International
New Zealand Volcano Eruption Leaves At Least Five Dead
Published
1 year agoon
By
Katie Calo
- At least five people were killed and eight more are reported missing after a volcano erupted in New Zealand on Monday.
- It is believed 47 people were on White Island at the time of the eruption, including New Zealand natives and foreign tourists. Thirty-four people were rescued.
- Further rescue operations are on hold because the physical environment has been deemed unsafe, but police have reported that there are “no signs of life” on the island.
- Alerts that detailed increased activity of the volcano were issued in the weeks prior to the eruption.
Deadly Eruption
Authorities have confirmed at least five people are dead and eight more are reported missing after a volcano erupted in New Zealand on Monday.
New Zealand police believe that 47 people were on White Island, also known as Whakaari, when it erupted just after 2 p.m. local time. Thirty-four people were rescued and taken to hospitals to have their injuries treated, including both tourists and New Zealand natives.
Videos posted to social media show enormous plumes of smoke.
My god, White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted today for first time since 2001. My family and I had gotten off it 20 minutes before, were waiting at our boat about to leave when we saw it. Boat ride home tending to people our boat rescued was indescribable. #whiteisland pic.twitter.com/QJwWi12Tvt
— Michael Schade (@sch) December 9, 2019
John Tims, the deputy police commissioner, announced that rescue operations are currently on hold because of the unsafe physical environment of the island and the risk of another eruption.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that official aircraft have flown over the island since the eruption and that “no signs of life have been seen at any point.”
“Based on the information we have, we do not believe there are any survivors on the island,” New Zealand police said in a statement.
Cruise Ship Identified
Royal Caribbean cruise line confirmed that some of the people on the island at the time the volcano erupted were passengers from one of their ships.
A spokesperson from Royal Caribbean told the New York Times that the company is “working together with local authorities and providing all the help and care we can to our guests and their families, including offering medical resources and counseling.”
Previous Volcanic Activity Warning
GeoNet, an agency that monitors geological hazard information for New Zealand, has been reporting noticeable levels of volcanic activity on White Island since late September. They issued an alert as recently as Dec. 3.
“Observations and data to date suggest that the volcano may be entering a period where eruptive activity is more likely than normal,” they said in the bulletin last week. “These eruptions can occur with little or no warning.”
GeoNet also wrote in last week’s alert that “the current level of activity does not pose a direct hazard to visitors.”
When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked if people shouldn’t have been allowed on the island because of the heightened volcanic activity, she declined to give a concrete answer.
“In this moment in time, the absolute focus needs to be the search and rescue operation…” she said. “…There will be a time and a place to undertake further assessments. Now we have to focus on allowing the police to do their job and focus on those who were in the vicinity of the island at the time.”
New Zealand police have set up both local and international phone numbers that concerned friends and families can call. Red Cross has also set up a Family Links website to update loved ones of those affected by the eruption.
See what others are saying: (Washington Post) (Telegraph) (Guardian)
International
Death Toll in Myanmar Surpasses 50 People as Police Continue To Use Live Ammunition
Published
43 mins agoon
March 4, 2021
- At least 50 people have died across Myanmar since the start of the coup on Feb. 1, with Wednesday being the single largest loss of life to date after 38 were shot by security forces.
- Despite the danger, tens of thousands of citizens continue to take to the streets to protest the coup and demand the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.
- The U.N. Security Council is due to meet Friday to discuss how to deal with the situation in Myanmar in response to calls for a solution from nations and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Growing Violence Across Myanmar
Over the weekend, security forces in Myanmar killed 18 anti-coup protesters and wounded at least 30 more. Across the subsequent three days, that number rose considerably.
According to the U.N., at least 38 people were killed on Wednesday alone.; making it the bloodiest day of the coup so far and raising the overall death toll to over 50. Exact number are difficult to find, as the chaos on the ground precludes outlets from confirming accounts of possibly more deaths.
The violence has occurred across the country, with the deaths largely being tied to the use of live ammunition by security forces. The demonstrations, and the response to them, have been widely captured on camera. Some of the most shocking scenes are of police passing a BA-53 (a Burmese Army variant of the HK G3 military rifle) to fire into protesters.
They look so happy to shoot and kill the unarmed people!!!
— 🇲🇲 Save Myanmar 🇲🇲 (@Byun_Sori6104) February 28, 2021
SPRING REVOLUTION #MilkTeaAllianceMyanmar#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/azUnYDD4zd
Despite the death, tens of thousands of citizens continue to take to the streets to protest the coup and demand the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. Thursday morning saw thousands in the streets who attended vigils for those slain on Wednesday, an increasingly common ritual for the prior day’s deaths.
Sanctions May Not Work
The United States has tried to get neighboring countries to join it and the European Union in sanctioning the Burmese military, but few Southeast Asian countries wanted to sign on, which gives the Burmese military breathing room as most of its diplomatic and trade relations are with neighboring countries.
At the U.N., Security Council members are due to meet on Friday to discuss calls from countries and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to stop the coup and the escalating crackdowns against protesters. However, it’s unclear what more they can do. Sanctions against specific military leaders are often ineffective, yet sanctions on the country as a whole would affect the everyday people they’re trying to support.
Other options include direct intervention, but Justine Chambers, Associate Director of the Myanmar Research Center at the Australian National University, pushed back against this, telling The New York Times, “Unfortunately I don’t think the brutality caught on camera is going to change much.”
“I think domestic audiences around the world don’t have much of an appetite for stronger action, i.e. intervention, given the current state of the pandemic and associated economic issues.”
While it’s unclear what more the international community can do, it’s quite likely that violence will continue in Myanmar as citizens try to peacefully restore democracy.
See what others are saying: (AP) (Reuters) (New York Times)
International
Saudi Arabia To Require Vaccine for Hajj Pilgrims
Published
24 hours agoon
March 3, 2021
- Saudi Arabia will require all pilgrims participating in the Hajj this year to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to local media.
- The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are required to take at least once in their lifetime if they are physically or financially able to.
- Many believe the inoculation requirement may help allay suspicions over vaccines within certain Muslim communities.
- Those suspicions have persisted despite Muslim leaders clarifying that there are no theological problems with taking any of the COVID-19 vaccines available.
COVID-19 Vaccines for Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s health ministry will only allow people vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend the Hajj this year, according to local outlet Okaz.
The Hajj is a mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca for all Muslims at least once in their lifetime – assuming they are physically and financially able to. However, requiring a vaccine before taking part in the Hajj isn’t a new thing. In fact, Saudi Arabia already has a list of necessary vaccinations for pilgrims.
For a virus that is among the most virulent in recent history and requiring a COVID-19 vaccine makes sense, especially since the Hajj is among the most densely populated events in the world.
In an effort to combat COVID-19, Saudi Arabia has also introduced restrictions over how many pilgrims can come to Mecca for the first time in modern history.
Requiring the COVID-19 vaccine to partake in the Hajj will likely have the added benefit of allaying fears about COVID-19 vaccines in Muslim communities, which account for nearly 2 billion people in the world. While Muslims overall support vaccinations and their religious leaders openly support vaccination efforts, some do doubt vaccines for either political reasons or religious ones.
Changes in Vaccine Hesitancy
Suspicions have arisen due to recent history, notably after Osama bin Laden was located through a vaccine program that acted as a front for the C.I.A. That incident led to a wider-anti vaccine movement in parts of Pakistan that have seen vaccine clinics burned to the ground.
Others are worried over more religious concerns, such as whether the vaccines are Halal, which is roughly the Muslim version of Kosher. To that, most major vaccines say that they are Halal and contain no animal products, such as Pfizer’s, Moderna’s, and AstraZeneca’s,
While other possibly non-Halal vaccines, such as Sinovac’s, have been given the okay from major Islamic authorities, such as Indonesia’ Ulema Council.
The concerns over whether a vaccine is Halal or not may be mute as most imams and Islamic councils have clarified that such dietary restrictions are trumped by the need to save human lives.
While the Health Ministry’s statement is for 2021, it’s possible that the decision will last beyond that based on the pandemic’s progress.
See what other are saying: (Al Jazeera) (The Hill) (Middle East Eye)
International
E.U. and U.S. Sanction Russian Officials Over Navalny Detention
Published
2 days agoon
March 2, 2021
- The E.U. and U.S. coordinated new sanctions against seven Russian officials tied to the current fate of activist and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
- More efforts are expected to follow, with officials claiming that 14 Russian entities tied to the manufacturing of Novichok – the rare nerve agents that supposedly poisoned Navalny – are the next to be sanctioned.
- Despite the sanctions, Biden’s administration hopes to be able to work with Russia on other world issues, such as nuclear arms in Iran and North Korea.
- Navalny himself isn’t likely to benefit from the sanctions as he’s serving a 2.5-year prison sentence in one of Russia’s most notorious penal colonies.
Coordinated Efforts by E.U. and U.S.
The U.S. and E.U. both announced coordinated sanctions against Russia Tuesday morning over the poisoning, arrest, and detention of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
In particular, seven senior officials are targeted by the sanctions.
- Federal Security Service Director Aleksandr Bortnikov
- Chief of the Presidential Policy Directorate Andrei Yarin
- First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko
- Deputy Minister of Defense Aleksey Krivoruchko
- Deputy Minister of Defense Pavel Popov
- Federal Penitentiary Service director Alexander Kalashnikov
- Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov.
Both the E.U. and U.S. also plan to add fourteen entities that are involved in making the extremely deadly Russian nerve agent Novichok.
First Step For Biden
These sanctions are the first such action by the Biden administration against Russia and seem to be a tone shift from the previous administration. The Trump administration was considered relatively soft on Russia and only enacted a few sanctions over election interference, which were only softly enforced.
One U.S. official, according to NBC News reportedly said, that “today is the first such response, and there will be more to come.”
“The United States is neither seeking to reset our relations with Russia nor are we seeking to escalate,” the official went on to add.
The man at the center of all this, Alexei Navalny, has been an outspoken critic of Putin who was arrested when he returned to Russia from Germany after being treated for Novichok poisoning.
He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison over alleged fraud crimes and is reported to have been sent to one of Russia’s worst penal colonies outside of the city of Pokrov to serve out his term.
See what others are saying: (CNN) (NPR) (NBC News)

Death Toll in Myanmar Surpasses 50 People as Police Continue To Use Live Ammunition

House Passes Landmark Elections Bill To Expand Voting Rights

Kings of Leon Will Become One of the First Bands To Offer an Album as NFT

Netflix Launches “Fast Laughs,” a TikTok-Like Feed of Funny Clips

Court Sides With Sofia Vergara, Says Ex Cannot Use Embryos Without Permission

Saudi Arabia To Require Vaccine for Hajj Pilgrims

Texas Governor Will Reopen State “100%” and End Mask Mandate Against Expert Advice

Twitch Shares Its First-Ever Transparency Report, but Critics Want More Accountability

Chris D’Elia Accused of Soliciting Child Pornography in New Lawsuit

Epic Games Acquires “Fall Guys” Maker Tonic Games Group

Please Don’t Do This! I’m Begging You! Dr. Seuss “Cancelled” Explained, DeFranco LA Mayor, The Rock

Cosplay Instagram Star Belle Delphine Trolls Followers With PornHub Account

Mia Khalifa Shuts Down Death Rumors, Sparks Conversations About Plastic Surgery and Adult Film Industry

Instagram Users Tell Skai Jackson to Stop Posting About Cameron Boyce

Billie Eilish Fans Call Out Twitter User for Sexualizing the Underage Singer

Ace Family’s Austin McBroom and Team Accused of Rape

YouTuber MrBeast Responds to Criticism of Massive Tree Planting Project

Man Kills 17-Year-Old Bianca Devins and Posts Photos Online

Joe Rogan Denies Spotify Censorship Rumors, According to Alex Jones

Netflix Apologizes and Changes Marketing Materials for “Cuties” After Backlash

YouTuber Coffee Break Accuses Kurzgesagt of Being Untrustworthy, Founder Responds

Trisha Paytas Accused of Exploiting Transgender Community

Please Don’t Do This! I’m Begging You! Dr. Seuss “Cancelled” Explained, DeFranco LA Mayor, The Rock

James Charles Exposed? Taylor Swift Slut-Shaming Scandal Sparks Backlash! Joe Biden Being a Coward.

WOW! This Insane Lady Gaga Robbery, Jschlatt, Twitter Fights OnlyFans, Cuomo Allegations & More News

David Dobrik Jason Nash Assault Accusations, Vlog Squad Fallout, Grand Theft Auto Bill, & More News

The PewDiePie Cocomelon Double Standard, Joe Rogan is a Smart Man Asking Smart Questions & More News

Why The Internet Is Freaking Out About Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Ted Cruz Fail, NASA Perseverance Rover

DISGUSTING! Why We Need To Talk About Tim Boyd, The Truth About Texas Blackouts, Rush Limbaugh Dead

He’s Trying To Shut Down My Channel?! Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Cuomo Nursing Home Scandal, & More

Corpse Husband Defies, “Gorilla Glue Girl” Denies, Gina Carano Star Wars Controversy, & More News

WOW! Belle Delphine Exposed, Kitten Zoom Filter Scandal, Asian Hate, Impeachment Trial & More

Why This “Gorilla Glue Girl” Situation is DISGUSTING, Tom Holland Denial, & More News

6 Dr. Seuss Books Won’t Be Published Anymore Because of Racist Imagery

Internet Users Defend Woman With Gorilla Glue in Her Hair From Bullies

Tessica Brown Says She Never Hired Attorney To Sue Gorilla Glue Over Hair Incident

Texas Mayor Tells “Lazy” Residents “No One Owes You” Anything Amid Power Outages

Austin McBroom Launches “How I Became a Millionaire” Program for $50/Month, But Some Think It’s Just Another Scam

Britney Spears Documentary Prompts Many To Re-Evaluate the Singer’s Reputation

Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Shot, Singer’s 2 French Bulldogs Stolen

Former Member of David Dobrik’s Vlog Squad Says He Was Sexually Assaulted by Jason Nash on Video

Key Takeaways From Day 1 of Trump’s Impeachment Trial

Tessica Brown’s Hair Is Finally Free of Gorilla Glue

Rihanna Sparks Outrage After Posing Topless With Necklace of Hindu God

Death Toll in Myanmar Surpasses 50 People as Police Continue To Use Live Ammunition

House Passes Landmark Elections Bill To Expand Voting Rights

Kings of Leon Will Become One of the First Bands To Offer an Album as NFT

Netflix Launches “Fast Laughs,” a TikTok-Like Feed of Funny Clips

Court Sides With Sofia Vergara, Says Ex Cannot Use Embryos Without Permission

Saudi Arabia To Require Vaccine for Hajj Pilgrims

Texas Governor Will Reopen State “100%” and End Mask Mandate Against Expert Advice

Twitch Shares Its First-Ever Transparency Report, but Critics Want More Accountability

Chris D’Elia Accused of Soliciting Child Pornography in New Lawsuit

Epic Games Acquires “Fall Guys” Maker Tonic Games Group

Please Don’t Do This! I’m Begging You! Dr. Seuss “Cancelled” Explained, DeFranco LA Mayor, The Rock

Please Don’t Do This! I’m Begging You! Dr. Seuss “Cancelled” Explained, DeFranco LA Mayor, The Rock

James Charles Exposed? Taylor Swift Slut-Shaming Scandal Sparks Backlash! Joe Biden Being a Coward.

WOW! This Insane Lady Gaga Robbery, Jschlatt, Twitter Fights OnlyFans, Cuomo Allegations & More News

David Dobrik Jason Nash Assault Accusations, Vlog Squad Fallout, Grand Theft Auto Bill, & More News

The PewDiePie Cocomelon Double Standard, Joe Rogan is a Smart Man Asking Smart Questions & More News

Why The Internet Is Freaking Out About Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Ted Cruz Fail, NASA Perseverance Rover

DISGUSTING! Why We Need To Talk About Tim Boyd, The Truth About Texas Blackouts, Rush Limbaugh Dead

He’s Trying To Shut Down My Channel?! Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Cuomo Nursing Home Scandal, & More

Corpse Husband Defies, “Gorilla Glue Girl” Denies, Gina Carano Star Wars Controversy, & More News

WOW! Belle Delphine Exposed, Kitten Zoom Filter Scandal, Asian Hate, Impeachment Trial & More
