Eyewitnesses to the devastating tsunami that struck the Pacific islands of Western and American Samoa have told Radio Netherlands Worldwide they had only 15 minutes to try and outrun the waves after first warnings were issued.Over 100 people are feared dead after a heavy tsunami hit the islands. It was caused by a powerful earthquake southwest of American Samoa, registering 8.0 on the Richter scale. Villages and holiday resorts on the southern coast of the islands have been destroyed completely, according to eyewitnesses. The epicentre of the quake was located some 190 kilometres southwest of American Samoa, striking at a depth of 33 kilometres. The Samoa islands consist of two entities - the nation of Samoa or Western Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory, with a total population of about 250,000 people. A Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake, with small tsunamis reaching New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga and Japan. These did not cause major damage and large scale evacuations were not necessary.
Over 100 people are feared dead after a heavy tsunami hit the islands. It was caused by a powerful earthquake southwest of American Samoa, registering 8.0 on the Richter scale. Villages and holiday resorts on the southern coast of the islands have been destroyed completely, according to eyewitnesses.
The epicentre of the quake was located some 190 kilometres southwest of American Samoa, striking at a depth of 33 kilometres. The Samoa islands consist of two entities - the nation of Samoa or Western Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory, with a total population of about 250,000 people. A Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake, with small tsunamis reaching New Zealand, Hawaii, Tonga and Japan. These did not cause major damage and large scale evacuations were not necessary.
Victims of floods in the Philippines trudged through ankle-deep sludge to crowded relief centres in search of scarce food and clean water today, as the government strained to distribute supplies, dig out the sprawling capital and prevent looting.The toll from tropical storm Ketsana and the ensuing floods, the south-east Asian country's worst in four decades, climbed to 246 dead, with 38 still missing.Ketsana, which hit the Philippines on Saturday, strengthened further and crashed into central Vietnam today.At least 23 people died - drowned, caught in mudslides or hit by falling trees, officials said. Some 170,000 people were evacuated from the path of the storm."The rivers are rising, and many homes are flooded, and several mountainous districts have been isolated by mudslides," said Nguyen Minh Tuan, a provincial disaster official in Vietnam.
Victims of floods in the Philippines trudged through ankle-deep sludge to crowded relief centres in search of scarce food and clean water today, as the government strained to distribute supplies, dig out the sprawling capital and prevent looting.
The toll from tropical storm Ketsana and the ensuing floods, the south-east Asian country's worst in four decades, climbed to 246 dead, with 38 still missing.
Ketsana, which hit the Philippines on Saturday, strengthened further and crashed into central Vietnam today.At least 23 people died - drowned, caught in mudslides or hit by falling trees, officials said. Some 170,000 people were evacuated from the path of the storm.
"The rivers are rising, and many homes are flooded, and several mountainous districts have been isolated by mudslides," said Nguyen Minh Tuan, a provincial disaster official in Vietnam.
A fatal powerful earthquake has struck off the city of Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra, killing many and leaving thousands more trapped. The quake follows another off Sumatra the day before that triggered a tsunami. <Reuters - A powerful earthquake struck off the city of Padang on Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, killing at least 75 people and trapping thousands under rubble, officials said. The death toll was likely to rise as many buildings in the city of 900,000 people had collapsed, Vice President Jusuf Kalla told a late night news conference in Jakarta. "We have received a report from the mayor of Padang that the death toll is 75. But many others are trapped in collapsed shops, building and hotels. It is difficult to know because it is dark now," Kalla said.
The US government has relaxed its control over how the internet is run.It has signed a four-page "affirmation of commitments" with the net regulator Icann, giving the body autonomy for the first time. Previous agreements gave the US close oversight of Icann - drawing criticism from other countries and groups. The new agreement comes into effect on 1 October, exactly 40 years since the first two computers were connected on the prototype of the net. "It's a beautifully historic day," Rod Beckstrom, Icann's head, told BBC News. The European Commission, which has long been critical of Icann's alliance with the US government, welcomed the new deal. "Internet users worldwide can now anticipate that Icann's decisions...will be more independent and more accountable, taking into account everyone's interests," said Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for information society and media.
The US government has relaxed its control over how the internet is run.
It has signed a four-page "affirmation of commitments" with the net regulator Icann, giving the body autonomy for the first time.
Previous agreements gave the US close oversight of Icann - drawing criticism from other countries and groups.
The new agreement comes into effect on 1 October, exactly 40 years since the first two computers were connected on the prototype of the net.
"It's a beautifully historic day," Rod Beckstrom, Icann's head, told BBC News.
The European Commission, which has long been critical of Icann's alliance with the US government, welcomed the new deal.
"Internet users worldwide can now anticipate that Icann's decisions...will be more independent and more accountable, taking into account everyone's interests," said Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for information society and media.
Analysts should not delude themselves into believing that Zelaya was bringing a clean slate to Honduras. But they also should not conclude that Zelaya lacks domestic support. In addition to mainly-urban protesters, a dormant mass of Zelaya supporters exists in rural areas. These people are often too poor and afraid to leave their communities. They will not protest but they will remain disillusioned. Those who are not appalled by the coup that unseated their populist president have become disgusted with the modus operandi of Honduran politics.
The item I cited in the open thread is more eye-opening:
In short, Micheletti's three-month reign as de facto president may be coming to an end. He has clearly been shaken by events, overplayed his hand and is now facing the defection of key elements of his coalition: the congress, the presidential candidates, the army and, quite possibly, the business community and the Supreme Court. All that's left now is a graceful, negotiated exit.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The general who oversaw the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya implored all sectors of Honduran society to join in resolving the country's deepening crisis Tuesday, a message that seemed aimed at calming an uproar over a government order suspending civil liberties. Gen. Romeo Vasquez's comments on Channel 5 television came hours after interim President Roberto Micheletti said he would accept congressional calls for him to reverse the emergency decree suspending civil liberties that he had announced on Sunday. But little had changed on Tuesday. Two critical broadcasters remained shuttered and police faced off with about 500 demonstrators who sat in the middle of a street after officers blocked them from marching. Micheletti also said he would allow an Organization of American States team whose arrival was blocked this weekend. The OAS hopes to persuade the coup leaders to bow to international demands they reinstate Zelaya, who was arrested and expelled from the country on June 28.
Gen. Romeo Vasquez's comments on Channel 5 television came hours after interim President Roberto Micheletti said he would accept congressional calls for him to reverse the emergency decree suspending civil liberties that he had announced on Sunday.
But little had changed on Tuesday. Two critical broadcasters remained shuttered and police faced off with about 500 demonstrators who sat in the middle of a street after officers blocked them from marching.
Micheletti also said he would allow an Organization of American States team whose arrival was blocked this weekend. The OAS hopes to persuade the coup leaders to bow to international demands they reinstate Zelaya, who was arrested and expelled from the country on June 28.
Honduran police and soldiers raided a building Wednesday that was occupied by farm activists and supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Fifty-four people were detained. The raid in the capital, Tegucigalpa, came despite overtures by the interim Honduran government that it would back down from Sunday's decree suspending some constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. Police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said the raid of the National Agrarian Institute was meant to recover control of the building, which contained land title records. Detained farmer Jose Irene Murillo, 69, said he feared "they are going to destroy the records of the small farmers, because the big landowners want the land."
The raid in the capital, Tegucigalpa, came despite overtures by the interim Honduran government that it would back down from Sunday's decree suspending some constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties.
Police spokesman Orlin Cerrato said the raid of the National Agrarian Institute was meant to recover control of the building, which contained land title records.
Detained farmer Jose Irene Murillo, 69, said he feared "they are going to destroy the records of the small farmers, because the big landowners want the land."
Centenarian Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv, who is considered the top Ashkenazi haredi arbiter of Jewish law alive today, ruled last week that Crocs sandals cannot be worn on Yom Kippur because they are too comfortable.
For every human being who looks up at the moon in the night to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.
That was no "just in case" speech.
They sent 7 rockets to the moon. 6 completed the mission, nobody on those missions died. I do not believe anybody in NASA would have taken that bet beforehand. keep to the Fen Causeway
They sent 7 rockets to the moon. 6 completed the mission, nobody on those missions died.
However, that supports, rather than undermines, my point. keep to the Fen Causeway
They were well aware that the surface was the one point from where recovery was completely impossible to quote Alan Shepard
Alan Shepard Quotes
I think all of us certainly believed the statistics which said that probably 88% chance of mission success and maybe 96% chance of survival. And we were willing to take those odds.
So it wasnt unreasonable to be planning for the worst case. Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
