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UK finally leaves European Union three-and-a-half years after Brexit vote

The UK has finally left the European Union , drawing a line under one of the most divisive political issues in British history. 52% of people voted to leave the bloc in June 2016, but it took three-and-a-half years, three prime ministers and two general elections to deliver on that result. After three deadline delays, bonds dating back to 1973 when the UK joined the European Economic Community have broken. When the clock struck 11 thousands taking part in a Brexit celebration event in Parliament Square erupted into cheers. An illuminated clock counting down to the deadline was projected onto Downing Street and jubilant Brexiteers people began singing God Save the Queen. Departure day has brought celebrations and protests as the United Kingdom takes a step into a new and uncertain future. Brexit supporters carry flags and placards as they walk down Whitehall in central London on January 31 (Picture: AFP) A Brexit supporter takes part in a rally at Parliament square in London (Picture: PA) The journey is far from over, with both sides now tasked with hammering out a new trade deal within a year. Downing Street marked the last moments in the bloc with a lightshow in the colours of the Union Jack. In an address to the nation broadcast earlier this evening, the PM hailed the historic moment as the ‘dawn of a new era’. He said: ‘For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come. ‘And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss. ‘And then of course there is a third group – perhaps the biggest – who had started to worry that the whole political wrangle would never come to an end. ‘I understand all those feelings and our job as the government – my job – is to bring this country together now and take us forward.’

Withdraw from an Organization

2013 Little India riot

The 2013 Little India riot took place on 8 December 2013 after a fatal accident occurred at SST 21:23 at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road in Little India, Singapore, causing angry mobs of passersby to attack the bus involved and emergency vehicles that had by then arrived at the location. About 300 migrant labourers were involved in the riot which lasted for around two hours. [1] This was the second riot in post-independence Singapore, and the first in 44 years since the 1969 race riots. [2][3][4] The riot continued for approximately two hours, and the situation was brought under control before midnight. [5] Officers from the Special Operations Command (SOC) and Gurkha Contingent were deployed. [5] An estimated 300 police officers were dispatched to deal with the rioting. [4] A witness reported that rioters at the scene were intoxicated with alcohol and threw beer bottles. [6] By 23:45, all rioters had dispersed to the surrounding areas. [7] Twenty-five emergency vehicles were damaged in the riots, alongside five that were set on fire. [11] Video footage uploaded on the Internet shows rioters pushing police cars on their sides and setting an ambulance on fire. [4][5] 39 police, four civil defence and auxiliary officers were injured. [11] Early estimates put the number of rioters at 400, later reduced to 300 in the aftermath of the riot. [2][12] The Singapore Police Force dispatched 300 riot police. [2] The police made 27 arrests in relation to the riots. [6][12] In a police statement released to the media on 9 December, it was specified that of those arrested, 24 were migrant labourers from India, two were migrant labourers from Bangladesh and one was a Singaporean permanent resident. [13][14] Subsequent investigations revealed that the two Bangladeshis and the Singaporean permanent resident were not involved in the incident. [15] From 11 to 14 December 2013, nine more labourers from Tamil Nadu were similarly charged in court for their involvement in the riot. Three were charged on 11 December,[16] four on 12 December,[17] and two on 14 December,[18] bringing the total charged to 33. On 10 February 2014, an Indian construction worker was sentenced to 15 weeks imprisonment on charges related to riots. [19] On 2 October 2014, a man was sentenced to 25 months imprisonment with three strokes of the cane for flipping a police car. [20] On 2 December 2014, a construction worker was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for assaulting a police officer during the riot. [21] In addition, 53 workers were deported for offences ranging from obstructing the police to failing to follow police orders to disperse,[22] while 200 workers received formal advisories to obey the law. [23] The riot eventually led to the implementation of a new law, the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act in 2015 banning consumption of alcohol in all public places from 10:30 pm to 7 am. This also included banning the sales of alcohol products such as Rum and Raisin ice cream[24] between the time periods,[25] which was lifted in 2019. [26][27] According to a statement from the Singapore Police Force, the riots broke out shortly after a fatal road traffic accident between a private bus and a pedestrian[28] at 21:23 SST, at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road. The victim was identified as Sakthivel Kumaravelu, a 33-year-old construction worker from Tamil Nadu, India. [29] Sakthivel succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. [30] The Singapore authorities commissioned a Committee of Inquiry to study the reasons for the riot and its handling, as well as to review the government's management of areas where foreign workers congregate. [31][32] The 55-year-old Singaporean bus driver who caused the fatal traffic accident was not found to be at fault, and was acquitted. [33] The subsequent riots that led to the 27 arrests were classified by the Singapore police under rioting with dangerous weapons. [14] Preliminary investigations found that Sakthivel, while intoxicated, attempted to board the private bus, which was believed to be ferrying foreign workers to the Avery Lodge dormitory. [34] The bus driver requested assistance from a female time-keeper, who was from the Singapore School Transport Association and was responsible for handling transport arrangements, to get Sakthivel to alight, as the latter was causing trouble. [35] The accident occurred shortly after Sakthivel alighted from the bus. [34] Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, stated that the police will "spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with the full force of the law". [36] Later, he told Singaporeans to refrain from negative comments against migrant workers. [37] The country's Deputy Prime Minister, Teo Chee Hean, similarly stated that no effort will be spared in capturing the perpetrators. [5] Then Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who was also a member of parliament for that district, wrote on Facebook that he would consider limiting the sale of liquor within Little India. [31] A temporary ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Little India was in effect during the weekend of 14–15 December; followed by an extension of the ban for 6 months until 24 June 2014 and covered mostly parts of the Central Business District. Since May 2014, a total ban of alcohol with closing of night schools and limitation of nightlife areas took effect. The incident has also raised debate online by Singaporeans on the issues of overcrowding and increasing numbers of migrant workers in Singapore. [33][36] It also highlighted ongoing ethnic tensions within Singapore, rising income inequality, the country's heavy reliance on foreign labour, and the working conditions of migrant workers. [33][38][39] The Singapore authorities have called for calm and warned against speculations. [40] Mainstream media outlets praised and made public appeals to trace a man and other bystanders who attempted to stop the riots, which was captured on video and uploaded to YouTube. [41][42][43] The man in the video footage was initially identified as Thangaval Govindarasu, 38, from Tamil Nadu, after he came forward following appeals for the identity of the man. [41] However, he later claimed he was not the man in the video, although he did attempt to stop the rioting. A coffee shop owner in Little India later claimed that he recognised the man in the footage as a regular customer from Chennai. [41] However, he declined to divulge the name of the customer, and stated he is unaware of where the man worked. [41]  Bangladesh – Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Singapore, Mahbubuz Zaman, was reported as saying that "the news reports that appeared on a section of media and news involving a Bangladeshi worker is not based on facts", and called for the co-operation of the Bangladeshi community with the Singapore authorities. [44]  India – A news report by India's Sun TV on 9 December 2013 attracted strong reactions and controversy in Singapore for erroneously reporting that the deceased was pushed out of the bus by the driver, as well as attacked by locals. [45] In response to protests from Lim Thuan Kuan, Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Sun TV issued a correction the following day and apologised for the error.

Riot

1945 Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash

The 1945 Broadway Consolidated Liberator crash occurred on 22 November 1945 when a Royal Air Force Consolidated Liberator C Mk VIII transport crashed shortly after take-off from RAF Merryfield with the loss of all 27 on board. [1] The Liberator (serial number KH126) was being operated by 53 Squadron on a trooping flight from RAF Merryfield to India. [1][2] It failed to gain enough height to clear a hill. It struck a tree and crashed at White's Farm near Broadway Pound, six miles from the airfield. [1] It burst into flames with the loss of the five-man crew (all but one were Polish) and 22 Army passengers. [1] The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error. The captain completed the first turn to the left after takeoff about 700 feet too low, at about 800 feet instead of the minimum 1,500 feet as mentioned in the departure procedures. Low visibility and poor weather conditions were considered as contributory factors. [3] This article related to the history of England is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Air crash

1967 USS Forrestal fire

On 29 July 1967, a fire broke out on board the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal after an electrical anomaly caused a Zuni rocket on a F-4B Phantom to fire, striking an external fuel tank of an A-4 Skyhawk. The flammable jet fuel spilled across the flight deck, ignited, and triggered a chain-reaction of explosions that killed 134 sailors and injured 161. At the time, Forrestal was engaged in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, during the Vietnam War. The ship survived, but with damage exceeding US$72 million, not including the damage to aircraft. [2][3] Future United States Senator John McCain and future four-star admiral and U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Ronald J. Zlatoper were among the survivors. Another on-board officer, Lieutenant Tom Treanore, later returned to the ship as its commander and retired an admiral. [4] The disaster prompted the Navy to revise its fire fighting practices. It also modified its weapon handling procedures and installed a deck wash down system on all carriers. The newly established Farrier Fire Fighting School Learning Site in Norfolk, Virginia was named after Chief Gerald W. Farrier, the commander of Damage Control Team 8, who was among the first to die in the fire and explosions. Forrestal departed her home port in Norfolk, Virginia in early June 1967. After she completed required inspections for the upcoming West Pacific cruise, she sailed to Brazil for a show of force. She then traveled east around the Horn of Africa and visited Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippine Islands before sailing to Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin on 25 July. After arrival at Yankee Station, aircraft from Attack Carrier Air Wing 17 flew approximately 150 missions against targets in North Vietnam over four days. [5] The ongoing naval bombing campaign during 1967 originating at Yankee Station represented by far the most intense and sustained air attack operation in the U.S. Navy's history. The demand for general-purpose bombs (e.g., "iron bombs") greatly exceeded production. The inventory of bombs dwindled throughout 1966 and became critically low by 1967. [6] This was particularly true for the new 1,000 lb (450 kg) Mark 83, which the Navy favored for its power-to-size ratio. [7] A carrier-launched A-4 Skyhawk, the Navy's standard light attack / ground attack aircraft, could carry either a single 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb, or two 1,000 lb bombs. The latter gave it the ability to strike two separate hardened targets in a single sortie, which was more effective in most circumstances. [8] The U.S. Air Force's primary ground attack aircraft in Vietnam was the much heavier, land-based, F-105 Thunderchief. It could simultaneously carry two 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) M118 bombs and four 750 lb (340 kg) M117 bombs. The Air Force had a large supply of these bombs, and did not rely as heavily on the limited supply of 1,000 lb bombs as did the Navy. [citation needed] In addition to bombs, the ground attack aircraft carried unguided 5 in (127 mm) Mk-32 "Zuni" rockets. These rockets were in wide use although they had a reputation for electrical difficulties and accidental firing. [9] It was common for aircraft to launch with six or more rocket packs, each containing four rockets. [9] Based on lessons learned during Japanese attacks on vessels during World War II, most sailors on board ships after World War II received training in fighting shipboard fires. These lessons were gradually lost and by 1967, the U.S. Navy had reverted to the Japanese model at Midway and relied on specialized, highly trained damage control and fire-fighting teams. [10] The damage control team specializing in on-deck firefighting for Forrestal was Damage Control Team No. 8, led by Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Gerald Farrier. They had been shown films during training of Navy ordnance tests demonstrating how a 1,000 lb bomb could be directly exposed to a jet fuel fire for a full ten minutes and still be extinguished and cooled without an explosive cook-off. [11]:126 However, these tests were conducted using the new Mark 83 1,000 lb bombs, which featured relatively stable Composition H6 explosive and thicker, heat-resistant cases, compared to their predecessors. Because it is relatively insensitive to heat, shock and electricity, Composition H6 is still used as of 2021 in many types of naval ordnance. It is also designed to deflagrate instead of detonate when it reaches its ignition point in a fire, either melting the case and producing no explosion at all, or, at most, a subsonic low order detonation at a fraction of its normal power. [11]:85 On 28 July, the day before the accident, Forrestal was resupplied with ordnance by the ammunition ship USS Diamond Head. The load included sixteen 1,000 lb AN/M65A1 "fat boy" bombs (so nicknamed because of their short, rotund shape), which Diamond Head had picked up from Subic Bay Naval Base and were intended for the next day's second bombing sortie. Some of the batch of AN-M65A1s Forrestal received were more than a decade old, having spent a portion of that exposed to the heat and humidity of Okinawa or Guam,[12] eventually being improperly stored in open-air Quonset huts at a disused ammunition dump on the periphery of Subic Bay Naval Base. Unlike the thick-cased Mark 83 bombs filled with Composition H6, the AN/M65A1 bombs were thin-skinned and filled with Composition B, an older explosive with greater shock and heat sensitivity. [13] Composition B also had the dangerous tendency to become more powerful (up to 50% by weight) and more sensitive if it was old or improperly stored. Forrestal's ordnance handlers had never even seen an AN/M65A1 before, and to their shock, the bombs delivered from Diamond Head were in terrible condition; coated with "decades of accumulated rust and grime" and still in their original packing crates (now moldy and rotten); some were stamped with production dates as early as 1953. Most dangerous of all, several bombs were seen to be leaking liquid paraffin phlegmatizing agent from their seams, an unmistakable sign that the bomb's explosive filler had degenerated with excessive age, and exposure to heat and moisture. [11]:87[14][13] According to Lieutenant R. R. "Rocky" Pratt, a naval aviator attached to VA-106,[15] the concern felt by Forrestal's ordnance handlers was striking, with many afraid to even handle the bombs; one officer wondered out loud if they would survive the shock of a catapult-assisted launch without spontaneously detonating, and others suggested they immediately jettison them. [11]:86 Forrestal's ordnance officers reported the situation up the chain of command to the ship's commanding officer, Captain John Beling, and informed him the bombs were, in their assessment, an imminent danger to the ship and should be immediately jettisoned overboard. [10][6] Faced with this, but still needing 1,000 lb bombs for the next day's missions, Beling demanded Diamond Head take the AN-M65A1s back in exchange for new Mark 83s,[11]:88 but was told by Diamond Head that they had none to give him. The AN-M65A1 bombs had been returned to service specifically because there were not enough Mark 83s to go around. According to one crew member on Diamond Head, when they had arrived at Subic Bay to pick up their load of ordnance for the carriers, the base personnel who had prepared the AN-M65A1 bombs for transfer assumed Diamond Head had been ordered to dump them at sea on the way back to Yankee Station. When notified that the bombs were actually destined for active service in the carrier fleet, the commanding officer of the naval ordnance detachment at Subic Bay was so shocked that he initially refused the transfer, believing a paperwork mistake had been made. At the risk of delaying Diamond Head's departure, he refused to sign the transfer forms until receiving written orders from CINCPAC on the teleprinter, explicitly absolving his detachment of responsibility for the bombs' terrible condition. [6] With orders to conduct strike missions over North Vietnam the next day, and with no replacement bombs available, Captain Beling reluctantly concluded that he had no choice but to accept the AN-M65A1 bombs in their current condition. [10][16][17] In one concession to the demands of the ordnance handlers, Beling agreed to store all 16 bombs alone on deck in the "bomb farm" area between the starboard rail and the carrier's island until they were loaded for the next day's missions. Standard procedure was to store them in the ship's magazine with the rest of the air wing's ordnance; had they been stored as standard, an accidental detonation could easily have destroyed the ship.

Fire

Wichita State University football team plane crash

In clear and calm weather in Colorado at 1:14 p.m. MDT on Friday, October 2, 1970, a chartered Martin 4-0-4 airliner crashed into a mountain eight miles (13 km) west of Silver Plume. [1][2][3][4] Operated by Golden Eagle Aviation, the twin-engined propliner carried 37 passengers and a crew of three; 29 were killed at the scene and two later died of their injuries while under medical care. [5] It was one of two aircraft carrying the 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team to Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State;[6] the second aircraft flew a conventional route and arrived safely in Utah. Pilot errors, including poor in-flight decisions and inadequate pre-flight planning, were officially reported as leading to the crash. [7] About three months before the crash, Wichita State contracted Golden Eagle Aviation to supply a Douglas DC-6B, to fly the team to away games for the 1970 season. [6] The four-engined DC-6 was a large, powerful aircraft that could accommodate the entire team. Golden Eagle Aviation did not own the DC-6, but had an arrangement with the Jack Richards Aircraft Company to use it. [6] After the agreements were made, the DC-6 was damaged in a windstorm, rendering it unavailable for use. [6][7] A pair of Martin 4-0-4s (which had not flown since 1967) were re-certified for flight. On October 2, 1970, these were ferried from the Jack Richards Aircraft Company facilities in Oklahoma City to Wichita, instead of the DC-6. [7] Upon arrival in Wichita, the two aircraft were loaded with luggage and the passengers were boarded. They took off and headed west to a refueling stopover in Denver at Stapleton Airport; from there they would continue to Logan Airport in northern Utah. [8] The two aircraft were dubbed "Gold" and "Black" after the school colors. [6] "Gold", the aircraft that later crashed, carried the starting players, head coach, and athletic director, as well as their wives, other administrators, boosters, and family. The designated "Black" plane transported the reserve players, assistant coaches, and other support personnel. [9] The President of Golden Eagle Aviation, Ronald G. Skipper (1936–2003),[10] was the pilot flying "Gold. "[4] Although occupying the left seat, he was acting in the capacity of a First Officer because he did not have a type rating on the Martin 4-0-4. [7] During the flight to Denver he visited passengers in the cabin, advising them that after refueling they would take a scenic route, near Loveland Ski Area and Mount Sniktau, the proposed alpine skiing venues for the 1976 Winter Olympics, recently awarded to Denver in May. The other crew flying the "Black" aircraft adhered to the original flight plan and took a more northerly route, heading north from Denver to southern Wyoming then west, using a designated airway. Less scenic, this route allowed more time to gain altitude for the climb over the Rocky Mountains. [4][7] While the aircraft were refueled and serviced in Denver, First Officer Skipper purchased aeronautical sectional charts for the contemplated scenic route. [8] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation report stated the First Officer testified that he intended to use the charts to help point out landmarks and objects of interest to the passengers. The report concluded the crew did not allow enough time for the charts to be studied properly to avoid high terrain before takeoff commenced. [7] After takeoff in clear weather, the two aircraft took divergent paths away from Denver. [7] Shortly before the crash, several witnesses described seeing an aircraft flying unusually low towards the Continental Divide. Some witnesses located on higher mountainside locations, such as Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet (3,655 m), reported seeing it flying below them. [7] Crash survivor Rick Stephens was a senior guard and stated in 2013, "...as we flew along over I-70, that there were old mines and old vehicles above us. I noticed we were quite a bit below the top of the mountains. I got up to go to the cockpit, which wasn't unusual to do, and I could tell we were in trouble, looking out the window and seeing nothing but green in front of us. "[11] The overloaded aircraft,[12][13] nearing Loveland Pass as it flew up Clear Creek Valley, became trapped in a box canyon and was unable to climb above the mountain ridges surrounding it on three sides, nor complete a reversal turn away from the sharply rising terrain. [4] At 1:14 p.m. MDT, the "Gold" aircraft struck trees on the east slope of Mount Trelease, 1,600 feet (490 m) below its summit, and crashed. The NTSB report stated a belief that many on board survived the initial impact, based on the testimony of survivors and rescuers. [4][7] The load of fuel on board did not explode immediately, allowing survivors to escape the wreckage, but the passenger cabin was eventually consumed by an explosion before those still alive and trapped inside could escape. [citation needed] Of the total of 40 on board, the death count at the scene was 29, which included 27 passengers, the captain, and flight attendant. One of the deceased passengers was an off-duty flight attendant who was assisting. Two of the initial 11 survivors later died of their injuries to bring the total dead to 31,[7] 14 of whom were Wichita State football players. [11] First to arrive at the crash scene were construction workers from the nearby Eisenhower Tunnel project and motorists on U.S. 6 (I-70). [14] The first officer (company president) survived; he was flying the plane from the left seat. [citation needed] The National Transportation Safety Board report states that weather played no role in the accident,[7] and lists the probable cause to be that the pilot made improper decisions in-flight or in planning: "The intentional operation of the aircraft over a mountain valley route at an altitude from which the aircraft could neither climb over the obstructing terrain ahead, nor execute a successful course reversal. Significant factors were the overloaded condition of the aircraft, the virtual absence of flight planning for the chosen route of flight from Denver to Logan, a lack of understanding on the part of the crew of the performance capabilities and limitations of the aircraft, and the lack of operational management to monitor and appropriately control the actions of the flightcrew. "[7][8] The USU president, vice president, provost, athletic director, and athletic information officer were all unavailable in the immediate aftermath of the crash, leaving the game to be canceled by John S. Flannery, a USU Information Services employee. Utah State's football team held a memorial service at the stadium where the game was to have been played and placed a wreath on the 50-yard line. [5] Wichita State University officials and family members of the survivors were flown to Denver on an aircraft made available by Robert Docking, the Governor of Kansas. [5] Classes at Wichita State were canceled for Monday, October 5, and a memorial service was held that evening on campus at Cessna Stadium. [5][15][16] The remaining members of the Wichita State team, with the NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference allowing freshman players to fill out the squad, decided to continue the 1970 season; it was later designated the "Second Season. "[5] Wichita State and Utah State had played in five of the previous six seasons, but never met again in football. [17] Wichita State discontinued varsity football after the 1986 season. [18] The accident was the first of two college football charter aircraft to crash in 1970; six weeks later, Southern Airways Flight 932, carrying the Marshall University team, crashed in Huntington, West Virginia as the team returned from a game in North Carolina. Wichita State University built a memorial for those who died from the crash called Memorial '70. Every year on October 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial.

Air crash

2009 Iranian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 accident crash

The 2009 Iranian Air Force Il-76MD Adnan 2 accident of 22 September 2009 resulted in the destruction of Iran's only functional airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-76MD Adnan 2. Sources conflict on the cause of the loss, with some stating that there was a mid-air collision with an Iranian Air Force Northrop F-5E Tiger II or a HESA Saeqeh, and others stating that the rotodome detached from the aircraft, striking and removing the tailplane while the aircraft was maneuvering for an emergency landing following an engine fire. A military parade was held in Tehran on 22 September 2009 to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War, and was a send-off for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who was to give a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23 September. [2] A flyby by the Iranian Air Force was part of the parade involving the AWACS-equipped Ilyushin-76MD as well as Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs and HESA Saeqeh aircraft. [3] Sources vary on the cause of the accident. Some state that a fire developed in one of the engines, and that the radome detached when the aircraft was attempting to make an emergency landing on runway 29L at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport. The detached radar dome struck the tail fin, removing it and caused loss of control which led to the aircraft crashing. [4] Other sources state that the Il-76MD and one of the escorts collided in mid-air over the site of the tomb of former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeni. [2][5][6][7] The Ilyushin subsequently crashed in flames 15 km northwest of Varamin, killing all seven crew members on board. [4] Some reports state that no mayday call was made, indicating a sudden event[5] while other reports indicate that there was an emergency call from the aircraft with the pilot reporting an engine fire and calling for an emergency landing. [4] The accident was initially reported on the Islamic Republic News Agency website, but was withdrawn 5 hours later. A video of burning wreckage from the military aircraft surrounded by fire trucks was also shown on state TV. However, president Ahmadinejad made no mention of it during his speech at the parade. [citation needed] A video of the crash appeared on YouTube on 3 June 2011 uploaded by user Pooya Afaghi, showing the stricken IL-76MD with its rear fuselage missing, spiraling down out of control and then impacting the ground. The appearance of the video was reported in the Huffington Post. [8] The aircraft involved was an Ilyushin Il-76MD Adnan 2, a Soviet-built transport aircraft, later converted to an AWACS system by the Iraqi Military Industrialization Corporation for the Iraqi Air Force called the Ilyushin Il-76MD Adnan 2. It had been flown from Iraq to Iran in 1991 during the First Gulf War, given serial number 5-8209 and renamed from "Baghdad" to "Simorgh" (a flying creature of Iranian fable which performs wonders in mid-flight). [2] After arrival in Iran, Russian technicians had reportedly upgraded the aircraft and installed a newer Iranian-made radar, which could trace flying objects within a 1,000 kilometres (540 nmi) range. The aircraft came into service in April 2008 and was the only AWACS-equipped Iranian aircraft. [5] If a mid-air collision was the cause of the accident, some sources state that the second aircraft involved was a Northrop F-5E Tiger II. [2][5][6][7]

Air crash

Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 746 crash

Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 746 was a Fokker F-28 flight of Iran Aseman Airlines operating on the Isfahan–Tehran route in Iran. The flight crashed near the town of Natanz on October 12, 1994, killing all the passengers and crew members. On October 12, 1994, the flight took off from the Isfahan International Airport destination to Mehrabad International Airport with 59 passengers and seven crew on board. About 35 minutes after take off, both engines lost power and shut down due to contaminated fuel. The aircraft went into an uncontrolled descent; and 47 seconds later Flight 746 crashed into the side of a mountain and exploded. The wreckage was found over an area of 300 sq. meters near the town of Natanz. All 59 passengers and 7 crew died in the crash. [1][2]

Air crash

Pan Am Flight 759 crash

Pan Am Flight 759 was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from Miami to San Diego, with en route stops in New Orleans and Las Vegas. On July 9, 1982, the Boeing 727 flying this route crashed in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner after being forced down by a microburst shortly after takeoff. All 145 on board and 8 people on the ground were killed. [1] The crash had the highest number of aviation fatalities in 1982. [2][3] The aircraft involved, a 14-year-old Boeing 727-235, registration N4737, construction number 19457/518, was delivered to National Airlines on January 31, 1968. The aircraft was powered by three Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B turbofan engines,[2] and was renamed from 37 Susan/Erica to Clipper Defiance after National was merged with Pan Am. At the time of accident, the aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and one non-revenue passenger in the cockpit jumpseat, along with a crew of seven. The captain was 45-year-old Kenneth L. McCullers, who had 11,727 flying hours, including 10,595 hours on the Boeing 727. McCullers was described by others as an "above average" pilot, who was "comfortable" to fly with because of his excellent judgement and ability to exercise command. [1]:78 The First Officer was 32-year-old Donald G. Pierce, who had 6,127 flying hours, including 3,914 hours on the Boeing 727. [1]:78 Pierce was described by other captains as a conscientious pilot with excellent knowledge of aircraft systems and company flight procedures and techniques. The flight engineer was 60-year-old Leo B. Noone, who had 19,904 flying hours, including 10,508 hours on the Boeing 727. [1]:78–79 All three flight crew, including the captain, the first officer and the second officer, were reported having no sleep or health problems, and had passed all proficiency checks without issues. [1]:4–5 The weather forecast issued at 07:40 on July 9 by the New Orleans National Meteorological Center contained thunderstorms, possible severe turbulence, icing, and wind shear. The weather chart at 18:00 local time identified a high pressure system located 60 nautical miles (69 mi; 110 km) off the Louisiana coast. No fronts or low pressure areas were within 100 nautical miles (120 mi; 190 km) of the airport. The forecast between 1200 and 2200 indicated "scattered clouds, variable to broken clouds at 3,000 feet (910 m), thunderstorms, and moderate rain showers." According to the NWS (National Weather Service), there were no severe weather warnings for the time and area of the accident. [1]:1.7 Flight 759 began its takeoff from Runway 10 at the New Orleans International Airport (now Louis Armstrong New Orleans International), in Kenner, Louisiana at 16:07:57 central daylight time, bound for Las Vegas, Nevada. At the time of Flight 759's takeoff, there were thunderstorms over the east of the airport and east-northeast of the departure end of runway 10. The winds were reported to be "gusty and swirling. "[1]:2.2.2 First officer Pierce was the pilot flying and captain McCullers was the pilot monitoring, as recorded on the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder (CVR):[1]:3 Flight 759 lifted off the runway, climbed to an altitude of between 95 and 150 feet (29 and 46 m), and then began to descend. About 2,376 feet (724 m) from the end of runway, the aircraft struck a line of trees at an altitude of about 50 feet (15 m). The aircraft continued descending for another 2,234 feet (681 m), hitting trees and houses. At 16:09:01, the aircraft crashed into the residential area of Kenner, about 4,610 feet (1,410 m) from the end of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact, explosion, and subsequent ground fire. [4] A total of 153 people were killed (all 145 passengers and crew on board and 8 on the ground). [1]:1.1 Another 4 people on the ground sustained injuries. In one of the destroyed houses, a 16-month-old baby girl was discovered in a crib covered with debris that protected her from the flames, sustaining only minor burns. [5] The child's mother and 4-year-old sister were killed. The child's father was at work when the accident occurred. [6] In total, six houses were destroyed; five houses were damaged substantially. [7] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the accident was the aircraft's encounter with microburst-induced wind shear during the liftoff, which imposed a downdraft and a decreasing headwind, the effects of which the pilot would have had difficulty recognizing and reacting to in time for the aircraft's descent to be stopped before its impact with trees. [8] Contributing to the accident was the limited capability of then current wind shear detection technology. [1] The investigation noted the failure of the US Government to "put out proper weather information that day and to maintain wind shear detection devices at the airport. "[9] The New York Times reported that: According to witnesses, a wind shear alert was mentioned on New Orleans Airport radio frequencies on July 9, before Flight 759 took off. But the flight crew had been briefed with a recorded weather advisory that was two hours old, though airport routine is for hourly recordings of weather information. There were no procedures at the airport for advising flight crews that updated weather announcements were available. [10] As a result, millions of dollars were paid out as compensation to various families affected by the crash. [11][12] Flight 759, along with Delta Air Lines Flight 191 which crashed due to similar circumstances three years later, led to the development of the Airborne wind shear detection and alert system and the Federal Aviation Administration mandate to install windshear detection systems at airports and on board aircraft in the U.S. by 1993. [13][14] A memorial to the accident is located at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Kenner, Louisiana. Royd Anderson wrote and produced a documentary on the crash in 2012. [16]

Air crash

Opinion:After a Taliban takeover, the world must prevent starvation in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is no longer in the headlines — after dominating them during a harrowing August in which the Taliban seized power, triggering a fearful mass exodus from Kabul. In the chaos, a terrorist attack killed 13 U.S. military personnel; then, a mistaken U.S. drone strike killed 10 innocent Afghans. Yet the country’s crisis has mutated, not ended. ArrowRight The fate of those who want to flee the new regime remains unresolved, with governments and private organizations scrambling to organize escape for groups such as students of the American University of Afghanistan. The Biden administration has revised upward the number of U.S. citizens remaining in the country, which it estimated at about 100 shortly after the Aug. 31 troop withdrawal deadline. On Oct. 26, Pentagon official Colin Kahl told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the State Department and private organizations have extracted 314 Americans and 266 lawful permanent residents since Sept. 1. Mr. Kahl also testified that there were an additional 196 Americans in the country who want to leave and are ready to do so. Meanwhile, of the roughly 28,000 Afghan interpreters and others who had helped U.S. forces and organizations and had started to apply for special immigrant visas, only about 8,500, and their families, got out before Aug. 31, according to Mr. Kahl’s testimony. These numbers define some of the United States’ unfulfilled responsibilities in Afghanistan — but hardly all of them. The country’s dire economic situation, and the potential for widespread hunger, will soon call for action as well. Decades of war, a post-Aug. 31 financial collapse and drought have devastated a country where about half of the 39 million people already lived below the poverty line. Some 6.8 million Afghans, mainly located in the country’s northern half, face food scarcity, requiring “urgent lifesaving support,” according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification , a consortium of nongovernmental organizations. These estimates bolster the World Food Program’s warning, issued Oct. 25, that “Afghanistan is becoming the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with needs surpassing those in Ethiopia, South Sudan , Syria and Yemen.” The WFP says it is feeding 5 million people in the country, but it will need an additional $220 million a month to cope with the deteriorating situation. On Oct. 28, the State Department announced $144 million in new aid , which, officials said, will “flow through independent humanitarian organizations” — not the Taliban. The amount is more than double the $64 million the United States had pledged at an international donors conference in September, and came after the first direct U.S.-Taliban talks since Aug. 31 — which produced a pledge from the Taliban to let foreign-based aid groups deliver help “transparently.” The United States is still withholding $9 billion in Afghan assets, along with political recognition, as — for now — it should, despite fresh demands from the Taliban to release it. This is leverage to ensure the Taliban lives up to its commitments and respects the needs of its own people. In helping feed the Afghan people, the United States is signaling a measure of good faith after years of bitter conflict. The Taliban’s reciprocation — or lack thereof — could shape the relationship beyond that. The Post’s View | About the Washington Post Editorial Board Editorials represent the views of The Washington Post as an institution, as determined through debate among members of the Editorial Board , based in the Opinions section and separate from the newsroom. Members of the Editorial Board and areas of focus: Deputy Editorial Page Editor Karen Tumulty ; Deputy Editorial Page Editor Ruth Marcus ; Associate Editorial Page Editor Jo-Ann Armao (education, D.C. affairs); Jonathan Capehart (national politics); Lee Hockstader (immigration; issues affecting Virginia and Maryland); David E. Hoffman (global public health); Charles Lane (foreign affairs, national security, international economics); Heather Long (economics); Molly Roberts (technology and society); and Stephen Stromberg (elections, the White House, Congress, legal affairs, energy, the environment, health care).

Regime Change

Kiss forced to cancel US concerts as Gene Simmons tests positive for Covid-19

Members of the rock band Kiss perform on New Year’s Eve at Atlantis, The Palm on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National Sep 2, 2021 Kiss have postponed four North American concerts after bassist Gene Simmons tested positive for Covid-19. The news comes a week after the band’s singer, Paul Stanley , was also diagnosed with the virus, forcing the group to pull out of two shows. Kiss aim to resume the US run of their End of the Road world tour on Thursday, September 9, in Irvine, California. The band and crew are currently isolating with new dates for the cancelled gigs to be announced soon. A post shared by KISS (@kissonline) “While Paul Stanley recently tweeted that he has recovered from Covid, Gene Simmons has now tested positive and is experiencing mild symptoms,” the band posted on their Instagram account. “The band and crew will remain at home and isolate for the next 10 days and doctors have indicated the tour should be able to resume on September 9 at FivePoint Amphitheatre. All previously purchased tickets will be honoured for the new dates once announced.” Tough safety measures for the tour The cancelled shows underscore the insidious nature of the virus, occurring despite the band implementing rigorous safety measures for the large-scale tour. A post shared by KISS (@kissonline) Not only are the band and crew fully vaccinated, but the musicians and supporting staff operate in separate bubbles overseen by a full-time safety protocol officer who ensures all measures are in line with government regulations. As for their popular meet and greet packages, the group found a novel way to take photos with fans by standing behind a Plexiglas screen. It began in Dubai Many of these stringent measures were first road-tested in Dubai, where the band played an explosive New Year’s Eve concert at Atlantis, The Palm. Performing to a small audience on the ground and streamed to millions online, the concert was Kiss’s first show in more than six months and they took no chances when it came to preparing safely. “We had ongoing Covid-19 tests and our rehearsal space is locked, sterilised and sanitised every day,” Stanley told The National at the time. “Everybody is monitored constantly and will be until the time we arrive in Dubai. We basically want to celebrate without being a threat.” Simmons also told The National the group flew to Dubai in virtual isolation as an additional safety measure. “Each of us are going to be inside our own cubicle. Nobody can get into it,” he said. "In fact, the food is going to be put in through a portal, so we won’t even see the hand. It's just going to kind of magically come through. So no one has to breathe the same air and all that.” On the ground, the band and crew underwent a battery of regular health checks including PCR swabs and, in some cases, blood tests in the lead-up to the Dubai show. However, Covid-19 still found a way to temporarily silence one of the world’s most spectacular music tours. That said, demand is high with more than 70 shows remaining, encompassing the US, Australia, South America and Europe before winding down in Amsterdam, Netherlands, next July. Gene Simmons on Kiss's NYE show in Dubai: 'We have about $1 million worth of pyrotechnics' Speaking before the Dubai gig that kicked off the tour, Stanley said he was aware the entertainment industry was looking at the band as an example to conduct safe and high-quality mass performances during the pandemic. “If everybody is willing to do this within the parameters of what is safe, not only for the entertainers but for the audience, then we can move forward,” he said.

Organization Closed

Lime green creek in Canberra's inner-north prompts confusion

From thick smoke blanketing the city to stifling weather that is breaking records, Canberrans have seen their share of unusual environmental phenomena this week. Then a stormwater system turned green. Jonah Lafferty stumbled across the creek in Canberra's inner-north this morning and was struck by its vivid colour. "It looked bizarre. I had absolutely no clue as to why the creek was lime green," he said. "It looked like perhaps a scene from when the Canberra Raiders were in 'the grannie'. "I've lived in Canberra for a while. I'm a big fan of our stormwater system, but I've never seen it lime green." The ACT Government, as it turns out, was behind the vivid change to the water in Sullivan's Creek in Lyneham. A spokeswoman for the government said the Environmental Protection Authority had used the dye as part of a pollution investigation. "The dye, Fluorescein, is non-toxic and causes no environmental harm," she said. "It is expected that the dye will flow into the Lyneham pond and to be clear within a week." Mr Lafferty said he was relieved to learn the creek was not in any danger. "It was a pretty interesting spectacle to see the creek lime green," he said. "But I'm surprised that they didn't put up any signs or anything just letting people know what was going on." )

Environment Pollution

Kosovo accepted as member of Uefa after Congress vote

Kosovo accepted as member of Uefa after Congress vote Uefa members vote 28-24 in favour of admission Kosovo now likely to apply for Fifa membership A delegation member of Kosovo celebrates Uefa’s decision in Budapest. Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images A delegation member of Kosovo celebrates Uefa’s decision in Budapest. Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images Reuters Tue 3 May 2016 12.46 BST Last modified on Mon 20 Feb 2017 11.44 GMT Kosovo was accepted as a member of Uefa on Tuesday, becoming the 55th member of European football’s governing body despite strong opposition from neighbouring Serbia, from which it declared independence in 2008. Uefa’s annual congress voted by 28 votes to 24 to accept Kosovo’s application. Two votes were declared invalid. Read more Kosovo journalists outside the hall cheered the decision, which means teams from Kosovo can enter European club and national team competitions and paves the way for the republic to apply for Fifa membership . The Kosovo president Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook page: “Kosovo in Uefa! The best news for countless fans in our republic. Now we will play in international championships, some games will be won some will be lost but no one will ever keep us out from green fields.” Before the vote, the Serbian FA president Tomislav Karadzic had urged the Congress to reject the application, saying it was a case of politics interfering with sport. “This is a political, not a footballing proposal,” he said. “We are facing a stern test, we must say no to politics, no to divisions that are maybe detrimental. “It would create tumult in the region and open a Pandora’s box throughout Europe.” Kosovo will apply next week to join Fifa and could play in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers if accepted. Kosovo were granted permission two years ago to play friendly matches but with restrictions, which included a ban on displaying national symbols or playing national anthems at games. Topics

Join in an Organization

Slovak film Lines wins top prize at Ji.hlava documentary film festival

Published on 31.10.2021 09:27 (updated on 31.10.2021) Reading time: 2 minutes The Slovak film Lines, which charts life in contemporary Bratislava, won the Opus Bonum for best world documentary at the 25th edition of the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, which concluded on Saturday. Lines was selected among 16 films in competition for the top international prize. Brotherhood, which follows a Bosnian pastoral family, won the Czech Joy section, competing with 18 films as the best Czech documentary at this year's festival. The awards presented at the festival's closing ceremony yesterday were paintings created by a robot inspired by emotions triggered from Donald Trump's Twitter account. The awards were created by Czech-Argentine artist Federico Diaz, who built an artificial neural network that studies text on the level of emotions. In the future, the festival's awards should be the robot's depiction of the winning films, festival director Marek Hovorka said. "Diaz studies emotions because they were created even before speech and because they are something we all share regardless the language we speak, they are more universal," Hovorka said. The Life Achievement Award for at the Ji.hlava festival was presented to Czech documentary filmmaker Jana Ševčíková, who is currently working on her eighth film. Hovorka said that Ševčíková has never cared about the quantity of her films, but focused on their quality instead. Her works are remarkable for their outstanding empathy and deep authenticity, he added. Brotherhood, directed by Francesco Montagner, tells the story of Bosnian brothers who grew up amid strict Islamic rules and try to navigate their own path through life as adults. Prokop Souček won Best Cinematography for his work on the film. In Lines, director Barbora Sliepková sets her story amidst the hustle and bustle of life in modern Bratislava. Through intimate interviews with residents, the documentary also depicts personal and community life in the city. Sliepková also won the award for the best debut film. K Novému dvoru, Praha 4 - Lhotka Sudoměřská, Praha 3 - Žižkov Na Malé Šárce, Praha 6 - Nebušice Smrčkova, Praha 8 - Libeň Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Ji.hlava festival was held online in 2020. This year's edition welcomed audiences back to the cinemas, but the festival will follow up with a two-week program that offers more than 100 films from the 2021 festival online. As of Sunday from 6:00 p.m., viewers can watch not only most of the winning films, but also some of the most interesting documentaries that Ji.hlava presented this year, festival spokesperson Zuzana Kopáčová stated. The festival presented over 300 films from 68 countries. Approximately 120 documentary films competed for awards across six categories.

Awards ceremony

EPA finds tyres were buried at six north-west New South Wales coalmines without a licence

EPA finds tyres were buried at six north-west New South Wales coalmines without a licence Large mining tyres have been buried on-site at six open-cut coalmines in north-west New South Wales, without the appropriate licence conditions, according to environmental authorities. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded an investigation into the practice, after it received a report in 2020 that this had occured at one mine in the Namoi region. Its director of regulatory operations, Steven Budgen, said the EPA had found "instances of tyres being buried without necessary licence conditions at various times between 2014 and 2020". "While no environmental harm was found to have occurred, the EPA issued official cautions to all six of the open-cut coalmines we investigated," Mr Budgen said. The investigation followed an application earlier this year by Whitehaven Coal (WHC) to bury tyres onsite at its Tarrawonga and Werris Creek mines, which the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) approved. WHC currently operates two other mines in the Gunnedah Basin, at Maules Creek and Narrabri, while Idemitsu also runs one at Boggabri. The finding has further frustrated local residents, who have argued the method of disposal poses a risk to the surrounding environment and to their water source. Maules Creek resident and CWA branch president Libby Laird said the EPA's conclusion was a relief, after the community had alerted the authority to the practice. But, she said, she would have liked to have seen a harsher penalty. "A caution is important. I think a prosecution would be a better strategy to [establish] a deterrent." Ms Laird said the DPIE's approval of Whitehaven's applications earlier this year, prior to the conclusion of this investigation, indicated a flaw in the New South Wales planning system. "It doesn't work for the community and it doesn't work for the environment, but it does work for the mining companies," she said. "Tyres being buried in the water source or on the embankment is not going to be great for long-term water use." WHC declined to provide further comment but, in a statement to the ABC earlier this year, it had said the on-site disposal of tyres was permissible in New South Wales in selected circumstances. "Tyre stewardship is an area [the] industry is looking at more closely in a sustainability context," a spokesperson said. "Whitehaven is committed to reviewing its approach regularly to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of alternative approaches." Australian Tyre Recyclers' Association executive officer Robert Kelman criticised the EPA for not handing the mines a harsher penalty. "While the rest of society — and our economy — pays for their waste to be removed and processed, the mining industry appears to be enabled by the EPA to simply dump this material on-site," Mr Kelman said. "If recycling rather than dumping these used mining tyres made the mining company a profit, they'd do it."

Environment Pollution

12 of the most expensive celebrity divorces ever

How big the settlement could be: The details are still unknown but it could reach $73 billion. Bill Gates is the fourth richest man in the world and has a net worth of $146 billion, according to Bloomberg. The pair met while they were both working at Microsoft in 1987, and they have since collaborated on a number of philanthropic efforts including their joint foundation. According to Forbes, their shared charitable foundation has a trust endowment of $49.8 billion. What exactly will happen to their finances is still unknown. But the Gates family resides in Washington, one of nine states where residents can receive a 50/50 split of marital assets. While that is not mandatory, it suggests Melinda Gates could walk away with as much as $73 billion in assets. Each of the three Gates children is already set to inherit $10 million, with the rest of the couple's wealth going to charity. According to TMZ, the couple had a separation contract, not a prenuptial agreement, prior to filing. A separation agreement is a non-legal document that lists a couple's rights and obligations, including child support and custody, and is signed without involving a court.  According to Insider, in the divorce filings, the couple asked that their real property, personal property, and debts to be split according to their separation contract. Melinda Gates did not ask for spousal support, which could indicate the large sum of money she will receive from other assets. What went wrong: In a tweet, Bill Gates announced the couple's divorce on May 3. "After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage," Gates wrote. "Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives." "We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our lives," the statement continued. "We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life." According to the TMZ report, the divorce filings claimed that the Gates' marriage was "irretrievably broken." Melinda Gates was listed as the petitioner and Bill Gates as the respondent, with a trial date set for April 4, 2022. Settlement: Reported $38 billion Bezos is the richest person in the world, estimated to be worth over $177 billion, according to Forbes. Bezos' home state prior to his divorce is in Washington, which happens to be one of nine states where residents are entitled to a 50/50 split of marital assets. The couple finalized their divorce in July 2019, leaving MacKenzie Bezos, now Mackenzie Scott, with a partial stake in Amazon worth an estimated $38 billion. At the time, she was named the second wealthiest woman in the world. After the divorce, Jeff Bezos' net worth still stood at an estimated $121 billion. Scott's current net worth is now listed at $53 billion, according to Forbes, making her the third richest woman in the world. According to CNBC, the couple never signed a prenuptial agreement. What went wrong: In a lengthy tweet, Jeff Bezos announced the world's wealthiest couple was ending their marriage amicably after a quarter of a century. In their statement, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos shared their decision came after "a long period of loving exploration and trial separation."  The two said that they would remain friends and a family with their four children. However, there was apparently more to the story as mere hours after the couple announced their split, the National Enquirer broke the news of a relationship between Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez.  The controversial publication claimed it had been conducting a four-month investigation into his alleged affair with Sanchez and had obtained "raunchy messages and erotic selfies," some of which were later published. The Washington Post later reported that Bezos had preemptively announced his divorce on Twitter as a way to get ahead of the National Enquirer report. A lengthy investigation was launched into how the photos and texts were leaked, and even if it was a politically motivated attack on Bezos and Amazon. A New York Times report suggested that Sanchez sent them to her brother, Michael Sanchez, who then sold them to the National Enquirer. Bezos later claimed that the material was used to extort him. Bezos and Sanchez are still dating. Mackenzie Scott married science teacher Dan Jewett in March 2021. They live together with her four children. Settlement: Reported $1.7 billion What went wrong: After 32 years of marriage, the Murdochs called it quits in 1999. Of the $1.7 billion in assets Rupert gave to Torv, $110 million was in cash, according to ABC News. After the split, Rupert was married just 17 days later to 30-year-old Wendi Deng, whom he met while married to Torv. Murdoch filed for divorce from Deng in June 2013.  "I think that Rupert's affair with Wendi Deng – it's not an original plot – was the end of the marriage," Torv told Australian Women's Weekly in 2001. "His determination to continue with that. I thought we had a wonderful, happy marriage. Obviously, we didn't." "[He] was extremely hard, ruthless and determined that he was going to go through with this, no matter what I wanted or what I was trying to do to save the marriage. He had no interest in that whatsoever," she added of a possible reconciliation. Settlement: Reported $425 million What went wrong: Gibson told Deadline the pair separated in 2006 the day after he was arrested in Malibu for an investigation of driving under the influence which infamously led to Gibson's expletive-ridden anti-Semetic tirade. Moore filed for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. A month earlier, Gibson was spotted with singer-songwriter Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he had a child in October of that year.    The couple's prenup reportedly entitled Moore to half of everything Gibson earned from their marriage starting in 1980, according to People. It's estimated Moore received about $425 million. The pair, who were married for nearly 30 years years, have seven children together. Settlement: Reported $400 million What went wrong: Robert L. Johnson and Sheila Crump built their fortune together over 33 years of marriage from 1969 to 2002 with BET, which Robert Johnson founded in 1980. BET sold to Viacom for $3 billion, according to Fortune. Crump said in 2004's "The Billion Dollar BET" that Robert had a three-year affair and at least one other. Following the divorce, Crump married Arlington County Circuit Court Chief Judge William T. Newman, who presided over her divorce. Settlement: Reported $168 million What went wrong: Michael married Juanita Vanoy during his second season with the Chicago Bulls in 1989 in a small Las Vegas wedding.  Vanoy filed for divorce in 2002, but the couple decided to try and work things out instead. At the end of 2016, the Jordans decided to split for good after 17 years together. According to People, the divorce came as a surprise to some friends since the two were seen spending time together in the days beforehand, attending their son's basketball game.  The couple's lawyers released a statement saying the two "mutually and amicably" ended their marriage. Settlement: Reported $150 million  What went wrong: Singer Neil Diamond and then-wife Murphy divorced in March 1995 after 25 years of marriage. Forbes reported Diamond's $300 million estate was divided up, with Murphy receiving half.  In 1996, Diamond said he blamed himself for much of the relationship going south. "I assume a lot of responsibility for what went wrong, but I was taken aback by how many friends dropped me," he told People. Years later, Diamond said Murphy got less than $150 million. "She got enough to live on for the rest of her life," he said, according to the Daily Mail.  Settlement: Reported $110 million  What went wrong: After Woods crashed his Escalade into the tree outside his Florida home in 2009, the golf star admitted to multiple affairs. The two announced their divorce in 2010 after six years of marriage. Nordegren received a reported $110 million in the settlement, according to the New York Daily News. Settlement: Reported $100 million What went wrong: A California judge refused to recognize the couple's prenuptial agreement scrawled on a napkin and awarded Irving $100 million after the four years of marriage in 1989, according to Forbes. Irving told the Los Angeles Times in 1994 their ambitious careers may have got the best of them.  "During my marriage to Steven, I felt like a politician's wife," said Irving. "There were certain things expected of me that definitely weren't me. One of my problems is that I'm very honest and direct. You pay a price for that. But then I behaved myself and I paid a price too." Settlement: Between $85 million and $118 million What went wrong: Harrison Ford and screenwriter Melissa Mathison were together for 17 years. They first met on the set of "Apocalypse Now" in 1979.  The pair separated in 2000 amid reports he was seeing a younger woman.  "We have been living apart for the past month," the couple said in a statement released November 2000. "We sincerely hope that we can work out our differences." They divorced three years later. Mathison died in 2015. Settlement: $76 million to $92 million What went wrong: The director and singer called it quits in 2008 after being married for just under eight years.  In 2011, Ritchie opened up about the divorce in "Details" magazine saying he felt like he stepped into a soap opera but that he didn't regret his time with the singer. Madonna later told Newsweek that the spark went out in their relationship. "It's not as romantic as it used to be. You think, 'This isn't what I thought it was going to be,' and 'How much am I willing to sacrifice?'" Madonna said. Madonna's publicist told the Associated Press the divorce settlement would be at least $76 million. Settlement: Reported $80 million What went wrong: Costner and Silva met at California State University in 1975 and married two and a half years later. They announced their divorce after 16 years of marriage in 1994. According to People, Costner reportedly had a wandering eye and Silva wasn't a fan of his "sexy roles" and she made an ultimatum to stop doing them or quit the movie business.  "We have amicably resolved all issues regarding our children and financial affairs and a full marital settlement has been reached," Costner and Silva said in a statement.

Famous Person - Divorce

Looking at the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning while boating

RELATED: Medical Examiner: 2 adults, 1 child died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Lake Erie boating incident “It’s an odorless, tasteless gas so you don’t know it’s actually there until it’s too late,” says BM2, Nicholas Durfey, with the U.S. Coast Guard. While when most people think of carbon monoxide and boating, they think of the back of the boat near the exhaust fumes. While that could be a problematic spot, it’s not always the main culprit. Martin and Durfey point out that in board engines, batteries, generators, and engine compartments all have the potential to release the dangerous gas. The way the boat is positioned on the water also plays a role is where the gas ends up. The important thing is knowing what to look out for, but unfortunately, the symptoms are similar to sea sickness. Durfey says, “You’re not feeling good, you have a headache. You’re feeling nauseous.” “Blurry visions, queasy stomach or nausea are things again associated with being on boats so we may misdiagnose those,” says Martin. Both Martin and Durfey say the best thing to do is get the person to fresh air as quickly as possible and call authorities. They also recommend marine grade carbon monoxide detectors be installed on all boats, because most of the time you just don’t know it’s there, until it’s too late. “If you’re in a confined space or if you’re up in it close, you’re not necessarily going to smell it but you’re getting a full face exposure to carbon monoxide,” says Durfey. Martin says, “A lot of times deaths can be attributed to drowning when in essence they were quite possibly caused by carbon monoxide from the boat.”

Mass Poisoning

Tree loppers cop $30k in COVID fines days after they were busted doorknocking in Newcastle

A group of Sydney tree loppers who were doorknocking for business in the NSW Hunter region have been fined more than $30,000 for breaching public health orders. The group of men is separate to another group of Western Sydney tree loppers who are under police investigation for also doorknocking in the region and later tested positive to COVID. Police said they received a tip-off about the latest incident from the public via Crime Stoppers yesterday. "Police spoke with one of the groups today, who told police they had been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern," police said in a statement. "Inquiries revealed the 27-year-old company owner's Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney to enter regional NSW contained untrue and inaccurate information. "Further inquiries revealed that the 25-year-old co-owner of the business did not have a permit to leave Greater Sydney for work purposes in regional NSW, and that other employees hadn't had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney, as required under the public health order."

Organization Fine

1843 Guadeloupe earthquake

The 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake occurred at 10:37 local time on 8 February in the island of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles. [3] It had an estimated magnitude (scale unspecified) of 8.5, making it the strongest recorded earthquake in the Caribbean and a maximum perceived intensity of shaking of IX on the Mercalli intensity scale. [2] The earthquake was felt widely throughout the Caribbean and as far away as New York. [3] Around 1,500 to 5,000 people were killed. The Lesser Antilles are an island arc formed above the destructive plate boundary where the North American Plate is being subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate at a rate of about 2 cm per year. Historical earthquakes in this region include large megathrust earthquakes on the plate interface, such as those in 1839 and 1843, and smaller intraplate earthquakes within the arc itself, associated with oblique convergence on the plate boundary. [2] The magnitude of the earthquake was calculated in the range 7.5–8.0 by Bernard & Lambert in 1988. This was reassessed in 2011 by Feuillet and others, giving an 8.5 magnitude. [2] Later work by Hough in 2013, taking account of reports of the earthquake from the US, supported a magnitude of at least 8.5 for this event. [3] On Guadeloupe, Pointe-à-Pitre suffered severe damage with a maximum of 8–900 houses being destroyed of the 1,222 that existed before the earthquake. [4] The earthquake was quickly followed by fires that caused further destruction. [5] The island of Antigua was also badly affected, with all churches and mills throughout the island reported destroyed. Forty deaths were reported. Damage was also reported from Montserrat, with six casualties. [5]

Earthquakes

Trump Administration Announces US Withdrawal From UN Human Rights Council

A day after the commissioner criticized the White House’s heartbreaking and cruel immigration policy the Trump administration announced that the U.S. would be leaving the United Nations Human Rights Council. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said “anti-Israel bias” led to the U.S. leaving the human rights organization. “The thought that any State would seek to deter parents by inflicting such abuse on children is unconscionable,” U.N. Commissioner Zeid Raad al-Hussein said Monday. In just a few months, the U.S. has separated at least 2,300 kids from their parents when they crossed the border into the country, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Celebrities, politicians, and millions of Americans across the country have called on the Trump administration to end the cruel practice. Dr. Colleen Kraft, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics , called the border policy “government-sanctioned child abuse.” UN Human Rights commissioner: "In the United States, I'm deeply concerned by recently adopted policies which punish children for their parents’ actions … The thought that any State would seek to deter parents by inflicting such abuse on children is unconscionable."

Withdraw from an Organization

1919 Actors' Equity Association strike

The 1919 Actors' Equity Association strike officially spanned from August 7, 1919, to September 6, 1919. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the theatre industry was revolutionized by powerful management groups that monopolized and centralized the industry. These groups created harsh working conditions for the actors. On May 26, 1913, actors decided to unionize, and they formed the Actors' Equity Association (AEA or "Equity"). After many failed attempts to negotiate with the producers and managers for fair treatment and a standard contract, Equity declared a strike against the Producing Managers' Association on August 7, 1919. During the strike, the actors walked out of theaters, held parades in the streets, and performed benefit shows. Equity received support from the theatrical community, the public, and the American Federation of Labor, and on September 6, 1919, the actors won the strike. The producers signed a contract with the AEA that contained nearly all of Equity's demands. The strike was important because it expanded the definition of labor and altered perceptions about what types of careers could organize. The strike also encouraged other groups within the theatre industry to organize. In 1896, successful theatre owners and booking managers Marc Klaw and A.L. Erlanger combined with four other theatre bookers/owners to form the Theatrical Syndicate. The Syndicate applied big business practices to the theatre industry, creating a booking monopoly. [2] The group owned three quarters of the theatres in America, including 37 first-class theatres, and had full control over the locations of each play, script changes, and their box office shares. [3] Shortly after the formation of the Theatrical Syndicate, the Shubert brothers started their own monopolistic venture, creating competition for the Syndicate. In centralizing the theatre industry, these groups also imposed new, strict working conditions for actors. By 1913, actors and actresses had an extensive list of grievances against their managers and producers. Producers had full power over determining their actors' working conditions and pay scale. [4] Actors' rehearsal time was both unlimited and uncompensated; they could spend weeks to months without rehearsal compensation. When evening performances were cancelled, managers would make up for the lost show by adding an additional matinee performance at the next day's location. Performers were often not compensated for either the cancelled show or the added matinee. Actors were also responsible for paying for their own stage costumes and travel. Another industry-wide grievance regarded the "satisfaction clause," commonly referred to as the "joker clause," found in most actors' contracts with their managers. This clause stated that the manager could fire an actor if the actor did not play his or her part to the manager's satisfaction. This gave managers the power to fire actors or cut actors' salaries without warning and for any reason. [5] To combat these grievances, actors met on January 13, 1913, to discuss the possibility of organization. [3] While organizations such as the Actors' Society of America had been formed previously to fight control of the Syndicate, their membership and influence had largely diminished by 1912, and the actors wanted to create a new organization focused on only their economic grievances. [6] Their goal was to resolve the exploitation of the actor in the theatre industry and to establish a uniform contract that pleased both the manager and the actor. [3] 112 actors officially formed the Actors Equity Association in New York City on May 26, 1913. They elected Francis Wilson as the association's president. [3] By the end of its first year, Equity's membership reached over 1,500 and included many well-known actors. [citation needed] In 1914, Equity began working to develop a standard contract to present to the United Managers Protective Association (UMPA), the managers' combination that controlled the majority of the industry. The UMPA was formed by the Theatrical Syndicate, the Shuberts, and other independent producers in response to Equity's formation. [6] This contract included provisions for the number of free rehearsals managers could require of players. It also demanded extra pay when performances numbered more than eight per week, at least a two-week notice of dismissal, and that the managers cover travel and costuming expenses. [3] The managers largely ignored the actors' demands for three years. [7] On October 2, 1917, following Equity's first efforts to join the AFL, the UMPA voted to sign a standard contract that would be valid for one year and was to be used by all companies under their control. The contract included the majority of Equity's demands. However, by December of that year, managers were consistently violating the contract and refusing to acknowledge Equity as a legitimate organization. Early in 1919, the UMPA dissolved and formed the Producing Managers’ Association (PMA), which continued violating the UMPA-AEA standard contract. [8] In March, Equity membership had grown to comprise nearly 50 percent of theatre actors and there was discussion of creating a closed shop. [3] The closed shop discussion startled the PMA and they called a meeting with Equity leaders on May 2. The two organizations were unable to reach an agreement, and on May 23, the PMA decided to break their ties with Equity. [3] There was much debate in Equity over applying for an AFL charter. Most actors considered themselves superior to general "laborers," viewing themselves rather as "artists" and believed their trade was above the technique of organizing. [citation needed] However, when the UMPA continued neglecting the UMPA-AEA standard contract, Equity decided they needed a charter and national support to achieve their goals. On May 29, 1916, 518 out of 519 Equity representatives voted for applying to join the AFL at their annual meeting. [9] The AFL refused to offer Equity an independent charter. The AFL only gave out one charter to each profession, and all performers were already represented in the AFL by the White Rats, an organization formed by vaudeville performers. The AFL offered Equity a charter as a branch of the international White Rats union, but Equity declined, requesting that the White Rats amend their charter so that they could represent vaudeville performers while Equity could represent “legitimate” actors.

Strike

2016 Chiloé earthquake

The 2016 Chiloé earthquake with a magnitude of Mww 7.6 struck that 225 kilometres (140 mi) south-west of Puerto Montt in southern Chile at 11:22 local time, 25 December. The earthquake triggered a tsunami warning on coasts located up to 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from the quake's epicentre, generating massive evacuation across the Greater Chiloé Island, after advice from the Chilean government. [2] Although there was damage in some parts of the island, the government reported no casualties. The earthquake occurred as a result of shallow thrust faulting in southern Chile. At the location of the earthquake, the oceanic Nazca plate converges with and subducts beneath the South America plate in an east-northeast direction, at a rate of approximately 73 mm/yr. The location, depth and shallow thrusting focal mechanism solution[3] all indicate this earthquake likely occurred on the subduction zone interface. [1]

Earthquakes

Baby miraculously survived gas explosion that wiped out homes

Look back at great photos and memories from years ago with our Days Gone By newsletter A 12-day old baby miraculously survived a gas explosion that wiped out almost an entire row of homes. Grinshills Close residents were woken at around 4am to a rumbling sound on Thursday, August 29, 1985. Soon, most of the street was destroyed and one woman had been thrown onto the roof after the huge explosion. READ MORE : Couple tied man to city centre building site and left him bleeding A number of residents were left pinned under the rubble and furnishings as firefighters battled to rescue them after the gas explosion. Thankfully, nobody was killed during the terrifying incident, but a 12-day-old baby became separated from his mother after the blast. Susan, 22 at the time, had been pinned underneath a mountain of rubble for almost an hour after the blast and was unable to reach her son Jason Karmellhi. Fireman Steve Allwood miraculously managed to lift baby Jason out of the house without a scratch. In a front page story from the ECHO, published on August 29, 1985, Jason's mother Susan Karmelli spoke of the moment she thought her tiny baby had died. She said: “I was feeding the baby at about 3.45am and heard a big bang from next door. Then the walls started falling in and the ceiling fell on top of me. “My legs were trapped underneath the iron bedstead and although I was only a yard away from the baby at the time I just could not reach him.” Four other people - including a pregnant mother and a seven-year-old girl also escaped with minor injuries in the blast which completely destroyed three houses in Grinshills Close. Shock waves from the explosion were felt more than a mile away and dozens of buildings in the area had windows smashed and tiles torn from roofs. Around 50 firemen raced to the scene after the alarm was raised at 4am and joined neighbours in a desperate search through the rubble for survivors. With gas still escaping, rescuers risked their own lives and began digging with their bare hands to where they could hear Jason whimpering. There are three ways to get more involved with the Liverpool Echo - sign up now to all of them to get the hat trick!

Gas explosion

UN: Over 400,000 people in Ethiopia's Tigray face famine now

The United Nations says more than 400,000 people in Ethiopia’s crisis-wracked Tigray region are now facing the worst global famine in decades and 1.8 million are on the brink UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations said Friday that more than 400,000 people in Ethiopia’s crisis-wracked Tigray region are now facing the worst global famine in decades and 1.8 million are on the brink, and warned that despite the government’s unilateral cease-fire there is serious potential for fighting in western Tigray. The dire U.N. reports to the first open meeting of the U.N. Security Council since the conflict in Tigray began last November and painted a devastating picture of a region where humanitarian access is extremely restricted, 5.2 million people need aid, and Tigray forces that returned to their capital Mekele after the government’s June 28 cease-fire and exit from the region have not agreed to the halt to hostilities. U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo urged the Tigray Defense Force “to endorse the cease-fire immediately and completely,” stressing that the U.N.’s immediate concern is to get desperately need aid to the region. Acting U.N. humanitarian chief Ramesh Rajasingham said the situation in Tigray “has worsened dramatically” in the last 2 ½ weeks, citing “an alarming rise in food insecurity and hunger due to conflict” with the number of people crossing the threshold to famine increasing from 350,000 to 400,000. With 1.8 million a step away, he said, some suggest “the numbers are even higher.” “The lives of many of these people depend on our ability to reach them with food, medicine, nutrition supplies and other humanitarian assistance,” he said. “And we need to reach them now. Not next week. Now.” The largely agricultural Tigray region of about 6 million people already had a food security problem amid a locust outbreak when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Nov. 4 announced fighting between his forces and those of the defiant regional government. Tigray leaders dominated Ethiopia for almost three decades but were sidelined after Abiy introduced reforms that won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. No one knows how many thousands of civilians or combatants have been killed. DiCarlo said an estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced from their homes, and more than 60,000 have fled into neighboring Sudan. Though Abiy declared victory in late November, Ethiopia’s military kept up the offensive with allied fighters from neighboring Eritrea, a bitter enemy of the now-fugitive officials who once led Tigray, and from the Amhara region adjacent to Tigray. In a stunning turn earlier this week, Ethiopia declared a unilateral cease-fire on humanitarian grounds while retreating from advancing Tigray forces. But the government faces growing international pressure as it continues to cut off the region from the rest of the world. DiCarlo said reports indicate that leaders of Tigray’s previous regional administration including its former president have returned to the regional capital Mekele, which has no electrical power or internet. “Key infrastructure has been destroyed, and there are no flights entering or leaving the area,” she said. Elsewhere in Tigray, DiCarlo said, Eritrean forces, who have been accused by witnesses of some of the worst atrocities in the war, have “withdrawn to areas adjacent to the border” with Eritrea. Amhara forces remain in western Tigray, and DiCarlo said the Amhara branch of the ruling Prosperity Party warned in a statement on June 29 that the region’s forces will remain in territory it seized in the west during the conflict. “In short, there is potential for more confrontations and a swift deterioration in the security situation, which is extremely concerning,” she warned. Ethiopia’s U.N. Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie told reporters later when asked if Amhara forces would remain in western Tigray, “that is a matter of fact.” Selassie, who comes from that part of Ethiopia, said the western area was once part of Amhara but was “forcibly incorporated into Tigray in 1990 without any due process.” He said the dispute will now be submitted to a government border commission. On the humanitarian front, Rajasingham said over the past few days U.N. teams in Mekelle, Shire and Axum have been able to move out to other places which is “positive.” The U.N. now plans to send convoys to difficult-to-reach areas but the U.N. World Food Program only has enough food for one million people for one month in Mekelle, he said. “This is a fraction of what we need for the 5.2 million people who need food aid,” the acting aid chief said. “However, we have almost run out of health, water, sanitation and other non-food item kits. Food alone does not avert a famine.” Rajasingham urged “all armed and security actors” in Tigray to guarantee safe road access for humanitarian workers and supplies, using the fastest and most effective routes. He expressed alarm at Thursday’s destruction of the Tekeze River bridge -- “and the reported damage to two other bridges -- which cut a main supply route to bring in food and other life-saving supplies." Rajasingham called on the Ethiopian government “to immediately repair these bridges and by doing so help prevent the spread of famine.” “What we are seeing in Tigray is a protection crisis,” Rajasingham stressed, citing civilian killings during the conflict, and more than 1,200 cases of serious sexual and gender-based violence reported, “with more continuing to emerge.” Selassie, the Ethiopian ambassador, reiterated the government’s call for a national dialogue and its commitment to ensure accountability for crimes and atrocities committed during the conflict -- moves welcomed by U.N. political chief DiCarlo. She urged the international community to encourage the government and Tigrayan forces to ensure there is no impunity for the crimes. The Security Council took no action and made no statement but U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said its first open meeting after six closed discussions was important to show the people of Tigray and the parties to the conflict that the U.N.’s most powerful body is concerned about the issue and closely watching developments. “And hopefully it will lead to further action by the council if the situation there does not improve,” she said.

Famine

The U.N. ­Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a resolution endorsing a peace process

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. ­Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a resolution endorsing a peace process that is designed to end Syria’s civil war and to allow the international community to focus its attention more fully on defeating the Islamic State. “This council is sending a clear message to all concerned that the time is now to stop the killing in Syria and to lay the groundwork for a government that the long-suffering people of that battered land can support,” Secretary of State John F. Kerry said of the initiative. The resolution gave Security Council backing to a process that begins with negotiations between the Syrian government and its opponents to establish a transitional government that will write a new constitution and hold elections, all within 18 months. It designated the United Nations to shepherd the process. But the agreement made no mention of the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and it remains unclear to what extent the will of the international community can be imposed on him or rebel forces. Kerry nonetheless described the agreement as a major step toward resolving Syria’s civil conflict, a goal that has eluded the countries backing the opposing forces on the ground for more than four years. The resulting chaos has allowed the Islamic State to occupy wide swaths of Syria and neighboring Iraq For the first time, he said, a political track has been agreed to by Russia and Iran — both backers of Assad — and the United States and its partners in Europe and the Middle East who support the Syrian opposition trying to overthrow him. There is, Kerry said, a “clarity about the steps that need to be taken” and “a time frame.” “Nobody is sitting here today suggesting that the road ahead is a gilded path,” Kerry said at a news conference after the vote. The resolution instructs U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura to guide the government and opposition groups toward talks to begin as early as next month. Among the pitfalls he will have to navigate are the opposition’s insistence that no talks can be held with Assad’s participation and Russia’s demand that Assad be included. The two sides and their international supporters also disagree about which opposition groups can take part in the negotiations, with Russia seeking to ban as “terrorists” Islamist forces who are among the strongest and most numerous opposition fighters. [What a year of Islamic State terror looks like] “I’m not too optimistic about what has been achieved today,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who sat at Kerry’s side during the news conference. “The progress has not been as dramatic as we would like it to be. . . . But it is complicated.” Kerry indicated that passage of the resolution, assuming its provisions begin to be implemented, could lead to more coordination between the United States and Russia on airstrikes against the Islamic State. “Now that we have a U.N. resolution . . . and a process moving,” he said, “the door is much more open . . . for us to consider greater ways of cooperation.” The Security Council vote came after more than five hours of separate talks Friday among a group of more than a dozen nations, the International Syria Support Group, to hammer out the terms. First convened by Kerry two months ago, and including countries backing all sides of the conflict, the group has been propelled by shared concern over the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria, refu­gee flows to Europe, and anxiety over the growing strength of the Islamic State, including recent terrorist attacks it has sponsored or inspired in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. But while the group agrees that a political solution has to be found, it has faltered on the terms. The resolution appeared to paper over many of the members’ differences in the interests of starting a process that Kerry has said he hopes will take on its own momentum and propel compromise among the disparate Syrian and foreign actors fueling the war. [San Bernardino spent years steeped in extremism before attack] To keep Russia and Iran in the tent, the United States has diluted its rhetoric on Assad and emphasized shared concerns about terrorism. To convince Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others that it recognizes the broad opposition to Assad inside Syria, the Obama administration has quietly dropped its refusal to recognize the Islamist groups they back as legitimate actors in a negotiated solution. Those positions have required significant juggling on Kerry’s part. After meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, the secretary of state said: “While we don’t see eye to eye on every single aspect of Syria, we certainly agreed . . . that we see Syria fundamentally very similarly. We want the same outcomes. We see the same dangers. We understand the same challenges.” While not seeking “regime change,” Kerry said, the United States and its partners “don’t believe that Assad himself has the ability to be able to lead the future Syria.” Some regional allies — and U.S. critics of the administration’s Syria policy — saw his statement as caving in to Russian demands by stepping back from insistence that Assad leave office. Administration officials insisted that was not the case, saying that Kerry is merely setting aside the question of Assad to be taken up later in negotiations among Syrians. Kerry said he hopes those talks can begin as early as next month. Putin, in a news conference Thursday in Moscow, said that his plan for Syria coincided in “key aspects” with U.S. goals: “working on the constitution, preparing elections in Syria and the recognition of their results.” For now, he said, Russian airstrikes, most of which have focused on what Moscow says are opposition “terrorists” rather than the Islamic State, would continue. In a meeting last month in Vienna, the International Syria Support Group agreed it would try to find common ground on which groups fighting in Syria — apart from the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate — could participate in talks with government representatives and which would be barred as “terrorists.” The Assad government has submitted a list of more than three dozen representatives to participate in transition talks. In a meeting last week in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, representatives from a wide variety of opposition groups appointed a committee to choose negotiators. Included in the Riyadh group were Islamist fighting groups such as Ahrar al-Sham, which the United States had previously indicated it considered extreme and would not support as part of the process. In a change in policy, administration officials said that eligible groups would be judged by their willingness to participate in a cease-fire. Russia, presumably speaking for Assad, does not want Islamist groups to participate at all and has called for them to be deemed ineligible “terrorists.” That would allow Russia to continue bombing the groups, along with the Islamic State and Jabhat ­al-Nusra, under the terms of a cease-fire. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who attended the morning meeting in New York, accused “outside actors” of trying to impose “preconditions” on the Syrian people. In an opinion column in the British newspaper the Guardian on Friday, he said these actors were trying to differentiate between “good terrorists” and “bad terrorists.” De Mistura said he would issue invitations in January to a first round of talks among Syrians but did not indicate who would be on the list. He warned against being “too ambitious” in terms of timing.

Sign Agreement

China Airlines Flight 676 crash

China Airlines Flight 676 (CAL676, CI676) was a scheduled international passenger flight. On Monday, 16 February 1998, the Airbus A300 jet airliner operating the flight crashed into a road and residential area in Tayuan, Taoyuan County (now Taoyuan City), near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (present-day Taoyuan International Airport), Taiwan. The A300, registered as B-1814, was en route from Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Indonesia to Taipei, Taiwan. The weather was inclement, with rain and fog when the aircraft approached Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, so the pilot executed a missed approach. After the jet was cleared to land at runway 05L, the autopilot was disengaged, and the pilots then attempted a manual go-around. The jet slowed, pitched up by 40°, rose 1,000 feet (300 m), stalled, and crashed into a residential neighborhood, bursting into flames at local time 4:20 pm. All 196 people on board were killed (including the governor of Taiwan's central bank, Sheu Yuan-dong, his wife, and three central bank officials[4][5]), along with seven people on the ground. Hsu Lu, the manager of the Voice of Taipei radio station, said that one boy was pulled alive from the wreckage and later died. [4][6][7] It remains the deadliest aviation accident on Taiwanese soil. China Airlines had 12 A300s in its fleet at the time of the accident. It is also the second-deadliest accident overall in Taiwan's history, behind China Airlines Flight 611, a Boeing 747-209B[8] which broke up over the Taiwan Strait with 225 fatalities. The aircraft involved in the accident was an Airbus A300B4-622R, registration B-1814. It was delivered to China Airlines on 14 December 1990 and was powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW4156 engines. The aircraft was 7.3 years old at the time of the accident, and had completed 20,193 flight hours. [9][10] Captain Kang Long-Lin, 49, joined China Airlines in 1990, and had 7,226 hours total flight time (2,382 of them on the Airbus A300). First Officer Jiang Der-Sheng, 44, joined China Airlines in 1996, and had 3,550 hours total flight time (304 of them on the Airbus A300). Both pilots were formerly with the Republic of China Air Force. [11] The flight consisted of 175 Taiwanese nationals, along with five Americans, one French, and one Indonesian. [4][12][13] The plane took off from Ngurah Rai Int'l Airport, Bali, en route to Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport, Taipei, Taiwan, with 182 passengers and 14 crew at 15:27. The Airbus carried out an instrument landing system/distance-measuring equipment (ILS/DME) approach to runway 05L at Taipei Chiang Kai Shek Airport in light rain and fog, but came in 1,000 feet (300 m) too high above the glide slope (at 1,515 feet (462 m) and 1.2 nautical miles (1.4 mi; 2.2 km) short of the runway threshold). Go-around power was applied 19 seconds later, and the landing gear was raised and the flaps set to 20° as the aircraft climbed through 1,700 feet (520 m) in a 35° pitch-up angle. [14][15][16] Reaching 2,751 feet (839 m) (42.7° pitch-up, 45 knots (52 mph; 83 km/h) speed), the A300 stalled. Control could not be regained, as the aircraft fell and smashed into the ground 200 feet (61 m) left of the runway. It then surged forward, hit a utility pole and a highway median and skidded into several houses, surrounded by fish farms, rice paddies, factories, and warehouses, and exploded, killing all on board. Weather was 2,400 feet (730 m) visibility, runway visual range runway 05L of 3,900 feet (1,200 m), 300 feet (91 m) broken ceiling, 3,000 feet (910 m) overcast. [3] According to the cockpit voice recorder, the last words, from the first officer, were "Pull up, too low!" This was surrounded by the terrain alarm and stall warnings. [17] On initial approach to land, the aircraft was more than 300 m above its normal altitude when it was only 6 nautical miles away from the airport. Nonetheless, it continued the approach. Only when approaching the runway threshold was a go-around initiated. During this time, the pilot had disengaged the plane's autopilot, but was not aware of it, so during the go-around, he did nothing to actively take control of the plane, as he thought the autopilot would initiate the maneuver. For 11 seconds, the plane was under no one's control. [18] Following a formal investigation that had continued for nearly 2 years, a final report by a special task force under the Civil Aviation Administration concluded that pilot error was the cause of the crash of Flight 676. [19] The report concludes by criticizing China Airlines for "insufficient training" and "poor management of the resources in the pilot's cabin". [20] The transcript of the cockpit voice recording was leaked on the Internet, but has been removed as it is a property of the Taiwanese government. [citation needed] The person speaking is listed in bold. [18] 12:04:26 TWR Clear to land. Wind 360 at 3. 12:04:27 F/O Roger. Clear to land. Dynasty 676. 12:04:32 F/O OK. Glide Slope blue. Localiser green. 12:04:41 Capt It's 1,000 feet higher. 12:04:51 Capt It's coming. 1,000 feet. 12:04:54 Capt OK. Thirty forty. 12:04:55 F/O Thirty forty. 12:05:01 F/O Landing gear. 12:05:02 F/O Three green.

Air crash

KLM Flight 608 crash

KLM Flight 608[1][a] was an international scheduled passenger flight from New York City to Amsterdam. On 23 August 1954, the aircraft crashed in the North Sea off IJmuiden during the Shannon-Amsterdam leg of the flight. The crash killed all 21 passengers and crew on board. The Douglas DC-6B, construction number 43556 and line number 257, was delivered to KLM on 22 August 1952 as PH-TFO and christened Willem Bontekoe. On 6 March 1954, the aircraft was re-registered as PH-DFO. At 09:29 GMT, Flight 608 left Shannon Airport, bound for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Weather at the time was poor, with low clouds and heavy rain. Two hours later, the aircraft was cleared to descend to 5500 feet to prepare for landing. This was eventually changed to 3500 feet. At 11:35, air traffic controllers cleared Flight 608 to descend to 2500 feet but received no response. After an extensive search, floating debris from the aircraft was found at 16:10 off the Dutch coast near Bergen. Witnesses on the ground noticed that the aircraft was behaving strangely: some reported hearing the aircraft pass overhead near Egmond where the "Green 2" airway crossed the coast and others reported seeing the aircraft at 12:01 passing overhead at low altitude heading back towards the sea. Yet others reported hearing a loud bang over the water, possibly from an explosion. Salvage work using an experimental sonar system ended on 25 November, with 45-50% of the wreckage brought ashore. The cause of the crash was never determined. However, some investigators speculate that the crash may have been caused by an overheating of the aircraft's electrical system, an explosion of a pressure bottle, a cockpit window failure, or autopilot failure. An investigator from the State Aviation Authority claims that the crash may have been caused by a faulty cabin heater. Because of the fumes from the heater, the crew may have attempted to open a cockpit window, and due to the risk of fire, the electrical system was probably turned off, explaining the radio silence.

Air crash

Pounce at opportunity to use federal funds to improve indoor air quality

This search is limited to articles published in the last three years. For a more comprehensive search of every issue, please visit our digital magazine page . Type your search term above Pounce at opportunity to use federal funds to improve indoor air quality Hopefully, many higher education institutions will use these funds to invest in indoor air quality projects. When they do, it is important that they invest wisely. By: Brian Lee | September 22, 2021 (AdobeStock) The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a fact that those of us working in school facilities and building maintenance have long known, that many of our nation’s higher education institutions are Brian Lee is Vice President of Engineering and Asset Solutions at Aramark. in need of significant upgrades to improve indoor air quality. Improving indoor air quality is critical to protecting students and faculty from new variants of COVID, not to mention fighting off the annual flu and other common illnesses. Additionally, improved indoor air quality can positively impact alertness, attendance, and student performance. It is actually not surprising that indoor air quality in schools is a problem. Funding education has been and will continue to be a challenge for society. Given funding shortages in education, we have seen a growing backlog of deferred maintenance projects at the college and university levels, a problem exacerbated by the fact that as much as 75 percent of higher ed facilities are in the range of 30 to 40 years old. And as schools prioritize projects when funding does become available, taking steps to improve indoor air quality often falls to the bottom of the list, as more visible repairs such as painting, plumbing and lighting take precedence. Fortunately, a window of financial opportunity has now opened to address indoor air quality in schools across the country. As part of the $1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan enacted in March to help the country recover from the pandemic, Congress included $40-billion for higher education institutions. While roughly half of that funding is designated for providing emergency financial aid grants to students, the rest will likely be available for schools to use for other needs, including building upgrades. And additional funding for colleges and universities is likely to be included in the reconciliation bill soon to be debated in Congress, which could pass later this fall. Hopefully, many higher education institutions will use these funds to invest in indoor air quality projects, perhaps their first in decades. When they do, it is important that they invest wisely. In recent months, we have seen a surge in advertisements for products and technologies that promise a quick fix for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens. Many of these are based on employing reactive ions or reactive oxygen technology to clean the air. While some of these products may offer limited benefit, there is little independent evidence of their effectiveness. And in some cases, health experts and independent testing labs have recommended against their use, noting that they can generate secondary pollutants or byproducts, possibly posing a new threat to safety. The reality is that no two school facilities or classroom settings are exactly alike. Each requires an independent assessment to determine the quality of the indoor air, the cause of any problem and the recommended solution for improving air quality. The best approach involves a layered solution to air disinfection, which can include a combination of increasing the flow of outside air, controlling temperature and humidity, enhancing filtration to achieve MERV 13 levels, and installing proven room-based air cleaning solutions, such as HEPA filtration units and upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI or GUV). This multi-pronged strategy to reduce airborne transmission of pathogens is recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers). With colleges and universities fully reopening for in-person learning this fall, students, parents, and faculty are rightly concerned about the indoor air quality in America’s classrooms and academic facilities. As federal dollars designated for education-related pandemic response begin to flow, now is the time for our higher education institutions to make the investments needed to improve indoor air quality. We can’t afford to wait for the next pandemic. We have the technology and the financial resources to do this right and to do it now.

Financial Aid

Inspiration4: The first all-civilian spaceflight on SpaceX Dragon

Billionaire Jared Isaacman's privately chartered spaceflight launched on Sept. 15, 2021 , becoming the first crewed orbital mission with no professional astronauts on board. The flight, dubbed "Inspiration4," was named to commemorate the four-person crew and their associated "pillars" of support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee: leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity. Aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule dubbed Resilience, Isaacman — a self-described space geek who has accrued more than 6,000 hours piloting various aircraft — was the commander of the flight. Joining him were physician assistant Hayley Arcenaux, data engineer Chris Sembroski, and geoscientist and science communication specialist Sian Proctor. Resilience and its four occupants circled Earth for three days, splashing down off the Florida coast on Sept. 18 . The primary purposes of Inspiration4, according to the mission's official website , were to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude and to begin "a new era for human spaceflight and exploration." Inspiration4: SpaceX's historic private spaceflight in photos Who was behind Inspiration4? Inspiration4 was chartered by Jared Isaacman, billionaire CEO and founder of Shift4 Payments, a payment processing company that he established as a 16-year-old and which now handles billions of transactions each year. "Inspiration4 is the realization of a lifelong dream and a step toward a future in which anyone can venture out and explore the stars," Isaacman said in a statement . He recalls being in kindergarten at Wilson Elementary School in New Jersey looking at high-resolution picture books of the space shuttle, Space.com previously reported . "I did tell my kindergarten teacher I would go to space someday, and she said she'd be watching," Isaacman recalled. Isaacman holds several world records, including a speed-around-the-world flight that, according to the New Jersey Local News Service , raised money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In addition, he has flown in more than 100 airshows with the Black Diamond Jet Team, reported Business Wire . Each of those performances was dedicated to some charitable cause. Inspiration4 was motivated in part by Isaacman's effort to raise more than $200 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a pediatric cancer research hospital that does not charge the families of children for their treatment. Isaacman pledged $100 million toward the cause out of his own pocket. "I've been very lucky in life; you really don't get to a position that I'm fortunate enough to be in without the ball bouncing your way a couple times," said Isaacman in an interview with Space.com . "These families [at St. Jude] were dealt horrible hands. They're going through what no one should ever have to go through. It's immense heartache, and the sad part is many of those kids will not grow up to have any of the experiences that I've been lucky enough to have in life. We've just got to do something about that." How was the crew chosen for Inspiration4? Inspiration4 mission crew members (from left) Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski pose at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021. Isaacman, who commanded the mission, donated the remaining three seats of his four-person flight to sponsor St. Jude. The first crewmember to join him was Hayley Arceneaux, 29, a physician assistant at St. Jude in Memphis who, as a child, also received treatment for bone cancer from the same organization. She was chosen to join the crew by St. Jude, and according to the New York Times became the first person with a prosthetic body part to go to space, as during her treatment she received metal rods to replace parts of bones in her left leg. She was also one of the youngest people to go to space and the youngest American to do so, edging out pioneering astronaut Sally Ride by just a few years. Arceneaux served as medical officer for the flight. Related: Childhood bone cancer survivor joins private Inspiration4 spaceflight on SpaceX rocket The remaining two seats were given away in two different competitions. Chris Sembroski, 41, is a data engineer and long-time space enthusiast who once worked as a counselor at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. His seat was up for grabs in a fundraiser sweepstakes meant to support St. Jude, but while Sembroski entered the competition, an unnamed friend actually won. The friend then offered the seat to Sembroski, recalling his avid interest in spaceflight and astronomy, Space.com previously reported. Sembroski served as mission specialist, and according to a press release , helped manage "payload, science experiments, communications to mission control and more." Proctor, 51, a geology and planetary science professor and science communication specialist, was awarded her seat as winner of the Shift4Shop competition. The contest asked entrants to set up an e-commerce site using a platform owned by Isaacman’s company, Shift4 Payments. As part of the contest, Proctor, 51, also recorded a video sharing her "inspirational entrepreneurial story" and why her business "should be elevated to the stars." Proctor's "Space2Inspire" shop offered postcards and prints of her AfronautSpace art, which she uses to encourage conversations about women of color in the space industry. Long interested in spaceflight, Proctor was a finalist for the 2009 NASA astronaut selection and has participated in four analog space missions, including a NASA-funded four-month "Mars mission" at the Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) Habitat. Proctor was pilot of the Inspiration4 mission. How did the Inspiration4 crew train for their trip to space? Shift4 Payments founder and CEO Jared Isaacman commanded a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceflight in September 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX) While government astronauts typically spend at least two years getting ready for a space station flight, Inspiration4's training timeline was much shorter. Their mission was shorter than most of those undertaken by professional astronauts (just three days in orbit, while many stays on the ISS are now six months or longer) and the team had no need for training in space station systems or spacewalks. Still, Isaacman has said in previous reporting from Space.com , training for Inspiration4 drew upon the "NASA-approved curriculum" to get the new astronauts ready for spaceflight. In April, the Inspiration4 crew completed their first centrifuge training, according to a press release . Among many other physical trials, that training was meant to prepare astronauts for the gravitational forces they were subjected to during launch, and re-entry. Isaacman also carried on NASA's tradition of putting astronauts into isolated, challenging environments before flight, bringing his crew into the mountains. "It will get us all super uncomfortable and [in] close quarters and hopefully in snowy conditions, because I definitely want to make sure we all get along really well under those circumstances here on Earth before we go off in space together," he said in a previous interview with Space.com. Overall, the Inspiration4 crew endured about six months of training, some of which was held at SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles, leading up to the September 2021 launch. What was the flight like? The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the Inspiration4 crew launches atop a Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 15, 2021. (Image credit: SpaceX via Twitter) The crew launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket inside a Dragon capsule , the same type of spacecraft used to fly astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station on Demo-2, the first private crewed mission in history. The capsule itself was a slightly retooled reuse of the Crew Dragon Resilience, the craft that brought Crew-1 astronauts to the International Space Station in November 2020 as part of the first fully operational private crewed mission to the ISS. (Demo-2 was a test flight, as its name suggests.) Resilience gained a new domed window for Inspiration4, offering the crewmembers 360-degree views. "Probably most 'in space' you could possibly feel by being in a glass dome," tweeted SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The window replaced the equipment that allowed the capsule to dock with the space station on Crew-1, since the Inspiration4 flight remained independently in orbit. Resilience and its crew circled Earth solo for three days, zooming about 367 miles (590 kilometers) above our planet. That's higher than any Crew Dragon had ever gone before, and significantly higher than the International Space Station, which orbits at an average altitude of 250 miles (400 km). While in orbit, Isaacman and his colleagues recorded a variety of biometric data and collected samples, in an effort to help scientists better understand how spaceflight affects the human body. The spaceflyers also made some calls down to Earth, including one chat with patients at St. Jude . The crewmembers spent a lot of time looking out the cupola window at our gorgeous planet. In addition, Sembroski strummed some tunes on the ukelele he brought along and Proctor produced some art, including a drawing of a dragon carrying Crew Dragon to space. The Inspiration4 crew enjoyed a diverse menu , munching on pizza, Mediterranean lamb, pasta bolognese, sandwiches and a variety of snacks. All the food was cold, a limitation that Musk promised to remedy for future flights. The billionaire entrepreneur also vowed to improve Crew Dragon's toilet , which featured a great view — it was right under the cupola — but apparently didn't work entirely as planned . Such hiccups didn't detract significantly from the overall experience, which all four crewmembers said was life-altering. "Each of us [has] been changed in a way that maybe we didn't expect," Sembroski told NBC News' Lester Holt in an interview that aired Sept. 20 . "For me, it was being able to see the Earth in a way that made me realize there is so much to see in person. I need to go and find those places and explore more." Why SpaceX? The Inspiration4 crew placed a video call to Earth on Sept. 17, 2021. When weighing his space tourism options, Isaacman said, "there was no question it was going to be SpaceX," as Crew Dragon was already flying crewed missions to the International Space Station for NASA. "They're leading the path," he said. Isaacman said he was proud to fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon for this mission, because he believes Musk's company "reinvigorated the world's interest in space" following the end of NASA's space shuttle program in 2011. The shuttle ferried hundreds of astronauts to space between 1981 and its 2011 retirement. After that, the next crewed mission to Earth orbit that launched from the United States was SpaceX's Demo-2 mission in May 2020. In a teleconference announcing Inspiration4 , Musk said that he believes the mission is "an important milestone towards enabling access to space for everyone." Isaacman paid SpaceX an unspecified amount for the flight, but USA Today speculated a cost of "easily at least tens of millions of dollars." "At first, things are very expensive," Musk noted, "and it's only through missions like this that we're able to bring the costs down over time and make space accessible to all." What records did the Inspiration4 flight set? Inspiration4's major claim to fame was to be the "World's First All-Civilian Mission to Space," according to the mission website. What does that mean? None of the four participants are professional astronauts. In the past, most space travelers have been government-employed and trained civilians or members of the military. Some tourists have also made their way to space, but previously only under the supervision of professionals associated with a government agency like NASA or its European, Russian or Japanese counterparts, ESA , Roscosmos and JAXA . The crew of Inspiration4 received commercial astronaut training and became the first people to complete an orbital spaceflight with no direct government agency oversight.

New achievements in aerospace

2011 Zumpango earthquake

The 2011 Zumpango earthquake occurred at 19:47 local time on 10 December with a moment magnitude of 6.5 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). Its epicenter was located in the city Zumpango, Guerrero,[2] roughly equidistant between the metropolitan areas of Mexico City and Acapulco. The quake was felt in Guerrero, Michoacán, Mexico State, Mexico City and Puebla. Multiple deaths and injuries resulted from the earthquake, although the effects were minimized because the hypocenter was relatively deep at 65 kilometers (40 mi). [1] The resulting damage was minimal, but during the panic people evacuated buildings in Mexico City. [3] In Mexico City, a little more than 100 miles (160 km) from the epicenter,[4] high rise buildings swayed for more than one minute as a result of the seism. Damage was reported as light though a secondary toll highway between Acapulco and Mexico City was blocked in several places due to landslides. The shaking was also responsible for knocking out power to around 82,000 people,[2] and disrupting cell phone service in the capital. In Acapulco, 87 miles (140 km) from the epicenter, no injuries or damage were reported. It was reported by Mexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, that normal operations were continuing at Mexico City International Airport. [2] Several injuries and one death was reported after rocks were dislodged from a hill and tumbled onto the Autopista del Sol (Highway of the Sun) and into a truck. [4] The other deaths were reported as one person killed during the collapse of a house's roof in Iguala,[2] and another was listed in Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc with unknown circumstances. [1] An early report from the United States Geological Survey had the magnitude at 6.7 but it was later lowered to 6.5. [1] According to the Secretariat of the Interior there were four aftershocks within the first 45 minutes of the main shock. Also stated was that since this was a moderate event a large number of aftershocks were not expected. [5] Seven of the aftershocks were close to the epicenter and two more were in the state of Chiapas. Although the event occurred in the coastal state of Guerrero, no tsunami warning was given for the earthquake. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that based on the location, magnitude, and historical tsunami records, no advisory or warning would be necessary for the west coast of the United States, British Columbia, or Alaska. [3]

Earthquakes

2003 Alabama earthquake

The 2003 Alabama earthquake took place on April 29 at 3:59 A.M. Central Daylight Time (local time when the event occurred) eight miles (13 km) east-northeast of Fort Payne, Alabama. The number of people who felt this quake was exceptionally high as the earthquake could be felt in 11 states across the East Coast and as far north as southern Indiana. [3] The earthquake was strongly felt throughout metropolitan Atlanta. [4] The Georgia Building Authority was called out to inspect the historic Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta and other state-owned buildings, but found no problems. However, this is not out of the ordinary as earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains can be felt several times the area felt on West Coast earthquakes. The earthquake was given a magnitude 4.6 on the moment magnitude scale by the USGS (other sources reported as high a magnitude as 4.9) and reports of the duration of the shaking range from 10 seconds to as long as 45 seconds. It is tied with a 1973 earthquake near Knoxville, Tennessee as the strongest earthquake ever to occur in the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, which is the second most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains, with the New Madrid Seismic Zone the most active. [5] The April 29 earthquake caused moderate damage in northern Alabama including a 29-foot (8.8 m) wide sinkhole northwest of Fort Payne. The quake disrupted the local water supply. There were numerous reports of chimney damage, broken windows and cracked walls, particularly around the area near Hammondville, Mentone and Valley Head, Alabama. Many 9-1-1 call centers were overloaded with worrisome and panicked residents, who thought it was a train derailment, a bomb or some other type of explosion that had awakened them. There were several aftershocks, all of magnitude 2.0 or lower and were not widely felt. [2]

Earthquakes

Golden West Airlines Flight 261 crash

Golden West Airlines Flight 261, a De Havilland Twin Otter DHC-6,[1][2] collided with a Cessna 150 (N11421), owned by CessnAir Aviation, Inc., near Whittier, California. The accident occurred on January 9, 1975, at approximately 4:07 p.m. PST, while the Sun was just 9 degrees above the western horizon, directly into the eyes of the pilots of GW flight 261. Both aircraft were destroyed by the collision and subsequent ground impact. The 10 passengers and 2 pilots on the Twin Otter, and the instructor pilot and student pilot in the Cessna 150 were killed. Debris fell on homes and lawns but no one on the ground was injured. The wreckage of both aircraft was scattered over an 8 to 10 city block area. The fuselage of the Twin Otter fell into the schoolyard of Katherine Edwards Middle School, where about 300 spectators were watching an outdoor basketball game, while the wings landed two blocks away. [3] The fuselage of the Cessna fell in the front yard of a house, about two blocks from the Otter fuselage. The Cessna impacted the left side of the Twin Otter at an approximate angle of 90 degrees. "(1) the Cessna's firewall and instrument panel were embedded in the Twin Otter's fuselage forward of the wing; (2) the propeller slashes in the Cessna's right wing formed an angle of about 88 degrees with the wing leading edge; and (3) the Twin Otter's left engine nacelle and engine were driven inboard by the collision." Ground witnesses said that neither plane made any last moment maneuver attempt to avoid the collision. GW 261 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight between the Ontario International Airport (ONT) and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California. The flight departed from ONT at 1556 PST, on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. That separated GW 261 from the larger aircraft, which arrived at LAX on instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plans. The IFR flights were required to remain within the confines of the Los Angeles Group 1 terminal control area (TCA), while smaller planes were required to remain outside of the TCA, until the designated entry point, which was specified in their assigned VFR TCA arrival. In the case of GW 261, it was to remain outside of the TCA until the 10 DME fix of runway 24 right localizer, and to enter at an altitude of 1,500 feet MSL. The top of the TCA was 7,000 feet, while the base varied, depending on the distance from LAX. That mixed it in with all the other small plane VFR traffic in the Los Angeles Basin, which did not have transponders. Most of those were not flying to LAX, so they were not in radio communication with LAX radar controllers. The only defense was the "see and be seen" method of collision avoidance. That deficient method of traffic separation failed to work that day, as it has failed many other times in high density traffic areas. "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of both flightcrews to see the other aircraft in sufficient time to initiate evasive action. The Board is unable to determine why each crew failed to see and avoid the other aircraft; however, the Board believes that the ability of both crews to detect the other aircraft in time to avoid a collision was reduced because of the position of the sun, the closure angle of the aircraft, and the necessity for the Twin Otter's flightcrew to acquire visual contact with radar-reported traffic directly in front of them. "[4]

Air crash

Madagascar battling worst locust plague since 1950s - The ...

Madagascar battling worst locust plague since 1950s Locusts threatening livelihood of 60% of population, and have already destroyed a quarter of Madagascar's food crops A locust swarm in Madagascar's Isalo national park. Photograph: Tiphaine Desjardin/FAO A locust swarm in Madagascar's Isalo national park. Photograph: Tiphaine Desjardin/FAO Fri 12 Jul 2013 13.04 BST Madagascar is in a race against time to raise enough money to tackle its worst plague of locusts since the 1950s. Locusts have already infested over half of the island's cultivated land and pastures, causing the loss of 630,000 tonnes of rice, corresponding to 25% of food consumption. At least 1.5m hectares (3.7m acres) could be infested by locusts in two-thirds of the country by September, warns the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Findings from a damage assessment indicate that rice and maize crop losses due to locusts in the mid- and south-western parts of Madagascar vary, on average, from 40% to 70%, reaching up to 100% in some plots. Madagascar's agriculture ministry declared a national disaster in November. The food security and livelihoods of 13 million people are at stake, about 60% of the island's population. Around 9 million people depend directly on agriculture for food and income. "We don't have enough funds for pesticide, helicopters and training," said Alexandre Huynh, the FAO's representative in Madagascar. "What is extremely costly is to run helicopters [needed to spray pesticides]. We have to start in September, and we have two to three months to prepare. We need $22.4m [£15.1m] but we are quite short of that. Discussions are going on with donors." Adults locusts on a rock in Isalo national park, Madagascar. Photograph: Tiphaine Desjardin/FAO The FAO has been issuing warnings since August last year, calling for financial support. José Graziano da Silva, its director general, said prevention and early action are key: "If we don't act now, the plague could last years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. This could very well be a last window of opportunity to avert an extended crisis." Control of the locust upsurge would have cost $14.5m (£9.8m) in 2011-12, but the FAO received only half the funding. The timing of this infestation could hardly be worse for Madagascar, which has been in the grip of a political and economic crisis since a coup in 2009, when Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital Antananarivo, seized power. Rajoelina's coup turned Madagascar into a pariah state . The EU, US and other countries suspended aid and the African Union suspended Madagascar's membership until a return to the state of law. The first elections since the coup were scheduled for 24 July, but, faced with sorting out the legitimacy of contested candidates, the government has postponed elections to 23 August. Poverty has risen sharply in the past five years. According to the World Bank, the proportion of people living below the poverty line – already high before the crisis – may have risen by more than 10 percentage points. With 92% of the population living on $2 a day, Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries . A subsequent drop in tourism has led people to plunder the forests that sustain the island's biodiversity. The aid cut-off contributed to the locust crisis as the government allowed its locust surveillance programme to be run down. Those employed by the anti-locust national centre, part of the department of agriculture, to monitor the locust populations in the swamps in the south stopped receiving salaries, and the monitoring programme effectively ground to a halt. Normally, once the locust population starts to rise, people spray pesticide to bring the numbers down to safe levels. A closeup of a locust. Photograph: Ministry of Agriculture in Madagascar "When we were aware of the issue, it was too late," said Huynh, who has been in Madagascar since 2009. The FAO has focused on the most important swamps in the south, but managed only to restrain the spread of locusts. "There were not enough funds for a full programme. We avoided a major human crisis, but not enough to get rid of the problem, which has reached alarming proportions," he said. The FAO is now looking for funding for an intensive spraying campaign involving three helicopters. Once locust outbreaks get out of hand, the cost can be extremely high. Madagascar's last outbreak in the 1990s took five years to contain and cost $50.6m. The FAO says a three-year programme to return the locust plague to safe levels requires more than $41.5m over the next three years. Norway has agreed to contribute $513,000, and the FAO and Madagascar are in negotiations with the World Bank over a $10m grant.

Insect Disaster

2014 enterovirus D68 outbreak

In August 2014, enterovirus D68 caused clusters of respiratory disease in the United States. Cases of EV-D68 have occurred in the U.S. for decades, having first been detected in California in 1962. According to the Division of Viral Diseases at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases EV-D68 "is one of the most rarely reported serotypes, with only 26 reports throughout the 36-year study period (1970 through 2006). "[2] The outbreak began in 11, mostly Midwestern, states and was first confirmed in Kansas City, Missouri, and Chicago. [3] By mid-September there were 145 suspected cases, including Colorado, Louisiana, Alabama, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Montana, Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin (Including one involving a previously asthmatic non-immunocompromised adult). [citation needed] In Canada in September 2014, 49 cases of the virus were confirmed in Alberta,[4] three in British Columbia, and over 100 in Ontario. [5][6] Health officials reported Los Angeles County's first case of viral infection on October 1, 2014. By October 2, 6 more cases had been reported in California: four in San Diego County, and one each in Ventura and Alameda counties. [7] The CDC later reported that from mid-August to Oct. 10, 691 people in 46 states and the District of Columbia had come down with a respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. Five children died. [2] The outbreak is the largest ever reported in North America. Enterovirus infections are not rare; there are millions of isolated infections every year. One possibility is that CDC began looking for the virus only after the outbreak. [8] CDC received specimens for lab testing after the outbreak-related hospitalizations. [9] The surveillance shows that a number of cases are admitted to the hospital each year. [10] The Midwest has been hit in this outbreak. [11] Previously in the United States, EV-D68 was uncommon. This outbreak represents a growth in the incidence. [12] [13] No vaccine for D68 exists currently. Prevention of the outbreak affecting oneself is possible by regular handwashing and other forms of infection control. [11]

Disease Outbreaks

2020 Hyderabad floods

The 2020 Hyderabad floods were a series of floods associated with Deep Depression BOB 02 that caused extensive damage and loss of life as a result of flash flooding in Hyderabad, India in October 2020. The fourth tropical cyclone and third deep depression of the 2020 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, BOB 02 formed on 11 October over the west-central Bay of Bengal and slowly drifted towards the east coast of India over the following three days. On 11 October, an area of low pressure concentrated into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal. [1] It further intensified into a deep depression on 12 October as it moved slowly west-northwestwards. After that, BOB 02 made landfall in Andhra Pradesh near Kakinada in the early hours of 13 October and weakened again into a depression. The system weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over south-central Maharashtra on the evening of 14 October. [6] Though the system's low-level circulation was partially exposed due to high vertical wind shear and continuous land interaction, the JTWC re-issued a tropical cyclone advisory on 15 October. The IMD also forecasted BOB 02 to reintensify in the Arabian Sea. The low-pressure area intensified into Depression ARB 03 in the early hours of 17 October. [9] The system delayed the withdrawal of southwest monsoon season by almost a week. [10] The floodgates of the Himayat Sagar were lifted as the water reached full reservoir levels, and the Musi river flowed full stream, flooding several localities and flowing over two causeway bridges. [11] Due to BOB 02, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, and coastal Karnataka experienced heavy rain on 12 and 13 October with the capital city, with Hyderabad experiencing 32 cm of record breaking torrential rain creating flash floods on the city by 13 October. [12] 2 people died in Vijayawada, and 50 people died on different parts of Telangana, including 19 in Hyderabad. [13] Additionally, twenty seven people died in Maharashtra. Extreme crop loss in north Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana occurred due to the system. [16] The Chief Minister of Telangana estimated ₹5,000 crore (US$681 million) worth of damage. [13] On 18 October, a second cyclone killed two more people in Hyderabad. Over 37,000 families were affected by the second flood. Rainfall reached over 110 millimetres (4.3 in) in parts of Hyderabad, with heavier rainfall amounts outside of the city. [17] With over 80 people having lost their lives and about 40,000 families being displaced, post rain gathering up-to 20,000 tons of waste. [18][19] 360 National Disaster Response Force personnel, as well as Indian Army forces were deployed. The Telangana government requested the Central government to provide relief to Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of ₹1,350 crore, in which ₹600 crore for farmers and ₹750 crore on relief and rehabilitation works in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area. [21] On 14 October, the Telangana Government declared a two-day holiday for all nonessential workers due to flooding, and urged everyone to stay home. [22] Amid the possibility of further flooding, more than 2,100 families were evacuated near Gurram Cheruvu. More than 150,000 meal packets were distributed to flood-affected areas. Furthermore, 60 teams were tasked with spreading bleach in cellars and open areas to prevent the spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. [17]

Floods

Two killed after cars collide on South Western Highway in Argyle

Two people have died after a devastating car crash in the State’s South West yesterday afternoon. The crash happened about 2:30pm on South Western Highway, near Knights Road in Argyle, when a Kia Rio Hatchback driving south and a Subaru Forrester travelling north collided. A 47-year-old woman behind the wheel of the Kia Rio and a 23-year-old woman driving the Subaru died at the scene. The female passenger in the Subaru, also aged 23, suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries. She was flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition. Major Crash investigators are conducting an examination of the scene and are appealing for witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online. Dash-cam or mobile phone vision relating to this crash can be uploaded directly to investigators via this link.

Road Crash

Regina woman accused of poisoning toddler

Police say a 21-month-old was allegedly poisoned by alcohol and an antihistamine. A 29-year-old woman, not the girl's mother, is charged. A 29-year-old Regina woman has been charged with aggravated assault after a toddler was allegedly poisoned. “This investigation, which examined how a 21-month-old girl came to be poisoned with ethanol and an antihistamine, was carried out by the Regina Children’s Justice Centre,” according to a news release issued Friday by the Regina Police Service. Police noted the specialized, integrated unit combines police investigators, child protection workers, child abuse physicians and prosecutors in investigations of physical and sexual abuse of children. Police began investigating last month but made an arrest on Wednesday this week. At 7:42 p.m. on May 11, officers responded to assist EMS on a call of a toddler who was not breathing at a residence in the 100 block of Broad Street. Police arrived just minutes before EMS, and administered emergency medical care to the little girl until EMS took over.  “Officers gathered statements from two adults, who were present in the house during the incident, as well as the child’s parents, who arrived at the house after police and EMS. At the hospital, investigators learned that the child had acute ethanol poisoning,” according to the release. Continued investigation resulted in the arrest of a 29-year-old woman, who is not the child’s mother. Jessica Rae Fehr is charged with aggravated assault (endangering a life) and administering a noxious substance (alcohol and Benadryl). She made a first appearance in court on Wednesday and is back again on June 30. Sign up to receive daily headline news from Regina Leader-Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Regina Leader Post Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4

Mass Poisoning

2012 Aéro-Service Ilyushin Il-76 crash

On 30 November 2012, an Ilyushin Il-76 freighter aircraft, operated by the Armenian cargo airline Air Highnesses on behalf of Congolese cargo airline Aéro-Service, crashed on landing at Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo,[1] killing all six occupants and 26 people on the ground. [2] The aircraft was on a domestic flight from Pointe Noire Airport to Maya-Maya Airport and was attempting to land on runway 5L in heavy rain when it clipped high trees about 1000 meters from the runway threshold, disintegrating over 500 meters. [2] The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed, killing all five Armenian crew and an Armenian policeman present on board, as well as 26 local residents, injuring a further 14. The aircraft was initially mistakenly attributed to Trans Air Congo. [3] In February 2013, the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) received the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder for analysis on behalf of the Ministry of Transport of Congo, and is working to download the data. [2]

Air crash

2010 World Netball Series

The 2010 World Netball Series was the second edition of the World Netball Series, an annual international netball competition held under fastnet rules. The 2010 event was held in Liverpool, England, and was contested between the top six national netball teams according to the IFNA World Rankings. After two days of round-robin matches, Jamaica and England finished on top of the standings. However, the 2010 tournament was won by New Zealand, who defeated Jamaica in the semi-final and England in the grand final. [1] The 2010 World Netball Series was played in Liverpool over three days, from 19–21 November. Matches were held at the Echo Arena Liverpool, which has a seating capacity of 7,500 for sporting events. The tournament comprised 20 matches played over three days from 19–21 November. Each of the six teams played each other once during the first two days in a round-robin format. At the end of two days, the four highest-ranked teams from this stage progress to the finals, played on the final day of competition, in which the 1st-ranked team play the 4th-ranked team, while 2nd plays 3rd. The winners of these two matches contested the Grand Final; the remaining teams competed in third- and fifth-place playoffs. The top six international netball teams contest the World Netball Series each year. Five teams returned from the previous tournament; Samoa was replaced by South Africa in 2010. England, Jamaica and Malawi sent near full-strength teams for the tournament;[2][3][4] Australia and New Zealand sent development teams,[5][6] while South Africa had several top players unavailable. [7]

Sports Competition

Sydney drinking water reconnected to Warragamba Dam after contamination fears from fire and floods

Authorities have reconnected drinking water in Greater Sydney to Warragamba Dam after it was cut off due to bushfire contamination caused by last week's flooding. Water NSW made a decision earlier this week to stop using Warragamba Dam as a water source due to a torrent of fire and flood debris which ran into the catchment. For days, Sydney and its outer suburbs were drawing their drinking water from Prospect Reservoir. Last week, a torrential downpour, which caused flash flooding and power outages across NSW, filled the dam's water storage from 41 to 75 per cent. Sediment, ash and debris from 320,000 hectares of burnt bushland — almost the entire perimeter of the dam — was seen floating on the surface of Lake Burragorang, where the dam wall was located. Water NSW said Warragamba Dam was being returned to "being the main source of untreated water supply to Sydney as of this weekend". "Ongoing monitoring results confirmed confidence in the quality of water available from Warragamba," a spokesperson said. Water NSW chief, David Harris, said an incident response team was established and it was working with Sydney Water and NSW Health to develop monitoring and contingency plans. "Raw water quality at Warragamba is improving, however, more inflows may cause further deterioration in water quality at the dam wall," he said. He said a "range of precautionary measures on-site" were taken, including deployment of additional floating booms to capture silt and ash from bushfires. Western Sydney University water expert, Ian Wright, said there "must have been sufficient concern to stop supply" but he could not see any "adverse effects" from the decision. "The real question, I guess, is how long the Warragamba [would have] remained switch off," Dr Wright said. "The good thing is that the other catchment dams were overflowing from the rains [which] have not had bushfires near their catchments." Last week's rainfall saw the Nepean and Tallowa dams completely topped-up. "Combined they make up about 20 per cent of Sydney's water supply so we can last a long time — months, possibly even a year." Water NSW spokesperson Tony Webber said there was no visible impact to Sydney's drinking supply and water was being drawn from Prospect Reservoir because it was the best quality available. "It is important to note that this issue only concerns untreated water in dam storages at the beginning of the supply chain and has no impact on the quality of treated water," Mr Webber said. Level two water restrictions remain in place in Sydney. )

Environment Pollution

1921 UCI Road World Championships

The 1921 UCI Road World Championships (the annual world championships for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale) took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on 4 August 1921. It was the first official World Championships organized by the UCI. The championships were only for amateur men. Four men per nation could participate. Sweden won the nations classification (total time of the first four riders per nation) ahead of France and Italy. The course was 190 km with the finish in Glostrup. [1] This cycling-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Sports Competition

Contract reveals federal investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations

Updated 0210 GMT (1010 HKT) December 3, 2021 Then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks before getting vaccinated at the mass vaccination site at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem on March 17, 2021 in New York City. (CNN) A contract for outside legal help for New York State's Executive Chamber shows the existence of a federal investigation into sexual harassment allegations against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo . The contract lists various investigations that the New York State Executive Chamber, which encompasses the governor's office, is currently facing, including a federal investigation into the chamber's Covid-19 pandemic response as it relates to nursing homes, the publication of Cuomo's book on the pandemic and other pandemic-related matters. "DOJ has also undertaken an inquiry related to sexual harassment claims made against the then Governor," the contract reads, referring to the Department of Justice. The Executive Chamber was notified of the existence of the civil federal probe into sexual harassment allegations on August 17, according to the governor's office. Cuomo's last day as governor was August 23, when he resigned. Read More Cuomo, a Democrat, has repeatedly rejected allegations against him, including in sworn testimony to investigators looking into the harassment allegations for the New York Attorney General's Office . Hazel Crampton-Hays, a spokeswoman for current New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, said in a statement to CNN that the Executive Chamber received an inquiry related to an investigation being conducted by the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. "The current administration retained counsel to handle matters relating to ongoing investigations inherited from the previous administration," Crampton-Hays said. "As this is an ongoing investigation, we will not comment further at this time." A spokesman for the US attorney's office in Brooklyn would not confirm if the investigation was ongoing. CNN previously reported on the US attorney's investigation into the Cuomo administration's handling of nursing home death data. A spokesman for the US attorney's office had no comment when contacted by CNN. "Our understanding is that the Civil Division opened an inquiry in August based upon the AG's politically motivated sham report and we have heard nothing since," Cuomo's spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in a statement to CNN. The contract, which engages the services of the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher for September 10, 2021, through September 9, 2022, was approved on November 30 by the state comptroller's office.

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate

Vargas tragedy

The Vargas tragedy was a natural disaster that occurred in Vargas State, Venezuela on 14–16 December 1999, when torrential rains caused flash floods and debris flows that killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to the complete collapse of the state's infrastructure. According to relief workers, the neighborhood of Los Corales was buried under 3 metres (9.8 ft) of mud and a high percentage of homes were simply swept into the ocean. Entire towns including Cerro Grande and Carmen de Uria completely disappeared. As much as 10% of the population of Vargas died during the event. [2] The coastal area of Vargas State has long been subject to mudslides and flooding. Deposits preserved on the alluvial fan deltas here show that geologically similar catastrophes have occurred with regularity since prehistoric times. [2] Since the 17th century, at least two large-magnitude debris flow, landslide, or flood events, on average, have occurred each century within the modern boundaries of Vargas. Recorded events occurred in February 1798, August 1912, January 1914, November 1938, May 1944, November 1944, August 1948, and February 1951. In the February 1798 event, flash floods and debris flows severely damaged 219 homes. Spanish soldiers barricaded an upstream-facing entrance to a fort with cannons in order to prevent debris from filling it. [2] Prior to the 1999 disaster, the most recent major flood had occurred in 1951, but that event did not cause as much damage. [2] Based on aerial photos and records of measurements, geologists were able to directly compare the 1951 event to the 1999 event. The 1951 event involved less rainfall than the 1999 event, fewer landslides were triggered, and less fresh debris was observed on the fans. [2] The unusually strong storm in December 1999 dumped 911 millimetres (35.9 in) of rain over just a few days, triggering widespread soil instability and flow of debris. [3] Adding to the devastation, Vargas State had experienced high population growth and development since the 1951 disaster, thus increasing the toll of casualties. The alluvial fans built as sediments from floods and debris flows exit their channels and meet the oceans provide the only extensive flat surfaces along the mountainous coastline of north-central Venezuela. As such, many of them have been extensively developed and urbanized. This high population density increases the risk to life and property from flash flood and debris flow events. As of 1999, several hundred thousand people lived in this narrow coastal strip in Vargas State. Many of these people lived atop alluvial fans formed by debris flows sourced out of the 2,000-meter (6,600 ft) peaks to their south. [4] December 1999 was unusually wet along the north-central Venezuelan coast. The first, and less powerful, storm that month occurred 2–3 December and dropped 200 millimetres (7.9 in) of rain on the coast. [4] Two weeks later, in a 52-hour span during 14, 15 and 16 December 1999, 911 millimeters (35.9 in) of rain (approximately one year's average total rainfall for the region) was measured on the north-central coast of Venezuela at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. These heavy rains included 72 millimeters (2.8 in) of accumulation in just one hour, between 6 and 7 AM on the 16th; precipitation on both the 15th and 16th exceeded the 1,000-year probability rainfall event. Even so, the coast received much less rain than some regions upstream. [2] This sudden and intense storm was especially unusual because it occurred in December, while the typical rainy season in coastal Venezuela lasts from May to October. These out-of-season rains formed when a cold front interacted with a moist southwesterly flow in the Pacific Ocean. This interaction produced moderate to heavy rainfall starting in the first week of December and culminating in the 14–16 December event that caused the deadly floods and debris flows. [2] The heaviest rains were centered around the mid-upper part of the San Julián basin, which feeds water and sediment onto the Caraballeda fan. Heavy rains persisted within 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) of the coast, and subsided on the Caracas side of the Cerro El Ávila. Rainfall rates also decreased westward toward Maiquetía. [2] The bedrock in the region surrounding Caracas is mainly metamorphic. From the coast and extending approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) inland, deeply foliated schist of the Mesozoic Tacagua Formation is exposed. Soils forming on them are fine-grained (clayey), thin (0.5–3.0 meters (1 ft 8 in–9 ft 10 in)), and often colluvial. Although the A horizon of the soil is often less than 30 centimeters (12 in) thick, the bedrock is often weathered down to greater than 2 meters (6 ft 7 in). Further inland, gneisses of the Paleozoic San Julián Formation and Precambrian Peña de Mora Formation extend to the crest of the Sierra de Avila. These units have thin soils over less-weathered bedrock; this is believed to be because of rapid erosion due to the steep slopes in this area. [2] Because foliation planes are planes of weakness, these fabrics within the rocks strongly influence landslide and debris flow hazards. [2] Where the foliation planes are dipping towards a free surface, failure is likely to occur along these planes. [2] The alluvial fans that spread out into the sea from valley mouths were built by previous flood and debris flow events. [2] The modern channel systems of these alluvial fan deltas are incised into previously deposited debris flow and flood material. [2][4] Scientists at the US Geological Survey measured these old deposits. They found that they are thicker than the December 1999 ones and contain larger boulders. This means that previous debris flows were even larger than those in December 1999 and reached higher velocities. [2] On the Caraballeda fan, the extent of the 1951 event paled in comparison to the 1999 event. Much of the deposits that constitute the Caraballeda fan are of a thickness similar to those produced in the 1999 event and contain boulders of a size similar to those observed in 1999. [2] The USGS geologists found paleosols with organic material above and below a 10-meter (33 ft) thick layer of debris flow deposits. The bottom paleosol was radiocarbon dated to 4267 ±38 years Before Present (BP), and the top one was dated to 3720±50 years BP. This means that, at least in this area, the bed aggraded 10 meters (33 ft) in 550 years, for an average rate of about 1.8 cm (0.71 in) per year (though the aggradation occurs only during short-lived events). The scientists were not able to tell whether the deposits were from a single debris flow or multiple events.

Floods

Omicron treatment: Man from Karnataka shares details after recovering from COVID variant

The man says he suffered more when he was infected with Delta variant of COVID than Omicron A man from Karnataka who tested positive for the Omicron variant of Karnataka has shared details about his treatment and journey to recovery. the man who tested positive for Omicron had returned from South Africa after which he developed mild symptoms. The 34-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru says his sufferings were more when was infected with the Delta variant of COVID than Omicron. Reportedly, a video of him sharing details of treatment has gone viral on social media. "There is no separate treatment as such for the Omicron variant. Vitamin-C tablets and antibiotics were given. Since there was no tiredness and symptoms were too mild, I worked from the hospital ward for a week," IANS quoted him as saying. He also took precautionary measures after returning from South Africa. He isolated himself, thus safeguarding his family. "I isolated myself after arrival from South Africa and my family members didn't catch the infection. Those who come from abroad should maintain distance and follow quarantine guidelines. If symptoms crop up, without wasting time and negligence, they should get tested and inform health authorities. If this is done, we can prevent the infection from spreading to neighbours and people around," he shared. The Omicron variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate, the World Health Organization has said. WHO Director General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus said that a total of 77 countries have reported Omicron cases so far but the reality is that this variant is probably yet to be detected in some countries. "Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. It's not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well", said Ghebreyesus. In India, the Omicron variant caseload is rising each day. Cases have been found in Delhi and Maharashtra. The other states where this variant has been reported includes Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Famous Person - Recovered

Goodbye, UNESCO: Israel and US quit UN heritage agency

The countries announced in 2017 that they would withdraw from the UN Educational, Science and Cultural Organization, accusing it of bias against Israel. That went into effect at the stroke of midnight. The tumultuous relationship between Israel and UNESCO came to an end with the close of 2018. And the US has followed suit, leaving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization after accusing it of bias against Israel. "Unfortunately, UNESCO has adopted systematic discrimination against Israel and UNESCO is being used in order to rewrite history by people who hate the Jewish people and the state of Israel," a Foreign Ministry official said on Sunday. The United States and Israel had announced their decisions in 2017 , but, according to the UNESCO statute, withdrawals go into effect at the end of the following year — in this case after the final tick of the clock on December 31, 2018. Israel joined UNESCO in 1949. The agency is best known for its World Heritage program, which designates cultural sites and aims to preserve traditions. But it also works to defend press freedom, promote education for women, and fight extremism and anti-Semitism. Israel has nine World Heritage Sites, including the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, the biblical site of Masada near the Dead Sea, and the White City in Tel Aviv. The Old City in East Jerusalem is listed with no territorial status specified. UNESCO has added three locations within the Palestinian territories to its World Heritage List. Israel's withdrawal will not have an impact on the sites listed within the country's borders: Stewardship is in the hands of the local authorities, and the country apparently continues to be a state party to the World Heritage Convention. Some Israeli conservationists question whether withdrawing is the right move. "I don't think it is a clever decision," said Giora Solar, an architect who has prepared several applications for World Heritage Sites in recent years. "It's political. I surely don't agree with much of the voting in UNESCO, but it's politicized; by leaving it, we are not punishing anyone but ourselves. It's not UNESCO which is against Israel — it's the countries that vote against it." When UNESCO became the first UN body to admit Palestine as a full member in 2011, the Obama administration soon stopped paying its annual dues, which amount to about 22 percent of the organization's total budget. A national law requires the United States to cut funds to UN agencies that recognize Palestine as a full member. Israel also stopped paying its dues. In 2016, diplomatic relations deteriorated further after UNESCO approved resolutions that Israeli officials said ignored Judaism's ties to holy sites in Jerusalem, including referring to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex by only its Arabic and English names and omitting the Hebrew. "To say that Israel has no link to the Temple Mount is like saying that China has no link to the Great Wall or that Egypt has no connection to the pyramids," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the time, adding that UNESCO had lost what little "legitimacy it still had." UNESCO has also referred to Israel as occupying power and called into question the country's actions in the Palestinian Territories. In 2017, UNESCO passed another resolution that upset Israeli officials, designating the Hebron/al-Khalil Old Town in the occupied West Bank — with its Tomb of Patriarchs, known in Judaism as Machpela — as a Palestinian World Heritage Site only. The holy cave, believed to be the burial place of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, is known to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque and is divided today, with separate entrances for the site's mosque and synagogue. The United States announced that it would withdraw from the organization, adopting the language of bias against Israel, which followed suit and pledged that it, too, would leave the organization. The United States left UNESCO once before, in 1984, under President Ronald Reagan, and only rejoined in 2003, under the administration of George W. Bush to "emphasize a message of international cooperation" as the US launched its war on Iraq. Under UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who assumed her role in November 2017, the diplomatic spats became quieter in 2018, and mediation efforts were even introduced to sway Israeli officials to keep their country in the organization. The biannual resolutions on Jerusalem were toned down. Israel's ambassador to UNESCO at the time, Carmel Shama Hacohen, spoke about a "new spirit" and appeared to leave open the possibility that the country's exit might be delayed. Though progress was being made, it was apparently not enough for Netanyahu. In September he declined an invitation to attend a conference on anti-Semitism organized by UNESCO on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "If and when UNESCO ends its bias against Israel, stops denying history and starts standing up for the truth, Israel will be honored to rejoin," he said.

Withdraw from an Organization

Indian Airlines Flight 257 crash

NEW DELHI, India (AP) _ An Indian Airlines flight caught fire and plunged into the hilly jungle of remote eastern India on Friday, news reports said. All 69 people aboard were killed, officials said. The crash came a day after the airline received a hijack threat, officials said. The 13-year-old Boeing 737-200 flying from Calcutta crashed 27 miles short of its destination of Imphal, capital of the state of Manipur on the Burmese border. Press Trust of India reported that villagers and a guard at Imphal airport said they saw the jet coming down in a ball of fire over a hydroelectric project on nearby Loktak Lake. The news agency did not elaborate on the accounts. An airline official said a separatist group in the neighboring state of Assam threatened on Thursday to hijack a flight from Calcutta to Jorhat in Assam. The guerrillas are fighting a secessionist campaign against the Indian army. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said authorities were alerted Thursday but that nothing happened. He said the threat came in anonymous calls to the airports in Calcutta and Jorhat. A government spokesman, Ramohan Rao, said he had not heard anything to indicate that Friday’s Flight IC-257 was a target of sabotage or hijacking. Rao said the cause of the crash was not immediately known. An investigation is mandatory. Initial reports blamed the disaster on bad weather, which often is stormy at this time of year. But a meteorologist in New Delhi said he had no reports of inclement weather and reported an average wind speed of 12 to 18 mph. The 65-minute, 370-mile flight was bound for the remotest corner of India, 1,050 miles east of New Delhi. Two air force helicopters sighted the wreckage near Loktak Lake in the Thanging Hills, a lush area that climbs northward toward the Himalayas, Indian news agencies reported. Salvage teams traveling on tortuous roads reached the site three to four hours later. Efforts to recover the bodies and wreckage were hampered by heavy rain, Press Trust said. It was the eighth crash for India’s domestic carrier since 1963, and each involved more than 30 deaths. Investigations showed that human error caused at least two of the crashes - the most recent ones, in February 1990 and October 1988. In Seattle, Boeing spokesman David Jensen said the company only had sketchy information about the crash. Another Boeing spokesman, Steve Smith, said he was unaware of past problems with the aircraft, but ″that’s not the kind of thing we would divulge anyway.″ Jensen said the plane was delivered to Indian Airlines in 1977, and had logged 37,499 flights and 29,870 flight hours, which he characterized ″as kind of the mid-range″ for 737s that old. He said the company’s representative in Bombay was dispatched to the crash site. The state-owned airline released a passenger list of 62 names, and said there was an additional infant on board. There were six crew members. The plane went down a few minutes before 1 p.m. (3:30 a.m. EDT), the airline said. The control tower lost contact five mintues before the plane was scheduled to land. Officials said the company did not have the nationalities of the passengers, but said it was unlikely any foreigners were on the flight. Imphal, a city of 150,000 residents, is in a zone restricted to foreigners because of periodic tribal insurrections. Foreign nationals must obtain permits issued by the federal government in New Delhi. Indian Airlines is one of the largest domestic air carriers outside the United States, flying to 62 destinations, including eight in neighboring countries. It makes at least 240 flights a day. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.

Air crash

Small-Business Failures Loom as Federal Aid Dries Up

Small businesses have grown more pessimistic as the pandemic has dragged on. In late April, about a third of small businesses surveyed by the Census Bureau said they expected it to take more than six months for business to return to normal. Four months later, nearly half say so, and a further 7.5 percent say they do not expect business ever to bounce back fully. About 5 percent say they expect to close permanently in the next six months. The ultimate damage could be much greater. In a recent survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, a small-business lobbying group, 21 percent of small businesses said they would have to close if conditions did not improve in the next six months. Other private-sector surveys have found similar results. Widespread business failures could cause lasting economic damage. Nearly half of American employees work for businesses with staffs under 500, meaning millions of jobs are at stake. And while new businesses would inevitably spring up to replace those that close, that process will take far longer than simply reopening existing businesses. “The consequences to allowing a tidal wave of closures is we will make every aspect of the recovery harder,” said John Lettieri, president and chief executive of the Economic Innovation Group, a Washington research organization. There could also be longer-run implications. Despite high-profile bankruptcies in the retail industry and other sectors, many large corporations have been able to solidify their position during the pandemic: demanding concessions from landlords, borrowing billions of dollars at low interest rates and leveraging sophisticated supply chains and distribution systems to reach suddenly homebound customers. Small businesses, which usually have less access to credit and rely more heavily on foot traffic, have been struggling to survive. Image “I can survive because I’m betting on another stimulus package,” said Candace Combs, who runs the In-Symmetry Spa in San Francisco with her brother. “But without that, we start to really teeter.” The challenge has been particularly acute for Black-owned businesses, which were more than twice as likely to close down in the early months of the pandemic than small businesses over all, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Black-owned businesses were more likely to be in areas hit hard by the virus, had less of a financial cushion and were less likely to have established banking relationships, which put them at a disadvantage in seeking loans under the emergency Paycheck Protection Program in the critical first weeks that the aid was available. The Coronavirus Pandemic: Key Things to Know U.S. surpasses 800,000 deaths. Covid deaths in the United States surpassed 800,000 — the highest known number of any country. About 75 percent of the 800,000 deaths have involved people 65 or older . One in 100 older Americans has died from the virus. The Omicron variant. The new Covid variant has been detected in dozens of countries . While Omicron is perhaps less severe than other forms of the virus, it also seems to dull the power of the Pfizer vaccine , though the company said its boosters are effective . Dr. Anthony Fauci said Moderna and Pfizer boosters are likely to offer substantial protection. Warnings of a new wave. The C.D.C said that Omicron’s rapid spread in the U.S. may portend a significant surge in infections as soon as January. In Europe, Britain is speeding up its booster program to counter a “tidal wave of Omicron,” while Denmark and Norway predicted the new variant will be dominant in a matter of days. Pfizer’s Covid pill. A study of Pfizer’s oral Covid treatment confirmed that it helps stave off severe disease, even from the Omicron variant, the company announced. Pfizer said the treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent if given within three days of the onset of symptoms. By the time they got access to the federal money, “many Black-owned businesses were already out of business,” said Ron Busby, president and chief executive of the U.S. Black Chambers. “We just couldn’t make it that long.” Maurice Brewster is hanging on. He runs Mosaic Global Transportation, a California company that was growing quickly before the pandemic running the private buses that shuttled tech workers between their San Francisco homes and their suburban office campuses. Those campuses have been all but empty since March, and many companies aren’t planning to bring workers back until next year. Other parts of Mr. Brewster’s business — providing transportation for conventions, wine tours and other events — are also suffering. To survive, Mr. Brewster, who is Black, has slashed costs and sought new lines of business, including delivering packages for Amazon — “anything to get the vehicles moving and get some revenue coming in the door,” he said. Mr. Brewster says he is confident he can make it through the end of the year. After that, he doesn’t know. “You just can’t go a year unless you have just an endless pool of money to sustain you until March or April of 2021,” he said. “A lot of us are going to go out of business.” Economists say there is time to limit the damage. Despite a rocky start, the Paycheck Protection Program eventually paid out more than half a trillion dollars in loans and probably saved many businesses from failure, according to research from economists at the University of Illinois and Harvard. But the program lapsed in August, and if Congress doesn’t move soon to replace it, the earlier effort could end up delaying failures rather than preventing them. Many experts still expect Democratic and Republican leaders to reach a deal on an aid package that includes support for small businesses, but a new, large-scale program seems increasingly unlikely. “Why didn’t we use the time that P.P.P. bought us to design the kind of program that would be commensurate with the national challenge that we’re facing?” Mr. Lettieri, of the Economic Innovation Group, asked. “That’s all P.P.P. was. It was a mechanism to buy time. It was never the long-term solution.” A paycheck protection loan helped keep In-Symmetry Spa afloat early in the pandemic. But the money is long gone, and the San Francisco spa hasn’t been allowed to reopen. Nearby storefronts are boarded up, and Candace Combs, who has run the spa with her brother for two decades, said she doubted that many of those businesses were coming back. “I can survive because I’m betting on another stimulus package,” Ms. Combs said. “But without that, we start to really teeter.”

Financial Crisis

1937 Sabena Junkers Ju 52 Ostend crash

On 16 November 1937 a Junkers Ju 52/3m owned by Belgian airline SABENA, operating as a scheduled international passenger flight from Munich, Germany,[clarification needed] to London, England, crashed near Ostend, Belgium. The aircraft hit a tall factory chimney while attempting to land at Stene aerodrome near Ostend, Belgium. The accident killed prominent members of the Hesse royal family on the way to London for the wedding of Louis, Prince of Hesse and by Rhine. The flight from Munich to London was scheduled to stop at Frankfurt, Brussels and Ostend Airport but diverted to Stene Aerodrome due to bad weather. The aircraft hit the chimney of a brick factory and crashed, bursting into flames. [2] All eleven passengers and crew who boarded the aircraft died. The remains of Grand Duchess Cecilie's newborn son were found among the wreckage; a Belgian official enquiry into the crash concluded that she had given birth during the flight and that the birth was the reason the pilot was attempting to land despite the poor weather conditions. [3][4] Crew:[5][6][7] Passengers:[2] The aircraft was a three-engined Junkers Ju 52/3m airliner operated by SABENA and registered in Belgium as OO-AUB. The wedding of Prince Louis with Margaret Campbell Geddes, daughter of Sir Auckland Geddes was brought forward to the morning after the accident. [2] Baron Riedesel would have been Louis' best man; their friend Oliver Chesterton stood in as best man; the ceremony was small and solemn with the guests in mourning clothes. [8][2] Immediately following the wedding, Prince Louis and his wife Margaret travelled to Belgium and visited a hospital where the victims' bodies had been laid out. [1] The Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess' fourteen-month-old daughter, Johanna, was the only one of the family who was not on board the aircraft. She was adopted by her uncle Louis in early 1938. Johanna died of meningitis in 1939. [9] With the death of the childless Prince Louis in 1968, the male line of the Hesse and by Rhine became extinct. [citation needed] The crash and its effect on Cecilie's younger brother, Philip, were featured in season 2 of the Netflix series, The Crown.

Air crash

Nagasaki observed the 65th anniversary Monday of the city's atomic bombing by the United States with representatives from a record 32 countries attending

NAGASAKI--Nagasaki observed the 65th anniversary Monday of the city's atomic bombing by the United States with representatives from a record 32 countries attending, including those from the nuclear-armed nations Britain and France, but without a U.S. representative. Envoys from Britain and France, as well as a representative from Israel, a nation widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, participated in the annual event for the first time. U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Friday, the first U.S. representative to attend the event. Roos cited schedule conflicts as the reason for not attending the Nagasaki ceremony, the U.S. Embassy said. The ambassador reportedly called Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, telling him he hopes to someday visit Nagasaki Peace Park and other places in the city. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano was present at the event at the peace park, the first time an IAEA director general has attended the ceremony. Representatives from nuclear-armed Russia and Pakistan also attended. Survivors of the bombing, bereaved family members of those who perished and guests, including Amano, offered flowers during the ceremony attended by about 6,000 people overall. At 11:02 a.m., the time the atomic bomb was dropped on the city, a minute of silence was observed after the Bell of Nagasaki was rung. Taue, in his Nagasaki Peace Declaration, urged the world to ensure Nagasaki will be the last place to suffer a nuclear attack. He said in the peace declaration: "We call upon the leaders of the nuclear weapons states never to trample on humanity's efforts for 'a world without nuclear weapons'...The lack of sincere commitment from the nuclear weapons states toward nuclear disarmament could provoke antipathy and lead to the emergence of new nuclear weapons states, increasing the threat of nuclear proliferation around the world." Taue was referring to Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, who in May rejected a proposal from the chairman of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference to take concrete steps toward nuclear disarmament with a specified timeline. "As citizens of a city that has experienced atomic bombing, we strongly support the Nuclear Weapons Convention, which equally prohibits all countries from conducting any activities involving nuclear weapons, such as their production, possession and use," Taue said in the declaration. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has urged U.N. member countries to consider the convention. Taue criticized the government for negotiating with India on a nuclear agreement. India possesses nuclear weapons but has not signed the NPT. "This means that a nation that has suffered atomic bombings itself is now severely weakening the NPT regime, which is beyond intolerable," he said. "The first thing the Japanese government should do is to enact the three nonnuclear principles into law in order to restore the trust of the Japanese people. Also, the government should seek the denuclearization of Japan, South Korea and North Korea in a bid to realize security that does not rely upon a nuclear umbrella." The three nonnuclear principles are the government's policy of not possessing, not producing and not allowing entry of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said to world leaders in his speech Monday the importance of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. He promised that Japan will firmly maintain the three nonnuclear principles. Kan said he will work to see testimonials by atomic bomb survivors translated into major world languages. During the ceremony, three volumes listing 3,114 atomic bomb survivors who had died or were confirmed dead over the past year were placed in the black marble vault in front of the Peace Statue at the park. It now has 153 volumes listing 152,276 people. The memorial event was opened by the Hibakusha Utau-kai Himawari, a choir whose members are atomic bomb survivors. The group sang "Mo Nido-to" (Never Again), the first time the song has been performed at the ceremony.

Diplomatic Visit

Ex-cop files civil rights suit, says supervisors forced him out, then blacklisted him

A former police officer who worked for the North Plainfield Police Department has filed a lawsuit against his former supervisors, claiming they forced him out of his job and then blacklisted him. Bryan Lewis, 31, worked as a borough police officer from April 2014 until October 2019, when he agreed to resign, according to court papers. About a year before his resignation, Lewis was “served with disciplinary charges by his employer, to which (Lewis) vigorously disputed,” the suit states. The lawsuit, filed Oct. 26 in Superior Court of Somerset County, does not detail the nature of the disciplinary charges. However, in an email to NJ Advance Media on Monday, the former officer said he was falsely accused of writing a letter to the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General that detailed alleged criminal activity within the department. “I was accused by the administration of writing that letter, which I had never written. They tried to destroy/end my career for that reason,” Lewis said in the email. The lawsuit states Lewis hired attorney Frank Cioffi of Clifton to defend him at a disciplinary hearing. But instead of helping him keep his job, Cioffi allegedly told Lewis to resign from the department. “Cioffi advised plaintiff that should he continue with the hearing, more likely than not, he would be terminated from his position as a police officer,” the suit states. On the advice of his attorney, Lewis signed an agreement with the borough that stated he was resigning in good standing “for personal reasons.” Under the agreement, Lewis received $8,538.90 in unused vacation and sick time, along with pension benefits and pay for several months of administrative leave. The document states that the borough agreed “not to interfere with all present and future attempts by (Lewis) to seek employment with another law enforcement agency” and that all complaints would be removed from his personnel file and that the file would be sealed. Despite the agreement, Lewis claims that no one will hire him to work as a police officer. “Plaintiff has applied to numerous law enforcement agencies and has not been offered employment,” the lawsuit states. “Prospective employers have been able to obtain plaintiff’s personnel records and past complaints from the township due to (his former supervisors’) actions,” the lawsuit alleges. Court papers accuse police Chief William Parenti and Captain Alan McKay of preventing Lewis from obtaining another job as a police officer. Parenti and McKay are named as defendants in the suit. “McKay and Parenti have been careless, negligent and reckless misrepresenting (Lewis’s) employment history to prospective employers,” the lawsuit alleges. McKay and Parenti did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment on the allegations. The lawsuit also accuses Cioffi of legal malpractice, stating that the attorney “deviated from the standard of care” by having Lewis sign the allegedly faulty agreement. Cioffi did not immediately respond to a request for comment left on his office voicemail. The lawsuit accuses the police supervisors of violating the former officer’s civil rights and Cioffi of causing him emotional distress and lost wages due to alleged malpractice. Lewis is seeking a jury trial, along with unspecified damages from all three men.

Sign Agreement

El Al Flight 426 hijacking crash

International incidents El Al Flight 426 was an El Al passenger flight hijacked on July 23, 1968 by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), setting off a wave of hijackings by the PFLP. [1] The aircraft, a Boeing 707, was scheduled to fly from Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome to Lod Airport, now known as Ben Gurion International Airport. The plane was diverted to Algiers. [2][3] After the aircraft departed Rome, the pilots requested coffee from the cabin crew. As the coffee was being brought up to the pilots, two of the hijackers forced their way through the door to the flight deck, one of them clubbed the flight engineer with the butt of his pistol and ordered the plane to fly to Algiers. The remaining hijacker threatened the passengers with a pistol and an unpinned hand grenade. When the plane landed at Dar El Beida, Algerian authorities grounded the plane. The following day they sent all non-Israeli passengers to France on Air Algérie Caravelle jets. Ten women and children were released over the weekend. The remaining 12 Israeli passengers, and the crew of 10 were held as hostages for the remainder of the hijacking. The hijackers were identified as members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They were equipped with Iranian and Indian passports. The hijackers were carefully chosen by the PFLP because of their occupations (a pilot, a colonel in the Palestinian army, and a karate teacher). The Israeli and Algerian governments negotiated the return of the hostages and plane through diplomatic channels. Five weeks later, everyone was released in exchange for 16 convicted Arab prisoners. [1] According to the BBC, lasting 40 days, it was the longest hijacking of a commercial flight. [4]

Air crash

1962 Avensa Fairchild F-27 accident crash

The 1962 Avensa Fairchild F-27 accident occurred on 25 February 1962 when a Fairchild F-27 twin-engined turboprop airliner registered YV-C-EVH of Avensa crashed into San Juan mountain on Venezuela's Margarita Island in the Caribbean Sea. [1] All 20 passengers and three crew were killed. [1] The F-27 was on a scheduled flight from Porlamar Airport to Cumaná Airport, when a few minutes after departure from Portamar, the aircraft impacted San Juan Mountain and was destroyed. The aircraft, a Fairchild F-27 twin-engined turboprop airliner had been built in the United States in 1958 and delivered new to Avensa on 18 September 1958. [2]

Air crash

2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake

The 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake occurred on 8 August 2017, in Zhangzha Town, Jiuzhaigou County, Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. The earthquake was registered at Ms 7.0 and killed at least 25 people in the mountainous region of northern Sichuan. [citation needed] The earthquake struck at 21:19:46 China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8) on 8 August 2017 in Zhangzha Town in Jiuzhaigou County ( WikiMiniAtlas33°12′N 103°49′E / 33.20°N 103.82°E / 33.20; 103.82) with magnitude 7.0. [a][b][6] Cities as far away as Lanzhou, Chengdu and Xi'an felt the quake. [7] The epicenter was 39 kilometres from the county seat of Jiuzhaigou County, 66 kilometres from Songpan County, 83 kilometres from Zhouqu County, 90 kilometres from Zoigê County, 105 kilometres from Longnan City, and 285 kilometres from Chengdu City. [8] Northern Sichuan lies in an area with high tectonic activity. In this region, the Tibetan Plateau abuts against the Yangtze Plate with immense pressure forming faults along the edges. [9] Jiuzhaigou County is located in the Min Mountains, a range that was formed at the intersection of these faults. The devastating 1879 Gansu earthquake had its epicenter approximately 65 km (40 mi) to the east of where the 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake occurred. The mountainous areas to the south of Jiuzhaigou County were the epicenter of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities. The Jiuzhaigou earthquake did not correlate with any of the known active faults. Field investigation and remote sensing of the surface effects of the earthquake (surface rupture, landslides) permitted the identification of a previously-unknown active fault segment. [10] According to what the China Earthquake Administration announced, the graph[1] showed that the seismic intensity could be higher than level IX, and the earthquake epicentre in Zhangzha County could reach level VIII. The earthquake triggered at least 1,883 landslides, most of which were shallow rock slides, debris slides and rock falls that occurred close to the road network. [10] After the earthquake, the entire Jiuzhaigou County completely suffered a power failure. [11] The eyewitnesses found that some buildings had fallen off in Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area. [12] The staff of the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area told the correspondent from Xinhua News Agency that in the fourth ditch of the Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area a house had collapsed and cracked, and the locals were stepping up to evacuate people. The China Earthquake Administration put up a Level I reaction, changing to Level II afterwards, and sent troops to the earthquake area for rescue. [13] At 21:26 CST (UTC+8), Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan Province Archived 9 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine started an emergency plan, and the medical rescue team was going to head to the earthquake area within one hour. [14] The Red Cross Society of China, Sichuan Branch[15] was on emergency standby, preparing for rescue. [16] In the small hours the next day, China's State Council Earthquake relief headquarters established national level II earthquake emergency response. [17] At 06:20 CST on 9 August, a Shuajingsi Town (刷经寺镇) militia vehicle had a traffic collision to a Sichuan F (Deyang) coach in Hongyuan County, Ngawa Prefecture. 3 people from the coach were injured and were being medically treated. [18] Until 9 August 2017, there were 40 people critically injured, 7 of whom were transferred to other hospitals, 4 to West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and the rest to Jiuzhaigou County Hospital and Zhongzang Hospital. [12] The Emergency Management Office of the Ngawa Prefecture, Sichuan Province announced that until 13:10 CST on 9 August, the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Zhangzha Town in Jiuzhaigou County killed 19 people and injured 247 people, including 40 people critically injured. [12] The following day, the death toll rose to 20 with over 400 injured. [19] Deaths and injuries mainly occurred in Zhangzha Town in Jiuzhaigou County. [12] As of 10 August 2017 10:00 CST (UTC+8), 1,741 aftershocks had occurred, including 30 major ones. [1][30] Some experts predicted that the aftershocks might reach a magnitude of 6 after several days. [31] The major aftershocks reported by China Earthquake Networks Center are listed below:

Earthquakes

2011 Omani protests

The 2011 Omani protests (also called the Omani Spring) were a series of protests in the Persian Gulf country of Oman that occurred as part of the revolutionary wave popularly known as the "Arab Spring". [3] The protesters demanded salary increases, lower living costs, the creation of more jobs and a reduction in corruption. [1] Protests in Sohar, Oman's fifth-largest city, centered on the Globe Roundabout. [4] The Sultan's responses included the dismissal of a third of the governing cabinet. [5] Protesters demanded salary increases and lower costs of living. On 20 February 2011, protesters welcomed a move by the government to increase the minimum wage. [6] The wage increase targets Omani workers in the private sector. Public sector Omani employees have received wage increases in the past, but the private sector was so far overlooked. The Government of Oman raised minimum wages for an estimated 150,000 private sector employees to $520 from $364 a month. [7] As protests continued in Sohar the demands were still jobs and political reforms. [8] The protesters also want more jobs, freedom of expression, less government control over the media,[9] political reforms, better living conditions, an abolition of taxes and the trial of all ministers. [10] Protesters in Muscat also demanded cabinet ministers not serve more than four years. [11] In several other protests, Omanis furthered their demands by calling for a reduction of foreign workers in order to provide more jobs for Omani citizens by private companies. [12] About 200 protesters marched on 17 January demanding salary increases and lower costs of living. The protest surprised international observers, who have viewed Oman as a "politically stable and sleepy country. "[13] Renewed protests termed as the Green March,[14] occurred on 18 February, inspired by the serious unrest in fellow Persian Gulf state Bahrain. 350 people marched, demanding an end to corruption and better distribution of oil revenue. [15] The protesters also carried signs with slogans of support for the Sultan. [16] Police did not intervene in the gathering, the petition calling for the reforms will be handed to Oman's Sultan Qaboos. [17] On 1 March, about 50 protesters held a sit-in as well outside the Consultative Assembly to demand political reform and an end to corruption. [18][19] The group later grew to over 400 people. [20] Protesters also continued to demand the Consultative Assembly be turned into a "real parliament." The protests were reported to be "peaceful, well-organised and very disciplined." Tents had been set up with separate accommodations for men and women. Placards with protest slogans had also been translated into English, French and German for the international media. [21] On 2 April, dozens of protesters staged a sit-in in Muscat, outside the chief prosecutor's office, to demand probes into alleged state abuses after clashes with security forces a day earlier. [22] On 26 February, nearly 500 protesters gathered around a shopping mall in the industrial city of Sohar, 230 kilometres from the capital Muscat. [23] The protesters stopped traffic and shoppers around the mall premises. The shops in the area including the mall remained closed on 27 February as well. [24] On 27 February, protesters returned in Sohar for a second day, hurling stones at security forces who had cordoned them off. [25] The Royal Oman Police eventually used tear gas and rubber bullets to contain and disperse the protesters. [25] According to witnesses, two protesters were killed. [26][27][28] On 28 February, protesters looted and burned a hypermarket in Sohar. [29] The demonstrators also blocked the entrance to Sohar port, where 160,000 barrels of oil derived products are exported. [30] On 1 March protests continued for a fourth day as crowds in Sohar congregated at the Globe Roundabout. Eventually, the Omani army, backed by tanks, peacefully dispersed protesters blocking the Sohar port and cleared them from the main coastal highway linking Muscat to Sohar. [31][32][33] The troops later pulled back, though five armoured vehicles continued to watch the square. [34] The Globe Roundabout had been the site of up to 2,000 demonstrators over the past three days. [8][35] After reports of multiple deaths, the minister of health of Oman claimed only one person had been killed and 20 wounded. [36] A Facebook entitled "March 2 Uprising for Dignity and Freedom" called for further protests in all parts of Oman, beginning on 2 March, and it attracted more than 2,300 users. [10] However, protests only occurred at the Globe Roundabout in Sohar with a smaller crowd of 50 protesters who blockaded the area. [37] Some people had organised community policing groups to prevent more damage. [38][39] The army also issued a red alert to vacate the area or threatened action. [40] The 'Sohar Citizen Committee' as it is called has started giving out numbers of its core members to people who can call upon it in case of an emergency or riots attack. [40] On 30 March, The Director of Public Prosecutions issued a statement saying that complaints were filed by some citizens about acts of rioting, vandalism and breach of public order, destruction of public and private properties, obstructing business transactions and hindering easy movement of people on the streets. Based on these complaints, he gave orders to arrest and clear all the protesters from the Globe Roundabout. The Omani army then stormed the Globe Roundabout clearing blockades and arresting a number of the protesters. [41][42][43][44][45] On 1 April, following Friday prayers, hundreds of protesters took to streets demanding the release of people detained in the Public Prosecution crackdowns. [46] The military has also stationed units around government offices and other key buildings in the city. [22] At least one person was reported to have been killed in clashes between police and demonstrators[47] The Public Prosecutor said that the army responded to the protests which had initially started off as a demonstration demanding the release of over 100 protesters detained by authorities three days before[48] but he alleged that later involved knives and stones amidst violence that led to the arrests of 50–60 of the demonstrators.

Protest_Online Condemnation

Autumn 2000 Western Europe floods

The Autumn of 2000 was the wettest recorded in the United Kingdom since records began in 1766. [3][4][5] Several regions of Atlantic Europe from France to Norway received double their average rainfall and there were severe floods and landslides in the southern Alps. [6] In October and November 2000 a successive series of extratropical cyclones caused severe flooding across the UK. [7][8] The United Kingdom saw the most extensive nationwide[9] flooding event since the snow-melt of 1947. [4] Prior to 1947, three similar events occurred in the second half of the 19th century where prolonged rainfall led to widespread flooding throughout England in the month of November, namely 1894, 1875, and 1852. [3] The combined effect of the storms across Western Europe caused flooding throughout the United Kingdom. Two storm events (Nicole and Oratia) 28 October to 3 November, and the storm Rebekka from 4 November, resulted in continuous flooding. [10][11] 10,000 homes were flooded in 700 locations. [4] Peak flows on the Rivers Thames, Trent, Severn, Wharfe and Dee were the highest for 60 years. The River Ouse in Yorkshire reached the highest level since the 17th century. [4] In the United Kingdom a series of severe floods affected large parts of the country in the Autumn of 2000. The worst affected areas were Kent and Sussex during October and Shropshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire in November. The Autumn of 2000 was the wettest on record in the England and Wales precipitation record with several major rainfall events causing flooding in different parts of the country during October and November. England and Wales had an average of 503 mm of rain from September–November exceeding the previous record by nearly 50 mm. [12] A succession of slow-moving low pressure systems crossed the UK during Autumn 2000 associated with the jet stream being in a more southerly position than average. [13] The flooding in Kent and Sussex resulted from a succession of thunderstorms passing along a near-stationary front. [14] Much of the rock in this area is impermeable and there had already been significant rainfall in the south-east allowing for increased surface flow and river levels. Several fronts passed over central and northern England in the following weeks causing flooding in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire. The rainfall for this period in the three preceding years had been above the 1961-1990 average. [14] The previous spring was unsettled, with April and May particularly wet,[8] which increased the aquifer recharge season. [14] Heavy rain was also seen in June, leading to high river levels and some flooding in Yorkshire. [8] September 2000 was generally unsettled, with wet periods between 14 and 19. This resulted in some flooding on 15 September around Portsmouth and Southsea as a pumping station at Eastney failed after 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain fell in 4.5 hours, being the heaviest rain since 1986 in the area. Total rainfall was also measured at 65mm in Havant making this a 1 in 108 year storm event. [15] Storms affected Flanders in Belgium 15 September, with tornados reported in the municipalities of Zwalm, Antwerp and Erpe-Mere. Flooding affected the regions of Ghent and Kortrijk. [16] 24 out of 27 UK Met Office regions except northern Scotland received higher than normal rainfall during the month, making this the wettest September since 1981. [5] Ex-Hurricane Isaac crossed the Atlantic with eye still visible on 2 October[17] and lashed the west of the British isles with near gale-force winds on 3 October, before merging with another extra-tropical low on 4 October north of Scotland. [18] Early October 2000 brought more than the monthly average rainfall in the first 10 days to the southeast of England. [19] A complex of low pressures, named Heidrun & Imke[22] by FU Berlin formed from the remnants of Tropical Storm Leslie. This formed at 30˚N 76˚W on 5 October, swept westwards and merged with a front on 7 October, and then reintensified to become a storm south of Great Britain with winds of 40-50 knots reported in the Bay of Biscay. [23] An area of convective storms stalled over Sussex and Kent. Homes in Yalding and Maidstone were flooded, however there had been fears that a high tide might lead to the River Medway bursting its banks. This threat passed preventing much more widespread damage. [25] Evacuations took place in some villages in the county. On 12 October many roads were flooded across both West and East Sussex including the A21 and A22. A lifeboat crew rescued 20 people trapped in a supermarket in Uckfield and others were rescued by helicopter. [26] Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Bridgnorth flooded as the Severn breached its banks and reached its highest levels in 53 years. [27] The Severn breached its banks in many parts of the county, including at Bewdley, Worcester and Upton-upon-Severn. In Worcester, the Severn peaked on 3 November at its highest level in 53 years. The river remained in flood for several days however and the main road bridge in the city was closed. Homes were flooded in Diglis as well as many businesses on the city's waterfront and the cricket ground. In Bewdley, the floods led to renewed calls for flood defences in the town. [28] These were completed in 2006 and have since reduced the impact of flooding on the town. Flooding affected York during the summer and autumn of 2000 as the River Ouse reached its highest levels since records began. The floods cost the city council in excess of £1 million and 40 people had to be moved from their homes. [29] The floods were the worst in 375 years; more than 300 homes were flooded and the army were called in to help with flood relief efforts. [30] Warm sea surface temperatures in the English Channel and Norway,[31] along with an abnormally warm North Atlantic, added moisture and energy to weather systems as they crossed the UK. [8] September was the wettest since 1981, October the wettest since 1903 and November the wettest since 1970. Overall the autumn of 2000 was the wettest since 1872, and more rain fell in September, October and November than in any other 3-month period since rainfall records began in 1727.

Floods

Comings & Goings: Staffing shortages still stymie service industry

New hours are 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and noon to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It just reopened July 22 after being closed for 16 months. Owner Samir Abughannam did not give a reason for the recent temporary closure. The restaurant is at 301 B St. ———— Comstock’s Magazine had a nice feature recently on Konditorei Austrian Pastry Cafe. It said Albert Kutternig, 66, hopes to retire within two years. He owns the bakery with his wife Gloria. Konditorei started in the early 1990s in downtown Davis. It’s been at its 3,000-square-foot custom-built building at 2710 Fifth St. since 2000. The story said Albert hasn’t found someone willing to take on the long, early-morning hours of his business, and may have to close it when he retires. ———— Citing staffing shortages, Tommy J’s Grill — aka Froggy’s Bar & Grill — recently joined the list of restaurants that are closed on Mondays. That remains in effect at least through the end of October. If you’ve tried to eat out on a Monday — especially for lunch — it’s a challenge. With UC Davis students back in town, hopefully staffing and business profits will improve. Meanwhile, practice patience (and please don’t post a nasty review on Yelp). ———— One great choice for lunch on Mondays and other weekdays is Musette, which recently rebranded from Pannier. It has a ton of filling, plant-based grain bowl and salad choices, along with its already amazing sourdough bread, focaccia — and some big, brown-butter chocolate chip cookies (topped with coarse salt!) that look dangerously delicious. It’s inside University Mall at 825 Russell Blvd., Suite 27. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. ———— The long-awaited new 7-Eleven at 400 Mace Blvd. opened Sept. 15. It includes a gas station as well as a convenience store. The company never responded to my messages regarding the delayed opening, but I assume it was because of staffing. ———— The ASUCD Coffee House in Memorial Union reopened on Wednesday, the same day in-person classes resumed at UC Davis. Hours are limited to weekdays, and shorter than usual, due to staffing constraints. Swirlz Bakery is open from 7:30a.m. to 4 p.m. Mandalay Express (sushi and pho) serves from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hours for TxMx Grill and Fickle Pickle Deli are 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ciao (pizza) remains closed. These remain in effect until Dec. 10 unless they can fill job vacancies. ———— Explorit Science Center plans a grand reopening Oct. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center, at 3141 Fifth St., has been closed for 18 months, except for some limited outdoor camps. The event will include public hours and craft activities. Face masks are required. Explorit board president Sheila Allen said, “It will be nice to safely have visitors again. I hope people will come by and enjoy some family science fun.” To limit crowds, the event requires registration. Visit https://www.explorit.org/grand-reopening to secure a morning or afternoon spot. Admission is $4 for nonmembers ages 3 and up. ———— Bizarro World celebrates its 30th anniversary this month, with an event on Sept. 30. The store’s inventory includes old and new comic books; sci-fi and manga books; toys; gaming and trading cards; board, role-playing and video games. It’s at 223 E St. Check its Facebook page for updates on its anniversary. ———— Fusion Boba & Sandwiches closed on Sept. 18. The business ran as a kiosk inside Westlake Market, 1260 Lake Blvd. In an announcement on social media, Fusion said it plans to open a new store in Woodland. I have confirmed that Jeremiah’s Pick Coffee plans to fill the space. The San Francisco-based company started as a supplier to supermarkets, restaurants and natural food stores. It sells and makes socially and environmentally responsible coffee. ———— Local Jump bikes vanished in the pandemic but there’s a new bike rental company in town: Joe Bike. Its pop-up shop is at 903 Third St. Hours are 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check it out online at https://thejoebike.com/. The San Francisco-based company had a soft-launch starting in March but it’s busy now that UC Davis students are back. Its target market is college towns, including Palo Alto and Austin, Texas. Joe Bike offers monthly bike subscriptions: $24 for a single-speed and $29 for a three-speed cruiser. “The service also includes both damage and theft protection,” the company said in a news release. Each bike comes with a lock. “Should a Joe Bike need repairs or get stolen, it will be serviced or replaced within 24 hours, at no extra charge.” These green-and-white cruisers with front racks are more traditional than the heavy, electric-assisted red Jump bikes popular in Davis before the pandemic. Jump bike services were shut down in March 2020 by its then-parent company, Uber. It was later acquired by Lime, known best for its electric scooters. Jump bikes do not appear to be returning to Davis. ———— Another business adjusting its hours is Helmus Optometry. It recently eliminated Saturdays, attributing it mostly to the labor shortage. It’s open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ———— Davis Shoe Shop is back to regular hours, with high hopes of maintaining them. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at 223 C St. ———— For those wondering, I have tried to check in on the status of Uncle Vito’s and Delta of Venus, two of the last restaurants in town that remain closed since March 2020. Still, no response. ———— Green River Brewing & Taproom in Winters closed temporarily after a vehicle drove into the side of its building early on Sept. 19. It reopened Sept. 20 with a limited menu. Co-owner John Neil told The Winters Express that its self-serve beer wall will be out of service until its damaged portion is fixed. It’s at 4513 Putah Creek Road. ———— I keep track of Davis businesses on my Google spreadsheet, which includes more than 325 Davis businesses affected by COVID-19. It’s at https://bit.ly/DavisBusinesses. In it, there are sheets for Restaurants-open, Restaurants-closed, Businesses-retail, Businesses-service, and more. Email me (address below) to suggest updates. — Wendy Weitzel is a Davis writer and editor. Her column runs on Sundays. Check for frequent updates on her Comings & Goings Facebook and Instagram pages.

Organization Closed

Aviogenex Flight 130 crash

Aviogenex Flight 130 was an international charter passenger flight from Gatwick Airport, London, to Rijeka Airport, Yugoslavia (modern-day Croatia). On 23 May 1971, the Tupolev Tu-134A servicing the flight suffered structural failure during landing. The aircraft flipped over and caught fire, killing 78 people. The crash became the first accident of the Tupolev Tu-134 since entering service. [1] British authorities assisted in the investigation led by Yugoslav Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics, Commission for investigation the causes of accidents in Yugoslav Civil Aviation. The investigation found that the crew might have suffered an optical illusion caused by the dusk and heavy showers due to which they got impression the runway was closer and lower than it was. In response to the illusion the crew executed an overly steep and fast descent in the last phase of the final approach, causing a hard touch down and breaking of the right wing. The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engined, narrow-body, jet airliner built in the Soviet Union from 1966 to 1989. In 1968, Tupolev began work on an improved Tu-134 variant with a 72-seat capacity. The fuselage received a 2.1-meter (6 ft 11 in) plug for greater passenger capacity and an auxiliary power unit in the tail. As a result, the maximum range was reduced from 3,100 kilometres to 2,770 kilometres. The upgraded D-30 engines now featured thrust reversers, replacing the parachute. The first Tu-134A flew on 22 April 1969 and the first airline flight was on 9 November 1970. The accident aircraft had serial number 1351205 and was registered as YU-AHZ. It had accumulated a total of only 111 airframe hours at the time of the crash. The plane was imported to Yugoslavia on 23 April 1971, and an airworthiness certificate was issued on 27 April. [2][3] There were 76 passengers and 7 crew members on board Flight 130. The flight was transporting British tourists traveling on holiday to Rijeka, the third-largest city in SR Croatia. Seventy-two passengers were British tourists, while the others were Yugoslav. Among the passengers was Croatian poet Josip Pupačić, travelling with his wife and daughter; all 3 perished in the crash. [3] The captain and pilot flying on the flight was 41-year-old Miloš Markićević. He held an IFR rating, and had 9,230 flight hours, 138 of which were on the Tupolev Tu-134A. The co-pilot and pilot monitoring was 34-year-old Stevan Mandić. He had 2,300 flight hours, with 899 hours in type. [3] A trainee, Viktor Tomić, had 99 flight hours. He was supervised by 39-year-old flight engineer Ivan Čavajda, who had accumulated 7,500 flight hours, of which 1,373 were on the Tu-134. The cabin crew consisted of three flight attendants Alma Svoboda, Mira Miše and Mirjana Janković. [3] The aircraft took off from Gatwick at 16:33 GMT, flight code JJ 130. The flight was uneventful, despite poor weather conditions over Europe, until the final approach to Rijeka Airport. After establishing communication with Rijeka ATC, the controller on duty passed meteorological info to the crew and warned them about cumulonimbus above Učka mountain. Using their airborne radar the crew managed to fly around the cumulonimbus, but was too high to catch the Instrument Landing System (ILS) glide slope. The aircraft flew over the airport, returned to Breza Non-Directional Beacon (BZ NDB) and caught the ILS glide path and localizer normally. The crew followed the ILS glide path with a slightly increased speed. [3] Four Kilometres from the RWY14 threshold (THR 14), at an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft) above the sea level, the aircraft entered torrential rain under cumulonimbus cloud. [3] Cumulonimbus cloud with base at 600 metres (2,000 ft), was above the northwest part of the airport and extending towards Rijeka for some 2-3 Kilometres from THR 14. Approx. 3,4 Kilometres from the THR 14, 50 seconds before impact, the aircraft was carried upwards and rolled to the right [3] by the slight turbulence caused by the cumulonimbus. The crew managed to align the aircraft with the runway centerline but could not return to the ILS glide path. The aircraft remained above the glide path despite crew's effort to reduce altitude by applying down elevator and reducing power. [3] Due to a likely optical illusion, caused by dusk, rain and water on runway, the crew got an impression they were closer and higher from the runway than they actually were. [3] (see Fig. 3 and 4) Above the middle marker, 1,2 Kilometres from the THR 14, and 18 seconds before impact, engine power increased and up elevator applied, meaning that pilot-in-command (PIC), Miloš Markićević, initiated a Go Around procedure. Then after just 3 seconds, 800 m from THR 14, at an altitude of 60 meters above the runway threshold elevation, power was reduced to idle, and down elevator applied [3] as the PIC changed his decision and decided to continue landing. Due to the aerodynamic features of the aircraft and reduced speed, the aircraft entered a gradually steepening angle of descent. [3] The aircraft touched down hard on RWY 14, some 180 meters before the proper approach touch down point, right landing gear first, at 140 knots (260 km/h). Due to excessive forces (vertical load of 4g/horizontal load 1,5g) on the right landing gear, its strut and shock absorber broke forward and aft spar of the right wing, which broke off causing the aircraft to flip over and slide down the runway inverted for 700 metres. Fire was ignited by the sparks from the flaps scratching the runway and fuel spilled from the broken right wing. [3] It was around 19:45 local time. Reportedly, the last words of the PIC before the impact were: " What is pushing me now, what is that?!" All passengers and crew survived the initial impact.

Air crash

KLM Flight 823 crash

KLM Flight 823 was an air accident in 1961 involving a Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft that crashed on approach to Cairo International Airport in Egypt after a flight from Rome in Italy. The crash killed 20 out of 36 passengers and crew on flight 823. The accident aircraft was an American built Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop-powered airliner, registration PH-LLM, built in 1960. [1] KLM Flight 823 took off from Amsterdam on 11 June on a flight to Kuala Lumpur with stopovers at Munich, Rome, Cairo, and Karachi. Twenty-nine passengers and seven crew were aboard the aircraft on the third leg of the planned schedule, between Rome and Cairo. At 04:11 local time, the aircraft was on approach to runway 34 at Cairo International Airport but struck high ground about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the airport. The aircraft broke up on impact, with both sections catching fire. Seventeen passengers and three crew were killed. [1][2] The cause of the crash of KLM Flight 823 was attributed to pilot error, being blamed on the pilot-in-command not paying sufficient attention to his instruments. [1]

Air crash

1976 Tangshan earthquake

The 1976 Tangshan earthquake (Chinese: 唐山大地震; pinyin: Tángshān dà dìzhèn; lit. 'Great Tangshan earthquake'), also known as the Great Tangshan earthquake,[5] was a natural disaster resulting from a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit the region around Tangshan, Hebei, People's Republic of China on 28 July 1976, at 3:42 in the morning. The maximum intensity of the earthquake was XI (Extreme) on the Mercali scale. In minutes, eighty-five percent of the buildings in Tangshan collapsed or were unusable, all services failed, and most of the highway and railway bridges collapsed or were seriously damaged. [6] At least 242,000 people died (some have said three times that), making this the third (or possibly second) deadliest earthquake in recorded history. [7] The lack of warning and foreshocks, in contrast to the earlier 1975 Haicheng earthquake, was a principal factor in the large number of casualties. The Tangshan earthquake was complex, with multiple events. There were two main shocks. The first struck at 3:42:56 in the morning (local time), approximately 12 km under the southern part of Tangshan. [8] The magnitude was initially estimated at around 8.1, subsequently recalculated to be 7.6 on the standard Mw scale. [1] However, that scale measures only the total energy released by an earthquake, and earthquakes vary in how much of that energy is converted to seismic shaking. The Tangshan quake, being relatively shallow, converted much of its energy to surface shaking, and on the Ms (surface magnitude) scale it also measured 7.6. (7.8 on the Chinese surface magnitude scale. [9]) This "occurred on a near vertical right-lateral strike-slip fault, striking N40°E",[10] the block on the southeast side sliding about three meters to the southwest. [11] This resulted from tectonic compression on a nearly west–east axis. [12] Surface rupturing occurred in five en echelon segments extending eight kilometers through the center of Tangshan. [13] The second main shock, with a magnitude 7.0 Mw , or 7.4 Ms , struck that afternoon at 18:45 near Luanhsien (Luanxian), about 70 km to the east-northeast ("B" on the intensity map in the next section), just south of the northeastern end of the Tangshan fault. [14] This occurred in a zone of north-northwest striking conjugate faults that cut across the north end of the Tangshan fault. The left-lateral motion here, along with the right-lateral motion on the Tangshan fault, suggests that as the crustal blocks to the west and east are compressed together the block between these two earthquakes is being squeezed out to the south. A long sequence of aftershocks followed, with twelve of magnitude 6 or greater. [15] The first of these struck just three and a half hours after the initial shock, at 7:17, at the southern end of Tangshan fault, near Ninghe ("C" on the map in the section below),[16] with a magnitude of 6.2 Ms . Another significant aftershock (Ms 6.9) occurred in November near Ninghe. Most aftershocks occurred between these end points, in a zone 140 km long and about 50 km wide. [17] Many buildings were further damaged by the aftershocks. [18] The damage done by an earthquake depends primarily on two factors. First, the intensity of shaking, which depends mainly on the magnitude of the earthquake rupture, the distance from the epicenter, and the nature of the local soil and topography, with soft soils (e.g., sediments and fill) more likely to amplify the intensity and duration of the shaking. [19] Second, the design and construction of the structures being shaken, with houses built of adobe or stone, wooden houses without a well-built frame, and unreinforced masonry construction being especially vulnerable. [20] The seismic risk had been greatly underestimated and almost all buildings and structures were designed and built without seismic considerations. [18] As a result, Tangshan was "mainly a city of unreinforced brick buildings",[8] sitting right on top of a major fault line. The power (magnitude) of the Tangshan earthquake is indicated by the extent of where it was felt: up to 1,100 km (680 mi) away, across most of northeastern China, and even in Mongolia and Korea. [21] In and around Beijing, 140 km (87 mi) from the epicenter, the shaking reached an intensity of VI on the Chinese intensity scale (similar to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale), with nearly 10% of all buildings damaged,[22] and at least 50 people died. The economic loss totaled to 10 billion yuan. [23] The rupture occurred under the southern part of the city, and propagated northeastward on a fault that runs through the middle of the city. The maximum intensity was "XI" (eleven) on the 12-degree Chinese scale. Nearly every building and structure in the city collapsed, wholly or partially, infrastructure was severely damaged, and essential services such as electric power, water supply, and communications were entirely knocked out. This area of maximum damage – the meizoseismal area – was approximately 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) long and from 3.5 to 5.5 km wide, centered roughly along the railway. [24] The area of intensity X shaking – where only new, one-story brick buildings were merely "damaged or slightly damaged", the rest being severely damaged or worse – was 36 km long and 15 km across. [25] In this "high intensity" zone (intensity X and XI, within the red contour on the map) 20 highway bridges and five railway bridges cross the Douhe River in Tangshan; only six survived with only minor damage. [26] Shaking of intensity IX (or greater) occurred in a zone roughly 78 km (48 mi) long and 42 km (26 mi) (about 1800 km2, inner orange contour on the map), and also around the aftershocks at Luanxian and Ninghe. In this zone most buildings classified as Class III (well-built buildings of wood, masonry, or reinforced concrete[27]) survived,[28] but many Class II buildings (typically old wood-frame buildings lacking a well-built frame, and quite common outside of the cities) were destroyed, while a majority of Class I buildings (built of adobe or stone) were destroyed. Further out (to the outer orange contour), and around the city of Tianjin and a few isolated patches, intensity VIII shaking mostly affected Class I buildings (more than half destroyed), bridges, and tall brick chimneys. Railway track was also subject to bending or displacement, depending on soil conditions. [25] The zone of intensity VII shaking – inside the dark brown contour – marks the extent of moderate damage, where many Class I structures (of weak design or construction) were damaged but only "few"—between 10% and 30%—were destroyed, and only a "few" Class two buildings damaged. This ellipsoid zone extended about 75 km north and south of Tangshan and 120 km east and west, from about 25 km short of Beijing to short of Qinhuangdao City (which had anomalously higher shaking), and from the Sea of Bohai in the south and southwest to just north of Zunhua. The north–south shortening of this zone is attributed to buttressing by the bedrock of the Yanshin mountains. Significant damage occurred beyond this in the VI zone, but (like in Beijing) affected less than 10% of the buildings, or occurred in small localized areas. [29] Mining coal is Tangshan's principal industry, and when the quake struck around 10,000 miners were underground. For the most part the mine roadways (tunnels) were not seriously damaged, but with the loss of electrical power there was no illumination (aside from headlamps), no ventilation, and no working lifts. [30] It is reported that most miners escaped within hours, but that some did not reach the surface until two weeks later. [31] Most of the damage to the vertical shafts occurred within the first 50 meters, where they pass through the water-bearing alluvium.

Earthquakes

Lord Frost: failure to rip up NI protocol would be ‘historic misjudgment’

The UK wants to rip up the existing Northern Ireland protocol and replace it with new Brexit arrangements, warning it would be a “historic misjudgment” if the EU did not consider such a change. “What does it cost the EU to put a new protocol in place? It seems to us, very little,” the Brexit minister Lord Frost said in a speech in Portugal on Tuesday. Spelling out the UK’s position in greater detail than before, he said it was needed if the both sides were to move away from the current hostilities and move to the next chapter. To allow the current “alienation” to take hold would be “a serious historical error”, he said, adding the UK had got into “a low-equilibrium somewhat fractious relationship” but that it “takes two to fix it”. In a speech recalling the works of philosopher Edmund Burke he questioned why the EU would not want to rewrite the protocol to accommodate the unionist concerns in Northern Ireland. “It doesn’t seem unreasonable to us to look at an agreement again if it is obviously not doing what it was designed to achieve. “For the EU now to say the protocol, drawn up in extreme haste, at this time of great uncertainty can never be improved upon when it is so self-evidently causing such difficult problems will be historic misjudgment,” he said. “We always sign treaties and in good faith and intend to implement them. I hope that’s a given. But he added: “We knew that some aspects of the protocol as it stood when they were agreed in October 2019, we knew that these were problematic. We didn’t particularly support them ourselves. We agreed with them because it was the right thing to do for the country overall,” he said. It has been a turbulent month for EU-UK relations, with a flurry of speeches, briefings and statements by Frost and Downing Street over the need to substantially rewrite the protocol, signed less than two years ago. On Monday Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, questioned whether the UK wanted a complete breakdown of relations, saying the EU was close to the point of saying “enough we cannot compromise any more”. One Whitehall source said the ultimate source of Frost and Boris Johnson’s unhappiness with the protocol was Theresa May’s decision to accept the EU’s sequencing of negotiations. They said Frost and Boris Johnson were effectively trying to unpick the decision to include Northern Ireland as one of the top three issues in the legally binding withdrawal agreement. Frost’s speech is the third in a month arguing for the protocol to be changed and the second time he has argued that the original protocol itself allowed for it to be superseded through article 13 (8). “Given the experience we now have, it is clear that it must,” he said. Frost insisted he was not abandoning the UK’s international obligations, saying it wanted to use the “grain of the protocol” but “design it in a way that allows goods to flow freely where they need to flow freely and avoid undermining the balance the Good Friday agreement is designed to establish.”

Tear Up Agreement

2011 Israeli social justice protests

The 2011 Israeli social justice protests (Hebrew: מְחָאַת צֶדֶק חֶבְרָתִי‎), which are also referred to by various other names in the media, were a series of demonstrations in Israel beginning in July 2011 involving hundreds of thousands of protesters from a variety of socio-economic and religious backgrounds opposing the continuing rise in the cost of living (particularly housing) and the deterioration of public services such as health and education. A common rallying cry at the demonstrations was the chant; "The people demand social justice!". As the protests expanded during August 2011, the demonstrations began to also focus on other related issues relating to the social order and power structure in Israel. The housing protests which sparked the first demonstrations began as a result of a Facebook protest group that initially led hundreds of people to establish tents in the Rothschild Boulevard in the center of Tel Aviv, an act which soon gained momentum, media attention and began a public discourse in Israel regarding the high cost of housing and living expenses. [1] Soon afterwards, the protests spread to many other major cities in Israel as thousands of Israeli protesters began establishing tents in the middle of central streets in major cities as a means of protest. As part of the protests, several mass demonstrations have been held across the country, in which hundreds of thousands of people have participated. A major focus of the protests have been what organizers have termed social justice. Part of the movement is about changing the social order, and the economic system. Calls to topple the government were made by some parts of the protests. [2] Criticism of the protests includes accusations of a political agenda rather than a social one with revelations of funding from specific left-wing individuals and organizations like S. Daniel Abraham and the New Israel Fund. [3] Maariv journalist Kalman Libeskind claimed that the spontaneous protests had actually been three months in the planning by Stan Greenberg and orchestrated by left-wing organizations and the National Left. [4] Criticism within the protests accused the 'protest leaders' of not publicizing specific goals, the lack of visibility of their goals, and the damaging impact of media focus being on a few activists. [5] Following the first large-scale protests in early August, the government announced that a series of measures would be taken to solve the housing shortage, some of which were already under preparation and ratification, and some which were new measures proposed in response to the demands of the protest movement leadership. [6] In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a team of ministers and senior staff members from his office, headed by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, to negotiate with the protest leaders[original research?] as well as the Trajtenberg Committee. Since that time, there was significant criticism of the Prime Minister's perceived insensitivity to the public sentiment, prompting speculation that general sympathy for the protest movement may cause one or more members of the governing coalition to leave the government, triggering national elections. [7] On 22 June 2012, Daphne Leaf and several other activists tried to restart the housing protests by re-erecting a tent encampment on Rothschild Boulevard. The municipality had not given a permit and as a result Leaf, along with eleven other activists, were arrested when they resisted the twenty policemen and municipal inspectors who arrived to dismantle the tents which were confiscated. [8][9][10] The most common name for the protests in Israel (both during and after the protests) was "The social protest" (המחאה החברתית Hamechaa Hahevratit) the protests have also been referred to as the Housing Protest (מחאת הדיור Mechaat HaDiyur),[11][12] Social justice protest (מחאת צדק חברתי Mechaat Tzedek Hevrati),[2][13] the Cost of Living protest (מחאת יוקר המחייה Mechaat Yoker HaMekhiya),[14] the Real estate protest (מחאת הנדל"ן Mechaat HaNadlan),[15][16] the Tents protest (מחאת האוהלים Mechaat HaOhalim)[17][18] and less frequently the middle class protest (מחאת מעמד הביניים Mechaat Maamad HaBeynaim). [19] Numerous factors have led to the protests, in particular rising cost of housing and living expenses in Israel, but also various ongoing issues such as government corruption, rising poverty rates which the OECD defined as being twice the average of other developed countries, and a widening gap between rich and poor. [20] Demographic structural factors, such as a large percentage of educated but dissatisfied youth within the population, extreme poverty in the haredi Jewish sector, and high unemployment in the Arab-Israeli population have spread the cause of the protests amongst a wide swathe of the Israeli population. [21] Many have also blamed the erosion of Israel's traditional egalitarian socio-economic model for the rise in public dissatisfaction, claiming that the rise of American-style social structures in Israel is incompatible with Zionist ideology (The word Zion does not exist in the referred article). [22] A major catalyst for public anger has been the significant rise in the cost of living, particularly for the lower and middle class. Although average salaries in Israel tend to be lower than those in the Western world, the cost of many consumer goods is relatively high – particularly basic necessities on which long established price controls have gradually been lifted. Since 2007, Israel has also experienced a gradual rise in housing prices. This increase followed a decade-long period of low housing costs, between 1996 and 2005, as well as a long history of significant government involvement in the public housing sector. According to data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, from 2005 to 2011 apartment rental prices rose 34% on average, 49% in the Gush Dan region around Tel Aviv. A survey published by the Housing and Construction Minister of Israel revealed that in 2010, 129 average monthly salaries were required for the purchase of an average priced apartment, an amount significantly higher than countries in the Western world. In April 2011, about three months before the cost of living protests began, Boaz Gaon, son of prominent Israeli businessman Benny Gaon, presented activists with a ten-point plan by Democratic pollster and political strategist Stan Greenberg to defeat the right-wing. [23][24][25] It was recommended that not one organization should coordinate the struggle, rather to divide up the effort with as many initiatives in as many locations as possible. Maariv journalist Kalman Libeskind suggested that the protests were a result of this plan. [4] During June 2011, a month before the housing protest began, another significant large scale demonstration took place in Israel. Commonly referred to by the media as the cottage cheese boycott, this event saw the Israeli public protest against the high cost of many products in Israel and specifically in this case, the high price of cottage cheese. The protest was successful and led to a drop in the retail price of cottage cheese. [26] This was the first time in Israel that a public protest organized by means of social networking had such a wide public effect in Israel. In July 2011, 25-year-old Israeli video editor Daphne Leef had to vacate the central Tel Aviv apartment where she had lived for three years due to major renovations in her building. Leef soon found out that apartment rental prices in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area had skyrocketed. Consequently, she initiated a small-scale public tent protest. [27] Leef opened a Facebook protest page, inviting others to join her protest, and pitched a tent in Habima Square in Tel Aviv. In response, protesters gathered in the streets around Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, as well as in Zion Square in Jerusalem. [28][29] The use of Protest camps have been described by the protest leaders as being inspired by the Hooverville tent cities in the Central Park of New York City and in many other cities throughout the United States in which many Americans were forced to live during the Great Depression in the United States. [20] The use of social networks for public protests began to increase in the early 2010s, with the most significant one being the large-scale demonstrations in Arab countries in the Middle East that led to a change of government in several countries such as Egypt (see 2011 Egyptian revolution). Some see a connection between the Arab Spring protests and the 2011 Israeli housing protests, as the common denominator is, firstly, the use of social networking to organize public protests,[30][31][32] and secondly the fact that these two waves of protests stem from the increase in the cost of living, that they were organized mostly by young people, and that the protesters claims include not only economic demands but also demands for changes in the policies and practices of the ruling government. [33] [61] Tel Aviv has been at the epicenter of much of the crisis and has experienced ongoing protests every day from 14 July 2011 onwards. The largest protests were held in downtown Tel Aviv, which has been considered the protest movement's most effective symbol. Hundreds of thousands of people have been estimated to participate in the protests rallies in Tel Aviv. By late 2015, the social protest camp in Tel-Aviv, near the Arlozorov train station, is the only one remaining in Israel Some tents were established at Rishon-Lezion's municipal park already in late July 2011. On 13 August 2011 circa 25,000 people turned out to demonstrate in the Haifa downtown protest with leading local activists, deputy mayor of haifa, Shai Abuhatsira and chairman of the university of Haifa students union, Yossi Shalom. [62] On 13 August 2011 more than 20,000 people turned out to demonstrate in Beersheba. [62] There were approximately 10 illegally built shacks in Jessie Cohen neighborhood in Holon, built by people from the lower class.

Protest_Online Condemnation

Putin oversees robotic military exercises with Belarus, raising concerns

Russian President Vladimir Putin has observed military exercises being conducted in coordination with Belarus that have raised concerns in bordering countries. Putin on Monday attended exercises at a training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod region, 450 kilometres east of Moscow. The exercises included what the Defense Ministry said was the first use in a combat environment of two new robotic fighting vehicles that are equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers. The Zapad (West)-2021 exercises being conducted at several sites in Russia and Belarus involve about 200,000 soldiers in total, including troops from Armenia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. The foreign ministers of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on Monday expressed concerns about the maneuvers, saying Russia has not been transparent about them and noting they come amid heightened Western tensions with Belarus. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov brushed off those concerns, saying that “joint military exercises are a regular process.”

Military Exercise

2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown crash

Turkey & ISIL Turkey & Russia A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M attack aircraft near the Syria–Turkey border on 24 November 2015. [1][2] According to Turkey, the aircraft was fired upon while in Turkish airspace because it violated the border up to a depth of 2.19 kilometres (1.36 miles) for about 17 seconds after being warned to change its heading 10 times over a period of five minutes before entering the airspace. [3][4] The Russia Defence Ministry denied the aircraft ever left Syrian airspace, counter-claiming that their satellite data showed that the Sukhoi was about 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) inside Syrian airspace when it was shot down. [citation needed] The U.S. State Department said that the U.S. independently confirmed that the aircraft's flight path violated Turkish territory, and that the Turks gave multiple warnings to the pilot, to which they received no response and released audio recordings of the warnings they had broadcast. [5][6] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that Turkey had the right to defend its airspace. [7] Russian president Vladimir Putin said that the U.S. knew the flight path of the Russian jet and should have informed Turkey; two U.S. officials said that Russia did not inform the U.S. military of its jet's flight plan. [8] The Russian pilot and weapon systems officer both ejected from the aircraft. The weapon systems officer was rescued;[9] the pilot was shot and killed by Syrian rebel ground fire while descending by parachute. [10] A Russian naval infantryman from the search and rescue team launched to retrieve the two airmen was also killed when a rescue helicopter was targeted by the rebels. [10] The shooting down of the Sukhoi Su-24M was the first destruction of a Russian or Soviet Air Forces warplane by a NATO member state since an attack on the Sui-ho Dam during the Korean War in 1953. [11][12][13] Reactions to the incident included denunciation from Russia and an attempt to defuse the situation by NATO afterwards. Russia deployed the guided missile cruiser Moskva armed with S-300F (SA-N-6 Grumble) long-range SAM missiles off the Syrian coast near Latakia[14] and S-400 (SA-21 Growler) mobile SAM systems to Khmeimim airbase. In response, the Turkish Armed Forces deployed the KORAL land-based radar electronic support system in Hatay Province along the Turkish–Syrian border. [15][16] After the 2012 shooting down of a Turkish RF-4E Phantom II Jet by Syrian forces, Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan protested, saying that brief incursions should not trigger an attack, pointing out that Turkey did not shoot down Syrian helicopters that strayed into Turkish airspace. [17][18][19] Nevertheless, as a response to the event he announced that Turkey changed its rules of engagement, and said it would start to consider all "military elements" approaching from Syria an enemy threat and would act accordingly. [20][21] Subsequently, Turkey shot down a Syrian Mi-17 helicopter in September 2013[22] and a MiG-23 warplane in March 2014. [23] Russia is one of several countries directly involved in the Syrian conflict. On 30 September 2015, Russia began its air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other anti-government forces. In early October, Turkey and NATO protested against what they saw as Russia's deliberate violations of Turkish airspace. [24][a] The Russian Defence Ministry admitted that a Russian Su-30 aircraft had entered Turkish airspace "for a few seconds" because of bad weather, adding that measures had been taken to prevent a repeat of such incidents, however Turkish radar had tracked the aircraft straying into Turkish airspace for up to 8 km (5 mi) lasting "several minutes". [31][32][33] From 3–15 October, five discussions between senior ranking officials from Turkey and Russia occurred, concerning Turkish rules of engagement and Russian violations of Turkish airspace. [34][35][36][37] On 6 November 2015, six U.S. Air Force F-15C fighters were deployed by US European Command from the 48th Fighter Wing at their Lakenheath base in Britain to Incirlik Air Base as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. [21][38] The Government of Turkey requested these to secure the sovereignty of Turkish airspace because of earlier repeated Russian intrusions into Turkish airspace. [21][38] On 19 November, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov and the Russian military attaché Colonel Andrei Victorovich Dovger were summoned by Turkey. [39] Russia, which was criticised by Turkey for having conducted operations near the Turkish border, a region inhabited by Syrian Turkmen and largely free of ISIL (though al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, is present in the region),[40][41] was notified that Turkey's rules of engagement were in place and it would react to any violations of its border security. Turkey also warned Russia that it would not be indifferent to "attacks targeting the life security of Turkmen" in the Bayırbucak area. [42][43] The preceding week Turkey had called for the UN Security Council to discuss attacks against Turkish-backed Turkmens. [44] Approximately 1,700 people had fled the area in the previous three days due to battles between Syrian government forces and anti-government Syrian Turkmen and al-Nusra Front fighters. [41] Russia has bombed the area near the Turkish border to support Syrian government forces. [44] Syrian Turkmen formed their own armed brigades called Syrian Turkmen Brigades in opposition to the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, loosely affiliated with other rebels such as the Free Syrian Army. The Turkmen brigades also cooperate with al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the al-Nusra Front and with the Salafi coalition known as Ahrar al-Sham. [45] In Latakia the Turkish-supported rebels formed the Jabal al-Turkman Brigade. [45] On 24 November 2015 at 9:24 am, as it was returning to Khmeimim airbase, a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft with tail number 83 was shot down near the Syrian–Turkish border by an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile[46] from a patrolling Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet. [47][48] Later analysis suggested that a radar guided medium range AIM-120 AMRAAM was responsible for the shot being fired between 9 and 12 miles away. [49] The Economist reported that the two Su-24s were on their way to strike Syrian Turkmen targets. [43] Syrian government forces supported by the Shiite militias and the Russian Air Force were fighting against Syrian Turkmen brigades, Army of Conquest and al-Nusra Front fighters. [41] Early reports from Russian news agencies citing the Russian Defence Ministry, indicated that the aircraft had been downed by a ground-based strike from Syrian Turkmen rebels, but they later confirmed Turkish reports that the aircraft had been shot down by Turkish fighter jets. [citation needed] The Turkish military released a graphic of the Russian aircraft's flight pattern, which shows it crossing the southern tip of Hatay Province before being shot down and crashing near Turkmen Mountain. [50][51] Russia then countered Turkey's radar trace analysis by publishing a different flight map showing no airspace violation. [52][53] Three days later, on 27 November, Russia published another map. [54] According to Turkey's statement to the UN Security Council, two aircraft, whose nationalities were unknown at the time, violated Turkish airspace up to a depth of 2.19 km (1.36 mi) for about 17 seconds. [3][55] According to Turkish officials, the aircraft were given 10 warnings within the span of 5 minutes, by operators at a ground-controlled interception station, to change their course. [50] Turkey later released the audio recording ("The unknown air traffic position to Humaymim 020 radial 26 miles. This is Turkish Air Force speaking on Guard. You are approaching Turkish airspace, change your heading south immediately"). [56][57][58] The Russians claim there were no warnings. [59] Analysts have noted that Turkey's warnings were issued on a dedicated mutually-agreed radio channel, which was the international Guard (emergency) channel (243.0 MHz), but the R-862M radio fitted to the Su-24M is not able to monitor this channel without optional equipment, which may not have been installed. [60][61] According to Turkey, one aircraft left Turkish national airspace after violating it; the other aircraft was fired upon by Turkish F-16s patrolling the area and crashed into Syrian territory after being hit in Turkish airspace. [3] Based on its heat signature, an anonymous American official stated that the jet was hit in Syrian airspace after a short incursion into Turkey. [62] On 30 November, US Ambassador to NATO Douglas Lute stated that the data supported the Turkish version of events.

Air crash

Kid Rock cancels Billy Bob’s concerts, saying band has COVID

arts entertainmentPop Music By Dan Singer 7:56 PM on Aug 26, 2021 CDT Kid Rock’s weekend shows at Billy Bob’s Texas have been canceled, with the singer saying several of his band members have COVID. “I am pissed. Over half the band has [expletive] covid,” he wrote in an largely unprintable series of tweets Thursday, hours after the venue had announced his Friday and Saturday shows would not take place. The rapper, outspoken Republican, country singer and grandfather, 50, was not among those with the virus, he said, adding that he had been vaccinated. The cancellations cut short a two-weekend engagement Kid Rock had planned at the Fort Worth honky-tonk. He played two sold-out shows at the club last weekend, on Friday and Saturday, for about 4,500 people each. The venue is operating at 75% capacity. Asked about Billy Bob’s current health protocols, a spokesperson said the venue checks the temperatures of “all entertainers and their crews” and requires them to use hand sanitizer “when entering the backstage area of the club.” Guests have their temperatures checked by a thermal camera on their way into the building. Anyone over 99.5 gets a refund and a goodbye. In recent weeks, the music industry has moved toward requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests from concertgoers, with artists and promoters leading the push. But a state law banning “vaccine passports” and a number of executive orders from Gov. Greg Abbott make it risky for Texas venues to enforce such policies. After Billy Bob’s did so at a concert earlier this month with Jason Isbell, who requested the protocols, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission gave the club a warning. Marty Travis, general manager of Billy Bob’s, said Kid Rock’s management warned him Wednesday night that members of the band weren’t feeling well. Since then, things had not improved. “This morning they called me and said, ‘Man, half the band is not feeling well right now. We don’t know if it’s COVID or not but, you know, we don’t feel comfortable traveling. And if we can’t give you a hundred percent then we’d rather just cancel the show and let’s redo something next year.’” Fans can get refunds at the point of sale they used to snag tickets. “I’d rather you tell me now than tell me later,” Travis said he told Kid Rock’s rep. A representative for Kid Rock didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, on Aug. 8, Kid Rock played an outdoor concert as part of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. More than 100 coronavirus infections have been linked to the rally, the Washington Post reported Thursday, with cases spread across five states. It wrapped up Aug. 15 after drawing more than half a million bikes to the town, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Dan Singer, Entertainment & Events Editor. Dan Singer edits entertainment and events coverage for The Dallas Morning News.

Organization Closed

The echoes of China’s financial crisis are being heard as a giant struggles to survive

There are sufficient echoes of the late 1990s in the struggles of China’s Huarong Asset Management to stay afloat to concern the authorities in Beijing and provide some context for their continuing efforts to reduce the excessive leverage in China’s financial system. Huarong was created in the aftermath of the Asian Financial crisis of 1997 and 1998, which occurred just as China’s economy opened up during the earliest phase of a progressive and still-incomplete deregulation of its financial system. There are rising fears about the financial health of China Huarong Asset Management - a distressed-debt manager controlled by the country’s finance ministry. While China dodged the worst of the crisis, largely because it still had stringent capital controls, the initial deregulation of a banking system (that until the 1980s had been confined to three state-owned banks and a network of rural co-operatives) had produced a lot of less than judicious lending to state-owned enterprises. In the late 1990s China experienced a massive bad debt crisis – there are estimates that more than half of its state-owned enterprises( SOEs) were insolvent in the mid-1990s – with the non-performing loans within the balance sheets of China’s four major banks thought to be between a quarter and a third of their total assets. The government reacted to the emergence of that destabilising mountain of bad debts by recapitalising the state-owned banks; carving out their non-performing loans and handing them over to four new asset management companies to manage them out of the system over time. Huarong was one of those asset managers, established to acquire and then manage the bad loans made by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The Huarong predicament and the context of the swelling tide of SOE-related defaults highlight not just dangerously and system-threatening excessive leverage and poor allocation of capital within the heart of China’s economy but significant, indeed egregious, governance failures. Now the company set up to manage bad debts is itself apparently teetering on the verge of bankruptcy due to its own non-performing loans and will either be restructured or fail. While it is not a bank it is a substantial financial institution, with about $340 billion of assets and net assets of about $32 billion. Embarrassingly for the Chinese authorities, although it listed In Hong Kong in 2015, it is a state-controlled enterprise. The Ministry of Finance owns a majority of its shares. The company got itself into trouble, it seems, by expanding beyond its charter as a manager of banks’ bad debts into quasi banking activities itself; lending to property developers, setting up securities trading businesses and essentially playing in the shadows of the system that the tightly-regulated banks have been forbidden to enter. It was able to do so because its former chairman, Lai Xiaomin, was by his own admission subjected to absolutely no oversight and was able to treat Huarong as his own plaything. When he was arrested in 2018 he admitted taking more than $350 million of “bribes” over the previous decade and was found to have about $50 million of cash stashed in an apartment he called “The Supermarket.” Lai was charged, found guilty of corruption (and bigamy!) and was executed in January. Huarong’s difficulties provide an insight into what’s been happening in some of the less transparent corners of China’s financial system. It isn’t a unique case. Last year the chairman of a bank in Shangdong province, and his predecessor, were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve (if life sentences are any reprieve) for corruption and the Hengfeng Bank had to be bailed out by the state. It is also occurring with a backdrop of a record flood of defaults by Chinese companies on their bonds. Last year Chinese companies missed payments on about $US30 billion of domestic and internationally-issued bonds and the rate of defaults has climbed this year, with payments missed on more than $US10 billion of bonds in the first quarter. Most of the defaults relate to property developments, although there were coal-related delinquencies last year and some of the large Chinese conglomerates, like HNA, have had their well-chronicled struggles to stay, technically at least, afloat. The defaults last year came after the central authorities started to tighten the availability of credit in China’s financial system in an attempt, halted during the pandemic but now resumed, to deleverage their over-leveraged state-owned businesses and the wider system. That almost guarantees more defaults and failed enterprises, including state-owned enterprises that historically carried either an explicit or implicit government guarantee. Lai Xiaomin was sentenced to death for taking bribes. Foreign bond holders attracted to China’s still-developing corporate bond market by the yields on offer relative to those elsewhere are being taught a lesson about risk-adjusted returns as the earlier defaults, combined with the collapse in the value of Huarong’s bonds, spread contagion through the market. The central government is no longer the lender of last resort for it SOEs or local governments – it is clearly prepared to allow them to fail as part of its larger effort to de-leverage and improve the allocation of capital within the economy. The inter-connectedness of Huarong with banks, insurers and other financial institutions, however, means it may be seen as having systemic importance and that may play a role in its resolution. If Huarong isn’t able to sort its own troubles out, there is speculation that ownership of the bad loan manager will be transferred – to essentially another bad loan manager. The fate of the Ministry of Finance’s 61 per cent shareholding and the $US23 billion of bonds it has issued offshore are in the balance. The Huarong predicament and the context of the swelling tide of SOE-related defaults highlight not just dangerously and system-threatening excessive leverage and poor allocation of capital within the heart of China’s economy but significant, indeed egregious, governance failures. They also explain why the authorities want to improve the capabilities of their credit ratings agencies, which have tended to slap an investment grade rating on anything state-owned or controlled. Loading The defaults also point to the gulf between external perceptions (which the authorities are keen to promote) of the rigid control the central government exercises over all aspects of life in China and the reality of substantial dysfunction at the coalfaces of the economy, financial system and local government. Unlike the 1990s episode, where the concentration of risks within a small number of very large state-owned banks that couldn’t be allowed to fail dictated the state’s strategy for dealing with the avalanche of bad debts, dealing with the latest spate of bad loans within non-bank entities will be more complex. That’s particularly the case with a group like Huarong, where the regulated sector of the system does appear to have some exposure to its fate. It will, however, suit the authorities to allow some SOEs to fail, even large ones, to embed the concept of risk within their system and use the lessons learned by foreign investors to effectively enlist them to help improve the risk assessment and risk-pricing of the SOE’s offshore debt.

Financial Crisis

Aeroflot Flight 3 crash

Aeroflot Flight 03 (Russian: Рейс 3 Аэрофлота Reys 3 Aeroflota) was a passenger flight from Khabarovsk Airport to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport. On 3 September 1962 the Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104 lost control after the airframe started vibrating, resulting in the plane rolling and yawing several times at an altitude of 4,500 meters before crashing. The aircraft crashed into a swamp, some 90 kilometers away from Khabarovsk. At the time, it was the deadliest crash in the history of Soviet aviation. [1][2] The aircraft involved in the accident was a Tupolev Tu-104A with two Mikulin AM-3M engines registered to Aeroflot as CCCP-42366. The aircraft was produced by the Omsk factory and was released to the Khabarovsk Far East Civil Aviation Directorate division of Aeroflot on 27 September 1958. The cabin of the aircraft had 70 seats; despite this 79 passengers were allowed on board. At the time of the accident the aircraft had 4,426 flight hours and sustained 1,760 pressurization cycles. [3] On board the aircraft were 79 passengers, of which 58 were adults and 21 were children. Seven crew members were also aboard the flight. The cockpit crew consisted of the following:[3] The air traffic controller instructed to follow the established corridor Troitskoe. Mild stratocumulus clouds were present along the designated route. At an altitude of 4,000 meters the aircraft ceased communications with Khabarovsk air traffic control, proceeding along the designated route. At 21:39 local time the pilot switched air traffic controllers, and after receiving permission started increasing altitude to 8,000 meters. The aircraft started experiencing control difficulties at 4,500 meters, approximately 1 minute and 37 seconds after the last communications with air traffic control. The pilots expressed dismay at the sharp roll of the wings; the aircraft disappeared from radar 36 seconds later, crashing into a swamp. All passengers and crew were killed in the crash. [1] No official cause of the accident was discovered, but it was determined that the autopilot feature could have improved some aspects of control. The commission responsible for investigating the accident concluded that: "An emergency situation could be created by unintentional activation of the electric control with the elevator trimmer, as well as the trimmer aileron, although the latter is less dangerous than the inclusion of the elevator trimmer. As for the inadvertent loss of the rudder, the aircraft will still flyable, although it will significantly complicate the piloting of the aircraft. If the elevator is turned off after turning on the autopilot, and the balance of the aircraft is maintained by the trim tabs, then an emergency situation may occur if the autopilot is turned off." It is worth noting that the civil commission was not allowed to review materials falling under the classification "Military Secret". This has led to some theories that the aircraft could have been accidentally shot down by a surface-to-air missile launched from the Litovko military base. [4]

Air crash

1895 Yaroslavl Great Manufacture strike

The 1895 Yaroslavl Great Manufacture strike began in 9 May [O.S. 27 April], in the Russian Empire. Yaroslavl Great Manufacture was one of the biggest companies in Russia, out of about 70 in the city of Yaroslavl;[1] it exported its linens to Europe. The company decided to establish new tariffs to reduce salaries, a decision which was not welcomed between workers. 4,000 workers participated in the strike. In response, a division of soldiers broke up their meeting, killing thirteen men. [2] The tsar Nicholas II, on a telegram about the official report, commented: «I am very satisfied with the way the troops behaved at Yaroslavl during these factory uprisings». [2]

Strike

Iranian Director Panah Panahi’s ‘Hit the Road’ Wins London Film Festival Top Prize

In The Hollywood Reporter‘s Cannes review , Panahi — the son of acclaimed Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi — was described as a “stirring new voice,” with Hit the Road “channeling the slow-burn, self-reflective realism present in much of the best work of the Iranian New Wave.” The IWC Schaffhausen filmmaker bursary award — the annual £50,000 ($69,000) grant given in association with the British Film Institute, which this year had Phoebe Waller-Bridge leading the jury — went to Harry Wootliff, the director behind this year’s Venice-bowing drama True Things, starring Ruth Wilson and Tom Burke. Elsewhere, the Sutherland Award for best first feature went to school bullying drama Playground from Belgian writer/director Laura Wandel, while the Grierson Award for best documentary was won by Liz Garbus’ Becoming Cousteau, chronicling the life and career of Jacques Cousteau. The Sutherland Award jury also gave a special commendation to Laura Samani’s Small Body, and the Grierson jury had a special commendation for Babi Yar. Context, by Sergey Loznitsa. Other London Film Festival honorees include Duncan Speakman, who won the immersive art and XR award for Only Expansion, and Diana Cam Von Nguyen, who won the short film award for Love, Dad. Mounia Akl’s drama Costa Brava, Lebanon — starring Nadine Labaki and Saleh Bakri — won the festival’s audience award, which last year had gone to Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, which then ended up winning the Oscar for best international feature. The 2021 London Film Festival, which opened on Oct. 6 with the world premiere of Western The Harder They Fall , closes on Sunday with Joel Coen’s Shakespeare adaptation The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Awards ceremony

2014 Hong Kong protests

Umbrella Movement A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from 26 September to 15 December 2014. [12][13] The protests began after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) issued a decision regarding proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system. The decision was widely[14] seen to be highly restrictive, and tantamount to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s pre-screening of the candidates for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. [14] Students led a strike against the NPCSC's decision beginning on 22 September 2014, and the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism started protesting outside the government headquarters on 26 September 2014. [15] On 28 September, events developed rapidly. The Occupy Central with Love and Peace movement announced the beginning of their civil disobedience campaign. [16] Students and other members of the public demonstrated outside government headquarters, and some began to occupy several major city intersections. [17] Protesters blocked both east–west arterial routes in northern Hong Kong Island near Admiralty. Police tactics – including the use of tear gas – and triad attacks on protesters led more citizens to join the protests and to occupy Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. [18][19][20] The number of protesters peaked at more than 100,000 at any given time, overwhelming the police thus causing containment errors. [21][22][23] Government officials in Hong Kong and in Beijing denounced the occupation as "illegal" and a "violation of the rule of law", and Chinese state media and officials claimed repeatedly that the West had played an "instigating" role in the protests, and warned of "deaths and injuries and other grave consequences. "[24] The protests precipitated a rift in Hong Kong society, and galvanised youth – a previously apolitical section of society – into political activism or heightened awareness of their civil rights and responsibilities. Not only were there fist fights at occupation sites and flame wars on social media, family members found themselves on different sides of the conflict. [25] Key areas in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok were occupied and remained closed to traffic for 77 days. Despite numerous incidents of intimidation and violence by triads and thugs, particularly in Mong Kok, and several attempts at clearance by the police, suffragists held their ground for over two months. After the Mong Kok occupation site was cleared with some scuffles on 25 November, Admiralty and Causeway Bay were cleared with no opposition on 11 and 14 December, respectively. The Hong Kong government's use of the police and courts to resolve political issues led to accusations that these institutions had been turned into political tools, thereby compromising the police and judicial system in the territory and eroding the rule of law in favour of "rule by law". [26][27][28][29] At times violent police action during the occupation was widely perceived to have damaged the reputation of what was once recognised as one of the most efficient, honest and impartial police forces in the Asia Pacific region. [30] The protests ended without any political concessions from the government, but instead triggered rhetoric from Chief Executive of Hong Kong CY Leung and mainland officials about rule of law and patriotism, and an assault on academic freedoms and civil liberties of activists. [27][31][32][33] As a result of negotiations and the 1984 agreement between China and Britain, Hong Kong was returned to China and became its first Special Administrative Region on 1 July 1997, under the principle of "one country, two systems". Hong Kong has a different political system from mainland China. Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework. [34][35] The Hong Kong Basic Law, the constitutional document drafted by the Chinese side before the handover based on the terms enshrined in the Joint Declaration,[36] governs its political system, and stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign relations and military defence. [37] The declaration stipulates that the region maintain its capitalist economic system and guarantees the rights and freedoms of its people for at least 50 years after the 1997 handover. The guarantees over the territory's autonomy and the individual rights and freedoms are enshrined in the Hong Kong Basic Law, which outlines the system of governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but which is subject to the interpretation of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC). [38][39] The leader of Hong Kong, the Chief Executive, is currently elected by a 1200-member Election Committee, though Article 45 of the Basic Law states that """the ultimate aim is the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures. "[40] A 2007 decision by the Standing Committee opened the possibility of selecting the Chief Executive via universal suffrage in the 2017 Chief Executive election,[41] and the first round of consultations to implement the needed electoral reforms ran for five months in early 2014. Chief Executive CY Leung then, per procedure, submitted a report to the Standing Committee inviting them to deliberate whether it is necessary to amend the method of selection of the Chief Executive. [42] As early as January 2013, legal scholar Benny Tai published an article by launching a non-violent civil disobedience of occupying Central if the government's proposal failed to satisfy the "international standards in relation to universal suffrage". [43] A group called the Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP) was formed in March 2013 and held rounds of deliberations on the electoral reform proposals and strategies. In June 2014, the OCLP conducted a "civic referendum" on its own electoral reform proposal in which 792,808 residents, equivalent to over one fifth of the registered electorate, participated. [44] In June 2014, the State Council issued a white paper called The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region claiming "comprehensive jurisdiction" over the territory. [45] "The high degree of autonomy of the HKSAR [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] is not full autonomy, nor a decentralised power," it said. "It is the power to run local affairs as authorised by the central leadership. "[46] On 31 August 2014, the tenth session of the Standing Committee in the twelfth National People's Congress set limits for the 2016 Legislative Council election and 2017 Chief Executive election. While notionally allowing for universal suffrage, the decision imposes the standard that "the Chief Executive shall be a person who loves the country and loves Hong Kong," and stipulates "the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage must provide corresponding institutional safeguards for this purpose". The decision states that for the 2017 Chief Executive election, a nominating committee, mirroring the present 1200-member Election Committee be formed to nominate two to three candidates, each of whom must receive the support of more than half of the members of the nominating committee. After popular election of one of the nominated candidates, the Chief Executive-elect "will have to be appointed by the Central People's Government." The process of forming the 2016 Legislative Council would be unchanged, but following the new process for the election of the Chief Executive, a new system to elect the Legislative Council via universal suffrage would be developed with the approval of Beijing. [17] The Standing Committee decision is set to be the basis for electoral reform crafted by the Legislative Council. Hundreds of suffragists gathered on the night of the Beijing announcement near the government offices to protest the decision. [47][48] In an opinion poll carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong between 8 and 15 October 2014, only 36.1% of 802 people surveyed accepted the NPCSC's decision. The acceptance rate rose to 55.6% on the proviso that the HKSAR Government would propose democratising the nominating committee after the planned second phase of public consultation. [49] In an atmosphere of growing discontent,[50] the annual 1 July protest march attracted the biggest numbers in a decade and ended in an overnight sit-in in Central with 5,000 police conducting over 500 arrests. [51][52] At a gathering in Hong Kong on 1 September to explain the NPCSC decision of 31 August, deputy secretary general Li Fei said that the procedure would protect the broad stability of Hong Kong now and in the future. [47] Pro-democracy advocates said the decision was a betrayal of the principle of "one person, one vote," in that candidates deemed unsuitable by the Beijing authorities would be pre-emptively screened out by the mechanism, a point from which Li did not resile while maintaining that the process was "democratic". [47] About 100 suffragists attended the gathering, and some were ejected for heckling. [47] Police broke up a group of demonstrators protesting outside the hotel where Li was staying, arresting 19 people for illegal assembly. [53] In response to the NPCSC decision, the Democratic Party legislators promised to veto the framework for both elections as being inherently undemocratic; Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP) announced that it would organise civil disobedience protests and its three convenors led the Black Banner protest march on 14 September 2017 from Causeway Bay to Central. [47] On 13 September 2014, representatives of Scholarism, including 17-year-old Agnes Chow Ting, staged a small protest against the NPCSC decision outside the Central Government Offices and announced a class boycott for university students for the week commencing 22 September.

Protest_Online Condemnation

Happy Olympic Day!

Norway’s Karsten Warholm won one of the great Olympic finals here today to claim men’s 400 metres hurdles gold, taking almost a second off his own world record as he finished ahead of his United States rival Rai Benjamin in 45.94sec. All of the 25-year-old double world champion’s strength from a multi-events background was employed around the final bend and down the finishing straight as he held off his 24-year-old opponent, who finished with silver in an Americas record of 46.17, well inside the world record of 46.70 set by Warholm in Oslo last month. The towering spectacle followed the opening final of the day when a last-round effort of 7.00 metres won the women’s long jump title for Germany’s world champion Malaika Mihambo. Before the final hurdle Warholm seemed to gather himself before redoubling his effort and driving for the line to become the first sub-46sec performer in his event, with Benjamin unable to match his strength and desire. Finally, the young man from Ulsteinvik who took up this event as a 20-year-old in 2016 had it all. No wonder he looked as if he was struggling with his emotions in the aftermath of a historic race in which bronze went to 21-year-old Alison Dos Santos in a South American record of 46.72, with Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands fourth in a national record of 47.08. In fifth place, in 47.12, was Qatar's world bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba, who dominated the 2018 season, inflicting defeat after defeat upon the bemused but determined Warholm, who never hid once. In sixth place, Turkey's veteran former Cuban Yasmani Copello equalled his national record in 47.81, with Rasmus Magi of Estonia in seventh place clocking his second successive national record with 48.11 It had taken almost 29 years for Kevin Young's world record of 46.78, set in winning the 1992 Olympic title in Barcelona, to be broken – and now Warholm has taken his event into new territory. "I mean, man it’s so crazy," Warholm said. "It’s by far the biggest moment of my life. "I didn’t touch one hurdle. "I was even able to find another gear coming home, so ‘Wow’. "It’s just so big. "It’s almost like history here. "It was the only thing missing from my collection. "I had a World Championships [gold], I had European  Championships, I had the world record, the European record. "The Olympic gold medal is what everybody talks about. "I knew this race was going to be the toughest of my life, but I was ready. "It defines everything, all the hours I put in, everything that my coach, Leif Olav Alnes, has been working for." Warholm readily admitted how he had become obsessed with achieving this ultimate ambition. "I dream about it like a maniac, I tell you," he said. "I spend all my time thinking about this, so just getting this last medal into my collection, it’s complete. "I can’t sleep, I’ve spent thousands of hours thinking about this. "I had this special feeling in my chest, you know when you are nervous? "I was just thinking this is the feeling that I had when I was six-years-old. "I’ve never had that feeling since I got older, but yesterday I had it." Benjamin was unequivocal about the race in which he had just been involved: "I would say this was probably the best race ever in Olympic history,'" he said at the press conference.  "I don’t think any other race compares with what we just did about two hours ago. "It’s undeniable.  "There is nothing you can compare to what just happened out there.  "It’s insane." Speaking after the race, he said: Knowing that you want to be the best, this is what it costs.  "It’s hard, it hurts, but it is what it is. "Right now I just want to spend some time with my family.  "But next year, man, I’m coming, I can tell you. "I’m a dog, I’m a fighter.  "It’s my first Olympics and I made some mistakes that cost me. "But it’s all right - I’ll fix it." Until Mihambo’s late flourish the women’s long jump title appeared to be returning to the 34-year-old American athlete won who it at London 2012 and came within two centimetres of doing it again at the Rio 2016 Games, Brittney Reese. The four-times world champion peaked in the third round with an effort of 6.97m, which matched the first-round lead set by Nigeria’s Ese Brume, back in action after a serious knee injury in April, and took her into gold-medal position through a superior second-best effort. Mihambo, meanwhile, held bronze position with her second round effort of 6.95m - but there was more to come. Rio 2106 bronze medallist Ivana Španović of Serbia strove to get into the medal positions, but had to settle for fourth place with a best of 6.91m, ahead of Ukraine’s 2019 world silver medallist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, who reached 6.88m. Reese produced the most consistent sequence of all the finalists – 6.60m, 6.81m, 6.97m, 6.87m, 6.95m and 6.84m. But she could not match the fluid brilliance of the 27-year-old German, who had already indicated her ability to perform at the heights under pressure in winning the 2019 world title with an effort of 7.30m and who produced her final flourish after big fouls in her fourth and fifth rounds. "I feel overwhelmed," said Mihambo, third in the epic Rio 2016 final with a personal best of 6.95m. “It was, I think, the most exciting women’s long jump competition in history. "It was so exciting to be part of and I am happy I made it at the end. "I knew that I could jump farther than 6.95m. "I just needed to hit the board.  "I knew all the time that I could do it. I just knew that I had one last attempt to do it and I am so happy to grab the gold. "There was pressure, but sometimes it's easier for me to deliver under pressure. "I was thinking that it was a funny coincidence that I had the same result with 6.95m as in Rio. "But I knew that last time it was my best that I could give in that moment. "Today I knew I can do more and better, so I was really longing for this last chance to show that there's more in me than 6.95." Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, covered the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics as chief feature writer for insidethegames, having covered the previous five summer Games, and four winter Games, for The Independent. He has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, The Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. Gonzales' controversial comeback on final day of Men's World Boxing Championships Denver were awarded the 1976 Winter Olympic Games ahead of Sion in Switzerland, Tempere in Finland and Vancouver in Canada at the International Olympic Committee Session in 1970. But in a Colorado referendum in November 1972, voters rejected funding for the event. It is the only time a city has been awarded the Olympics but pulled out. The IOC then offered the Games to Whistler in Canada, but they too declined owing to a change of Government following elections. Salt Lake City offered to host the Games, but the IOC, still reeling from the Denver rejection, declined and selected Innsbruck, the 1964 host city, as a replacement. IOC - Senior Olympic Marketing Campaigns Manager - Lausanne, Switzerland Your mission will be to lead in the creation of annual global marketing campaigns, developing an aligned set of communication strategies that will enhance our brand and enable direct relationships with people through all continents. Furthermore, you will lead the creation, design and execution of brand defining campaign moments. More jobs A controversial decision by the International Modern Pentathlon Union to remove the riding element from the sport after the Paris 2024 Olympics has hit the headlines this week, with a host of athletes highly critical of the lack of consultation that took place. Mike Rowbottom speaks to those unhappy with the move and considers where the sport goes next. 

Break historical records

Death toll in Myanmar jade mine landslide rises to 162

This April 23, 2019 photo shows people standing atop a ridge overlooking the scene of a mudslide at a jade gemstone mining site in Hpakant area of Kachin state, northern Myanmar. | Photo Credit: AP The battered bodies of more than 160 jade miners were pulled from a sea of mud after a landslide in northern Myanmar on Thursday, authorities said, one of the worst-ever accidents to hit the treacherous industry. Rescue teams worked all day to pull out bodies under a continuous deluge of heavy monsoon rain. Scores die each year while working in the country's lucrative but poorly regulated jade industry, which uses low-paid migrant workers to scrape out a gem highly coveted in China. The disaster struck after heavy rainfall pounded the open-cast mines, close to the Chinese border in Kachin state, where billions of dollars of jade is believed to be scoured each year from bare hillsides. Scores “were smothered by a wave of mud,” the Myanmar Fire Services Department said in a Facebook post. “By 7:15 pm, 162 bodies were found, and 54 injured people were sent” to nearby hospitals, Myanmar's fire service department said on its official Facebook page. “Search and rescue process is still ongoing.” Photos shared by the Myanmar military news site showed mud-slaked and bloodied bodies of miners laid out in grim rows under tarpaulins, some missing shoes as a result of the force of the wall of mud which hit them. They had apparently defied a warning not to work the mines during the monsoon rains, local police told AFP. Kyaw Min, a village leader, told AFP some survivors were pulled from the treacly mud before rescue efforts were suspended because of more rain. The workers were scavenging for gemstones on the sharp mountainous terrain in Hpakant township, where furrows from earlier excavations had already loosened the earth. Myanmar is one of the world's biggest sources of jadeite and the industry is largely driven by insatiable demand for the translucent green gem from neighbouring China. The mines are mired in secrecy, although environmental watchdog Global Witness allegeso perators are linked to former junta figures, the military elite, and their cronies. “Powerful crony and military-linked companies have evaded responsibility for social and environmental abuses in Hpakant,” said Global Witness' Hanna Hindstrom, calling the disaster “avoidable”. The watchdog estimated that the industry was worth some $31 billion in 2014, although very little reaches state coffers. The mine where Thursday's accident happened belongs to the Yadanar Kyay company, according to the military's official news site. Police said the death toll could have been even higher if authorities had not warned people to stay away from the mining pits the day before. Landslides in the area are common, especially during Myanmar's notoriously severe monsoon season, and a major slip in November 2015 left more than 100 dead. Another buried more than 50 workers last year. The workers combing through the earth are often from impoverished ethnic minority communities who are looking for scraps left behind by big firms. Low-quality stones can be exchanged for food or sold for $20 to waiting brokers. But workers to risk their lives daily in the hope of hitting the jackpot -- a good quality jadeite that could fetch tens of thousands of dollars, changing their lives. Northern Myanmar's abundant natural resources -- including jade, timber, gold and amber -- help finance both sides of a decades-long civil war between ethnic Kachin insurgents and the military. The fight to control the mines and the revenues frequently traps local civilians in the middle.

Mine Collapses

Floods and Droughts: An EPIC Response to These Hazards in the Era of Climate Change

With 189 member countries, staff from more than 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership: five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. The World Bank Group works in every major area of development. We provide a wide array of financial products and technical assistance, and we help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to the challenges they face. We face big challenges to help the world’s poorest people and ensure that everyone sees benefits from economic growth. Data and research help us understand these challenges and set priorities, share knowledge of what works, and measure progress. World Bank Group “Thousands homeless as Sri Lanka floods death toll hits 17.” “Brazil on drought alert, faces worst dry spell in 91 years.” Floods and droughts have regularly made the news in 2021. And the scale of the crisis behind the headlines is stark. Over the last two decades, floods and droughts – two of the most devastating consequences of the climate crisis -- have affected 3 billion people, with staggering costs in human suffering and economic loss. Rising global temperatures increase the moisture the atmosphere can hold, resulting in storms and heavy rains, but paradoxically also more intense dry spells as more water evaporates from the land and global weather patterns change. These changes to the hydrological cycle can deliver stronger, longer droughts and floods, and bring these hazards to parts of the globe that have not seen them in living memory. It is difficult to point to a region or country that will not face more challenges managing these extremes in the very near future. Societies need to adapt, and governments must prioritize, accelerate, and scale up their response mechanisms in this decade. This requires innovative governance and risk management to navigate uncertainty, reduce duplication, make more efficient use of public resources, and protect communities, economies, and ecosystems. A new report titled An EPIC Response: Innovative Governance for Flood and Drought Risk Management offers guidance on these critical matters. Launched on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (June 17), the report presents a framework to manage the growing risks of floods and droughts in a changed climate. The framework is known as the EPIC Response, a mnemonic for its key elements: E: an enabling environment of policies, laws, agencies, strategic plans, and information P: planning at all levels to prioritize risk mitigation I: investing in watersheds and water resources infrastructure C: controlling the use of land and water resources to reduce exposure and vulnerability Response: monitoring, responding, and recovering from floods and droughts World Bank Group An EPIC Response looks at floods and droughts not as independent events but as being inextricably linked, underscoring our collective efforts to build climate resilience and improve disaster risk management. National agencies must fulfill their specific mandates but also need to collaborate to achieve an EPIC Response. If national agencies are not performing well or if inter-agency collaboration is weak, then there will be significant gaps in a country’s efforts to reduce hydro-climatic risks. An EPIC Response seeks to address these issues with the aim of efficiently reducing the economic, social, and environmental costs of floods and droughts. An EPIC Response is a whole-of-society effort. National governments must lead a whole-of-society effort to managing hydro-climatic risks. Sub-national governments are the indispensable associates of national agencies in this endeavor. Agencies need to engage with businesses, civil society, and households—and focus on poor and marginalized groups, to ensure effective programs. They need to prioritize education and risk communication, tap into the expertise of research community, and ensure open access to data and information. World Bank Group The World Bank supports countries in managing floods and droughts more effectively and work across regions to bring robust solutions. In India, we are supporting the state of West Bengal in making more efficient use of surface water, as well as promoting long-term sustainable use of groundwater. The project will benefit some 2.7 million farmers from five districts, covering more than 393,000 hectares of land with better irrigation services and protection against annual flooding. In Somalia, we are providing immediate support to the areas hardest hit by compounding crises, where repeated cycles of flooding and drought occur over many years and swarms of desert locusts threaten food security, against a background of the COVID-19 pandemic and two decades of armed conflict. We are supporting the recovery of livelihoods and infrastructure in flood- and drought-affected areas and helping strengthen the government’s systems and capacity for disaster preparedness. In Afghanistan, the recently approved Drought Early Warning, Early Finance and Early Action Project will complement regular humanitarian relief efforts and provide unconditional cash support and cash-for-work benefits to about 2.2 million Afghans in the 78 districts most affected by food insecurity and drought. The project will provide regular targeted financial assistance to households to build resilience and scale up support across the country before and during droughts. “We hope that governments, organizations, and practitioners working on climate resilience and disaster risk management will find the EPIC Response framework useful in addressing climate-related challenges, focusing on managing these risks in tandem across the hydrological spectrum while reaping the benefits of an innovative governance approach along the way,” says Juergen Voegele, Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank.

Droughts

Aeroflot Flight 68 crash

Aeroflot Flight 68 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight operated by Aeroflot from Khabarovsk Novy Airport in Khabarovsk Krai to Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg with intermediate stops at Tolmachevo Airport in Ob, Russia, then Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg. On 16 March 1961, the Tupolev Tu-104B operating this flight crashed shortly after take off from Koltsovo Airport. Three passengers and two crewmembers were killed along with two people on the ground. The Air Accident Investigation Commission concluded the cause of the accident was the failure of engine No. 2 (right) due a broken turbine blade. After takeoff from Koltsovo Airport while climbing though 140 meters altitude as the crew reduced the engine power from takeoff setting, engine No. 2 began vibrating severely. The crew was uncertain which engine was failing and were unable to use the engine instruments because the instrument panel was vibrating violently. A crew member decided to reduce power on engine No. 1 in an attempt to determine if it was the source of the shaking, but he inadvertently pulled the throttle lever too far back, shutting down that engine. With neither engine operating the airliner began descending rapidly and the crew decided there was not enough altitude to restart engine No. 1. Searching for a suitable place to set down, the crew choose to make an emergency landing on a frozen pond 9,200 meters from the airport. Turning 90 degrees to the right and descending the crew lined up for the landing at a high speed with the flaps and landing gear retracted. Passing beneath an overhead power line and severing it with the vertical stabilizer the Tupolev first struck the ice with its left wing tip, then crashed down on the ice traveling 870 meters before reaching the shore. Still moving at speed, the aircraft struck trees near the shore and continued on, destroying part of the ground floor of a two-story vacation home, killing two people inside. Most of the right wing was torn from the aircraft and remained in the home. Simultaneously the left wing struck another home, tearing off half the wing and causing the home's complete destruction. The aircraft continued on, striking more trees, and came to a halt 350 meters from the pond and 1,220 meters from the initial contact with the ice. There was no fire and the fuselage broke into three main pieces, remaining close together at the crash site. [1][2][3] Construction of the Tupolev Tu-104B involved, serial number 920805, was completed at the Kazan Aircraft Production Association aircraft factory on 24 July 1959. On 4 August 1959 the Tupolev was acquired by Aeroflot. At the time of the accident the aircraft had sustained a total of 1,600 flight hours and 789 takeoff and landing cycles. [1][2][3] The Air Accident Investigation Commission examining the wreckage discovered engine No. 2 suffered a contained failure and determined the main cause of the accident was the fracture of blade number 54 in the second stage of the turbine section. This blade suffered a fatigue crack along the first groove of the blade lock and detached from the turbine hub at high speed causing massive damage to the engine. The Commission also cited the crew members error in shutting down the No.1 engine as a secondary factor in the crash. [1][3] Agents of the Tupolev design bureau and the engine manufacturer stated that because the engine failure was contained the aircraft would have been able to return to the airport on one engine. Based on this opinion their position was that the accidental shut down of engine No. 1 was the main reason for the accident. [1][3]

Air crash

TWA Flight 128 crash

TWA Flight 128 was a regularly scheduled Trans World Airlines passenger flight from Los Angeles to Boston, with intermediate stops in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. On November 20, 1967, Flight 128 crashed on final approach to Greater Cincinnati Airport; 70 of the 82 people aboard the Convair 880 were killed. [1]:1 On November 20, 1967, TWA Flight 128 was operated using a Convair 880 narrow-body jet airliner (registration number N821TW). [1]:1 The Convair was manufactured in December 1960 and placed in service by TWA in January 1961. It had accumulated a total of 18,850 hours of operating time prior to the accident flight. While various maintenance writeups had occurred and been cleared in accordance with existing maintenance procedures, in no case were both the captain's and first officer's altimeters reported malfunctioning at the same time. [1]:(Appendix B) The flight's captain, 45-year-old Charles L. Cochran, had accumulated 12,895 hours of flight time, including 1,390 hours in the Convair 880. The first officer, 33-year-old Robert P. Moyers, had approximately 2,647 hours of flight time, including 447 in the Convair 880. The flight engineer, 29-year-old Jerry L. Roades, had 3,479 hours of piloting experience, none of which were in the Convair 880, but had 288 hours of experience as a flight engineer in the 880. The flight also had four flight attendants on board. [1]:(Appendix A) Flight 128 departed Los Angeles at 17:37 Eastern Standard Time[a] and operated to Cincinnati without incident. [1]:2–4 The flight was initially scheduled to make an Instrument Landing System approach to Greater Cincinnati Airport's runway 18. The outer marker beacon for runway 18 was operational, but the middle marker beacon, glide slope, and runway approach lights were inoperative. [1]:9 Under these conditions, proper procedure would be to maintain the minimum approach altitude of 1,290 feet (390 m) above mean sea level until the pilots made visual contact with the runway. [1]:9–10 At 20:56, Flight 128 reported passing the outer marker, and was cleared to land. [1]:2 The flight crew then initiated their descent and began performing their final landing checklist. [1]:2 While on final approach, the aircraft descended to an elevation of 875 feet (267 m), where it first struck trees in a spot 9,357 feet (2,852 m) short of runway 18 and 429 feet (131 m) right of the runway's extended centerline. [1]:2 The first impact was described by a survivor as like a hard landing; this was followed by a series of hard bumps and the airplane's final impact. [1]:2 The aircraft's final position was in a wooded area 6,878 feet (2,096 m) short of the runway, where it disintegrated and was enveloped in flames. [1]:2 Of the 82 people on board the aircraft, 60 were killed immediately, and another 10 died in the days following the crash. [1]:16 Twelve people (two crew members and 10 passengers) survived with injuries. [1]:3 One of the surviving passengers reported that the plane broke apart in front of him, he stepped out and ran from the wreckage shortly before it exploded. [2] The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. [1]:1 NTSB investigators determined the probable cause of the accident to be crew error, in attempting a visual no-glide-slope approach at night during deteriorating weather conditions, without an adequate altimeter cross-reference. [1]:38 The governor of Ohio, Jim Rhodes, requested runway 18 be closed. After the runway reopened, high intensity lights were installed on the hillside along with glide-slope equipment beacons on recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board. [3]

Air crash

September 11 attacks crash

The September 11 attacks were a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 terrorists associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil; nearly 3,000 people were killed. The attacks involved the hijacking of four planes, three of which were used to strike significant U.S. sites. American Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175 were flown into the World Trade Center’s north and south towers, respectively, and American Airlines flight 77 hit the Pentagon. United Airlines flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers. The plane was believed to be headed to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The exact number of victims—particularly the number of those killed at the World Trade Center—is not definitively known. However, the official death toll, after numerous revisions and not including the 19 terrorists, was set at 2,977 people. At the World Trade Center in New York City, 2,753 people died, of whom 343 were firefighters. The death toll at the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., was 184, and 40 individuals died outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is considered the mastermind of the attacks, though Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the operational planner. Mohammed came up with the tactical innovation of using hijacked planes to attack the United States, and al-Qaeda provided the personnel, money, and logistical support to execute the operation. Mohammed Atta was selected to head the operation. He and 18 other terrorists, most of whom were from Saudi Arabia, established themselves in the United States, where some received commercial flight training. All 19 hijackers died in the attacks, bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in 2011, and Mohammed was captured in 2003. The attacks had a profound and lasting impact on the country, especially regarding its foreign and domestic policies. U.S. Pres. George W. Bush declared a global “war on terrorism,” and lengthy wars in Afghanistan and Iraq followed. Meanwhile, security measures within the United States were tightened considerably, especially at airports. To help facilitate the domestic response, Congress quickly passed the controversial USA PATRIOT Act, which significantly expanded the search and surveillance powers of federal law-enforcement and intelligence agencies. Additionally, a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security was created. September 11 attacks, also called 9/11 attacks, series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks committed in 2001 by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda against targets in the United States, the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. The attacks against New York City and Washington, D.C., caused extensive death and destruction and triggered an enormous U.S. effort to combat terrorism. Some 2,750 people were killed in New York, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania (where one of the hijacked planes crashed after the passengers attempted to retake the plane); all 19 terrorists died (see Researcher’s Note: September 11 attacks). Police and fire departments in New York were especially hard-hit: hundreds had rushed to the scene of the attacks, and more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed. The September 11 attacks were precipitated in large part because Osama bin Laden, the leader of the militant Islamic organization al-Qaeda, held naive beliefs about the United States in the run-up to the attacks. Abu Walid al-Masri, an Egyptian who was a bin Laden associate in Afghanistan in the 1980s and ’90s, explained that, in the years prior to the attacks, bin Laden became increasingly convinced that America was weak. “He believed that the United States was much weaker than some of those around him thought,” Masri remembered, and “as evidence he referred to what happened to the United States in Beirut when the bombing of the Marines base led them to flee from Lebanon,” referring to the destruction of the marine barracks there in 1983 (see 1983 Beirut barracks bombings), which killed 241 American servicemen. Bin Laden believed that the United States was a “paper tiger,” a belief shaped not just by America’s departure from Lebanon following the marine barracks bombing but also by the withdrawal of American forces from Somalia in 1993, following the deaths of 18 U.S. servicemen in Mogadishu, and the American pullout from Vietnam in the 1970s. The key operational planner of the September 11 attacks was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (often referred to simply as “KSM” in the later 9/11 Commission Report and in the media), who had spent his youth in Kuwait. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed became active in the Muslim Brotherhood, which he joined at age 16, and then he went to the United States to attend college, receiving a degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1986. Afterward he traveled to Pakistan and then Afghanistan to wage jihad against the Soviet Union, which had launched an invasion against Afghanistan in 1979. According to Yosri Fouda, a journalist at the Arabic-language cable television channel Al Jazeera who interviewed him in 2002, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed planned to blow up some dozen American planes in Asia during the mid-1990s, a plot (known as “Bojinka”) that failed, “but the dream of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed never faded. And I think by putting his hand in the hands of bin Laden, he realized that now he stood a chance of bringing about his long awaited dream.” In 1996 Khalid Sheikh Mohammed met bin Laden in Tora Bora, Afghanistan. The 9-11 Commission (formally the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States), set up in 2002 by Pres. George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress to investigate the attacks of 2001, explained that it was then that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed “presented a proposal for an operation that would involve training pilots who would crash planes into buildings in the United States.” Khalid Sheikh Mohammed dreamed up the tactical innovation of using hijacked planes to attack the United States, al-Qaeda provided the personnel, money, and logistical support to execute the operation, and bin Laden wove the attacks on New York and Washington into a larger strategic framework of attacking the “far enemy”—the United States—in order to bring about regime change across the Middle East. The September 11 plot demonstrated that al-Qaeda was an organization of global reach. The plot played out across the globe with planning meetings in Malaysia, operatives taking flight lessons in the United States, coordination by plot leaders based in Hamburg, Germany, money transfers from Dubai, and recruitment of suicide operatives from countries around the Middle East—all activities that were ultimately overseen by al-Qaeda’s leaders in Afghanistan. Key parts of the September 11 plot took shape in Hamburg. Four of the key pilots and planners in the “Hamburg cell” who would take operational control of the September 11 attacks, including the lead hijacker Mohammed Atta, had a chance meeting on a train in Germany in 1999 with an Islamist militant who struck up a conversation with them about fighting jihad in the Russian republic of Chechnya. The militant put the Hamburg cell in touch with an al-Qaeda operative living in Germany who explained that it was difficult to get to Chechnya at that time because many travelers were being detained in Georgia. He recommended they go to Afghanistan instead. Although Afghanistan was critical to the rise of al-Qaeda, it was the experience that some of the plotters acquired in the West that made them simultaneously more zealous and better equipped to carry out the attacks. Three of the four plotters who would pilot the hijacked planes on September 11 and one of the key planners, Ramzi Binalshibh, became more radical while living in Hamburg. Some combination of perceived or real discrimination, alienation, and homesickness seems to have turned them all in a more militant direction. Increasingly cutting themselves off from the outside world, they gradually radicalized each other, and eventually the friends decided to wage battle in bin Laden’s global jihad, setting off for Afghanistan in 1999 in search of al-Qaeda. Atta and the other members of the Hamburg group arrived in Afghanistan in 1999 right at the moment that the September 11 plot was beginning to take shape. Bin Laden and his military commander Muhammad Atef realized that Atta and his fellow Western-educated jihadists were far better suited to lead the attacks on Washington and New York than the men they had already recruited, leading bin Laden to appoint Atta to head the operation. The hijackers, most of whom were from Saudi Arabia, established themselves in the United States, many well in advance of the attacks. They traveled in small groups, and some of them received commercial flight training.

Air crash

A plane carrying 20 people has crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos airport in Nigeria

A plane carrying 20 people has crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos airport in Nigeria, officials say. A rescue operation is ongoing. At least 13 people are known to have died and several more of those on board were injured. The Associated Airlines plane was bound for Akure, which lies about 140 miles (225km) north-east of Lagos. The plane's engine appeared to fail and the aircraft plunged to the ground and burst into flames, officials said. The charter flight took off at about 09:30 local time (08:30 GMT) from the domestic terminal at Lagos's Murtala Mohammed International Airport. Officials said the plane crashed on to open land within the airport complex, close to a fuel storage depot. It is not yet clear whether the fuel caught fire. Eyewitness Ahmad Safian told the BBC: "I heard a loud bang and then there was lots of black smoke. The security forces rushed straight to the scene. I saw three bodies removed from the wreckage." Mr Safian said the road to the airport was blocked for a short time but operations were continuing as normal at the airport. Yakubu Dati from the Nigerian airports authority said that 20 people had been on board the plane. Akure is the capital of Ondo state. Local media reported that the plane was carrying the body of the former state governor, Olusegun Agagu, who was to have been buried this weekend. Although Nigeria's air safety record has improved in recent years, the country has a history of major passenger plane crashes. In June 2012, more than 150 people were killed after a dual engine failure caused a plane to crash in Lagos. Lagos airport is a major hub for West Africa and saw 2.3 million passengers pass through it in 2009, according to the most recent statistics provided by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

Air crash

2019 Albanian protests

Starting from 16 February 2019, the opposition parties organized a series of protests and rallies against the government to demand new elections and the formation of a technocrat government that would ensure the fairness of the electoral process, citing electoral fraud and corruption in the government as the main reasons for the need for change. The opposition coalition consists of the Democratic Party of Albania, the Socialist Movement for Integration, the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, the Republican Party and other minor opposition parties. After the first protests opposition MPs decided to resign in mass from parliament. Following a 6-month boycott period, the opposition parties returned to parliament in January and announced mass protests to be held against the Rama Government. Meanwhile, the government was reshuffled as an aftermath of the student protests. In a similar rhetoric as in 2017 the opposition coalition accused the government of corruption and electoral fraud. The first nationwide protest was announced on 16 February 2019 in Tirana. Prior to that, the State Police issued a warning about the presence of criminal elements in the protest which was condemned as a form of intimidation by the opposition coalition. [4] On 16 February 2019, opposition supporters from different cities gathered in Tirana demanding new elections and the resignation of the Rama Government. The protest turned violent as there were clashes with the police and use of tear gas and water cannon against the protesters. Some of them tried to enter the Prime Minister's Office as they broke through police ranks. [5] Thousands of opposition supporters attended the protest that was considered as being one the biggest protests that the country had seen in years. [6] In the aftermath, the opposition parties announced that all their MPs in the parliament would resign from the parliament in an unprecedented act. On 22 February 2019 another protest was announced outside the parliament's building, while other MPs were attending the plenary session. The peaceful demonstration culminated in a march led by opposition leader Lulzim Basha and members of the opposition parties in the parliament, to hand over signed statements giving up their parliamentary seats and demanding fresh elections. [7] More than 40 seats were vacated and the Central Elections Commission started in the following days the procedures to replace the MPs with mostly unknown and inexperienced figures that were part of the candidate lists during the 2017 election. Some MPs from opposition parties refused to resign their mandate, among them the daughter of one of the founders of the Democratic Party, Rudina Hajdari. On 16 March 2019, another big demonstration was announced. It started outside the Prime Minister's Office building and continued outside the parliament, where once again protesters clashed with police and water cannons and tear gas were used to controlling the situation. [8] Another big protest was called on 18 April 2019, this time in the afternoon. In the days prior to the protest, the two main opposition parties have refused to enlist in the local elections of 30 June, signaling a boycott. [9] The opposition parties decided to boycott the local elections previously set to be held on 30 June. Wiretaps part of an investigation still on process by the prosecution office in Albania, were released by Bild on June, where government and socialist party officials were taped dealing with vote buying and forcing people to vote for the Socialist Party in the elections of Dibra. Among the officials in the tapes was also the Prime Minister Edi Rama, former minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri and former minister of interior Saimir Tahiri. [10][11] After the protest of 16 February turned violent, the US Embassy in Tirana issued a press statement condemning the violence and destruction. Other foreign embassies issued similar statements condemning the violence and calling for political dialogue to solve the situation. The mission of OSCE in Albania called the instigators and the perpetrators to "bear the responsibility for the incidents". [6] Following the mass resignation of the opposition MPs, the European Union condemned the extreme action through a joint statement issued by the EU Diplomatic Chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, considering the acts as counterproductive and against the democratic choice of Albanian citizens, undermining progress in the path to accessing the European Union and hindering the functioning of democracy in Albania. [7][12] A protest movement erupted in May after the demolition of a theatre. Police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas and pepper spray. Another movement erupted in December after a shooting of a man. Tear gas was fired to disperse protesters while protests dwindled.

Protest_Online Condemnation

1981 Brink's robbery

The 1981 Brink's robbery was an armed robbery and three related murders committed on October 20, 1981, which were carried out by six Black Liberation Army members: Mutulu Shakur, Kuwasi Balagoon, Solomon Bouines (Samuel Brown), Mtayari Shabaka Sundiata, Edward Joseph, and Cecilio "Chui" Ferguson;[1] and four former members of the Weather Underground, now belonging to the May 19th Communist Organization, consisting of David Gilbert, Judith Alice Clark, Kathy Boudin, and Marilyn Buck. [2] They stole $1.6 million in cash from a Brink's armored car at the Nanuet Mall, in Nanuet, New York, killing a Brink's guard, Peter Paige, seriously wounding Brink's guard Joseph Trombino, slightly wounding Brink's truck driver guard, James Kelly, subsequently killing two Nyack police officers, Edward O'Grady and Waverly Brown, and seriously wounding Police Detective Artie Keenan. [3] Trombino recovered from the wounds he received in this incident but was killed in 2001 in the September 11 attacks. [4] The robbery began with Boudin dropping off her infant son, Chesa Boudin, at a babysitter's before taking the wheel of the getaway vehicle, a U-Haul truck. She waited in a nearby parking lot as her heavily armed accomplices drove a red van to the Nanuet Mall, where a Brink's truck was making a pick-up. At 3:55 pm, Brink's guards Peter Paige and Joseph Trombino emerged from the mall carrying bags of money. As they loaded the money into the truck, the robbers stormed out of their van and attacked. One fired two shotgun blasts into the truck's bulletproof windshield, while another opened fire with an M16 rifle. Paige was hit multiple times in the chest and killed instantly. Trombino was able to fire a single shot from his handgun, but was struck in the shoulder and arm by several rounds, nearly severing his arm from his body. The truck's driver, James Kelly, noticing the shooting behind him, fired several rounds at the robbers through a gun port on the door of his truck, but came under heavy gunfire, and took cover underneath the dashboard, but he was hit in the head by glass and bullet shrapnel. The assailants grabbed $1.6 million in cash, got back in their van, and fled the scene. Trombino survived his injuries, and continued to work for the Brink's company for the next 20 years; he was almost killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks while making a delivery in the World Trade Center North Tower. [5] After fleeing the scene, the robbers drove to the parking lot where a yellow Honda and the U-Haul truck, manned by members of the May 19 Communist Organization, were waiting. The robbers quickly threw the bags of money into the car and truck and sped away. In a house across the street Sandra Torgersen, an alert college student, spotted them as they switched vehicles and called the police. Meanwhile, police units from all over the county were converging on the mall where the shootout occurred and attempting to cut off all possible escape routes. Soon, police officers Edward O'Grady, Waverly Brown, Brian Lennon, and Artie Keenan spotted and pulled over the U-Haul truck, with Boudin in the front seat, along with the yellow Honda at an entrance ramp to the New York State Thruway off New York State Route 59. The police were not sure if they had the right truck, since it had been reported that the robbers were all black, while the occupants of this vehicle were white (a deliberate part of the original plan by the robbers, hoping to fool the police). Since the truck matched the description of the getaway vehicle they were looking for, the officers pulled it over and approached with guns drawn. The police officers who caught them testified that Boudin, feigning innocence, pleaded with them to put down their guns and convinced them to drop their guard; Boudin said she remained silent, that the officers relaxed spontaneously. After the police lowered their guns, six men armed with automatic weapons and wearing body armor emerged from the back of the truck and began firing upon the four police officers. Officer Brown managed to fire two or three rounds at the robbers before he was hit repeatedly by rifle rounds and collapsed on the ground. One robber then walked up to his prone body and fired several more shots into him with a 9mm handgun, ensuring his death. Keenan was shot in the leg, but managed to duck behind a tree and return fire. Officer O'Grady lived long enough to empty his revolver, but as he reloaded, he was shot several times with an M16. Ninety minutes later, he died on a hospital operating table. Meanwhile, Lennon, who was in his cruiser when the shootout began, tried to exit out the front passenger door, but O'Grady's body was wedged up against the door. He watched as the suspects jumped back into the U-Haul and sped directly towards him. Lennon fired his shotgun several times at the speeding truck as it collided with his police car, then fired two rounds from his pistol. The occupants of the U-Haul scattered, some climbing into the yellow Honda, others carjacking a nearby motorist while Boudin attempted to flee on foot. An off-duty corrections officer, Michael J. Koch, apprehended her shortly after the shootout. When she was arrested, Boudin gave her name as Barbara Edson. M19CO members Gilbert, Brown, and Clark crashed the Honda while making a sharp turn, injuring Brown's neck, and knocking Clark's handgun onto the floor of the car. South Nyack police chief Alan Colsey was the only officer initially at the scene of the crash, but managed to hold them at gunpoint until Orangetown Police Officer Michael Seidel and Rockland County District Attorney's Office Detective Jim Stewart arrived. After the trio were arrested, police found $800,000 from the robbery and Clark's 9mm handgun on the floor of the back seat of the car. Police traced the license plate on one of the getaway vehicles to an apartment in New Jersey. Inside, the police found weapons, bomb-making materials, and detailed blueprints of six Manhattan police precincts. Investigations later revealed the apartment was rented by Buck, who had been previously arrested for providing weapons to the Black Liberation Army. She had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, but in 1977, she was granted furlough and never returned. While at the apartment, police also found papers that listed an address in Mt. Vernon, New York, a small city in Westchester County about 20 miles from the mall where the robbery occurred. When police raided that apartment, they found bloody clothing, ammunition, more guns, and ski masks. Investigation later revealed that the bloody clothing belonged to Buck, who had accidentally shot herself in the leg when she tried to draw her weapon during the shootout with the police. All the plates on the vehicles seen near the Mt. Vernon address were entered into the NCIC system. Three days later, NYPD Detective Lt. Dan Kelly spotted a 1978 Chrysler with a license plate that had been seen at the Mt. Vernon Apartment and called for backup. The vehicle, occupied by Mtayari Sundiata and Sekou Odinga, fled from the police when officers tried to pull them over. After the vehicle crashed, the two occupants engaged the police in a gunfight that left Sundiata dead and Odinga captured.

Bank Robbery

Man in his 80s dies in fatal Buckden Road crash at Brampton

- Credit: Cambridgeshire Police A man has died following a collision in Brampton this morning (September 15). Police were called at 8.40am to Buckden Road, Brampton, with reports of a serious collision between a car and a pedestrian. Officers and paramedics attended the scene but the pedestrian, a man in his 80s from Brampton, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was uninjured and is assisting police with their enquiries. Anyone who saw the crash, or has any information or dashcam footage from the moments leading up to it, is urged to contact police via their web chat service: https://bit.ly/3vsiYDw or online forms at www.cambs.police.uk/report quoting incident 84 of 15 September. Anyone without internet access should call 101.

Road Crash

1968 Kansas City, Missouri riot

The 1968 Kansas City riot occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, in April 1968. Kansas City became one of 37 cities in the United States to be the subject of rioting after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The rioting in Kansas City did not erupt on April 4, like other cities of the United States affected directly by the assassination, but rather on April 9 after local events within the city. [1][2] The first sign of disorder in the streets of Kansas City was a relatively stable student march, in response to the government failing to close schools across the city that day for the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. This was seen as a lack of respect for King by the students. [1] Mayor Ilus W. Davis decided to go to the marchers, meeting with them at Parade Park. After Davis joined several leaders from the Black community in talking with the marchers, he then joined the others to lead the march the remaining distance to City Hall. The crowd grew in size, slowly becoming more militant, more so when they arrived at City Hall to find a large contingent of Kansas City Police Department officers. As tensions rose, with verbal and physical actions escalating on both sides, a volley of tear gas by the KCPD into the crowd would be the final moment when the full riot was unavoidable. The students dispersed, but word of this spread through the city, and a riot erupted. [1][2] The riot resulted in nearly 300 arrests, six deaths, and at least twenty hospital admissions. [3] [1]

Riot

Egyptian archaeologists unearth collection of religious ritual tools at Temple of Pharaohs north of Cairo

The discovery is important because it includes the tools that were actually used in performing the daily religious rituals for goddess Hathor Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a collection of ancient tools that were used in religious rituals from the Temple of the Pharaohs (Boto) in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate north of Cairo. The new discovery comes as part of an archaeological excavations plan carried out by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities at different sites. Mustafa Waziri, the council’s secretary general, said the find is important because it includes the tools that were actually used in performing the daily religious rituals for goddess Hathor. The instruments include a part of a limestone pillar in the form of goddess Hathor, and a group of incense burners made of faience, one of them decorated with the head of god Horus, They also include a group of clay vessels that were used in religious and ceremonial rituals of goddess Hathor, a collection of statuettes depicting deities Tawart and Djehuty, a small maternity chair, a large offering holder, a pure gold Udjat eye, and the remains of golden scales used in the gilding of some other pieces. Aymen Ashmawy, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, pointed out the archeologists also discovered a wonderful group of ivory depicted scenes of women carrying offerings, scenes of the daily life, including plants, birds and animals, a large limestone lintel with hieroglyphic texts, along with a part of a royal painting of a king performing religious rituals in the temple. Hieroglyphic inscriptions bearing the five titles of King Psamtik I, and the names of the two kings "Waha Ip-Ra" and "Ahmose II" of the 26th dynasty kings were also uncovered. Hossam Ghoneim, director general of Kafr El-Sheikh antiquities and head of the mission, said that a large limestone well for sacred water and a mud brick Ptoleimaic bath consists of a bathtub, a water basin and a place for heating water were also discovered.

New archeological discoveries

Walloon jacquerie of 1886

The Belgian strikes of 1886, occasionally known as the social revolt of 1886 (French: Révolte sociale de 1886), was a violent period of industrial strikes and riots in Belgium from 18 to 29 March 1886 and an important moment in Belgium's 19th-century history. The strike or labour revolt was provoked by social inequalities in Belgian society and has compared to the peasant jacqueries of the Middle Ages. [2] The strike of 1886 originated as a small gathering organised by anarchists in Liège to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Paris Commune on 18 March. [3] The call met with unexpected support, partly as a result of the ongoing economic downturn and harsh winter. Between 800-900 workers, many from the city's metal works, attended the initial demonstration led by August Wagener. [3] Rather than abating, the strike soon spread across Belgium's industrial regions to the Province of Hainaut. [4] In Hainaut, it was notably led by the radical socialist Alfred Defuisseaux. The 1886 strike became famous for its violence. A glass factory that had been known for automating its production was destroyed by rioters. [5] The Belgian Army was deployed to the region and two "classes" of reservists were called up. Several dozen people were killed in confrontations with the Army, Garde Civique and Gendarmerie. Ten workers were killed in a single incident in Roux, near Charleroi, on 29 March. [4] The 1886 revolt has been described by modern historians as "the biggest and most violent strike wave ever to sweep across industrial Wallonia". [4] Although the strike failed to achieve any tangible objectives, it is considered by historians to be the first time the Belgian working class achieved significant concessions from the national government. [6] A parliamentary Labour Commission (Enquête du Travail) was created which led to the first labour legislation in Belgian history. [6] Two leaders of the glassmakers union, blamed for the damage, were defended in court by the future Walloon socialist politician Jules Destrée. They were found guilty but granted an amnesty in 1888. Politically, the strikes led to the emergence of a parliamentary socialist party which aimed to redirect workers' demands away from violence and towards the cause of electoral reform. This led to a decisive break between socialists and the Liberal Party. Defuisseaux was expelled from the Belgian Workers' Party and established his own radical socialist party, the Parti Socialiste Républicaine. He also published a hugely successful pamphlet entitled Le catéchisme du peuple (The People's Catechism). [7] The 1886 strikes led to the rapid expansion of the trade unions across Belgium. [8] The Liberals also splintered politically, leading to the creation of a separate, new and more radical party, the Parti Progressiste under Paul Janson, which would remain separate until 1900. [9] For the governing centre-right Catholic Party of Auguste Beernaert, the strikes led to a change of ideology towards social Catholicism. [10][6] It was followed by further strikes in 1887, 1890 and 1891, as well as a general strike in 1893. [11] In the aftermath of the strike, 27 supposed leaders (including Defuisseaux) were tried before the court of assizes in Mons in May 1889. Highly publicized, the trial [fr] collapsed when it emerged that the Sûreté Publique had infiltrated the radical group, acting as agents provocateurs.

Strike

1911 Sarez earthquake

The 1911 Sarez earthquake occurred at 18:41 UTC on 18 February (23:31 local time)[2] in the central Pamir Mountains in the Rushon District of eastern Tajikistan (then part of the Russian Empire). It had an estimated magnitude of 7.4 on the surface wave magnitude scale and a maximum felt intensity of about IX (Violent) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a massive landslide, blocking the Murghab River and forming the Usoi Dam, the tallest dam in the world, creating Sarez Lake. The earthquake and related landslides destroyed many buildings and killed about 100 people. The earthquake epicenter is located in the central Pamir Mountains. These mountains form the western end of the Himalayan chain, caused by the continuing continental collision between the northward moving Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The area is affected by active faulting on both thrust faults and strike-slip faults. The 1911 earthquake occurred within the Pamir Hindu Kush seismic zone, which is regularly affected by earthquakes, some of which have magnitudes of 7 or greater. [3] The earthquake lasted for two minutes and was followed by an aftershock an hour later. [2] The energy radiated by this event was one of the first to be estimated from seismograph recordings of seismic waves. [4] Current estimates for the magnitude lie in the range 7.4–7.6 on the surface wave magnitude scale. [1][5] The earthquake caused the waters of Lake Karakul to surge over its eastern rim, leaving behind a large sheet of ice as it withdrew. [2] The earthquake triggered numerous landslides along the slopes of the Bartang, Tanimas and Murghab valleys. [2] The largest of these blocked the Murghab river, forming the Usoi Dam and creating the Sarez and Shadau lakes. The Usoi landslide had an estimated volume of about 2 km3. The dam is the highest in the world at about 600 m,[5] impounding a lake containing 17.5 km3 of water. [6] The slide originated from a 4,500 m high mountain, falling 1,800 m to its present location. The area of greatest damage extended along the Bartang River from Basid in the west continuing along the Murghab River to Sarez in the east, also involving the kishlaks of Barchidiv, Nisur, Sagnob, Rukhch and Oroshor. [1] The Usoi landslide completely destroyed the Usoi kishlak. Estimates of casualties from the earthquake and related landslides range from 90[1] to 302. [2] The landslides and the formation of Sarez Lake caused significant migration of the inhabitants of the upper Bartang valley. [7]

Earthquakes

Multiple contractors hospitalized after gas well explosion in St. Mary Parish

by: Dionne Johnson, Neale Zeringue UPDATE: According to Ochsner Health, three workers from the gas well explosion drove their personal cars to the Ochsner St. Mary emergency department and are receiving treatment. They released this statement:  “Our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by today’s event. As medical professionals, caring for our communities is our sole focus. Ochsner has provided emergency response support for patients involved in this incident and are currently treating three patients who are listed in stable condition. In compliance with federal patient privacy regulations and out of respect for patients and their families, we are unable to make any comments regarding the care of any of our patients.” Those three bring the current total we are aware of to seven injured. Two men were flown out and two rode out according to Acadian Ambulance. Lafayette, La. (KLFY)  Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette has confirmed it is receiving patients from a reported explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The patients are being transported via air-med, hospital spokesperson Trevis Badeaux has confirmed with KLFY. Badeaux said he had no information on the conditions of the transports nor their identities. Below is a statement from Texas Petroleum Investment Company: Contractors working to cap a well in the Belle Isle Field were injured when a spark ignited natural gas. The incident began on Sunday while workers were attempting to plug the abandoned well. The workers are receiving medical treatment and crews are on the scene to protect the environment and bring the well under control.  Acadian Ambulance reported that crews responded with 4 helicopters and 5 ground units. Two patients were transported by air and 2 by ground, according to a social media post from Acadian Ambulance. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources confirmed with KLFY that Wild Well Control, a  well control company based in Houston arrived on site Tuesday in a plug and seal attempt, when the explosion happened. The company confirmed that injuries included burns to the hands and face. On Sunday, the St. Mary Parish Marine Section reported a natural gas well blow out in the Wax Bayou at Belle Isle. Gas well blow-out reported in St. Mary Parish

Gas explosion

Trump admin withdraws US from UNESCO

JTA - The United States has decided to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) over its anti-Israel bias and need for reform, the Department of State announced. The decision, which would become effective only in 2019, “was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO,” read the statement Thursday by the Department of State, in which the United States announced that it had notified UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova of its decision. The statement cited “the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO.” UNESCO's board is set to meet next week and had announced that the anti-Israel resolutions it had intended to bring to a vote would be postponed for six months. This is seen by sources as a possbile attempt to stave off the actions of the US and Israel. The United States indicated to the director general its desire to remain engaged with UNESCO as a non-member observer state “in order to contribute US 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.” The Paris-based body delighted the Palestinian Authority in July when it declared the Old City of Hevron in Judea as an endangered world heritage site. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu complained that the language of that resolution did not acknowledge the religious attachment of Jews to Hevron, a city which once served as the capital of the biblical Jewish kingdom of Judea and where the tomb of the patriarchs is located. Prior to that resolution UNESCO also passed several resolutions ignoring Jewish ties to Jerusalem, drawing Israeli officials’ fury and criticism by Western countries – including by France, which supported the resolutions during votes. Israel has reduced its funding for UN projects following those votes. Six years ago, the United States cut off more than $80 million a year, about 22 percent of its entire budget for UNESCO, in reprisal for its acceptance of the Palestinian Authority as a member, Foreign Policy reported. The Obama administration said it had to cut funds because a 1990s-era law prohibits U.S. funding for any U.N. agencies recognizing Palestine as a state. Israel also suspended its funding for UNESCO. As a result of US funding cuts, US arrears in membership fees have been swelling each year, surpassing $500 million that’s owed to UNESCO, according to Foreign Policy. The decision to withdraw from UNESCO owes partly to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s desire to stop the growing debt. The Reagan Administration decided to withdraw from the organization in 1984, at the height of the Cold War, citing corruption and what it considered an ideological tilt towards the Soviet Union against the West. President George W. Bush rejoined the organization in 2002, claiming it had gotten its books in order and expunged some of its most virulent anti-Western and anti-Israel biases.

Withdraw from an Organization

Mudslides, Worsened By Last Year's Wildfires, Shut Down A Vital Colorado Highway

As wildfires continue to ravage parts of the Western U.S., damage from last year's fires is now taking its toll on a vital highway in Colorado. Colorado Public Radio's Nathaniel Minor reported that Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon could be closed for days or even weeks after last week's mudslides. The slides dislodged rocks, trapped people in their cars overnight and diverted the flow of the Colorado River so that parts of the road are now underwater. The highway is suspended over the Colorado River in a narrow canyon with steep 1,300-foot high walls, making it especially vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides. The average monthly rainfall for the area in July is 2.4 inches. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said it's seen nearly twice that in the last five days. And because last year's wildfires burned up the vegetation that helps soak up water, these heavy rains resulted in some 10 feet of mud blanketing the highway on Thursday. Polis said at a Monday press conference that in the best-case scenario, one lane in each direction could open in a few days, though the highway is more likely to be closed for weeks — at significant cost to local economies and families. "Tens of thousands of cars use the road every day, and in these mountains, the shortest detour over good roads adds at least 2 1/2 hours," Minor reported.

Mudslides

Great Fire of 1892

The Great Fire of 8 July 1892 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is remembered as the worst disaster ever to befall that city. [citation needed] Previous "Great Fires" had occurred in St. John's, during 1819 and 1846. [1] At approximately 4:45 in the afternoon of July 8, 1892, a dropped pipe in Timothy O'Brien's stable, atop Carter's Hill on Freshwater Road, began what would become the worst fire in the history of St. John's. Initially, the fire did not cause any widespread panic; however, a series of catastrophic coincidences caused the fire to spread and devour virtually all of the east end of the city, including much of its major commercial area, before being extinguished. Rev. Moses Harvey witnessed the initial stages of the fire, and remarked to his friend that it "was a bad day for a fire." A high wind from the northwest was blowing, hurling the sparks far and wide on the roofs of the clusters of wooden houses. For a month previous, hardly any rain had fallen, and the shingled roofs were as dry as tinder. "[2]:20 The situation was exacerbated because of work completed earlier in the day on the water mains. Although water flow was re-established by 3 p.m., two hours before the fire began, water pressure was insufficient to force water up into the higher sections of the city where the fire began. W.J. Kent remarked that the "flames therefore made headway before water was procurable and, as a very high westerly wind was furiously fanning the fire, it began to spread rapidly. "[3]:1 An hour into the blaze, the people of St. John's realized that the fire could not be contained in the area of O'Brien's farm. Because locals believed stone walls would withstand the flames, residents moved valuables into numerous stone buildings in the city. One of the most common refuge areas was the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The nave and transepts of the church were filled with valuable property belonging to numerous families, including that of the Anglican bishop Lleweyn Jones. The cathedral and much of this property were also destroyed by the ravenous fire. Kent described the burning of the cathedral as follows: with one fearful rush the demonic fire seized upon the doomed cathedral, and sooner than tongue could tell the immense edifice, a gem of Gothic architecture, the masterpiece of Sir Gilbert Scott and the pride of every Newfoundlander, was a seething mass of flame. With a crash, heard even above the din of the elements the roof fell in, and the result of the labours and offerings of thousands for many years vanished in a cloud of smoke and dust. [3]:2–3 The fire was far from finished; the wind caused offshoots of the main fire to consume new sections of the city while the main fire continued its destructive trek towards the city's commercial centre, Water Street. The businesses that lined Water Street and Duckworth Street were destroyed as the fire spread throughout the downtown area. Rev. Harvey said, "The beautiful shops, full of valuable goods; the stores behind, containing thousands of barrels of flour and provisions of all kinds; the fish stores; the wharves, which it had cost immense sums to erect, -- disappeared one by one into the maw of the destroyer...the whole of Water Street, on both sides, was 'swept with the besom of destruction. '"[2]:22 The fire continued to burn into the night and the early hours of the next morning. Rev. Harvey's description of the restless night said that "the terror-stricken inhabitants flying before the destroyer,… the cries of weeping women hurrying with their children to places of safety -- all constituted a scene which not even the pen of Dante could describe. "[2]:24 Similarly, Kent said of that night, All the arteries which led from the water to the higher portions of the town were crowded with the terrorised mob and the screams and cries of the women mingled with the wailing of children, the shouts intensified by the ever-freshening masses of livid fire and the glare of the burning buildings, contributed to make a scene the like of which it is not often given to the lot of many to witness.... Few there were who closed their eyes that night. [3]:4 Daybreak on the morning of July 9, 1892 revealed the full extent of the fire's devastation. Kent described the sight of local residents viewing the desolation: When morning broke the thick clouds of smoke still ascended from the burning ruins, and it was hours before it had cleared sufficiently to admit a view of the track of the desolating scourge. A walk through the deserted streets demonstrated that the ruin was even more complete than seemed possible at first. Of the whole easterly section, scarcely a building remained… of the costly and imposing structures and public buildings which were the pride and glory of the people, scarcely a vestige remained; and St. John's lay in the morning as a city despoiled of her beauty, her choicest ornaments, presenting a picture of utter desolation and woe. [3]:7 Rev. Harvey presents a similar description: The next morning I took a walk around the awful scene of devastation. It was heart-rending. Nothing visible for a mile from Devon Row but chimneys and fallen and tottering walls. The thick smoke, from the smouldering ruins still filled the air… The wrecks of the fanes of religion stood out, then [sic] broken walls pointing heavenward, as if in mournful protest against the desecration that had been wrought. And the poor inhabitants, where were they? It made the heart ache to see the groups of men, women and children, with weary, blood-shot eyes and smoke begrimed faces, standing over their scraps of furniture and clothing -- some of them asleep on the ground from utter exhaustion -- all with despondency depicted on their faces. They filled the park and grounds around the city. Many hundreds escaped with nothing but the clothes they wore… At least twelve thousand people were burnt out. [2]:24 Less than $5,000,000 of the total estimated losses of $13,000,000 were covered by insurance. A large influx of financial aid from Britain, Canada and the United States helped the city recover from its devastating losses. Many of the present-day registered heritage structures were either built or re-built in the reconstruction period after the 1892 fire. The most prominent architect of this era in St. John's was John Thomas Southcott. He designed numerous Second Empire-styled buildings that had distinctive mansard roofs with bonnet-topped dormers protruding from the concave-curved roof surface. Southcott was so prolific that the term the "Southcott style" became associated with the architecture in the re-built city. Each year in Southcott's honour, the Newfoundland Historic Trust presents the Southcott Award for excellence in the restoration of heritage structures. Because of the devastation of the fire, the city of St. John's reorganized its fire department. It had previously relied only on volunteer brigades. By the end of 1895, the city had hired 22 paid firefighters and established three new fire stations throughout the city.

Fire

Indonesia's Mt. Merapi volcano spewing lava

Authorities ask residents to leave prone areas as volcanic activity remains high, can erupt at any time Nicky Aulia Widadio | 05.03.2021 YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA - MARCH 05 : Lava runs down from Mount Merapi as the volcanic activity increases, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on March 5, 2021. JAKARTA, Indonesia Mt. Merapi in Central Java, Indonesia released incandescent lava 81 times in a span of just 12 hours on Friday with a maximum sliding distance of 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles). The Center for Research and Development of Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG) said the activities occurred since Thursday at 6.00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) until Friday at 6.00 a.m. local time (2300GMT Thursday). The volcano also emitted hot clouds four times with a maximum sliding distance of up to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) until Friday noon. “Mt. Merapi's volcanic activity remains high. It can erupt at any time. So we urge nearby residents to stay away from prone areas,” said a BPPTKG officer. "The eruption can still occur at any time, and we urge the public to stay away from prone areas," said Nur Kholik.

Volcano Eruption

Syracuse police investigate shooting after man walks into hospital with gunshot wound

Updated: Dec. 07, 2021, 6:34 p.m. | Published: Dec. 07, 2021, 12:11 a.m. By Catie O'Toole | cotoole@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse police are investigating a shooting Monday night that appears to have happened on the city’s West side, authorities said. St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center staff contacted the Onondaga County 911 Center at 11:20 p.m. to report a man in his 20s had walked into the hospital with a gunshot wound to the upper arm, according to police dispatches. Officers responded to the hospital, where they met with the victim. The victim told police he was shot while riding in a van on Syracuse’s West side, according to the police dispatches. It was not immediately known exactly where he was shot, however police were investigating at least three shots fired complaints in and around the West side shortly before the shooting victim showed up at the hospital. Police dispatches also reported a gray or silver minivan and a white car were “shooting back and forth.” Syracuse police were called to investigate shots fired at 10:54 p.m. on Seymour Street, then at 11:14 in the 700 block of South Geddes Street and at 11:15 p.m. on Elliott Street. It was not immediately clear if any or all of the shots fired calls were connected to the shooting, however 911 dispatchers said police went to the 500 block of Oswego Street at the corner of Seymour Street while investigating the shooting. City police are continuing to investigate and have not yet commented on the shooting or shots fired calls Monday night. Check back for updates. Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie O’Toole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Famous Person - Commit Crime - Investigate

2010 Men's World Floorball Championships

The 2010 Men's World Floorball Championships were the eighth men's Floorball World Championships. The tournament was held from 4 December to 11 December 2010 in the cities of Helsinki, and Vantaa, Finland. This was the first world championships under the International Floorball Federation's (IFF) FIFA-like continental qualification system. A total of 32 countries had registered for this event, which is the most nations to ever register for an IFF-sanctioned world championship event. The previous record was 29 for the 2008 Men's World Floorball Championships. Under the IFF's new qualification system, the 32 countries registered for the world championships had to qualify for only 16 spots. 8 of these spots had already been pre-determined, with the top 7 teams from the 2008 Men's World Floorball Championships A-Division and the top team from the B-Division automatically qualifying. This left just 8 spots for the other 24 registered countries. The countries already qualified are as follows: Qualifying in the Asia/Oceanian region for the world championships will be overseen by the Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC). Only 3 out of 5 registered AOFC countries qualified. The 5 countries were as follows: Note: India withdrew from world championships due to financial difficulties [1] Only 4 out of 16 countries registered in Europe qualified. The 16 countries were as follows: Only 1 out of 2 countries registered in North America qualified. The 2 countries were as follows: Ballots for the groups in this event were drawn on May 9, 2009, during one of the semi-final matches of the 2009 Men's under-19 World Floorball Championships in Turku, Finland. In the way the ballots were drawn, no team qualified from the AOFC played against each other in group stage matches, and no team qualified from Europe either. The groups were assembled based on qualifying as follows:

Sports Competition

Aircraft roaring over South Florida Wednesday were on a training mission

The speedy, low-flying aircraft that people around Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach may have seen — or more likely heard — Wednesday morning were part of a military training exercise. Information from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the training included aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air Patrol and the National Guard, which launched an F-15 from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The exercise is part of Operation Noble Eagle which first began after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Other low-flying military jets were over South Florida in February when the Air Force was training to station fighter jets in Fort Lauderdale as part of its mission to protect President Donald Trump during his visits to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

Military Exercise

Nine-year-old boy killed in single car rollover in SA's Eyre Peninsula

An nine-year-old boy has died in a crash on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula on Thursday afternoon. Police were called to the scene at Port Kenny Road, Port Kenny, about 4:00pm on Thursday after reports of a single vehicle roll over. The boy, from Findon in Adelaide, was sitting in the rear of the Toyota RAV4, and died at the scene. A 16-year-old boy also seated in the rear sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Streaky Bay Hospital. The driver, a 46-year-old woman, and the front seat passenger, a 48-year-old man, both from Findon, received minor injuries. Pygery-Port Kenny Road was closed between Mount Damper Road and Poochera-Port Kenny Road while Major Crash Investigators examined the scene. The road has since reopened. The boy's death is the 56th life lost on SA roads compared with 50 at the same time last year.

Road Crash

2021 Xumabee Game Ranch helicopter crash

On 5 March 2021, a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the outskirts of Xumabee near Sojwe in Botswana. There were at least two people in the four-seater helicopter:[1] Sasa Klaas, a Motswana musician, who died at the scene; and Leonard Matenje, director for Air Technology Services, treasurer of Professional Hunters Association and the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, who survived. The helicopter involved in the accident was a Robinson R44, with registration ZS-SBM. [4] The Ministry of Transport and Communications released a statement stating the Directorate of Accident Investigation in the ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana have started to investigate into the accident and currently the two agencies have not released any information. The result of the investigation is expected to be published in March 2022. [1]

Air crash

2019 Busy Bee Congo crash

On 24 November 2019, a Dornier 228 twin turboprop aircraft operated by local carrier Busy Bee Congo crashed shortly after takeoff from Goma International Airport in a densely populated section of the city, killing 20 of the 21 on board and 6 on the ground. It is the deadliest accident involving the Dornier 228. [1][2][3][4] The airline operating the plane, Busy Bee Congo, was founded in 2007 and uses Goma as the base for its fleet of Dornier 228s. [5] Due to lack of funds, poverty, lack of oversight, and corruption in government, airline safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially among local low-price carriers, is infamously lax with all the local carriers banned from operating in the European Union. [6] The aircraft was a Dornier 228 twin turboprop built in 1984. It had been owned by three previous operators. [1] The aircraft did not carry a cockpit voice recorder or a flight data recorder. [2] While in service with Olympic Aviation (during which its registration was SX-BHC) on 9 January 1994, the aircraft was involved in an accident at when it struck power lines on approach to runway 15L at Ellinikon International Airport and its left engine failed, but landed safely with no fatalities and was repaired. [7] The unnamed 52-year-old captain had 14,124 flight hours, including 3,048 hours on the Dornier 228. The unnamed 29-year-old first officer had 2,273 flight hours, with 1,635 of them on the Dornier 228. [2][8]:9 According to reports the aircraft took off from the airport but suffered engine failure and crashed less than a minute after take off from runway 17. [2] Witnesses describe the plane spinning three times as it crashed with thick black smoke coming from the engines. The aircraft violently burst in flames after impact in one of the densely populated areas of the city, the fire preventing locals from helping victims caught in the blaze. [6] 19 people on board were killed on impact. One source reports that 2 passengers managed to be pulled from the blaze. [5] The BBC reports that 9 casualties on the ground all came from one family. [6] The accident is being investigated by the Permanent Office of Investigations of Aviation Accidents/Incidents (French: Bureau Permanent d'Enquêtes d'Accidents et Incidents d'Aviation) (BPEA), part of the DRC's Ministry of Transport and Channels of Communication. A preliminary report on the accident was released on 10 January 2020. The report stated that the aircraft take-off roll was unusually long, with a lower climb-out. The flight crew then requested to land on runway 35 without specifying why, after which the aircraft entered a rapid descent and crashed. [8]

Air crash

Blind Brook elementary school construction issues force another week of closure

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa closed Ridge Street school Wednesday after students were in the building for three days. She slammed school officials in a letter Friday for allowing students and staff to occupy the building that had numerous fire safety concerns and lacked a certificate of occupancy. She even alleged school officials’ conduct could be criminal. In response to Rosa’s letter, Blind Brook sent The Journal News/lohud a scanned copy of certificate of occupancy for the elementary school building that went into effect in March 2021 and apparently expires in March 2022. But state education officials said in an email Saturday because of extensive construction in the school last spring and summer that took fire safety systems offline, a new certificate of occupancy was needed. Blind Brook officials even acknowledged a new certificate of occupancy and inspection was necessary in communications to the state, according to the state education department. Brimstein, in his Sunday message, said the school district is working to resolve every issue at Ridge Street School, including spaces that are new, renovated and unaltered. An inspection was conducted Friday, he noted. He said there space constraints and code restrictions that prevent more elementary school students from learning on the Blind Brook Middle and High School campus. He added while there are other available spaces in Rye Brook, those locations could not be inspected and up to school building code on short notice. The school district would provide another update Wednesday. “It is unfortunate that remote learning is the only viable pathway to implement instruction,” Brimstein said, adding. “The plan outlined for learning next week is not meant to be permanent.”

Organization Closed

15 Celebrity Couples Who Have Been Married for a Surprisingly Long Time

It's a running joke that Hollywood relationships barely make it past dessert, with quickie divorces, 55-hour marriages and high-profile break-ups par for the course among celebrities. However, some stars have bucked the trend and have made their marriages last. A-list actors and rock stars are among the celebs to have racked up their china, silver and ruby anniversaries and remained head-over-heels in love with their other half. Here are 15 celebrity couples who have been married for a surprisingly long time. Basically America's mom and dad at this point, Hanks and Wilson have been married for 33 years. The pair met on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981, when Hanks was still married to Samantha Lewes, and reunited again in 1985 on the set of Volunteers. Hanks divorced from Lewes in 1987, and in 1988—after converting to the Greek Orthodox Church—he married Wilson. The couple have two sons, Chet and Theodore. Speaking to Oprah Winfrey in 2001, Hanks said of his wife: "When I married Rita, I thought, This is going to require some change on my part. I won't deny that providence was part of us finding each other, but our relationship isn't magic — the way it's shown in movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as me sitting here. Not that marriage doesn't come close to being hell in a handbasket sometimes. But we both know that no matter what, we'll be with each other — and we'll get through it." Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick met while filming the PBS production of the Lanford Wilson play Lemon Sky, and tied the knot in 1988. Thirty-three years on, they have two children together, Travis and Sosie, and have acted alongside each other in Pyrates, Murder in the First, The Woodsman and Loverboy. Weirdly, in an episode of Finding Your Roots, Bacon and Sedgwick discovered they are actually ninth cousins, once removed. Sarah Jessica Parker had previously had a long-term relationship with Robert Downey Jr. and a brief fling with John F Kennedy Jr., when she was introduced to fellow actor Matthew Broderick by one of her brothers at the Naked Angels theater company. The pair tied the knot in May 1997 in a civil ceremony officiated by Broderick's sister at a historic synagogue on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, New York City. Parker and Broderick welcomed their first child, James, in 2002, with twins Marion and Tabitha arriving via surrogate in 2009. Parker and Broderick are going strong 24 years on. There's no denying that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne have had a tumultuous relationship, but they are still together after 39 years of marriage. Ozzy was married to Thelma Riley, with whom he shared two children, when he met 18-year-old Sharon Arden, whose father was managing Black Sabbath at the time. Arden began managing the rocker as a solo artist when he was kicked out of Black Sabbath. They started dating and married in 1982, on July 4—to help Ozzy remember their anniversary. Osbourne's drug and alcohol abuse led to very rocky periods in the relationship, coming to a head in 1989 when Osbourne was arrested for attempted murder after he tried to strangle his wife. The couple have worked through addiction issues, illness and infidelity, and divide their time between the U.K. and the U.S. The Osbournes have three children—Aimee, Kelly and Jack—and famously allowed cameras into their home for MTV's The Osbournes. Meryl Streep was left devastated when her boyfriend John Cazalle died from lung cancer, and found herself kicked out of their shared apartment. Her brother came along to help with his friend, American sculptor Don Gummer, and Gummer offered Streep a loan of his apartment. Six months later, in September 1978, they got married in Streep's parents' garden, and welcomed four children together: Henry, Mamie, Grace and Louisa. The couple are happily married 43 years on, and Streep has shouted out her husband while winning her many Oscars. Upon accepting the Best Actress award for Julie & Julia, Streep said: "First, I'm going to thank Don because when you thank your husband at the end of the speech they play him out with the music, and I want him to know that everything I value most in our lives, you've given me." Michael J. Fox met Tracy Pollan when she played his girlfriend Ellen on the hit TV series Family Ties, and they reconnected on the set of Bright Lights, Big City. In 1988, the couple got married, and went on to have four kids together - Sam, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, and Esme. Three years after their wedding, Fox began to experience symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and he credits his wife for her reaction to his diagnosis. Speaking to Today in November 2020, he said: "We didn't know what to expect. One of the things I'll always love Tracy for is that at that moment, she didn't blink," adding that she hasn't blinked since. Julia Louis-Dreyfus met her future husband Brad Hall while attending Northwestern University and performing in the same comedy troupe. Both comedians performed on Saturday Night Live between 1982 and 1984, with Hall best known as a Weekend Update anchor. The couple married in 1987 and had two sons together, Henry and Charles; they remain together 34 years on. Warren Beatty was one of Hollywood's most prolific bachelors, dating over 100 celebrities including Jane Fonda, Cher and Brigitte Bardot. However, when he met Annette Bening while filming the 1991 movie Bugsy, he decided to give up his womanising ways. Beatty told Entertainment Weekly in November 2016: "When I met Annette over lunch for Bugsy, I felt immediately that this was going to change my life. I remember losing interest in the garlic chicken I was eating within 20 seconds. And the garlic chicken had been very good!" While they remained professional during filming, they went for dinner together towards the end of the production, and a month after Bugsy's premiere, they welcomed their first child. Beatty and Bening got married three months after that in 1992 and they now have four children together and a marriage which has lasted 29 years so far. NCIS star Mark Harmon and Mork & Mindy star Pam Dawber maintain a low profile, but that could be the key, as the couple have been married for 34 years. The actors met at a party thrown by a mutual friend and despite their fame, managed to keep their relationship fairly under wraps until they got married in 1987. Dawber, who shares two sons, Sean and Ty, with her husband, told People: "We're not trying to keep something secret, but if you don't want it totally exploited by the press, you have to." As for their successful marriage, Harmon doesn't think there's a big secret, telling Parade in August 2019: "There's no quick answer, no key. I just feel fortunate. She's a neat lady." Denzel and Pauletta have racked up 38 years of marriage so far, and still seem head over heels in love. Washington met his future wife on the set of his first screen job, the television movie Wilma, and they got married six years later in 1983. The couple have four children together and renewed their vows in 1995 in a ceremony in South Africa officiated by Desmond Tutu. Jamie Lee Curtis was flipping through a copy of Rolling Stone when she saw a photo of Christopher Guest promoting his film This Is Spinal Tap, and she was hooked. She told Today: "I met my husband by seeing his picture in a magazine and saying out loud to a friend of mine, 'I'm going to marry that dude,' and married him four months later. So the truth of the matter is life hinged for me on a couple seconds that I didn't see coming." While Curtis's initial attempts to meet Guest through his agent didn't quite work out, her hunch was totally correct, as just months after their first date, they got married in 1984. They have now been married for nearly 37 years and share two adopted daughters, Annie and Ruby. Writing an essay for Oprah, Curtis said: "Chris and I have a wonderful, complicated, imperfect life, and a very real marriage. I'll never know why I thought we'd understand each other when I saw his photograph. Hidden in that smirk, I think, was a little secret that only I knew." Richards may have been one of the biggest hell-raisers in rock and roll, but when it comes to his marriage to Patti Hansen, he's a big old softie. Following a 12-year relationship with German-Italian actress Anita Pallenberg - who had previously been in a relationship with Richards' Rolling Stones bandmate Brian Jones - Richards began dating model Patti Hansen, and they got married in 1983 on Richards' 40th birthday. Speaking about the night they met at Studio 54, Richards said: "When Patti and I met it was just . . . boom. There was life before Patti and life after. We just clicked, and she rescued me from, shall we say, dark periods . . . without going into too much detail." They have two daughters together, Theodora and Alexandra, and Richards and Hansen have now been married for 38 years. Four years before landing his breakthrough role as Wolverine in the X-Men movies, Hugh Jackman had tied the knot with Australian actress Deborra-Lee Furness; and 25 years on, they're going strong. The pair met on the Australian TV show Correlli, on which Furness starred as a prison psychologist, and they got married a year later in 1996. The couple have adopted two children together, Oscar and Ava, and looking back on 25 years of marriage with his wife, Jackman wrote on Instagram this year: "Being married to you, Deb, is as natural as breathing. From nearly the moment we met ... I knew our destiny was to be together. In our 25 years—our love has only grown deeper. The fun, excitement and adventure more exhilarating; the learning even greater. I'm forever grateful to share our love, our life—and, our family together. We've only just begun. Deb, I love you with all my heart!" For teens of the 1990s, there was no couple more glamorous or exciting than I Know What You Did Last Summer co-stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar. However, unlike most 90s power couples, they've lasted, and will celebrate their 20th anniversary next year. The stars met on the set of the teen horror film in 1997 and began dating three years later, before getting married in 2002. While Prinze Jr and Gellar have starred together in films like Scooby Doo, they keep their relationship pretty low-key, and live in Los Angeles with their two children Charlotte and Rocky. After relationships with stars like Mick Hucknall, Angus Macfayden, John Leslie and David Essex, Welsh actress Zeta-Jones was introduced to Hollywood star Michael Douglas - who is 25 years her senior - by Danny DeVito at a film festival in 1998. They became engaged the following year and, after Douglas divorced from first wife Diandra Luker, they got married in 2000, going on to welcome two children, Dylan and Carys, together. In 2013, the couple confirmed they were living apart, with a rep for Zeta-Jones saying they were "taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage". They never took any legal steps in their separation and reconciled the following year, with the couple now celebrating 21 years of marriage.

Famous Person - Marriage

Police fine 60 revellers over Sydney house party, as Woolworths reports another COVID-19 case

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 NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has blasted 60 people who attended a house party in Sydney's north-west, labelling their behaviour as "shameful". Police slapped each reveller with a $1,000 fine after officers were called to a large house party at Schofields late on Saturday night, following noise complaints. A helicopter, the dogs unit as well as officers from several neighbouring commands were deployed to manage the crowd, who police said were "intoxicated". Gatherings of more than 20 people are currently banned under coronavirus public health orders. Mr Constance said those at the party had put the health of others in jeopardy. "Think about what you've just done. You've just put an entire state … 8 million citizens at risk," he said. "This is not a time for partying." "We are in a very difficult circumstance as a nation and as a state. I'd just ask everyone just to cool your jets for a while and let's just get through this." Mr Constance urged people to take responsibility for their actions. "Those people last night didn't do that. This is shameful in a way." Superintendent Donna McCarthy from Quakers Hill Police Area Command said the event had drawn a "large police response". Pepper spray was used when a brawl broke out involving 15 people. Thirty people were arrested for refusing to leave the venue and 15 were taken to Riverstone Police Station to have their identities verified. She said it was a "very unfortunate" situation for police to deal with and the wider community had been "very patient and very good" at sticking to public health orders. "We have been very clear there will be no more warnings in relation to this and we will take action and we won't tolerate the people of NSW being made unsafe in instances like this," she said. Meanwhile, a Woolworths store in south-west Sydney has undergone a deep clean after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member at the store in Spring Farm, near Camden, last worked on July 16. They did not have any symptoms. Woolworths said it became aware of the case on Saturday. The store conducted a deep clean overnight and said customers "should be assured they can continue to safely shop", a spokesperson said. "Any customers who shopped in our Spring Farm store on July 16 and feel unwell in the next two weeks should make contact with NSW Health." A Woolworths store in Balmain in Sydney's inner-west was also hit with a COVID-19 case earlier this month when a staff member who had travelled from Melbourne tested positive on July 1. Fifty staff at the store were forced to self-isolate. Police charged a Queensland man with attempting to flee hotel quarantine when he was caught on Sunday leaving his hotel room for a cigarette. Police allege the 28-year-old man, who is staying at a hotel on Sydney's Macquarie Street, struggled with officers after refusing to return to his room. He was then restrained and police returned him to his room. The NSW Government has announced from 12:01am on Monday, the number of daily overseas arrivals to Sydney will be cut from 450 to 350. The initial cap was introduced on July 5. The number will be further pressure on passengers wanting to enter Australia but struggling with flight availability. However, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was essential to take the pressure off resources. "NSW is the gateway to Australia and it is important that passengers returning home do not overrun the capacity of NSW Health and hotel quarantine," she said. As of Saturday, all those entering hotel quarantine will be charged $3,000 for the 14-day mandatory stay. Average 2,181 cases per day for the past 7 days

Organization Fine

Tripoli protests and clashes (February 2011)

Decisive pro-Gaddafi victory[4] The 2011 Tripoli clashes were a series of confrontations between Libyan anti-government demonstrators and forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the capital city of Tripoli at the beginning of the Libyan Civil War. During the early days of the uprising, there was significant unrest in the city, but the city remained under the control of the government. [7][8][9][10] Gaddafi had ruled Libya since overthrowing the Libyan monarchy in 1969. [11] As the Arab Spring caused revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, which both border Libya, Gaddafi was reportedly still in full control, being the longest-ruling non-royal head of state. [12] However, the protestors wanted democracy, and Libya's corruption perception index in 2010 was 2.2, worse than Tunisia or Egypt. [13] On 17 February 2011, it was reported that supporters of the Libyan opposition had taken to the streets and Green Square during the Day of Revolt. [14][15] On 20 February, it was claimed that snipers fired on crowds to control Green Square, as protesters started fires at police stations and the General People's Congress building. [16][17] Reportedly, the state television building was also set on fire on 21 February. [18][19] On the morning of 21 February, activists claimed that protesters surrounded Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziza compound and were trying to storm it, but were forced back by heavy gunfire that killed up to 80 people. [20] On 22 February, it was stated that the justice ministry at al-Shuhadaa square and the Shaabia headquarters were attacked. [16][17] Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport may have been taken by the protesters on 25 February. [21][22] The Tajura district of Tripoli rose up against control by the Gaddafi government on 25 February. [23] However, it was quickly confronted by government troops who reportedly fired on the protestors and killed 25 of them. [24] The National Transitional Council formed by the rebels in Benghazi, their interim capital, said through their spokesman Hafiz Ghoga that "we will help liberate other Libyan cities, in particular Tripoli through our national army, our armed forces, of which part have announced their support for the people. "[25] Various countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, were considering creating a no-fly zone under United Nations guidance, which would prevent warplanes being used and mercenaries being flown in. [26] The Russian foreign minister rejected the idea and instead supported sanctions, while the Chinese spokesman said their priority was, "for the violence to end, to avoid casualties and to make constructive efforts to help Libya return to peace and stability" and likewise rejected the no-fly zone. [27] On 1 March, British prime minister David Cameron backtracked from his comments regarding the no-fly zone. Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, who is British-educated, accused Cameron of wanting to be a hero,[28] and described Cameron's military threats as "like a joke". He also stated that if military action was taken, "we are ready we are not afraid. "[29] Gaddafi loyalists remained in control in Tripoli, and on 1 March it was reported that many shops were closed and the few banks that opened had queues outside. [30] Also on 1 March, a convoy of twenty government aid trucks left Tripoli with food and medicine for the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi. [28] On 25 February, Gaddafi made a public speech in Green Square, stating "We will fight them and we will beat them. Sing, dance and prepare yourselves. If needs be, we will open all the arsenals. "[31] On the night of 17–18 March, following United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, more clashes occurred between protesters and pro-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli in several different areas. Protests were also planned for 18 March. [32] However, instead, protests against the UN military intervention and in support of Gaddafi's government took place over the coming days. [33] In late March, postgraduate law student and Gaddafi opponent Iman al-Obeidi was gang-raped by pro-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli, escaped and reported the event to foreign reporters at the Rixos Al Nasr hotel, and was detained and released several times by pro-Gaddafi forces,[34] attracting worldwide support,[35] and giving interviews with the anti-Gaddafi Libya TV and other media in early April. [34] An anti-Gaddafi street protest took place in the Fashloom suburb of Tripoli on 7 April. [36] At a small anti-Gaddafi protest at dawn on 9 April, the participants released a protest statement. They stated, "These are our streets, and these are our alleys, for we vow to you shameful and disgraceful Gaddafi, not you nor your battalions, nor your snipers, nor your mercenaries however many they are, will not terrify us anymore, and we will not back down on our revolution and up rise no matter how greater the sacrifice. "[37] According to local residents interviewed by Reuters, several attacks by local Tripoli residents against military checkpoints and a police station in Tripoli took place during the first full week of April, with gunfights being heard at night. An exiled anti-Gaddafi Libyan who kept in daily contact with people from the suburb of Tajoura stated, "There have been attacks by Tripoli people and a lot of people have been killed on the Gaddafi army side." Hundreds of young men suspected of being Gaddafi opponents were imprisoned in late March and early April. According to one resident interviewed by Reuters, pro-Gaddafi forces controlled most of the major roads and intersections in the suburbs, while smaller streets deeper in the city's outskirts, like Tajura, were under opposition control. [36] On 9 May, an opposition newspaper, Brnieq, reported a "full-scale" uprising in the suburbs of the Tripoli by anti-Gaddafi forces who had been supplied with light weapons by defecting security forces. Protesters planned to head towards the centre of the city. [38] A Libyan official denied the report and said that it was peaceful in Tripoli. Reuters correspondent in the center of the city heard no gunfire. [39] The following day, Al Jazeera reported that opposition members had hoisted their flag at the Mitiga air base in eastern Tripoli before withdrawing. [40] On 13 May, there were anti-government protests again. [41] Al Jazeera English reported on 30 May that "unprecedented protests" occurred in Tripoli. Large demonstrations such as those had previously been limited by the heavy security presence, indicating the growing boldness of the populace of Tripoli. The protesters were eventually dispersed by live fire from security forces. [42] By June, there were ongoing guerrilla attacks on military checkpoints in the city. [36][43] Rebels made significant military advances from their stronghold in the Nafusa Mountains, taking large parts of the coastal town of Zawiya, roughly 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Tripoli, seizing parts of the Libyan Coastal Highway, preventing military supplies and fuel reaching Tripoli from Tunisia. They also claimed to have seized Gharyan to the south, cutting off supplies to Tripoli from there also, seemingly in an attempt to cut off, and then besiege, the capital. [44][45] On 20 August, it was reported that the Battle of Tripoli had started and that heavy gunfire and explosions were occurring in parts of the city, and that clashes were ongoing in the eastern suburb of Tajoura. Text messages were sent out to Tripoli residents by the government, demanding they go out to the streets to fight against "agents with weapons". [46]

Protest_Online Condemnation

1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake

The 1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake struck southern Mono County near Bishop and Chalfant, California at 07:42:28 Pacific Daylight Time on July 21. With a moment magnitude of 6.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong), the shock injured two people and caused property damage estimated at $2.7 million in the affected areas. There was a significant foreshock and aftershock sequence that included a few moderate events, and was the last in a series of three earthquakes that affected southern California and the northern Owens Valley in July 1986. Strong motion stations at the Long Valley Dam and an instrumented building in Bishop captured light to moderate readings from the event. The faulting reached the surface of the ground, but the maximum amount of measurable slip was limited to about 11 centimeters (4.3 in) of strike-slip motion along the White Mountain Fault Zone. Other destructive and surface-rupturing earthquakes, as well as large volume volcanic eruptions, have occurred in the area. Although the series of shocks occurred within the White Mountain seismic gap, the region continues to have potential for a very large earthquake. July 1986 was an unusually active month for moderate to strong earthquakes in California, with three events occurring in less than two weeks, each with mild to moderate effects. The first of these shocks came on July 8 with a M6.0 event on the Banning fault near Palm Springs and the second event occurred off the coast of Oceanside as a M5.8 shock on July 13. While the earthquake off the southern California coast occurred in an area thought to be capable of generating a tsunami, the earthquake near Palm Springs occurred on a portion of the southern San Andreas Fault system that has been designated a seismic gap, and is a likely location for a very large earthquake. The same seismic gap theory (regarding the potential for a future large earthquake) had also been presented for the White Mountains area near Chalfant. [4] The Owens Valley, located at the western boundary of the Basin and Range Province, is confined by the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west and the White-Inyo Mountains to the east. The valley was brought about by active tectonics over the last 2–4 million years, and was the scene of a very large earthquake in 1872 that generated surface rupture from Lone Pine in the south to as far north as Big Pine, a distance of approximately 100 kilometers (62 mi). Other large, surface rupturing events in 1915, 1932, and 1954 delineate the Eastern California–Central Nevada seismic zone. [5] As no large earthquake has occurred between the southern extent of the 1932 Cedar Mountain earthquake's rupture and the northern extent of the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake's rupture in the south (a distance of 130 km (81 mi)), the zone has been labeled the White Mountain seismic gap. The 1934 M6.3 Excelsior Mountains earthquake and the 1986 Chalfant Valley event were several smaller earthquakes that have occurred within the gap, and both generated limited surface faulting and some surface cracking in the Volcanic Tableland, which was created .7 million years ago from a major volcanic eruption that also formed the Long Valley Caldera northwest of Bishop. An estimated 500 cubic kilometers of material (tephra) produced in the event covers the northern Owens Valley as a rocky landform. The surface of the layered plateau is known as Bishop Tuff and features fumarole mounds and hundreds of north-south oriented fault scarps, many of which are visible on topographic maps, via aerial photography, and satellite imagery. [5] The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) both operated seismograph networks in the region where the Chalfant Valley earthquake sequence occurred. The data that was captured was transmitted in real time to Reno, Nevada and Menlo Park, California and was digitized for later examination. The foreshock activity was found to have begun eighteen days prior to the main event on July 3, with the onset of a 3.5 event (local magnitude). Activity increased on July 18 with several doublets then reduced again in the hours prior to the primary M5.7 (intensity V (Moderate)) foreshock on July 20. All forty events that were recorded by the UNR and USGS stations before that event were within 2 km (1.2 mi) its epicenter, and another 132 events that were considered to be its aftershocks were documented in the remaining 24 hours leading up to the mainshock. One of these events, just over two hours after the primary foreshock, measured M4.7 with an intensity of IV (Light). [2][6] The mainshock occurred at 07:42:26 on July 21 and caused the most damage in the sequence of events. The shock measured 6.2 Mw  as measured by the International Seismological Centre and originated at a depth of approximately 10.8 kilometers (6.7 mi). The focal mechanisms of the three largest events (the July 20 foreshock, the mainshock, and the largest aftershock) were primarily strike-slip with a minor amount of normal-slip and were especially well-constrained due to the dense array of seismometers in the area that were operated by the UNR and the USGS. The primary foreshock's preferred fault plane solution indicated left-lateral slip on a fault striking N25°E, but neither the mainshock nor the largest aftershock conformed with their right-lateral slip striking N25°W and N15°W respectively. [7] In Bishop, windows were shattered and ceiling tiles fell in several buildings, and a portion of the brick facade at the First Sierra bank building fell onto the sidewalk. A Burger King restaurant had part of its ceiling come down. Northwest of Bishop, a portion of U.S. Route 395 was blocked temporarily by a landslide. Campers were briefly trapped at the Pleasant Valley Reservoir when a 150 ft (46 m) section of an access road was destroyed as a result of land movement. Both injuries that were reported (minor cuts and injuries from falling objects) occurred to the north in Chalfant Valley where 53 mobile homes were knocked off their foundations and two homes were destroyed. Nearly all the buildings in that small town were affected, with water and sewer lines broken there as well. [8] Many of the mobile homes were able to be remounted on their foundations, but 18–20 of the homes were unable to be repaired. The overall damage from the event was compared with the other events in southern California. While the Oceanside shock caused $200,000 in damage, the Palm Springs event caused an estimated $8 million in damage. Damage in from the Chalfant Valley event was estimated at $2.7 million. [2][9] Ground fractures that were deemed to be tectonic in nature were documented on about 10.5 kilometers (6.5 mi) of the White Mountain Fault Zone from Silver Creek to Piute Creek. The cracks trended 350° and a maximum right-lateral slip of about 11 centimeters (4.3 in) was measured, though other vertical (downslope) or extensional movement was also seen, especially on the 150 m (500 ft)-thick surface of the Bishop Tuff in the Volcanic Tableland. There, the largest displacements were seen in the vicinity of Casa Diablo Mountain. The cracks were found primarily in loose sand, which made measurements difficult. [10] In Bishop, intensity VI effects included broken windows and cracked walls in commercial and government buildings. Items fell from store shelves at grocery markets, streets were cracked, and wells had changes in the flow of water. The damage to the mobile homes in Chalfant was also consistent with intensity VI shaking, with some of the homes moving laterally as much as 18 inches. Also in this classification was damage to pipe supports along a portion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct between the Upper, Middle, and Control Gorge Power Plants southeast of Crowley Lake. Intensity V (Moderate) effects (including cracked windows and broken underground pipes) were present in the Central Valley, Death Valley, and Carson City, Nevada. [11][12] The foreshock, mainshock, and the two largest aftershocks were recorded by strong motion stations that were operated by the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (CSMIP) and the USGS. A total of 36 seismograms were captured from 11 stations, including a two-story steel frame building, the Long Valley Dam, and several free field stations. The Chalfant strong motion station recorded the largest horizontal accelerations for the foreshock, mainshock, and the July 21 M5.6 aftershock of .28g, .46g, and .17g.

Earthquakes

Peshtigo fire

The Peshtigo fire was a very large forest fire that took place on October 8, 1871, in northeastern Wisconsin, United States, including much of the southern half of the Door Peninsula and adjacent parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The largest community in the affected area was Peshtigo, Wisconsin. The fire burned approximately 1,200,000 acres (490,000 ha) and is the deadliest wildfire in recorded history,[1] with the number of deaths estimated between 1,500[1] and 2,500. [2] Occurring on the same day as the more famous Great Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo fire has been largely forgotten, even though it killed far more people. [3][4] Several cities in Michigan, including Holland and Manistee (across Lake Michigan from Peshtigo) and Port Huron (at the southern end of Lake Huron), also had major fires on the same day. The setting of small fires was a common way to clear forest land for farming and railroad construction. On the day of the Peshtigo fire, a cold front moved in from the west, bringing strong winds that fanned the fires out of control and escalated them to massive proportions. [5] A firestorm ensued. In the words of Gess and Lutz, in a firestorm "superheated flames of at least 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit ... advance on winds of 110 miles per hour or stronger. The diameter of such a fire ranges from one thousand to ten thousand feet ... When a firestorm erupts in a forest, it is a blowup, nature's nuclear explosion ... "[6]:101 By the time it was over, 1,875 square miles (4,860 km2 or 1.2 million acres) of forest had been consumed,[7][8][9] an area fifty percent larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Twelve communities were destroyed. An accurate death toll has never been determined because all local records were destroyed in the fire. It's estimated that anywhere between 1,200 to 2,500 people lost their lives. The 1873 Report to the Wisconsin Legislature listed 1,182 names of dead or missing residents. [10] In 1870, the Town of Peshtigo had 1,749 residents. [11][12] More than 350 bodies were buried in a mass grave,[13] primarily because so many people had died that there was no one left alive who could identify them. The fire jumped across the Peshtigo River and burned both sides of the town. [14] Survivors reported that the firestorm generated a fire whirl (described as a tornado) that threw rail cars and houses into the air. Many escaped the flames by immersing themselves in the Peshtigo River, wells, or other nearby bodies of water. Some drowned while others succumbed to hypothermia in the frigid river. The Green Island Light was kept lit during the day because of the obscuring smoke, but the three-masted schooner George L. Newman was wrecked offshore, although the crew was rescued. [15] At the same time, another fire burned parts of the Door Peninsula; because of the coincidence, some incorrectly assumed that the fire had jumped across the waters of Green Bay. [16][note 1] In Robinsonville (now Champion) on the Door Peninsula, Sister Adele Brise and other nuns, farmers, and families fled to a local chapel for protection. Although the chapel was surrounded by flames, it survived. [17][18][19] It spared the then Village of Sturgeon Bay, which at the time remained east of the village's bay. Speculation since 1883 has suggested that the start of the Peshtigo and Chicago fires on the same day was not coincidental, but that all the major fires in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin that day were caused by impact of fragments from Biela's Comet. This hypothesis was revived in a 1985 book,[20] reviewed in a 1997 documentary,[21] and investigated in a 2004 paper published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. [22] Certain behaviors of the Chicago and Peshtigo fires were cited to support the idea of an extraterrestrial cause. [23] However, scientists with expertise in the field pointed out that there has never been a credible report of a fire being started by a meteorite. [24][25] In any event, no external source of ignition was needed. There were already numerous small fires burning in the area as part of land-clearing operations and similar activities after a tinder-dry summer. [6][26] These fires generated so much smoke that the Green Island Light was kept lit continuously for weeks before the firestorm erupted. [27] All that was necessary to trigger the firestorm, plus the other large fires in the Midwest, was a strong wind from the weather front which had moved in that evening. [26] The Peshtigo Fire Museum, just west of U.S. Highway 41, has a small collection of fire artifacts, first-person accounts, and a graveyard dedicated to victims of the tragedy. A memorial commemorating the fire was dedicated on October 8, 2012 at the bridge over the Peshtigo River. [28] The chapel where Sister Adele Brise and others sheltered from the fire has become the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. The site is a Marian shrine, where visitors can make religious pilgrimages. [19] The combination of wind, topography and ignition sources that generated the firestorm at the boundary between human settlements and natural terrain, is known as the "Peshtigo paradigm". [29] Those conditions were closely studied by the American and British military during World War II to learn how to recreate firestorms during bombing campaigns against cities in Germany and Japan. The devastating bombing of Tokyo using incendiary devices resulted in death tolls comparable to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. [29]

Fire

Stephen Curry joins Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan in NBA record book as torrid scoring streak continues

Stephen Curry is firing pure plutonium at the moment. On Saturday night, Curry hit 11 3-pointers, giving him 36 triples over his past four games, en route to 47 points, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors fell to the Celtics in a 119-114 slugfest between two teams that are finding their stride at the right time.  The loss broke Golden State's five-game win streak.  Boston has now won six straight.  Jayson Tatum, on a tear of his own, went toe to toe with Curry, finishing with 44 points. But the story was, and is, Curry, who has hit at least 10 3-pointers in three of his last four games. Per ESPN Stats and Info, no other player in history has recorded three such games over an entire season.  The history doesn't stop there. Curry has now scored at least 30 points in 10 consecutive games, tying Kobe Bryant's NBA record for players 33 or older.  Curry has also also joined Kobe and Michael Jordan as the only players in history, at least 33 years old, to notch four 40-point games in a calendar month, having put up 41, 53, 42 and 47 so far in April. Look at the run this guy is on: Over this 10-game span, Curry is averaging 39.1 points on 48.5-percent 3-point shooting. Over his past five, Curry is averaging 44 points on 58/54/91 shooting splits, and he has made more 3-pointers over the past week (36) than four entire teams (Magic, Kings, Pelicans and Wizards).  The only thing that can potentially stop Curry right now is his left ankle, which he tweaked in the fourth quarter on Saturday. He stayed in the game and played the rest of the way, but if he has to miss any time, the Warriors could be in trouble. They currently occupy the No. 9 seed in the West, one game up in the loss column on No. 10 San Antonio and just two games up on the No. 11 spot, which would fall outside the play-in series and land Golden State in the lottery.  Just a few weeks into the season and the NBA has already been hit by a rash of player absences. Whether it's injuries, health and safety protocols or a very deserved suspension, teams around the league found themselves without key pieces quite often this week, which threw the Power Rankings into flux. One team has remained steady throughout the early season, however, earning the undisputed No. 1 spot in this week's rankings: The resurgent Golden State Warriors. Right behind them are two teams most wouldn't have expected to see at the top at this juncture of the season, the Washington Wizards and the Denver Nuggets. Washington is thriving while getting acclimated to a host of new players, and Denver went undefeated this week despite lineup staples Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic missing games. By submitting my email I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and other marketing and promotional emails from CBS Sports, which may include information from our affiliates and/or partners' offers, products and services. For more information about our data practices consult our Privacy Policy They weren't the biggest risers, though, as that honor goes to the Phoenix Suns, who shook off a rocky start to go 4-0 this week and claim the No. 4 spot. On the other side, the biggest fallers were the Toronto Raptors, who dropped from No. 6 last week all the way to No. 19. But that's how things go early in the season. One week you're on top of the world, and the next week you're on the outside looking in. Just ask the Miami Heat. Here are this week's NBA Power Rankings. *Please keep in mind that our Power Rankings are based on the team's performance the previous week, not the entire season.

Break historical records