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Disasters - SERIES 334 {15 articles}

Indonesia drops disinfectant on quake-obliterated villages

10/19/2018, 4:26:50 AM
JAKARTA--Helicopters are dropping disinfectant on neighborhoods in the earthquake- and tsunami-stric ✔ Disaster officials say another 5,000 people from neighborhoods swallowed by liquefaction remain unaccounted for ✔ The Indonesian Red Cross said Thursday there is a massive effort under way to distribute 215 metric tons of relief such as tarpaulins, clean drinking water and other items to tens of thousands of displaced people before monsoon rains set in



Half-term holidays RUINED - Spain braced for MAJOR storm set to strike during school break

10/19/2018, 5:37:06 AM
SPAIN is preparing for a massive storm that is expected to devastate parts of the country this weekend, spoiling holidays for thousands of Britons hoping to catch some sun during the school half-term holidays. ✔ Red flag warning in Portugal for Hurricane Leslie (Image: GETTY) People clean up in Spain after Hurricane Leslie (Image: GETTY) There will be heavy rainfall - between 200-400mm falling in the Balearics and also Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia - and there is a risk of flash flooding in those regions Greg Dewhurst Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst warned anyone going on holiday to check the local forecasts before they leave



Has the summer drought left France heading for a spud shortage?

10/19/2018, 7:00:53 AM
It's harvest time and the chips are down for potato producers in northern France where a long summer drought could see French spuds shrink in size and volume. ✔ This requires more equipment and higher costs, he added ✔ Down the food chain, Mickael Orgaer, who sells chips from a van in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, says the price of a five-kilogramme sack of potatoes had risen 23 percent, forcing him to pass on the extra cost to customers



New seismic era begins as earthquake warnings are readied to ring in California - Los Angeles Times

10/19/2018, 5:27:56 AM
The rollout of the U.S. Geological Survey’s earthquake early warning system is a crowning achievement for California — all the more remarkable as it was built during a period without a catastrophic temblor striking to spur terrified lawmakers into action. ✔ But the more the young Caltech scientist did his calculations, the more he dreamed of bringing the system to California ✔ The goal is to make sure a disaster does not become a catastrophe ✔ We can now see the end, I hope, in two or three years where the system is fully built out and funded



One of the most disaster-prone Navy helicopters crashes aboard USS ‘Ronald Reagan’ in Philippine Sea

10/19/2018, 7:17:55 AM
An MH-60 Seahawk helicopter has crashed on the flight deck of the USS ‘Ronald Reagan’ shortly after takeoff at 9.00 a.m., the Navy confirmed on Friday. ✔ The nuclear-powered USS ‘Ronald Reagan’ is part of the US Seventh Fleet, operating in the west Pacific ✔ The Seventh Fleet had caught attention as one of the most disaster-prone navy units ✔ In November that year, a C2-A Greyhound transport plane, carrying 11 people, crashed near Okinawa



Gov't orders quake shock absorber maker to replace parts after fake data revealed

10/19/2018, 7:47:23 AM
Officials in Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, on Thursday ordered a company that falsified data on the quality of its quake shock absorbers to replace its products in hundreds of buildings. KYB Corp, a major producer of the devices used to reduce shaking in a quake, said… ✔ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism urged KYB to take full responsibility and determine how the falsification happened, to take steps to replace the shock absorbers and make sure it never occurs again ✔ The most common of several types of shock absorbers used in buildings features a piston that moves inside a cylinder filled with silicone oil



Africa's top shots: Wigs, tussles and collapsing bikes

10/19/2018, 8:00:17 AM
A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week. ✔ Africa's week in pictures: 12 - 18 October 2018 A selection of the best photos from across Africa and of Africans elsewhere in the world this week ✔ EPA In Tunisia on Sunday, Sufis gather in the Saïda Manoubia mausoleum in Manouba to perform religious songs and dances to commemorate the life of the revered figure



'Hallasan' soju in dispute over E.coli contamination

10/19/2018, 7:13:43 AM
undefined ✔ The company admitted having water issues back then, but explained it was a temporary problem caused by a slew of external factors such as drought, and had been rectified immediately for a re-test ✔ Exports to other regions have also increased, from 3 million bottles in 2016 to 5 million in 2017



Wild boars appear in residential areas in Oct., Nov. most

10/19/2018, 4:40:27 AM
undefined ✔ In the capital, districts having mountains usually have a high chance of boars appearing, including Eunpyeong and Seongbuk adjacent to Mount Bukhan, Dobong and Gangbuk near Mount Dobong, and Nowon close to Mount Surak and Mount Buram ✔ In 2015, there were 364 reports of boar sightings in Seoul; 623 in 2016; 472 in 2017; and 238 as of this September ✔ People are advised to look the animal in the eyes, not to move suddenly or try to attack it, and to hide behind big trees or rocks



Post-Brexit visas for Brits? 'Fake news' says Macron

10/19/2018, 7:17:42 AM
Visas for visitors from Britain after Brexit? "Fake news! ✔ Fake news! insisted President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, scoffing at the idea that France would ever impose such a demand on its neighbour ✔ But there would have to be new regulations in place, he said, without giving further details ✔ Paris is seeking a reciprocal arrangement whereby both countries would treat each others' expat citizens equally



The Penguin Book of the Contemporary British Short Story – a standout survey

10/19/2018, 6:46:08 AM
Zadie Smith, David Szalay, Martin Amis … this anthology edited by Philip Hensher showcases skill and range rather than innovation ✔ Photograph: Alamy One obscure fact of short story competitions is that they are often judged blind – handed to the jury in typescript pages, with no information about the author or publishing house; matching up work to names only comes about late in the process



'Adults in the room': Greens surge across Europe as centre-left flounders

10/19/2018, 4:41:50 AM
Movement increasingly appeals to voters frustrated with traditional mainstream parties ✔ After a summer of record-breaking temperatures across Europe during which wildfires blazed in the Arctic, it is hardly surprising that a movement that since the 1980s has warned of the dangers of climate change is winning greater support ✔ Monica Frassoni, co-chair of the European Green party, said the results showed success could be won by putting hope over fear, and compassion over hate



Zimbabwe needs aid to prevent further crisis, warns ruling party

10/19/2018, 4:41:48 AM
Petrol, food and medicine shortages bite as country deals with legacy of Robert Mugabe ✔ Photograph: Aaron Ufumeli/EPA Melda Masvanhure, a 42-year-old high school teacher from Harare, said the cost of her diabetes medication had trebled and her pharmacist wanted payment in US dollars ✔ Police banned a recent protest, citing concerns over disease, and arrested organisers



Analysis | How Brazil’s Bolsonaro threatens the planet

10/19/2018, 5:21:23 AM
"There is no point sugarcoating it. Bolsonaro is the worst thing that could happen for the environment." ✔ By Ishaan Tharoor Ishaan Tharoor Reporter covering foreign affairs, geopolitics and history Email Bio Follow October 19 at 12:59 AM (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Jair Bolsonaro is the clear favorite to become Brazil’s next president ✔ With Bolsonaro at the helm, the assumption is that things will only get worse



PM faces toughest week amid claims Davis could be installed in No 10

10/19/2018, 7:58:39 AM
The Prime Minister is still in Brussels this morning attending an EU-Asia summit but she will return later to fury on all sides of her party. ✔ A Whitehall source said Mrs May had offered concessions on the Irish border to 'unblock' talks that collapsed at the weekend, adding: 'We have got to get movement on this issue ✔ I’m not going to sit at the back of the bus and watch it head towards the edge of the cliff ✔ I’m not going to let us go down without a serious s**t fight’



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