World (146)
Clutha helicopter crash report: pilot did not follow emergency procedures
The pilot of a police helicopter which ran out of fuel, crashing into a busy pub in Glasgow city centre and killing 10 people, did not follow emergency landing procedures despite acknowledging an audible low fuel warning five times. The final conclusions of an air accident investigation into the Clutha tragedy state that pilot David Traill failed to land within the specified 10-minute period after “continuous activation of the low fuel warnings”, but offer no explanation as to why this happened. The report of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found no evidence of technical malfunction or fire. It also states that the helicopter did have enough fuel on board to complete its journey, but that 73kg of usable fuel in the main tank became unusable as a result of the fuel transfer pumps being switched off, again “for unknown reasons”. The pumps could have been switched back manually by the pilot.
Germany to push for compulsory EU quotas to tackle refugee crisis
Germany is to push for more ambitious and extensive common European Union policies on the refugee crisis, according to policymakers in Berlin, with compulsory and permanent quotas for sharing the distribution of probably hundreds of thousands of people who will arrive directly from the Middle East. Also on Berlin’s agenda are new European powers replacing some national authority over border control, and the possible raising of a special EU-wide levy to fund the policies. The plans, being prepared in Berlin and Brussels, are certain to trigger bitter resistance and major clashes within the EU. Berlin backs European commission plans to make the proposed scheme “permanent and binding”. But up to 15 of 28 EU countries are opposed. The plans will not apply to the UK as it is not part of the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone and has opted out of EU asylum policy, saying it will not take part in any proposed European refugee-sharing schemes.
Life lessons we should learn from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
1 “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” 2 “My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.” 4 “To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.” 5 “Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.” 6 “Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.” 7 “Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” 8 “Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.” 9 “Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.” 10 “You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear.”
Obama greets Xi with 'ni hao' and superpower supper
President Barack Obama offered Xi Jinping a warm welcome at the White House on Thursday, greeting his Chinese counterpart with a "ni hao," or hello, at the start of a tricky state visit. The pair kicked off Xi's first state visit by shedding their ties and strolling out of the West Wing and across Pennsylvania Avenue to Blair House. Officials hope that by starting with a casual meeting the leaders of the world's two pre-eminent military and economic powers will find time for a less staid exchange of views. On Friday Xi will be offered a 21-gun salute and ceremonial state dinner, in a symbolic statement that will let him show the Chinese people that he and his country are being treated as a great power. But US officials admit the litany of problems now plaguing US-China relations and doubts over Xi's commitment to a "peaceful rise" are unlikely to be resolved over butter-poached Maine lobster or grilled cannon of Colorado lamb. "Far and away, the most constructive engagements they've had have been in their private dinners," said senior Obama national security aide Ben Rhodes.
Shiv Sena was not born for power- Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena will get absolute majority in Maharashtra one day if the people of the state decide to do so, party president Uddhav Thackeray said here on Sunday. "Shiv Sena was not born merely for power. If it is in Maharashtra's destiny, then (one day) people will say that they will give power only to the Shiv Sena," Thackeray said. "That day will come," he said. The Sena leader was speaking at an event organized by his party to distribute vehicles to unemployed Marathi youth, at Sewree in South Mumbai. "People didn't give absolute power to us in the last assembly elections.
Heavy rain halts Mumbai
Heavy rain pummelled Mumbai and its suburbs in which two persons died of electrocution and bringing normal life to a grinding halt on Friday with several areas waterlogged and local train services cancelled leaving thousands of commuters stranded. As civic authorities described the rainfall in the country's financial capital as "unprecedented", they said 283mm of rain, which is normally received in 10 days, was witnessed in just 24 hours. Mithi river is around the danger mark, according to Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray.
Modi is top leaders of the world: Sushma
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that India's prestige in the international arena has risen "dramatically" in the last one year, catapulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the top leaders of the world. "It is no mean achievement that in just one year of his tenure, our Prime Minister has emerged as one of the front ranking leaders of the world," Swaraj said here. Swaraj, who is here to participate in programmes to mark completion of Modi government's one year in office, attributed the rise in India's prestige abroad to the "candour" with which the Prime Minister is dealing with neighbouring countries like China and the role played by the country in tackling the crises in Ukraine, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
Nepal assesses if quake-hit villages are at risk before rain
Geologists were sent to earthquake-damaged mountain villages in Nepal this week to assess landslide risks before the rainy season begins next month, an official said on Friday. Many of them walking to their destinations, the geologists will check the soil in the remote villages in the districts hit worst by the quakes, home ministry official Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said. They are scheduled to report their findings in Kathmandu next week, and the government would then decide which villages are in danger of landslides and need to be relocated. Dhakal said only few weeks are left to get people to safer areas and it was going to a big challenge.
J K Rowling under attack on twitter
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling is on the receiving end of a vitriolic attack through twitter over her support for the Labour party as well as for being against Scotland breaking off from the United Kingdom. Following Friday's results of the British parliamentary election, Rowling who moved to Scotland in 1993 became a target for online abuse. In 2014, just before the Scottish referendum, Rowling faced massive criticism for donating £1million to the campaign for a No vote in the Scottish independence referendum.
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