Article from Channel News Asia.
Typhoon Utor started out in the Philippines, with 6 left dead. At Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory labeled this typhoon a "number 8," which is the third highest level. 100 flights are to be canceled and 174 are to be delayed. Ferry services to and from outer islands and mainland China were paused, which left passengers at scattered terminals. Trees were blown over, and a satellite dish fell down onto a row of motorcycles. The Hong Kong stock exchange cancelled the morning session and decided at noon whether or not any trade would be going during Wednesday. The typhoon is going to head to Guangdong next, which is in southeast China. There are 17 temporary shelters opened by the government. Utor is predicted to boil down on either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Disaster prevention teams are requested for the Guangdong area because there are waves up to 36 feet high north of the South China Sea.
An update for the Philippine's statistics: the death toll has gone to 6, and 5 people are still missing. 42,000 people are still homeless. Utor had winds up to 125 miles/hour, which made it the strongest storm this year.
Natural disasters have a huge impact on everybody's lives. Although they can be predicted, there is only so much we can do in terms of preparing. Not only does it create emotional stress for the people, but also financial stress for both the government and the people. Some people may only thing that the financial stress happens in other countries other than America and Canada, but as Hurricane Sandy proved it, that is not the case. Hurricane Sandy left so much damaged that Ellis island had to be closed, as well as some of the dock stores. They are all asking for donations in order to stay open. Many people had to buy new housing. In many cases, insurance cannot simply cover all the costs. We must try our best to help by giving small (or large) donations of money, food, clothing, etc.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Railway in Quebec train to lose license
Article from Chron.
Canada's transportation agency is suspending the operating license of a U.S.-based rail company. Their oil train derailed and exploded, which killed 47 people in a town in Quebec. The certification is to be taken away August 20, 2013. The train had 72 tankers of crude oil, with several of them exploding, destroying 40 building. The train's operator was blamed by the company for not setting enough hand brakes. This specific disaster has brought up questions about the use of rail transport for oil. Dozens of jobs are at stake because of this license confiscation. Since the derailment, 24 out of the 75 employees from Quebec already lost their jobs. Pierre Arseneau, who works for the United Steelworkers, is afraid that the loss will affect more than just the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, only if there is no solution soon. He says that "It's also the whole economy of the region. There are lots of companies that depend on the railroad." MM&A Railway already announced that they plan to sell their rail line to another party so they can pay off their debts.
I think this is a major problem for that area because pretty much all motor vehicles and airplanes depend on this petroleum. Without the transport, there could be extreme changes for the environment.
Canada's transportation agency is suspending the operating license of a U.S.-based rail company. Their oil train derailed and exploded, which killed 47 people in a town in Quebec. The certification is to be taken away August 20, 2013. The train had 72 tankers of crude oil, with several of them exploding, destroying 40 building. The train's operator was blamed by the company for not setting enough hand brakes. This specific disaster has brought up questions about the use of rail transport for oil. Dozens of jobs are at stake because of this license confiscation. Since the derailment, 24 out of the 75 employees from Quebec already lost their jobs. Pierre Arseneau, who works for the United Steelworkers, is afraid that the loss will affect more than just the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, only if there is no solution soon. He says that "It's also the whole economy of the region. There are lots of companies that depend on the railroad." MM&A Railway already announced that they plan to sell their rail line to another party so they can pay off their debts.
I think this is a major problem for that area because pretty much all motor vehicles and airplanes depend on this petroleum. Without the transport, there could be extreme changes for the environment.
British 'drug mules' claim they were forced at gunpoint to carry cocaine by Colombian gang
Article from The Telegraph.
Michaella McCollum Connolly, 20, and Melissa Reid, 19, were described as “weepy and upset” as they were awaiting a court appearance. An Irish-American bishop visited them in their police cell and they told him that they were flown by a gang from Izbiza to Morocco by a gang, before being taken to Peru. The two women have to wait up to 36 months before they even get to stand trial. This is due to Peru's slow legal system. Both of the women were arrested in Lima because they tried to board a flight carrying 11kg of cocaine (worth £1.5 million), which was hidden inside food packets. Reid claims that she "..was forced to take these bags in my luggage" and when asked if she knew if they had drugs in them, "I did not know that." Strange enough, their families had no idea that they had gone to Peru, until they found out that the two women had been arrested. Apparently, the women were taken by Colombians, who threatened them at gunpoint. However, just because the women had the drugs does not necessarily mean that they intentionally or willingly took them. The Archbishop Walsh believes that they have been set up. The family of Connolly is shocked that this has happened, and have arranged flights to see her, and also have arranged for her needs. If they are convicted, they are most likely to have a minimum sentence of 8 years in prison.
Doing drugs or transporting them are such a serious offense if caught, you wonder why people still do it. I don't see the point in drugs, or why they even exist. People can be addicted to them, but they should all be put in rehab because all of this drug business is ridiculous and time after time, people get caught to the point that we have to put a border patrol between the U.S. and Mexico. Nobody should be doing drugs at all. It causes a lot of problems, both for the person and others around them.
Michaella McCollum Connolly, 20, and Melissa Reid, 19, were described as “weepy and upset” as they were awaiting a court appearance. An Irish-American bishop visited them in their police cell and they told him that they were flown by a gang from Izbiza to Morocco by a gang, before being taken to Peru. The two women have to wait up to 36 months before they even get to stand trial. This is due to Peru's slow legal system. Both of the women were arrested in Lima because they tried to board a flight carrying 11kg of cocaine (worth £1.5 million), which was hidden inside food packets. Reid claims that she "..was forced to take these bags in my luggage" and when asked if she knew if they had drugs in them, "I did not know that." Strange enough, their families had no idea that they had gone to Peru, until they found out that the two women had been arrested. Apparently, the women were taken by Colombians, who threatened them at gunpoint. However, just because the women had the drugs does not necessarily mean that they intentionally or willingly took them. The Archbishop Walsh believes that they have been set up. The family of Connolly is shocked that this has happened, and have arranged flights to see her, and also have arranged for her needs. If they are convicted, they are most likely to have a minimum sentence of 8 years in prison.
Doing drugs or transporting them are such a serious offense if caught, you wonder why people still do it. I don't see the point in drugs, or why they even exist. People can be addicted to them, but they should all be put in rehab because all of this drug business is ridiculous and time after time, people get caught to the point that we have to put a border patrol between the U.S. and Mexico. Nobody should be doing drugs at all. It causes a lot of problems, both for the person and others around them.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Iraq bombers kill 24, 16 of them in cafe
Article from The News: International.
On Monday, 24 people in Iraq were killed, with 16 of them being in a suicide attack in a cafe north of Baghdad. There were also other bombings which hit a football field and a market. Last week, Ramadan ended, which meant that many Iraqis went to cafes after breaking the fast. This Ramadan was one of the deadliest for Iraq; it killed more than 800 people.
The statistics show that:
Balad: wounding more than 35 people
Muqdadiyah: bomb exploded near a football field, killing 4 and wounding 14, 3 of which were children
Baquba: bomb exploded in market, killing 4 and wounding 20
The attacks came one day after al Qaeda claimed attacks which killed more than 70 people. It also came weeks after assaults on prisons near Baghdad (also claimed by al Quaeda front group). With all the violence lately, in total, there have been 3,404 deaths because of attacks in Iraq since the beginning of the year. On average, there are 15 deaths every day.
Like I said in another article before, the world seems to be an extremely dangerous place. Although America may seem safe today, doesn't mean that enemies are planning something tomorrow.
On Monday, 24 people in Iraq were killed, with 16 of them being in a suicide attack in a cafe north of Baghdad. There were also other bombings which hit a football field and a market. Last week, Ramadan ended, which meant that many Iraqis went to cafes after breaking the fast. This Ramadan was one of the deadliest for Iraq; it killed more than 800 people.
The statistics show that:
Like I said in another article before, the world seems to be an extremely dangerous place. Although America may seem safe today, doesn't mean that enemies are planning something tomorrow.
Deadly typhoon strikes the Philippines
Article from Euro News.
With winds of 150 km/hour, Typhoon Utor hit the Philippines. On average, every year, there are about 20 typhoons that hit the Philippines. However, this typhoon was the most powerful of them. Dozens of people are missing. It has triggered floods and landslides, which has caused hundreds of homes to be smashed and also disrupted power and communication links. Crops like rice, corn and coconut, have also been badly damaged. The town that suffered the worse damaged was CAsiguran, a coastal town, 343 km northeast of Manila. The typhoon sent a landslide which blocked its only access road. Aurora governor Gerardo Noveras said, "About 90 percent of our agriculture was destroyed or damaged." The full extent of the damage was still unknown. The typhoon a little weaker than before, it moves out to the South China Sea, expected to hit 300 km southwest of Hong Kong.
Humans can't really control natural disasters, as far as preventing it from happening. However, people can build sea walls or other barriers to prevent the damage from happening, to a certain degree. I think people should donate to causes that collect money for these projects, because sometimes, the places that need the projects built the most also need the money the most.
With winds of 150 km/hour, Typhoon Utor hit the Philippines. On average, every year, there are about 20 typhoons that hit the Philippines. However, this typhoon was the most powerful of them. Dozens of people are missing. It has triggered floods and landslides, which has caused hundreds of homes to be smashed and also disrupted power and communication links. Crops like rice, corn and coconut, have also been badly damaged. The town that suffered the worse damaged was CAsiguran, a coastal town, 343 km northeast of Manila. The typhoon sent a landslide which blocked its only access road. Aurora governor Gerardo Noveras said, "About 90 percent of our agriculture was destroyed or damaged." The full extent of the damage was still unknown. The typhoon a little weaker than before, it moves out to the South China Sea, expected to hit 300 km southwest of Hong Kong.
Humans can't really control natural disasters, as far as preventing it from happening. However, people can build sea walls or other barriers to prevent the damage from happening, to a certain degree. I think people should donate to causes that collect money for these projects, because sometimes, the places that need the projects built the most also need the money the most.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
U.S. Drone Kills 2, Yemen Officials Say
Article from The New York Times.
A U. S. drone killed two people on Saturday. Military officials in Yemen say that they were believed to be militants. In total, there were nine strikes in Yemen, over the span of two weeks, which killed 38 militants. The officials said "it was the first time an American drone had fired on this area of Lahj." The U. S. considers the Yemeni branch of al Quaeda the most dangerous threat.
It feels like a dangerous place to live in, ever since 9-11. You always wonder what's going to happen next: where, when, at what scale of damage, etc.
A U. S. drone killed two people on Saturday. Military officials in Yemen say that they were believed to be militants. In total, there were nine strikes in Yemen, over the span of two weeks, which killed 38 militants. The officials said "it was the first time an American drone had fired on this area of Lahj." The U. S. considers the Yemeni branch of al Quaeda the most dangerous threat.
It feels like a dangerous place to live in, ever since 9-11. You always wonder what's going to happen next: where, when, at what scale of damage, etc.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
‘Possessed’ by real-life ‘Amityville Horror’ killer, Brazilian boy kills family, goes to school
Article from New York Daily News.
A 13-year-old boy killed his parents, grandmother and great-aunt right before he went to school. He then committed suicide afterwards. Apparently he was inspired by a mass killer. On Monday, all the bodies were found in Sao Paulo, Brazil by authorities. The boy was said to be obsessed with the real-life murders behind “The Amityville Horror” book and movie. He also posted images related to that case on his Facebook page. A friend of Marcelo said that "Marcelo 'always told me he wanted to become a hired killer. He had a plan to kill his parents during the night, so no one would notice, and escape in the parents' car and live in an abandoned place.'"
Games are probably the #1 cause of disturbed children, teens and even adults. Although video/movies games can be fun, too much can pretty much consume your mind and life. You start to act like the people/characters in the game/movie and it can be extremely self destructive. Your actions affect not only you, but obviously others.
A 13-year-old boy killed his parents, grandmother and great-aunt right before he went to school. He then committed suicide afterwards. Apparently he was inspired by a mass killer. On Monday, all the bodies were found in Sao Paulo, Brazil by authorities. The boy was said to be obsessed with the real-life murders behind “The Amityville Horror” book and movie. He also posted images related to that case on his Facebook page. A friend of Marcelo said that "Marcelo 'always told me he wanted to become a hired killer. He had a plan to kill his parents during the night, so no one would notice, and escape in the parents' car and live in an abandoned place.'"
Games are probably the #1 cause of disturbed children, teens and even adults. Although video/movies games can be fun, too much can pretty much consume your mind and life. You start to act like the people/characters in the game/movie and it can be extremely self destructive. Your actions affect not only you, but obviously others.
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