  In addition to his work on COVID-19, Fauci oversees an extensive research portfolio focused on infectious and immune-mediated diseases. As the longtime chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, he has made many seminal contributions in basic and clinical research and is one of the world’s most-cited biomedical scientists.  Fauci was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world. He has made seminal contributions to the understanding of how HIV destroys the body's defenses, leading to its susceptibility to deadly infections. He has also been instrumental in developing treatments that enable people with HIV to live long and active lives, and he continues to devote much of his research to the immunopathogenic mechanisms of HIV infection and the scope of the body's immune responses to HIV. His honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Lasker Award for Public Service. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from Emory in 2003. Fauci will become only the sixth person to receive both of the highest honors awarded by Emory — the honorary degree and the President’s Medal, which is conferred upon distinguished university guests whose impact on the world has enhanced the prospect of peace or enriched cultural achievement. Previous recipients of both honors include His Holiness the Dalai Lama; U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is also Emory University Distinguished Professor; U.S. Rep. John Lewis; Ambassador Andrew Young; and epidemiologist Dr. William H. Foege, who is credited with devising the strategy to eradicate smallpox and also served on the Emory faculty. “Emory’s motto, ‘the wise heart seeks knowledge,’ is exemplified by Dr. Fauci’s many decades of public service,” Fenves says. “Indeed, it is his wise heart, and the knowledge he has provided, that have helped us get through a year like no other.”

Famous Person - Give a speech

2017 Lesbos earthquake

The 2017 Lesbos earthquake occurred at 12:28:39 UTC on 12 June. The earthquake's epicentre was 5 km south of Plomari on the Greek island of Lesbos off the Aegean coast of Turkey. It had a magnitude of 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale. [1] Extensive damage was caused on parts of southern Lesbos, where there was one fatality and 10 people were injured. The earthquake was also felt in Turkey but no significant damage or injuries were reported. [2]

Earthquakes

2018 Kemerovo fire

On 25 March 2018 at 16:00 local time (9:00 UTC), a fire engulfed the "Zimnyaya vishnya" shopping mall and entertainment complex in Kemerovo, Russia. It killed at least 60 people (more than half of which were children) according to official statements. The blaze started somewhere on the top floor of the four-story complex, and people were seen jumping from windows to escape it. 100 people were evacuated, and another 20 were rescued. [3][4] Others claim the number of people killed in fire is being covered up, and that the real figure runs into the hundreds. [5][6] The Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment complex (Russian: торгово-развлекательный комплекс «Зимняя вишня» , torgovo-razvlekatel'nyi kompleks "Zimnyaya vishnya") is a mall in Kemerovo, Russia. The mall, which was converted from a former communist-era confectionery factory,[7] opened in 2013 with 23,000 square meters of space, which included a petting zoo, children's center and bowling alley. [8] The building was described as a labyrinth with few windows and points of entrance to the upper levels, with one main staircase, one lift shaft and one escalator. [9] Survivors reported that the fire started on the fourth floor play area, with the heat of the flames rising to 700 °C, the heat so high it caused the bouncy castles to burst into flame. [9] Many of the victims were in the mall's three cinemas, where two of the cinema roofs collapsed from the fourth floor into the third. Several of the victims in the cinemas were children watching Sherlock Gnomes to start off the first day of a week-long school break. [10][11] A survivor from the cinema claimed that those in the cinema heard no alarm, and had to break through one door and jump to safety. Once on the ground, survivors could only see dense black pungent smoke that had filled the children's playground and the other cinema hall. [8] The fire alarm system at Kemerovo shopping mall was switched off by a security guard. [12] Many children who were trapped in the fire called loved ones and friends to exchange last conversations and information. One deceased child's aunt recounted their conversation during the fire in which the victim stated; "everything burns and the doors are locked in the cinema. "[13] A spokesperson for the Investigative Committee of Russia also stated that the fire exits in the building were blocked during the fire. [14] Tajik shopkeepers saved around 50 people through an alternate exit. [15] Staff and guards of the center were criticized by survivors for not arranging an organized evacuation effort, while some were praised for their efforts. [16] At least 64 people were killed in the fire, 41 of them children. [17] Also among the fatalities are some 200 animals from the petting zoo. Thirteen people had been hospitalized after the incident with the Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova claiming the most gravely injured was an 11-year-old boy who jumped from a fourth floor window. [16] Due to the fire, identification of most bodies had to have DNA identification used to confirm identifies. As of March 27, 60 individuals were treated in hospitals, of those 15 were hospitalized and 40 received outpatient care, and 25 victims, including 13 children had been identified. [18] Over 600 first responders spent over 17 hours fighting the flames well into the next day after the fire started. [9] The fire spread to cover more than 1,500 square meters of the 23,000 square meter building, and kept firefighters from entering the building for 12 hours due to the heat and smoke. [13] A father of three deceased victims was critical of rescuers, claiming he led rescuers up the stairs, but they turned away after being ordered to go elsewhere and refused to give him a respiratory mask citing regulations. In an interview he angrily stated "My daughters were left to burn because of their bloody rules. "[19] The Investigative Committee of Russia (IVR), opened an investigation into the cause of the fire, with the head of the IVR responding critically to the staff. In a statement he claims "Most of the staff ran away and left parents and their children to their fate. "[20] Four people have been detained in relation to the fire, including the head of the shopping complex's managing company. [3] Investigators reported that the fire alarm system had not been working the week leading up to the fire, rising into conflict with a previous report that a security guard turned it off. [21] The mall security guards were cited for failing to promptly turn the voice alert system on and that there is no reasonable explanation to why it occurred. [18] Kemerovo Oblast deputy governor Vladimir Chernov said that the preliminary suspicion is that a child had a cigarette lighter which ignited foam rubber in a children's trampoline room and erupted in the fashion of gunpowder. There is also speculation that the contracted builders and owners of the mall cut safety corners in the electrical wiring. Several arrests of these people have already been made. [3] Politicians across the globe sent their condolences. [22][23][24][25][26] 28 March 2018 was declared the national day of mourning in Russia. [27][28] A rally was held in Kemerovo demanding the resignation of Kemerovo Mayor Ilya Seredyuk and the longtime regional governor, Aman Tuleyev. [29] On April 1, 2018, Aman Tuleyev resigned as the governor of Kemerovo Oblast, citing "a heavy burden" of the Kemerovo fire, and President Putin accepted Tuleyev's resignation. [30] A spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry criticized the announcement of expulsions of Russian diplomats by the United States and a number European countries in connection to the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter, which happened a day after the tragedy, as showing disrespect to the deceased victims. [17] Local media named the owner of the mall, as millionaire Denis Shtengelov. Shtengelov countered in an interview that his stake in the mall at the time of the fire was only a minority stake with other investors, however, he promised to pay compensation of 3-million rubles (about $52,500) to the family of each victim. [16] This would be in addition to the regional government's reported compensation to the families of victims, which is equivalent to $17,500 each. [13] As of July 2018, the building is being demolished. [31] In March 2019, a construction of a park designed by architect John Calvin Weidman, was started at the place of the demolished mall. [32] Named the Park of Angels [ru], it was opened on 15 September 2019. [33] Across Russia, central squares were turned into memorials for those killed with flowers and candles. [13] A local memorial was erected in a plaza outside of the shopping center, and there was an influx of individuals donating blood for those injured. [19] International memorials to the victims were erected in other locations, such as New York City.

Fire

20152016 Zika virus epidemic

An epidemic of Zika fever, caused by Zika virus, began in Brazil and affected other countries in the Americas from April 2015 to November 2016. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the epidemic in November 2016, but noted that the virus still represents "a highly significant and long term problem". [2] It is estimated that 1.5 million people were infected by Zika virus in Brazil,[3] with over 3,500?cases of infant microcephaly reported between October?2015 and January?2016. [4] The epidemic also affected other parts of South and North America, as well as several islands in the Pacific. [5] Zika virus spread to Brazil from Oceania in 2013 or 2014. Brazil notified the WHO of an illness characterized by skin rash in March 2015, and Zika was identified as the cause in May 2015. In February 2016, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as evidence grew that Zika can cause birth defects as well as neurological problems. [6][7] The virus can be transmitted from an pregnant woman to her fetus, and can cause microcephaly and other severe brain anomalies in the infant. [8][9][10] Zika infections in adults can result in GuillainCBarr syndrome. [10] In approximately one in five cases, Zika virus infections result in Zika fever, a minor illness that causes symptoms such as fever and a rash. [11][12] Prior to the outbreak, Zika was considered a mild infection, as most infections are asymptomatic, making it difficult to determine precise estimates of the number of cases. [13] The virus is spread mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is commonly found throughout the tropical and subtropical Americas. It can also be spread by the Aedes albopictus ("Asian tiger") mosquito, which is distributed as far north as the Great Lakes region in North America. [14] People infected with Zika can transmit the virus to their sexual partners. [15] A number of countries were issued travel warnings, and the outbreak was expected to reduce tourism significantly. [7][16] Several countries took the unusual step of advising their citizens to delay pregnancy until more was known about the virus and its impact on fetal development. [17] Furthermore, the outbreak raised concerns regarding the safety of athletes and spectators at the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. [18][19][20] As early as August 2014, physicians in Natal, in northeastern Brazil began to investigate an outbreak of illness characterized by a flat pinkish rash, bloodshot eyes, fever, joint pain and headaches. While the symptoms resembled dengue fever, testing ruled out this and several other potential causes. By March 2015, the illness had spread to Salvador, Bahia[76] and had appeared in three different states. [77] Then, in May 2015, researchers from the Federal University of Bahia and the Evandro Chagas Institute determined, using the RT-PCR technique, that the illness was an outbreak of Zika virus. [78][79] Although, the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil were diagnosed in a returning traveller in March 2015. [80] The Zika virus was first isolated in 1947, in a rhesus monkey in a forest near Entebbe, Uganda. [81] Although serologic evidence indicated additional human exposure during subsequent decades in parts of Africa and Asia,[82] before the 2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak, only 14 cases of human Zika virus disease had been documented. [81] Researchers generally believe the virus was brought to Brazil by an infected traveler who had been exposed to the virus in French Polynesia, who was then bitten by a mosquito that then infected others. [83][84][85] Phylogenetic analysis of the first Brazilian infections have strongly indicated that the circulating virus is the Asian, rather than African, strain of the virus, and was genetically similar to the virus found in the outbreak in French Polynesia. [84][85] It appears Zika's route?C from Africa and Asia to Oceania and then the Americas?C may mirror that of chikungunya and dengue, both of which are now endemic in a large portion of the Americas. [86] The specific event that brought the virus to Brazil was uncertain until March 2016. Brazilian researchers had suggested that the Zika virus arrived during the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament. [83] French researchers speculated the virus arrived shortly afterwards, in August 2014, when canoeing teams from French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Easter Island, and the Cook Islands, which had been or were experiencing Zika outbreaks, attended the Va'a World Sprint Championships in Rio de Janeiro. [77][84] However, the outbreak in French Polynesia is known to have peaked and declined precipitously by February 2014, lending doubt to the suggestion the virus arrived later that year in Brazil with spectators and competitors. [87] In March 2016, a study published in Science, which developed a "molecular clock" based on the count of virus mutations in a relatively small sample, suggested Zika virus arrived in the Americas (most likely in Brazil) from French Polynesia between May and December 2013, well before the World Cup and Va'a Championships. [87] In the Science article, Faria and colleagues managed to trace the origins of the virus strain that is circulating in Brazil and found that this strain has little genetic variability when compared to the strain of French Polynesia; after relating the number of travellers arriving in Brazil from French Polynesia with the cases reported and the events happening in that year, the team was able to deduce that the virus arrived in Brazil in 2013 during the Confederation Cup, when Tahiti's team played against other teams in a few Brazilian cities, which attracted many tourists from both places. [88] Zika virus usually has very mild, or no symptoms, so it took almost a year for Brazil to confirm the first case of the disease. By then the outbreak was already widespread. Factors associated with the rapid spread of Zika virus in Brazil include the non-immune population, high population density, tropical climate and inadequate control of Aedes mosquitoes in the country. [89] The Zika virus epidemic also revealed structural problems of the health system, in particular in public health services and basic sanitation in Brazil. [90] The above average warm temperatures of 2015C2016 caused by a strong El Nino created an environment conducive to the spread of the Zika Virus in Brazil[2010]. The 2015 -16 El Nino increased ocean and ground surface temperatures to above average [2010]. January 2016 brought about nine consecutive months with temperatures 1.04?C above the global average. [91] It is important to note, however, that while South America had areas experiencing 2.0?C above average temperatures (for 1981C2010), areas including Argentina, Southern Brazil and Uruguay experienced temperatures 0.5?C below average. [91] Precipitation is another crucial factor to consider as Eastern Brazil and other areas in southern South America experienced high amounts of precipitation in early 2016. [91] The environmental conditions of increased rainfall and higher average temperatures in the South American region, lead to both a longer mosquito season and a higher mosquito density[92] which created an environment in which the Zika carrying Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes can thrive. Looking forward, climate models suggest that regions favorable to the Aedes mosquitoes will grow, widening the range of Zika and other mosquito-carried diseases. [93] The potential for epidemics will spread inland and into other regions of the world, not just in tropical environments. [94] Confirmed cases have been reported in 40 countries or territories in South America, North America, and the Caribbean,[95] as well as 16 in the western Pacific and one in Africa since the beginning of 2015 (see table). Many countries with no cases of mosquito transmission have reported travel-related Zika cases: people who moved or came home from a Zika-affected region before they showed symptoms (see table). Zika is a mosquito-borne disease. The resurgence of Aedes aegypti's worldwide distribution over the past 2C3 decades makes it one of the most widely distributed mosquito species. [96] In 2015, Aedes albopictus was present in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions of the Americas, reaching as far north as the Great Lakes of North America and, internationally, living alongside Aedes aegypti in some tropical and subtropical regions.

Disease Outbreaks

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises are set to take place from September 13 to September 17

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises are set to take place from September 13 to September 17. The annual Han Kuang exercises, first held in 1984, are Taiwan’s largest military exercises. They involve all branches of the armed forces and test Taiwan’s combat readiness in case of a Chinese invasion. A digital wargaming component of the exercises already took place in April. But authorities postponed livefire exercises from July to September due to Taiwan’s COVID-19 outbreak. Military authorities also say they have reduced the scale of certain exercises to minimize the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections. Analysts say they will be paying close attention to drills on September 15 at 6:30 am. Those exercises will see a number of Taiwan’s fighter jets in action, including Taiwan-made Indigenous Defense Fighters and F-16 Block 20s. The aircraft will be simulating a response to the destruction of Pingtung military air base runways in various weather conditions.

Military Exercise

Division Street riots

The Division Street riots were episodes of rioting and civil unrest, which started on June 12 and continued through June 14, 1966. These riots are remembered as a turning point in Puerto Rican civic involvement in Chicago. [1][2] This was the first riot in the United States attributed to Puerto Ricans. [3] Puerto Rican migration to Chicago peaked in the 1950s and 60s, and the Puerto Rican population of Chicago jumped from 255 in 1950 to 32,371 in 1960. [4] Puerto Ricans in Chicago worked low-paying jobs in the service industries or labored in factories. This was in part because of the recruitment efforts of Castle, Barton and Associates, an employment agency. They offered domestic and foundry work contracts, and paid the airfare for Puerto Ricans coming to Chicago. [5] Another factor behind Puerto Rican migration to Chicago was the unemployment and harsh economic conditions created by Operation Bootstrap. [5] Some of the new Puerto Rican arrivals settled in Chicago's north side, specifically in Lincoln Park. But by the late 1960s, gentrification took hold in Lincoln Park, and working class Puerto Ricans were displaced by high property taxes and expensive housing. [5] Around the city, some Puerto Ricans faced housing discrimination based on their skin color and ethnicity. Many moved west, settling near Division Street in West Town, Bucktown, and Wicker Park. [6] The Chicago Catholic Church did not offer the Puerto Rican community their own parish, so devout Puerto Ricans had to try to attend existing parishes. In the 1950s and 60s, some white parishes did not accept Puerto Rican parishioners, so Puerto Ricans were displaced, looking for a place to worship and meet. [7] According to Felix M. Padilla, the systematic oppression that Puerto Ricans experienced in Chicago in the 1960s created a psychological climate for riot. Puerto Ricans faced racial discrimination, class-related hardships, and lived on the margins of a city that only valued them for their cheap labor. [8] Puerto Ricans in Chicago carried deep feelings of resentment towards the police. Puerto Ricans associated the police with poor service of the community and brutal, rude interactions. Despite these tense conditions, police superintendent Orlando W. Wilson reported that the police report on racial tensions he ordered on June 7 showed no signs of unrest in the Puerto Rican community. [9] In 1966, Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley declared the first week of June to be "Puerto Rican Week. "[10] On June 12, 1966, Puerto Ricans celebrated the culmination of this week, and their first ethnic parade in downtown Chicago, held on June 11. [11] In the evening, on Division Street in West Town and Humboldt Park, an altercation began between police and revelers near Damen Avenue and Division Street. [11] Police alleged that Arcelis Cruz, a young Puerto Rican man, was armed and involved in a street fight. [12] A white police officer,[13] Thomas Munyon, shot Cruz in the leg. A large crowd gathered, and bystanders became involved. Some gathered to try to help Cruz, others to demonstrate against police violence. [13] More police were called, with canine units. A police officer let a police dog bite a Puerto Rican man on the leg. The crowd of over 4,000 Puerto Ricans attacked the police with rocks, bottles, and cans, and smashed windows on police cars. The crowd overturned some police cars, and set fire to others. More police and canine units were called in, but the rioting continued for three days. As the riot began, a local Spanish-language radio personality, Carlos Agrelot, was broadcasting live, describing the scene on Division Street. His coverage of the violence and protest attracted more people to the streets, even people from other neighborhoods. [10] On the second day of the riot, community organization leaders and clergymen organized a rally. At this rally, organizers urged the crowd of 3,000 Puerto Ricans to end the violence. The police department also ordered officers to de-escalate the conflict. However, after the rally, rioters threw bricks and rocks at police officers, and the riot continued. Rioters targeted white-owned businesses as they looted and burned property in the neighborhood. [13] On the third night, 500 police officers patrolled the Division Street area, attempting to suppress the uprising. Over the course of the three nights of the riot, 16 people were injured, 49 were arrested, and 50 buildings were critically damaged. [14] Following the riot, community leaders organized several peace rallies at Humboldt Park. There were also marches and demonstrations, including a march on June 28, 1966, at which over 200 Puerto Ricans from the Division Street area marched five miles to City Hall to protest the city government's negligence and police brutality. [15] A month after the riot, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations held open hearings, which provided a forum for Puerto Rican and other Spanish-speaking residents of Chicago to discuss problems facing these communities. They discussed the displacement and discrimination in housing, discriminatory practices by the police and fire departments, and poor educational opportunities. The hearings lasted for two days. During the hearings, Puerto Ricans cited a lack of jobs, poor housing and education, little political power, union discrimination, inadequate city services, and police brutality. [14] As a result of these meetings, the Puerto Rican community proposed specific policy recommendations. [16] With support from Community Action Agencies in the Division Street Area, the riots inspired the creation of Puerto Rican community organizations. [17] These include the Spanish Action Committee of Chicago (SACC), the Latin American Defense Organization (LADO), the Bickerdike Revedelopment Corporation, the ASPIRA Association and the Young Lords (in 1968); cultural centers such as the Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center and the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural Center; and a school, the Escuela Superior Puertorriqueña (which is now named Dr. Pedro Albizú Campos Puerto Rican High School). Developing from the riots, these organizations' members were younger and more militant than earlier organizations such as the Caballeros de San Juan, Damas de María and the Puerto Rican Congress.

Riot